Stan Brakhage
male
Born on January 14, 1933 (92 years old)
Passed Away on March 09, 2003
From Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Known for Directing
Biography
Stan Brakhage is one of the most influential filmmakers in American avant-garde cinema, noted for his unflinching social commentaries and technical innovations. Over his nearly 40-year career, he has made over 200 films of varying length. He made his first film, Interim (1952) at age 18 after dropping out of college. Brakhage films seek to change the way we see. They encourage viewers to eschew traditional narrative structure in favor of pure visual perception that is not reliant on naming what is seen; rather his goal is to create a more visceral visual experience, for he believes that a "stream-of visual-consciousness could be nothing less than the pathway of the soul." To this end, his films are shot in highly sensual colors and utilize minimal soundtracks. His work can be divided into distinct periods. His first short films explored the properties and possibilities of light. In many of his experimental ventures, Brakhage has forgone traditional cinematography in favor of working directly with the film stock itself. He has occasionally painted, inked, scratched and dyed images onto it; he has also tried pasting organic objects on the film. His most famous example is the 1963 short Mothlight in which he glued moth wings onto the stock. Some of his early films were based on his most intimate experiences that included making love to his new bride--depicted on negative film--in Wedlock House: An Intercourse (1959), and an attempt to bring his dead dog back to life with a camera in Sirius Remembered (1959). During the 1960s, Brakhage's iconoclastic views were celebrated for their poetry, but during the '70s, his focus changed to social issues and he alienated many supporters with such disturbing film series as the "Pittsburgh documents" in which he presented many gruesome views of inner city life with films such as Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes (1971) which was shot in a morgue. He also continued with autobiographical material with the "Sincerity/Duplicity series. During the 1980s, Brakhage's focus again changed--this time he became intrigued with creating truly "abstract" films such as Arabics (1982) which consists of brilliant bursts of colored light which he claims, represent "envisioned music." In addition to filmmaking, Brakhage also wrote books about films and filmmaking and also served as a teacher.
Cast Credits
- 2022
- 2013
- 2011
- 2009
- 2008
- 2006
- 2004
- 2003
- 2002
- 2001
- 2000
- 1999
- 1998
- 1997
- 1996
- 1995
- 1994
- 1993
- 1991
- 1989
- 1988
- 1987
- 1986
- 1985
- 1984
- 1981
- 1979
- 1974
- 1972
- 1969
- 1965
- 1964
- 1963
- 1962
- 1959
- 1956
- 1954
Crew Credits
- 2011
- 2003
- 2002
- 2001
Lovesong
as
Director
2001
Rounds
as
Director
2001
Garden Path
as
Director
2001
- no image
Persian Series #13
as
Director
2001
- no image
Persian Series #15
as
Director
2001
- no image
Persian Series #17
as
Director
2001
- no image
Persian Series #14
as
Director
2001
Persian Series #16
as
Director
2001
- no image
Persian Series #18
as
Director
2001
Dark Night of The Soul
as
Director
2001
Lovesong 4
as
Director
2001
Lovesong 3
as
Director
2001
Lovesong 5 & 6
as
Director
2001
- no image
Occam's Thread
as
Director
2001
Micro Garden
as
Director
2001
- no image
Very
as
Director
2001
- no image
Night Mulch
as
Director
2001
Lovesong 2
as
Director
2001
- 2000
The God of Day Had Gone Down Upon Him
as
Director
2000
Water for Maya
as
Director
2000
- no image
Persian Series #8
as
Director
2000
- no image
Persian Series #7
as
Director
2000
Persian Series #11
as
Director
2000
- no image
Persian Series #9
as
Director
2000
- no image
Persian Series #12
as
Director
2000
Persian Series #10
as
Director
2000
Persian Series #6
as
Director
2000
Jesus Trilogy and Coda
as
Director
2000
- no image
Dance
as
Director
2000
- 1999
The Dark Tower
as
Director
1999
The Birds Of Paradise
as
Director
1999
Coupling
as
Director
1999
- no image
Stately Mansions Did Decree
as
Director
1999
Persian Series #1
as
Director
1999
Persian Series #3
as
Director
1999
Persian Series #2
as
Director
1999
Persian Series #4
as
Director
1999
Persian Series #5
as
Director
1999
The Lion and the Zebra Make God's Raw Jewels
as
Director
1999
Cloud Chamber
as
Director
1999
Worm and Web Love
as
Director
1999
- no image
Moilsome Toilsome
as
Director
1999
The Earthsong of the Cricket
as
Director
1999
Cricket Requiem
as
Director
1999
- 1998
- 1997
- 1996
Comingled Containers
as
Director
1996
Shockingly Hot
as
Director
1996
Prelude 2
as
Director
1996
Prelude 4
as
Director
1996
Prelude 3
as
Director
1996
Prelude 1
as
Director
1996
Prelude 5
as
Director
1996
Prelude 10
as
Director
1996
Prelude 11
as
Director
1996
Prelude 8
as
Director
1996
Prelude 9
as
Director
1996
- no image
Prelude 12
as
Director
1996
Prelude 7
as
Director
1996
Prelude 13
as
Director
1996
Prelude 6
as
Director
1996
Prelude 14
as
Director
1996
- no image
Prelude 16
as
Director
1996
- no image
Prelude 15
as
Director
1996
- no image
Prelude 23
as
Director
1996
- no image
Prelude 18
as
Director
1996
- no image
Prelude 19
as
Director
1996
- no image
Prelude 20
as
Director
1996
- no image
Prelude 21
as
Director
1996
- no image
Prelude 17
as
Director
1996
- no image
Prelude 22
as
Director
1996
- no image
Prelude 24
as
Director
1996
- no image
Blue Value
as
Director
1996
Sexual Saga
as
Director
1996
- no image
Two Found Objects of Charles Boultenhouse
as
Director
1996
Beautiful Funerals
as
Director
1996
Polite Madness
as
Director
1996
Concrescence
as
Director
1996
- no image
Through Wounded Eyes
as
Director
1996
- no image
The Fur of Home
as
Director
1996
- 1995
- 1994
- 1993
- 1992
- 1991
- 1990
Glaze of Cathexis
as
Director
1990
Visions in Meditation #4: D.H. Lawrence
as
Director
1990
Visions in Meditation #3: Plato's Cave
as
Director
1990
Passage Through: A Ritual
as
Director
1990
City Streaming
as
Director
1990
Babylon Series #3
as
Director
1990
Babylon Series #2
as
Director
1990
Vision of the Fire Tree
as
Director
1990
The Thatch of Night
as
Director
1990
- 1989
- 1988
- 1987
- 1986
- 1985
- 1984
- 1981
The Garden of Earthly Delights
as
Director
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 12
as
Director
1981
Unconscious London Strata
as
Director
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 4
as
Director
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 1
as
Director
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 2
as
Director
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 3
as
Director
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 5
as
Director
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 6
as
Director
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 9
as
Director
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 8
as
Director
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 11
as
Director
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 7
as
Director
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 0 + 10
as
Director
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 13
as
Director
1981
Made Manifest
as
Director
1981
- no image
RR
as
Director
1981
Aftermath
as
Director
1981
Nodes
as
Director
1981
- 1980
Murder Psalm
as
Director
1980
Duplicity III
as
Director
1980
Roman Numeral: VI
as
Director
1980
Roman Numeral: V
as
Director
1980
Roman Numeral: VII
as
Director
1980
Roman Numeral: IV
as
Director
1980
Roman Numeral: IX
as
Director
1980
- no image
Roman Numeral: VIII
as
Director
1980
- no image
4A
as
Director
1980
Sincerity V
as
Director
1980
Other
as
Director
1980
Salome
as
Director
1980
- 1979
- 1978
Burial Path
as
Director
1978
Thot-Fal'N
as
Director
1978
Thot-Fal'N
as
Editor
1978
Thot-Fal'N
as
Cinematography
1978
Bird
as
Director
1978
Centre
as
Director
1978
Nightmare Series
as
Director
1978
Sluice
as
Director
1978
Duplicity I
as
Director
1978
Sincerity III
as
Director
1978
Purity and After
as
Director
1978
- no image
Duplicity II
as
Director
1978
- 1977
- 1976
- no image
Gadflies
as
Director
1976
Desert
as
Director
1976
Window
as
Director
1976
- no image
Sketches
as
Director
1976
Highs
as
Director
1976
Rembrandt, Etc., and Jane
as
Director
1976
Absence
as
Director
1976
Trio
as
Director
1976
The Dream, N.Y.C., The Return, The Flower
as
Director
1976
- no image
Short Films 1976
as
Director
1976
Airs
as
Director
1976
Trio
as
Cinematography
1976
- 1975
Short Films 1975: #1 (Jane’s Memory)
as
Director
1975
Short Films 1975: #2 (Dante’s Styx)
as
Director
1975
Short Films 1975: #5 (Niagara Falls)
as
Director
1975
Short Films 1975: #4 (Lady in Glass)
as
Director
1975
Short Films 1975: #3 (Hollis Frampton)
as
Director
1975
Short Films 1975: #6 (Stars, Chickens, Eyes, Candles)
as
Director
1975
Short Films 1975: #8 (Small Town Streets)
as
Director
1975
Short Films 1975: #7 (Turning the Raccoon Loose)
as
Director
1975
Short Films 1975
as
Director
1975
Sincerity II
as
Director
1975
Short Films 1975: #10 (Painted Lightning)
as
Director
1975
Short Films 1975: #9 (Forest Love Scene)
as
Director
1975
- 1974
The Stars Are Beautiful
as
Director
1974
The Text of Light
as
Director
1974
Star Garden
as
Director
1974
Aquarien
as
Director
1974
Skein
as
Director
1974
Clancy
as
Director
1974
The Stars Are Beautiful
as
Cinematography
1974
The Stars Are Beautiful
as
Editor
1974
The Stars Are Beautiful
as
Writer
1974
Flight
as
Director
1974
Hymn to Her
as
Director
1974
“He was born, he suffered, he died.”
as
Director
1974
Sol
as
Director
1974
Dominion
as
Director
1974
The Text of Light
as
Director of Photography
1974
- 1973
- 1972
The Wold-Shadow
as
Director
1972
The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes
as
Director
1972
The Process
as
Director
1972
The Riddle of Lumen
as
Director
1972
- no image
Wecht
as
Director
1972
Sexual Meditation: Hotel
as
Director
1972
The Shores of Phos: A Fable
as
Director
1972
Sexual Meditation: Faun's Room, Yale
as
Director
1972
Sexual Meditation: Office Suite
as
Director
1972
Eye Myth Educational
as
Director
1972
Eye Myth Educational
as
Writer
1972
The Presence
as
Director
1972
The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes
as
Director of Photography
1972
The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes
as
Editor
1972
- 1971
- 1970
- 1969
Scenes from Under Childhood, Section Two
as
Director
1969
Scenes from Under Childhood, Section Three
as
Director
1969
Song 28
as
Director
1969
Song 29
as
Director
1969
My Mtn. Song 27 Part II: Rivers
as
Director
1969
American 30s Song
as
Director
1969
- no image
Window Suite of Children's Songs
as
Director
1969
- no image
Nuptiae
as
Director of Photography
1969
- 1968
- 1967
- 1966
- 1965
The Art of Vision
as
Director
1965
Two: Creeley/McClure
as
Director
1965
Fire of Waters
as
Director
1965
Song 9
as
Director
1965
Song 14
as
Director
1965
Song 10
as
Director
1965
Song 12
as
Director
1965
Song 13
as
Director
1965
Song 11
as
Director
1965
Three Films: Blue White/Blood's Tone/Vein
as
Director
1965
- no image
15 Song Traits
as
Director
1965
The Art of Vision
as
Editor
1965
The Art of Vision
as
Cinematography
1965
The Art of Vision
as
Producer
1965
Black Vision
as
Director
1965
- no image
Blood's Tone
as
Director
1965
Dog Star Man
as
Director
1965
Dog Star Man
as
Writer
1965
Dog Star Man
as
Director of Photography
1965
Dog Star Man
as
Editor
1965
- 1964
Dog Star Man: Part III
as
Director
1964
Dog Star Man: Part IV
as
Director
1964
Song 1
as
Director
1964
Song 6
as
Director
1964
Song 7
as
Director
1964
Song 2
as
Director
1964
Song 3
as
Director
1964
Song 4
as
Director
1964
Song 5
as
Director
1964
Song 8
as
Director
1964
Song 5
as
Editor
1964
Song 1
as
Cinematography
1964
Song 1
as
Editor
1964
Song 5
as
Cinematography
1964
- 1963
- 1962
Prelude: Dog Star Man
as
Director
1962
Blue Moses
as
Director
1962
- no image
Silent Sound Sense Stars Subotnick and Sender
as
Director
1962
- no image
Mr. Tompkins Inside Himself
as
Director
1962
- no image
Mr. Tompkins Inside Himself
as
Editor
1962
- no image
Mr. Tompkins Inside Himself
as
Writer
1962
Blue Moses
as
Cinematography
1962
Blue Moses
as
Editor
1962
Blue Moses
as
Writer
1962
- 1961
Thigh Line Lyre Triangular
as
Director
1961
Ballad of the Colorado Ute
as
Editor
1961
Ballad of the Colorado Ute
as
Cinematography
1961
Films by Stan Brakhage: An Avant-Garde Home Movie
as
Director
1961
Sartre's Nausea
as
Director
1961
Ballad of the Colorado Ute
as
Director
1961
Thigh Line Lyre Triangular
as
Editor
1961
Thigh Line Lyre Triangular
as
Cinematography
1961
- 1960
- 1959
- 1958
- 1957
- 1956
- 1955
- no image
Untitled Film of Geoffrey Holder's Wedding
as
Director
1955
Centuries of June
as
Director
1955
The Wonder Ring
as
Director
1955
- no image
Reflections on Black
as
Director
1955
In Between
as
Director
1955
In Between
as
Editor
1955
In Between
as
Cinematography
1955
In Between
as
Writer
1955
The Wonder Ring
as
Editor
1955
- no image
Reflections on Black
as
Cinematography
1955
- no image
Reflections on Black
as
Writer
1955
The Wonder Ring
as
Cinematography
1955
- no image
Reflections on Black
as
Editor
1955
- 1954
Desistfilm
as
Director
1954
- no image
The Way to Shadow Garden
as
Director
1954
The Extraordinary Child
as
Director
1954
- no image
The Way to Shadow Garden
as
Cinematography
1954
- no image
The Way to Shadow Garden
as
Sound Designer
1954
- no image
The Way to Shadow Garden
as
Writer
1954
The Extraordinary Child
as
Cinematography
1954
The Extraordinary Child
as
Writer
1954
Desistfilm
as
Writer
1954
Desistfilm
as
Cinematography
1954
Desistfilm
as
Editor
1954
The Extraordinary Child
as
Editor
1954
- no image
The Way to Shadow Garden
as
Editor
1954
- 1953
- 2012
- 2010
- 2009
- 1983
- 1982
- 1952
