Density Over Duration

Northern Pain's, the Story of the Fargo-Moorhead Derby Girls (2011)
This character-driven documentary follows three generations of players on the Fargo-Moorhead Derby Girls: "the vets", the "new vets", and the "new girls". Questions raised are: How can Minnesota Nice women learn to "slap their sisters around the rink?" What happens when performative passion and conflict becomes real? Who is asked to leave? Does the team survive?
http://www.purestspiritualpigs.com/bio.html

*Cat's Cradle, 2010, 16mm and Video, 3min:56sec* Concept, xerox animation and rotoscoped image by Raymond Rea. Soundtrack by Purest Spiritial Pigs. Purest Spiritual Pigs is a project created by Helena Thompson. The intent for this project is to create a revolving door for collaboration with additional artists. These works include music, visual, conceptual and performing arts. http://www.purestspiritualpigs.com/bio.html


*Podcast Interview Segments from WTFTM* Interview Segment One, mp3 Interview Segment Two, mp3

*The Sweet New ,* 2007, 16mm, 58:50 The Sweet New is an experimental narrative, based on the stage play by the same name which played to sold out houses in San Francisco in 2004. The film examines change and identity through the lives of three generations of an Italian-American family and asks the question: what stays the same when we change everything? Shot entirely on a soundstage to provide a sense of hyper-reality, this film takes a quirky look at identity. View video clip. 104mg Quicktime movie.



(production stills below)

*Straightboy Lessons ,* 1999,16mm, 8:30 Straightboy Lessons is an experimental documentary that takes a celebratory look at a friendship between a transitioning female to male transsexual and a non-transsexual man. Articulate advice is given as to how to be a straight man, illustrated by to-the-point imagry and the structure of a numbered lesson plan. This film examines gender in a new/old light. National Finalist: Planet Out National Queer Short Movie Award Best Documentary. "Straightboy Lessons is the first film to show that the straight male is as constructed as any" —Inside Out, Toronto View video clip. 78mb Quicktime movie.

*Special,* 1998, 16mm, 13:52 Special is a satire, a documentary based on other documentaries about "The Mentally Ill". The film has as its subject a psychotic man who is badgered in interview into confessing his "ill" status. The lines of reality and performance are blurred and the ethical responsibility of the filmmaker is deliberately drawn into question.

*Wanted ,* 1997, 16mm, 4:50 Wanted is a look at the contrast between gay male and lesbian personal ads. Gender is reversed in the readers, leading towards a comic and confused mix of walks on the beach and sex in public. The film is shot in the straight-on style of a Warhol screen test. View video clip. 57mb Quicktime movie.

Third , 1996,16mm, 8:20
Third is an experimental narrative with a second life in its deeply layered soundtrack. Lit for night, and gelled for theatricality, Third looks at a trapped couple and their final release/demise. Winner: Vermillion Film Festival Award, 1996 "A cross between Chantal Ackerman and Blade Runner" —Bill Nichols, author of Representing Reality

View video clip. 65mb Quicktime movie.

For Nelie and Maria , 1993, 16mm, 6 min
For Nelie and Maria is a contact improvisation dance film with original choreography by Wes Staats and an original music score by George Spies. Three women start by playing paper/rocks/scissors and the game expands into an examination of the ability of siblings to use each other in movement and sound.

View video clip. 18mb Quicktime movie.

*Hear ,* 1991, 16mm, 4:12 Hear is a tryptich, contrasting the noise of the street with the silence of conformity. View video clip. 78mb Quicktime movie.

*Walk Out,* 1982, 16mm, 1:50 Walk Out is a satirical response to the advent of music videos.

*Telephone ,* 1982 This film examines the difficulties inherent in electronic communication.

Raymond Rea.