Adam Cooley
Nothing is More Beautiful Than Nothing
Homepage: http://www.youtube.com/mradamcooley
Feature By: Jonathan Earley
Using only lo-fi cameras and Microsoft's infamously retro graphic software - Paint, Adam Cooley has created a series of abstract short films that resemble digital toxic waste - and I mean that in a good way. Adam's videos take the observer through a sequence of psychological stages: first repulse, then confusion, then fear, then curiosity, then a zen-like state of calm hypnosis.
After creating his first video about eight months ago out of boredom, Cooley's videos have shown in film festivals across the country. In an experimental and emotionally guided process, Cooley assembles his videos from a variety of online and home-made sources.
C-buz: There appears to be a lot of thought and creativity that goes into each of video. Could you explain your basic process?
Adam Cooley: There isn't one, honestly. Haha. Things just come to me. I just will shoot whatever I find interesting, and then just piece it together in some way that makes sense to me. I can't explain it at all, actually.
CB: What types of equipment and software do you use?
AC: So far, I've been extremely lo-fi and primitive in what I use. My equipment has been a JAZZ DV152 camera, some Sony VHS camcorder, some old Logitech webcam. My software is VirtualDub, MSPaint, and Windows Movie Maker... haha. One day, I'll probably do something a bit more, um, hi-def.. but right now, I'm trying to push this lo-fi thing to its logical limit.
CB: Audio plays a big role in your videos. Do you feel like that is as much work as the visual component?
AC: Oh yeah, definitely. I spend more time on the sound than I do anything else. Thanks for noticing!
CB: Most of your videos feel very satirical. What are some themes that you are trying to express?
I am basically just expressing things that are interesting to me. There is definitely a dark sense of humor -- maybe, more accurately, a very particular sense of humor. There's elements of satire, parody... there's pretty much elements of everything.. all my videos are just my brain vomit.
CB: To someone who may not be into abstract art, your work may seem pretty nonsensical or meaningless. Is there a method to the madness? When you create your videos, do you have a clear story or idea in your mind?
AC: Well, I tend to just shoot things I find interesting and don't put much thought into it, initially. However, as I continue to shoot and edit, things start to coalesce and a story develops. I suppose I do start out with a sentence or two in my mind that would constitute as a "plot", and I will say it's definitely not meaningless, because everything eventually fits into place. I can take anything and make it fit the theme, or the idea I'm trying to express.
“I like to compare making my movies to solving rubik's cubes. I just kind of play with them a while and eventually all the sides even out the same color, but it can be a long and complex process. ”
CB:How do most people react to your videos?
AC: Well, it's definitely love-it-or-hate-it; there's no middle, there's no indifference. I will say, most people will at least recognize its merits in the editing and the sound -- the technical side. Most people can get into that at least. But I don't think everyone really appreciates the other elements. Which is fine, you know? I showed one of my films (CAN'T OR WON'T NOT) at Tromadance, and one girl yelled, 5 minutes into it, "THIS IS THE MOST *bleep*ED UP THING I'VE EVER SEEN!" There was also tons of laughter. I've noticed people seem to laugh at my stuff a lot. Sorry, laugh WITH it... see, even though I didn't initially intend to do this -- since people find them so funny -- I market my films to people as abstract comedies now. Haha. Unless they don't laugh. Then, it's a drama! ... But, really, the best answer for this is: The people that are meant to "get" it.. get it.
CB: What or who are some of your biggest influences in terms of film or fine art?
AC: Film: Jean-Luc Godard, Damon Packard, Takeshi Kitano, James Fotopoulos, Jon Jost, Shuji Terayama, Toshio Matsumoto, Bella Tarr, Aki Kaurismaki, Jon Moritsugu, Ryan Trecartin, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Ki-Duk Kim, Shinya Tsukamoto, Giuseppe Andrews, Stan Brakhage, etc. Art (not too fine): Ad Reinhardt, Giorgio de Chirico, Zane Lewis, Rosson Crow, Keegan McHargue, James Jirat Patradoon, Blu, etc.
CB: When did you first get into video production? What sparked your interest?
AC: About 8 months ago. Honestly, I was just bored. I was watching my girlfriend's house for a week, I downloaded VirtualDub and I just played around with pictures and footage and made an entire film with no money and nothing planned-out, almost completely with MSPaint and a webcam. It's since went on to play various film festivals. I just did it out of boredom. But I keep doing it, mainly out of boredom as well.
CB: Have you shown any of your work publicly besides on the Internet?
AC: Yeah, my first film played in Oregon, in a theater in Washington DC, and at Tromadance in Franklin, Indiana. I also just submitted some of my films to an art institute, a few film festivals, and a cable access show who wants to use clips from my stuff -- all this is based in New York. I've been so busy with making stuff that I haven't had time to totally advertise and get my stuff out there like I want to, but I'm going to be screening my stuff April 30th at the Bishop in Bloomington, Indiana.. if anyone's interested.
CB: What are your thoughts on Youtube and how it has made video sharing so widespread and accessible to the general public? How has hit affected you?
AC: Youtube used to be amazing, back when it started. It's still cool, but it's nowhere near the beast it used to be. Too many musicians and film studios and so on, complaining about money they never would have had to begin with. I think art should be free.. I think everything should be free. Donation-based, or perhaps you can put the product out there for people who want it -- but if people REALLY want to see it and don't have the money, then you might as well just provide it for free. That's a whole other rant. Personally, ubuweb is my youtube.
CB: What is your favorite video that you have created and why?
AC: I haven't made my favorite yet.
CB: What are your thoughts on the Columbus music and art scene? Do you feel like things are moving in the right direction? What would you like to see change?
AC: I'm not sure. I've been involved with it since I was 12, and I've had bands with varying levels of success, and I've seen a ton of bands that should have been successful come and go tons of times. There are so many insanely talented people in Columbus that it boggles my mind. There are still tons of close-minded people who can't handle anything beyond 4/4 and 3 power chords, but that's everywhere you go. There actually is a surprising amount of open minded people around here, which I really appreciate. I really enjoy living in Columbus, actually. The biggest problem is getting your work out there. It seems like there's nowhere here for me to actually play my music, or to show my films. Luckily, we live close to Bloomington!
Could you describe your involvement with audio and music production?
I have been making music since the age of 12, when I started just banging on coffee cans and yelling. Since then, I've been in about 30 bands. I mainly make music now with just Scissor Shock and Robe... all my bands tend to be on the experimental side.
Could you talk more specifically about Scissor Shock? How did you form? Who all is in it?
Scissor Shock has released 5 full length albums, about 8 EP's, about 20 split releases, and a bunch of other miscellanous goodies. Our entire discography is at http://www.last.fm/music/Scissor+Shock ... Scissor Shock formed out of boredom, by me, in 2003, and it's always been mainly my band, but I've had many, many collaborators over the last 7 years. Right now, it's mainly me and Aaron Booe. All of our releases sound quite different, and I've had quite a bit of success with the project, I guess...
What is a typical Scissor Shock show like?
Well, we haven't played a show in about a year, but all the shows were pretty intense and ridiculous. Confrontational, to an extent, but also fun. Not violent, just in-your-face and absurd. They've all been pretty different, as I have different collaborators during each one. A few shows were just me and a drum machine -- one show had about 17 people on stage. There are a few clips on youtube, if anyone's interested.
CB: What are some of your goals for the future in terms of video work and art?
AC: Keep challenging myself -- and challenging the viewer.