1975 “ALAE” – 5 Min.


Music by F. Richard Moore. “The most fascinating use of the computer in filmmaking that I have seen recently is in L. Schwartz’ ALAE. Beginning with footage of sea birds in flight, the film image is then optically scanned and transformed by the computer. The geometric overlay on live random motion has the effect of creating new depth, a third dimension. Our perception of the birds’ forms and movements is heightened by the abstract pattern outlining them. Even if you suffer from the delusion that if you’ve seen one computer film, you’ve seen them all, give this stunning, original film a chance. Should you remain unconvinced, ALAE is a good example of the fact that computer technology seems destined to play an important role in animation.” – Jana Varlejs, Cine-Opsis, \f2Wilson Library Bull.\f1, March 1976. Whitney Museum of American Art.