Laser, Lights & Lenses 2009/2010

(Technical notes on the filming of a series of videos created using this

specific technique. I have chosen to publish portions of my directorial notes
regarding the process by which these shorts were created and produced.
Now, nearly one year since the conception of this method two videos in
particular have met with considerable success. “The Angel pf Passion”
because it was created as a music video for the band ‘Grumpus’ and thus was
virtually created to synchronize with the soundtrack.)

Both examples can be viewed at CHRISKUHNI, a channel on Youtube. The

second is entitled “LuLu”, and is a perfect, clean and exact example of that
which I describe below.

Others, (ten at this time), have been created, a few can be found elsewhere
on the web but at least half have not to date been published.

It is a point of interest to me as a producer that video can be created first and then audio
constructed in a secondary order or the exact reverse, whereby the Audio dictates each
and every element of the visual accompaniment. It is literally one of the first
considerations I generally make.

I am currently producing a body of work entitled Lasers, Light & Lenses, which is a
compilation of many diverse short videos, (between 2-3 minutes maximum). Two of
these releases are currently available for public viewing and are being arranged into a
play list of their own. The separate parts of the work have only a few, critical
commonalities:

These pieces are filmed in near virtual blackness save for the light that their own
apparatii emits.

They are filmed on elaborate, miniature sets constructed of panes of glass, mirror , etc.,
and other reflective/ holographic materials; all sorts of lenses for every imaginable
applications from telescopic, television, camera, etc,; also converse, convex dome and
ellipse magnification devices and so on. Apart from this these sets have little other,
superfluous or decorative structure. Often times, thin, wire-frame armature will be
incorporated to create, for instance, height or to focus distance – as will baffles of various
sorts, for the creation of live shadowing.

The true essence of these works is the dynamic interplay of light in an interactive and
stimulating arena. The sources are generally three benign types of common lasers;
theatrical/photographic filters that mount over the front casings of small spot lights which
can be focused , (for theater work); a large assortment of low WATT, (highly effective
for tone and ambience), lights for the home and holidays which now mostly all
incorporate Light Emitting Diodes – some even sporting their own unique effects like
blooms and spectrum cycling; Variable speed strobe lights as used in Printing Houses and
Publishing facilities; various colored hand-held LED flashlights; ultraviolet illumination
both via 100WATT filament bulb and neon gas bulb.

Occasionally I have planed and written parameters for use of controlled fire from hidden
candle flames in constructed mirrored chambers and corridors together with smoke
toward the end of creating an area depth effect, and small computer fans to direct and
disburse these clouds of contained smoke. Also, bodies of contained, perhaps colored or
luminescent liquids to create other illusions, as focused light, (such as a laser beams),
pass through creating distortions and random optical phenomena.

Many of these techniques, (less those available to the cinematographers working with
actual tape who are able to splice and alter it in various ways), are reminiscent of early
Surrealist Film Makers such as Jean Cocteau.

In the months to come, please look for this group of pieces to grow in number on a
regular basis. And, please, anyone who is interested in this project, I welcome your
comments and criticisms – but most importantly, participation, because of how much I
learn, consistently, from interaction with critical viewers. Thus, I will enthusiastically
give thought to and respond quickly to any comments that I receive regarding this project

I can be reached on Facebook, [ http://www.facebook.com/ ] as

Paul Christian Kuhni, where my Email address is published.

The first and forth pieces in the work are:

1) LuLu
2) “Angel of Passion”

These can be viewed on my Youtube channel: CHRISKUHNI

http://www.youtube.com/user/ChrisKuhni

Sincerely, Paul Christian Kühni ~~~ ChrisXross Graphics®2009