A Necessary Music
Synopsis
A collaboration between artist Beatrice Gibson and composer Alex Waterman, A Necessary Music is a science fiction film about modernist social housing. A musically conceived piece, referencing the video operas of Robert Ashley, the film explores the social imaginary of a utopian landscape through directed attention to the voices that inhabit it.Treating the medium of film as both a musical proposition and a proposal for collective production, A Necessary Music employs the resident of New York’s Roosevelt Island as its authors and actors, gathering together texts written by them and using them to construct a script for the film. Framed by a fictional narration taken from Adolfo Bioy Casares’ 1941 science fiction novel ‘The invention of Morel’, the film self-consciously dissolves from attempted realism to imagined narrative; what begins as a enthnographic study becomes instead an imagined fiction and an investigation into the mechanics of representation itself.
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Beatrice Gibson
- Original Title
- A Necessary Music
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 30m
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Beatrice Gibson
Department Leadership Roster
Beatrice Gibson
Director
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Official cinematic photography and background stills for A Necessary Music.
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Frequently Asked Questions About A Necessary Music
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is A Necessary Music about?
A collaboration between artist Beatrice Gibson and composer Alex Waterman, A Necessary Music is a science fiction film about modernist social housing. A musically conceived piece, referencing the video operas of Robert Ashley, the film explores the social imaginary of a utopian landscape through directed attention to the voices that inhabit it.Treating the medium of film as both a musical proposition and a proposal for collective production, A Necessary Music employs the resident of New York’s Roosevelt Island as its authors and actors, gathering together texts written by them and using them to construct a script for the film. Framed by a fictional narration taken from Adolfo Bioy Casares’ 1941 science fiction novel ‘The invention of Morel’, the film self-consciously dissolves from attempted realism to imagined narrative; what begins as a enthnographic study becomes instead an imagined fiction and an investigation into the mechanics of representation itself.
Who directed A Necessary Music?
A Necessary Music was directed by Beatrice Gibson.
Who stars in A Necessary Music?
The principal cast of A Necessary Music includes Not specified.
When was A Necessary Music released and how long is it?
A Necessary Music was released in 2009 with a total runtime of 30m.