FILM
Stacey Steers
26th Raindance Film Festival 2018
‘EDGE OF ALCHEMY’
BEST ANIMATION SHORT | USA, 19 min | Tickets
In EDGE OF ALCHEMY the silent-era actors Mary Pickford and Janet Gaynor are seamlessly transported from their early films of the 1920s and cast into a surreal epic, with an upending of the Frankenstein story and an undercurrent of hive collapse.
Hey Stacey, thanks for talking to TNC, how is everything going?
Just fine, thanks for asking
Any nerves ahead of the screening?
I’ve had a lot of screenings at this point and sadly, can’t be in London. So it will be what it will be!
What does it mean to be screening The Edge of Alchemy at Raindance 2018?
I’m delighted. It’s my first screening of the film in London, so cool!
Tell me a little bit about The Edge of Alchemy, how did the film come about?
I’ve been making films from handmade collages for about 15 years. This is the latest one.
"Original, experimental, poetic."
What was your most challenging part of making this film?
Creating all of the artwork by hand and matching the silent film sequences from one moment to the next. I pull actors out of various films and string together image sequences, so they can have a new role.
Have you always had a passion for filmmaking?
Yes. I’ve been animating for more 30 years.
How much has your approach to your filmmaking changed since your debut short?
I used to draw and now I create collages with found materials, so quite a bit.
How would you describe The Edge of Alchemy in three words?
Original, experimental, poetic.
And finally, what do you hope people will take away from this film?
A surprising experience.