Life and Times - Episode 8
Based on the life story of one of their own company members, Life and Times uses a verbatim transcript of over 16 hours of recorded telephone interviews as found material to construct an extremely ambitious genre-bending spectacle – the tale generated from one simple question, asked of a friend: “can you tell me your life story?”
Episode 8, which takes the form of an early color Cinemascope movie, takes us for the first time in the history of this project out into the open air and natural world. Inspired by the vast American landscapes of the Hudson River School painters, the entire movie was shot in color in the wild and industrial environs of the Hudson River Valley and New York City, primarily in the early morning hours of dawn – or early evening, at sunset.At this point in the story of Life and Times-- the narrative finally shifts to adult life: work, career – and finding a place in the larger world. For the first time we contemplate mortality, and also history. (This is the period of the 9/11 attacks in New York City.) Personal crisis and political crisis vie with one another for attention. And which do we recall with greater clarity? What has the greater impact on our lives?
Sung throughout – with original music and shot entirely on location with available light in single long takes -- this episode of Life and Times is arguably one of the company’s most ambitious and visually stunning works to date.
To see the trailer for this film, you can click here.
A production of Nature Theater of Oklahoma made with the support of the Fondation d'entreprise Hermès / New Settings programme and developed partly in residence with Live Arts Bard at the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College.
Episode 8 has also been made possible in part by the Doris Duke Performing Artist Awards program.
Conceived and Directed by Pavol Liska and Kelly Copper
Based on stories told by Kristin Worrall
Featuring Ilan Bachrach, Asli Bulbul, Gabel Eiben, Daniel Gower, Robert M. Johanson, Elisabeth Conner Skjærvold, and Kristin Worrall
Composer/Music Director Daniel Gower
Director of Photography Peter Nigrini
Art Director/Production Manager Dany Naierman
Editor/Colorist Kelly Copper
Camera Pavol Liska
Screenings
April 15, 2020, UPSTREAMING, Bard College Fischer Center for the Arts, NY
December 18, 2016 Kaaitheater, Brussels, Belgium (w/ Ep. 7)
September 24, 2016 Crossing the Line Festival and Anthology Film Archives, NY (w/ Eps. 7&9)
September 22, 2016 Crossing the Line Festival at the French Institute, NY (NYC premiere)
May 2016, Španski Borci Cultural Centre, Ljubliana Slovenia (w/ Eps. 7&9)
March 2016 Théâtre de la Cité, Paris, France (Fondation d'entreprise Hermès/New Settings)
January 2016 Stadtkino Wien, Vienna, Austria (w/ Eps. 7&9)
November 2015 Théâtre de la Cité, Paris, France (Fondation d'entreprise Hermès/New Settings)
November 2015 The Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College, NY (w/ Eps. 7&9)
October 2015 Hebbel Theater, Berlin, Germany (w/ Episodes 7&9)
October 2015 steirischer herbst festival, Graz, Austria (w/ Episodes 7&9) (premiere)
