Underground Film Journal

Posted In » Screenings

Hammer Museum: Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then

By Mike Everleth ⋅ June 12, 2010

Corner exterior of the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles

June 15
8:00 p.m.
Billy Wilder Theater, in the UCLA Hammer Museum
10899 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA

Hosted by: Hammer Museum

Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then is the first feature film by underground film animator Brent Green. The film is based on the true story of a man who, in an effort to cure his beloved wife of a terminal illness, built her an immense, puzzle-shaped house. The hope was that the house’s unique layout and construction would have special healing properties.

In addition to being Green’s first feature-length project, Gravity also marks a slightly different approach to animation for the filmmaker. Instead of manipulating stop-motion puppets or life-sized inanimate constructs, Green has used live actors, but still shot the film using stop-motion photography. The centerpiece scene of the film is a stop-motion car crash that was filmed with real cars and live actors.

This special one-night-only screening in Los Angeles will also be accompanied by a live score, with Green providing the live narration; Brendan Canty of Fugazi on drums; John Swartz on cello; and with Donna K — one of the stars the film as well as a filmmaking collaborator — performing live foley and percussion.

To learn more about the film, you can watch the trailer below and read Donna K’s in-depth blog on the making of the film.

Watch the trailer: