[Sound+Vision] Promo: F.W. Murnau’s Faust (30 sec. 2007) Edited by Lester Alfonso to promote North of Summer’s live score for a screening.

Archive Showcase

F. W. Murnau circa 1920-1930

Day 27 of 360 videos from my archive. What would great film director F.W. Murnau have thought if he had somehow traveled a hundred years into the future and someone showed him the card-sized images from his film Faust on Twitter?

What if someone explained to him that this was an advertisement for a screening of his film to be accompanied by a live performance of a rock and roll band? What would he say if they went on to explain that this event was twelve years ago before Twitter was even a real “thing.”

Original handbill for the event, Faust at Artspace

What I think I know is the message that Faust brings: “Holding on to things is the cause of suffering.” As I unhoard these forgotten files from my archive, I lighten my digital load. I’m (up)loading these logs to the cyber wood stove to be digitally burned, replicated, and cross-posted simultaneously on disparate social platforms straight from Vimeo. Would anything from that previous sentence make any sense to someone a hundred years from now?

Original poster for the event, Murnau’s Faust at Artspace
[Sound+Vision] Faust with live score by North of Summer CLIP

In 2007, George W. Bush was president of the United States and David Fincher’s Zodiac was playing in the movie theatres. The details that make up today’s newsfeed will be as ancient as all of that in just a flash too as we continually let go of what cannot remain. — LA

P.S. If you’re liking these daily posts, perhaps you can consider becoming a monthly donor for a year or making a one-time contribution. It would seriously help a lot. Your money goes directly into supporting an artist committed to continually become the best version of himself. Thank you so much! Much love, LA