The Phonotrope | jimlefevre

Synopsis

Some documentation into a discovery I made around 2005 which built into a really nice way of animating and the core of a workshop I now do.

Production Details

Self initiated

Production Company

Music

N/A

Talent

Part 1

Experiments commissioned by for Stephen Skrynka

Part 2

Experiments initiated with Malcolm Goldie for the ICA Heavy Pencil evenings

Part 3

Phonotrope work for Hillbilly Films (also on a separate page on the site)

Around 2004 I had an idea which ruminated in my head for a long while until I realised I was talking about the idea but not doing anything about it so I just stopped talking about it until I HAD done something.

That something ended up working on the first attempt.

The basic idea was that if one had a record player spinning at a certain RPM (Revolutions Per Minute - 45) and a camera taking frames at a certain FPS (Frames Per Second - 25) then surely you would be able to work out how far the disc would have turned in one frame.

Around 2004 I had an idea which ruminated in my head for a long while until I realised I was talking about the idea but not doing anything about it so I just stopped talking about it until I HAD done something.

That something ended up working on the first attempt.

The basic idea was that if one had a record player spinning at a certain RPM (Revolutions Per Minute - 45) and a camera taking frames at a certain FPS (Frames Per Second - 25) then surely you would be able to work out how far the disc would have turned in one frame.

Apart from a few further experiments not much happened until Nexus Productions, the company I was represented by at the time, were invited to do an evening of events at the V&A so I got a whole load of discs printed and performed an evening of demonstrations to much warmth and positivity.

From here on in there have been many workshops (for people such as the National Saturday Club and The Big Draw) using the technique as well as a few commissions using it however I'm most proud of the fact that it is out in the world and that it is simply an awesome thing to get infront of kids and adults alike.

If you would like a workshop or talk please do get in touch