Warhol - |ˈfilmˌmākər|

Callie Angell, “Andy Warhol, Filmmaker”


8. How does Angell characterize the first major period of Warhol’s filmmaking career? What are some of the films from this period, and what formal qualities did they share? What are some significant differences between Sleep and Empire?

Angell firstly describes his early work as minimalistic as most would after watching Sleep or Empire. Each are just extended still shots off a man sleeping and the empire state building. Sleep on runs 5 hours and 21 minutes compared to empires 8 hour intended length.

9. What role did the Screen Tests play in the routines at the Factory and in Warhol’s filmmaking?

Angell described Screen Tests as a "cumulative mode of serial production.” The tests were urscripted shots of the numerous celebrities and artists of the time who were testing to act in Warhol's films. These test became a individual and unique body of work that he continuously recycled for future films.

10. How does Angell characterize the first period of sound films in Warhol’s filmmaking career? Who was Warhol’s key collaborator for the early sound films? What are some of the films from this period and what formal properties did they share?

Angell described this films in some detail. Selection of the camera set up and lighting seemed to be important since most films were shot with one stationary set up. The concept was the skeleton of the film but the performance/improvisation/ chance occurrences were what really shaped these early sound films. Warhol enlisted Ronald Tavel as a screen writer for this period of his filmmaking . His first film was called Hariot which was about a cross dressing man masturbating with a banana, accompanied by spoken word poetry.