One of the more interesting recent trends in online video is the use of time-lapse photography to chart anything from a daylong event to years' worth of personal aging. The concept is hardly new, though. A local take on the format can be viewed in People Patterns, an avant-garde short film created nearly a quarter-century ago by Joel Fletcher.
Using time-lapse photography, the presents numerous snapshots of life in Madison circa 1982, during its post-protest era and pre-sprawl explosion wistfully recalled by many long-time residents. There are views of a traffic-filled State Street, a busy farmers' market, a packed Mifflin Street Block Party and that good ol' submerged Statue of Liberty, all bearing an indelible Eighties feel.
The four minute experimental film follows below.
Joel Fletcher is an artist and animator whose production includes "works in stop-motion and computer animation, time lapse, anaglyph 3D stereo, visionary painting, landscape photography, model making, life drawing, puppet sculpture, and visual effect." Since working in Madison a quarter-century ago, he has since applied his skills to commercials, television shows and feature films, including as an animator on X-Men: The Last Stand, King Kong, and The Nightmare Before Christmas. More of his work -- films, sculpture, paintings and photos -- is available at joelfletcher.com.
The appropriately synth-Eighties soundtrack to the film was composed by Bjorn Lynne, a Norwegian "sound designer" who has worked for the last decade composing music for everything from ringtones to planetarium soundscapes.
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