flash backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkks

When I was younger, my dad would watch this over and over. I was always fustraited with it because I felt nothing was happening. Just another stupid car movie. But as I grew up(!) I re watched it and recognize it for what it is:: a beautiful movie about the city of Paris, it's movement and flows. It's quite architectural and urban indulgent.

Some info on this film:: This beautiful example of cinema-verite', it was SO REAL that in 1976 he was arrested after this 1976 film, properly titled C'était un rendez-vous, was publicly shown. The car reportedly featured was a Ferrari 275 GTB being illegally driven at speeds approaching 140 km/h through the streets of Paris by a Formula 1 driver. Though recent claims by Claude Lelouch admit that he infact was the driver and it was only his Mercedes-Benz 450sel 6.9 and dubbed the Ferrari. Yes, the whole soundtrack is just the engine rev-ing.

This movie never really left my mind but a friend had it posted on his blog so it re-invigorated my memories. Check out preAMP! This blog is pretty fantastic.

What other car movies are at this caliber or zest? This is reminiscent for an assignment that Ed Keller gave us back in his seminar in Fall 2007. We had to record a linear progression through Los Angeles. My team of all cramped into my beetle with Valentina Vasi hanging out of the sun roof. We drove up 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th streets downtown, from bridge to highway on ramp. The most beautiful on ramp is the 4th street exit off the 110 going south. I have to re rip this footage. It's all on tapes in my room.

illegal ambulance

Earlier in August, I helped my buddy Karl Eicher with documenting his thesis project. Below is his thesis::
Illegal Acts of Architecture

Vandalism is usually considered a ruthless destruction of property, including spoiling anything beautiful or venerable. Like most forms of defacement or property damage, it usually involves the destruction (removal) or covering up of existing matter, creating what some refer to as an “eyesore.” In some cases, however, the eyesores are the legally created constructs, or the willful neglect of existing property. These are far crasser than anything graffiti or other street works could possibly claim to be. There are other forms of unlawful works of architecture as well, including the squatting and illegal housing that makes up nearly 1/3 of the world’s population. But these things, along with most things in our environment, go unnoticed. This thesis attempts to break people out of this form of complacency, or what Guy Debord refers to as the ‘spectacle.’ This is done through the radical reorientation of the environment that allows people to be reintroduced to their surroundings. This hyper-awareness, created through illegal acts of architecture, will reestablish the authenticity of daily life and critical thought. What makes an “Illegal Act of Architecture” is that it is illegal through its implementation within the city. It is set up without permission or even the acknowledgement of the city. It is a gift to the city, gifted through the sabotage of its immediate surroundings. It lacks permits, and can be seen as a form of vandalism, but does little to no harm and doesn’t diminish its surroundings. These works illegal works of architecture give more to the environment than it takes away.

The part that I documented and edited was his third installation of the Illegal Acts. These were a set of 12 medicine cabinets installed throughout downtown. Medical cabinets are objects typically used in personal/private space within a home. Here they were put into the most public spaces in town. Inside the cabinets a mirror and a toy that corresponded (ironically most of the time) to its surroundings.