Len Lye "Free Radicals"

Animation film made by Len Lye in 1958.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Len
• Lye
• animation
• free
• radicals
• experimental

[Redstar309Z]

This is one of THE MOST SEMINAL FILMIC WORKS for me. I cant think of any other media construction that has influeneced me more. AS a New Zealander I am proud to even attempt to follow in the foot steps Of Lyes greatness a visionary and the most next level artist of his time. VIVA LEN LYE

[MachineHum]

I saw this off of an original 16 mm print, which was awesome.

[sclapione]

@gobeirne Doesn't look like wire at all, something way more simple .....

[stonelenny]

@Redstar309Z One of my top ten movies in any length, technique or genre.

[MLangan]

@TheAllergyPokemon Not exactly-- Since the forms are isolated, repeated images as opposed to vertical lines that wave around from left to right (a la McLaren's "Begone Dull Care"), my guess is that he used a saw with teeth positioned at the same intervals of the film frames, so that each tooth will fall at exactly the same position in each frame if you hold the saw perfectly straight. Then he'd wiggle the saw just enough to scratch a small design on the frames, which results in a morphing design

[bearcubproject]

there is just some thing about this!

[rafael81629]

anyone knows who this 3d effect was done? looks like bent wire.

[TheAllergyPokemon]

@MLangan when you say, 'scratching a design along the entire length of it', you must mean dragging the saw along the film, right? sorry, its just I'm doing a project at university about direct film animation and this piece is really inspirational; the 3D forms you talked about are a phenomenal to watch.

[MLangan]

So wonderful. From what I understand, there are a couple of techniques at work here. The 3D-looking forms are supposedly created by pressing a wide-toothed saw to the black film leader, then scratching a design along the entire length of it, creating a design that shifts position from beginning to end.

[Beedlesanbos]

Simply stunning.

[cminor314]

Wow, couldn't disagree more with the last comment. This is a great film -- mesmerizing. He really captures the feeling of the drumming, and it's like watching a dance.