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
- 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
- 1968
- 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
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Persian Series #13
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Director
2001
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Persian Series #15
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Director
2001
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Persian Series #17
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Director
2001
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Persian Series #14
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Director
2001
Persian Series #16
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Director
2001
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Persian Series #18
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Director
2001
Dark Night of The Soul
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Director
2001
Lovesong 4
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Director
2001
Lovesong 3
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Director
2001
Lovesong 5 & 6
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Director
2001
Occam's Thread
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Director
2001
Micro Garden
as
Director
2001
Very
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Director
2001
Night Mulch
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Director
2001
Lovesong 2
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Director
2001
- 2000
The God of Day Had Gone Down Upon Him
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Director
2000
Water for Maya
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Director
2000
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Persian Series #8
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Director
2000
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Persian Series #7
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Director
2000
Persian Series #11
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Director
2000
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Persian Series #9
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Director
2000
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Persian Series #12
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Director
2000
Persian Series #10
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Director
2000
Persian Series #6
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Director
2000
Jesus Trilogy and Coda
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Director
2000
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Dance
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Director
2000
- 1999
The Dark Tower
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Director
1999
The Birds Of Paradise
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Director
1999
Coupling
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Director
1999
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Stately Mansions Did Decree
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Director
1999
Persian Series #1
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Director
1999
Persian Series #3
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Director
1999
Persian Series #2
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Director
1999
Persian Series #4
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Director
1999
Persian Series #5
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Director
1999
The Lion and the Zebra Make God's Raw Jewels
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Director
1999
Cloud Chamber
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Director
1999
Worm and Web Love
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Director
1999
Moilsome Toilsome
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Director
1999
The Earthsong of the Cricket
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Director
1999
Cricket Requiem
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Director
1999
- 1998
- 1997
- 1996
Comingled Containers
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Director
1996
Shockingly Hot
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Director
1996
Prelude 10
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Director
1996
Prelude 11
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Director
1996
Prelude 8
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1996
Prelude 9
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1996
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Prelude 12
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1996
Prelude 7
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Director
1996
Prelude 13
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Director
1996
Prelude 14
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Director
1996
Prelude 16
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Director
1996
Prelude 15
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Director
1996
Prelude 23
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1996
Prelude 18
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1996
Prelude 19
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1996
Prelude 20
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1996
Prelude 21
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1996
Prelude 17
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1996
Prelude 22
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1996
Prelude 24
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Director
1996
Blue Value
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Director
1996
Sexual Saga
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Director
1996
Two Found Objects of Charles Boultenhouse
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Director
1996
Beautiful Funerals
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Director
1996
Polite Madness
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Director
1996
Concrescence
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Director
1996
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Through Wounded Eyes
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Director
1996
The Fur of Home
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Director
1996
- 1995
I Take These Truths
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Director
1995
The 'b' Series
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Director
1995
Prelude 2
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Director
1995
Prelude 4
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Director
1995
Prelude 3
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Director
1995
Prelude 1
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Director
1995
Prelude 5
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Director
1995
Prelude 6
as
Director
1995
I...
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Director
1995
In Consideration of Pompeii
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Director
1995
We Hold These
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Director
1995
Spring Cycle
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Director
1995
Paranoia Corridor
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Director
1995
The "Lost" Films
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Director
1995
Earthen Aerie
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Director
1995
- 1994
- 1993
- 1992
- 1991
- 1990
Glaze of Cathexis
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Director
1990
Visions in Meditation #4: D.H. Lawrence
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Director
1990
Visions in Meditation #3: Plato's Cave
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Director
1990
Passage Through: A Ritual
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Director
1990
City Streaming
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Director
1990
Babylon Series #3
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Director
1990
Babylon Series #2
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Director
1990
Vision of the Fire Tree
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Director
1990
The Thatch of Night
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Director
1990
- 1989
- 1988
- 1987
- 1986
- 1985
- 1984
- 1981
The Garden of Earthly Delights
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Director
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 12
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Director
1981
Unconscious London Strata
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Director
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 4
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Director
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 1
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Director
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 2
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1981
Arabic Numeral Series 3
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1981
Arabic Numeral Series 5
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Director
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 6
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Director
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 9
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1981
Arabic Numeral Series 8
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Director
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 11
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Director
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 7
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Director
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 0 + 10
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Director
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 13
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Director
1981
Made Manifest
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Director
1981
RR
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Director
1981
Aftermath
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Director
1981
Nodes
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1981
- 1980
Murder Psalm
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1980
Duplicity III
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Director
1980
Roman Numeral: VI
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1980
Roman Numeral: V
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Director
1980
Roman Numeral: VII
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Director
1980
Roman Numeral: IV
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Director
1980
Roman Numeral: IX
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1980
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Roman Numeral: VIII
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1980
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4A
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1980
Sincerity V
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Director
1980
Other
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Director
1980
Salome
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Director
1980
- 1979
- 1978
- 1977
- 1976
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Gadflies
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Director
1976
Desert
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Director
1976
Window
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Director
1976
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Sketches
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Director
1976
Highs
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Director
1976
Rembrandt, Etc., and Jane
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Director
1976
Absence
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Director
1976
Trio
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Director
1976
The Dream, N.Y.C., The Return, The Flower
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Director
1976
Short Films 1976
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Director
1976
Airs
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Director
1976
Trio
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Cinematography
1976
- 1975
Short Films 1975: #1 (Jane’s Memory)
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Director
1975
Short Films 1975: #2 (Dante’s Styx)
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Director
1975
Short Films 1975: #5 (Niagara Falls)
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Director
1975
Short Films 1975: #4 (Lady in Glass)
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Director
1975
Short Films 1975: #3 (Hollis Frampton)
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Director
1975
Short Films 1975: #6 (Stars, Chickens, Eyes, Candles)
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Director
1975
Short Films 1975: #8 (Small Town Streets)
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Director
1975
Short Films 1975: #7 (Turning the Raccoon Loose)
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1975
Short Films 1975
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Director
1975
Sincerity II
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Director
1975
Short Films 1975: #10 (Painted Lightning)
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Director
1975
Short Films 1975: #9 (Forest Love Scene)
as
Director
1975
- 1974
The Stars Are Beautiful
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Director
1974
The Text of Light
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Director
1974
Star Garden
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Director
1974
Aquarien
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Director
1974
Skein
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Director
1974
Clancy
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Director
1974
The Stars Are Beautiful
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Cinematography
1974
The Stars Are Beautiful
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Editor
1974
The Stars Are Beautiful
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Writer
1974
Flight
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Director
1974
Hymn to Her
as
Director
1974
“He was born, he suffered, he died.”
as
Director
1974
Sol
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Director
1974
Dominion
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Director
1974
The Text of Light
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Director of Photography
1974
- 1973
- 1972
The Wold-Shadow
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Director
1972
The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes
as
Director
1972
The Process
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Director
1972
The Riddle of Lumen
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Director
1972
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Wecht
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Director
1972
Sexual Meditation: Hotel
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Director
1972
The Shores of Phos: A Fable
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Director
1972
Sexual Meditation: Faun's Room, Yale
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Director
1972
Sexual Meditation: Office Suite
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Director
1972
Eye Myth Educational
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Director
1972
Eye Myth Educational
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Writer
1972
The Presence
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Director
1972
The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes
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Director of Photography
1972
The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes
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Editor
1972
- 1971
- 1970
- 1969
Scenes from Under Childhood, Section Two
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Director
1969
Scenes from Under Childhood, Section Three
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Director
1969
Song 28
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Director
1969
Song 29
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Director
1969
My Mtn. Song 27 Part II: Rivers
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Director
1969
American 30s Song
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Director
1969
Window Suite of Children's Songs
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Director
1969
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Nuptiae
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Director of Photography
1969
Songs
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Director
1969
Songs
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Editor
1969
Songs
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Cinematography
1969
Songs
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Writer
1969
- 1968
- 1967
- 1966
- 1965
The Art of Vision
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Director
1965
Two: Creeley/McClure
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Director
1965
Fire of Waters
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Director
1965
Song 9
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Director
1965
Song 14
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Director
1965
Song 10
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Director
1965
Song 12
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Director
1965
Song 13
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Director
1965
Song 11
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Director
1965
Three Films: Blue White/Blood's Tone/Vein
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Director
1965
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15 Song Traits
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Director
1965
The Art of Vision
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Editor
1965
The Art of Vision
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Cinematography
1965
The Art of Vision
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Producer
1965
Black Vision
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Director
1965
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Blood's Tone
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Director
1965
Dog Star Man
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Director
1965
Dog Star Man
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Writer
1965
Dog Star Man
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Director of Photography
1965
Dog Star Man
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Editor
1965
- 1964
Dog Star Man: Part III
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Director
1964
Dog Star Man: Part IV
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Director
1964
Song 1
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Director
1964
Song 6
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Director
1964
Song 7
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Director
1964
Song 2
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Director
1964
Song 3
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Director
1964
Song 4
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Director
1964
Song 5
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Director
1964
Song 8
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Director
1964
Song 5
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Editor
1964
Song 1
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Cinematography
1964
Song 1
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Editor
1964
Song 5
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Cinematography
1964
- 1963
- 1962
Prelude: Dog Star Man
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Director
1962
Blue Moses
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Director
1962
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Silent Sound Sense Stars Subotnick and Sender
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Director
1962
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Mr. Tompkins Inside Himself
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Director
1962
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Mr. Tompkins Inside Himself
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Editor
1962
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Mr. Tompkins Inside Himself
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Writer
1962
Blue Moses
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Cinematography
1962
Blue Moses
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Editor
1962
Blue Moses
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Writer
1962
- 1961
Thigh Line Lyre Triangular
as
Director
1961
Ballad of the Colorado Ute
as
Editor
1961
Ballad of the Colorado Ute
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Cinematography
1961
Films by Stan Brakhage: An Avant-Garde Home Movie
as
Director
1961
Sartre's Nausea
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Director
1961
Ballad of the Colorado Ute
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Director
1961
Thigh Line Lyre Triangular
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Editor
1961
Thigh Line Lyre Triangular
as
Cinematography
1961
- 1960
- 1959
- 1958
- 1957
- 1956
- 1955
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Untitled Film of Geoffrey Holder's Wedding
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Director
1955
Centuries of June
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Director
1955
The Wonder Ring
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Director
1955
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Reflections on Black
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Director
1955
In Between
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Director
1955
In Between
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Editor
1955
In Between
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Cinematography
1955
In Between
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Writer
1955
The Wonder Ring
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Editor
1955
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Reflections on Black
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Cinematography
1955
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Reflections on Black
as
Writer
1955
The Wonder Ring
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Cinematography
1955
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Reflections on Black
as
Editor
1955
- 1954
Desistfilm
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Director
1954
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The Way to Shadow Garden
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Director
1954
The Extraordinary Child
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Director
1954
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The Way to Shadow Garden
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Cinematography
1954
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The Way to Shadow Garden
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Sound Designer
1954
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The Way to Shadow Garden
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Writer
1954
The Extraordinary Child
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Cinematography
1954
The Extraordinary Child
as
Writer
1954
Desistfilm
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Writer
1954
Desistfilm
as
Cinematography
1954
Desistfilm
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Editor
1954
The Extraordinary Child
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Editor
1954
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The Way to Shadow Garden
as
Editor
1954
- 1953
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