They Still Make Film For That?
Dark Roast Arts - Kevin Ealain
AI got you making you feel uneasy? Tired of the digital deluge?! Then They Still Make Film For That? is for you! See a live film development demo and why printed photographs are important to our mental health!
Venue: Strike Theater
Tagged For: Solo Show, Storytelling, Audience Participation, Kid Friendly
Content Warnings: Flashing Lights
Ages 12-15 and up
A bunch of the Top 20 shows I was most curious about this year, and a whole lot of returning favorites from past years were all part of the Fringe previews last night at Mixed Blood. So that should push the rundown along a bit faster (one hopes, anyway - the day jobs have been kicking my butt, plus there’s a steady stream of work to be done for an upcoming production of one of my plays in the spring that has been pulling my attention sideways, but at least that is more fun to contemplate).
They Still Make Film For That? was one of the previews that was already situated in my Top 10 list at the #6 berth, and nothing I learned last night would cause me to dislodge it from this spot, so on we go.
They’ve posted more info on their Fringe show page than the last time I checked, so I’ll be borrowing from that liberally here. The artist’s nine-year-old son was handing out postcards before the previews got started, a form of child labor that someone near me enthusiastically endorsed - good marketing strategy, children on the whole being more adorable and less pushy than your average Fringe artist handing out postcards. (Though I will admit some adult artists can also be adorable and shy - you do you, everyone. We’re all in this together.)
Fun fact about the postcards: If you happen to pick up a postcard for the show, take note that all postcards are handmade on gelatin silver photographic paper! Those who pick up a postcard are highly encouraged to keep them.
The preview used a chunk of the text from the website, which lays out the show’s mission statement pretty clearly:
“In 2011, film was declared dead. Beaten down by the digital dynamo.
But in 2024, film photography is not only alive but it's thriving, with new film stocks being produced, new film cameras released and the sales of vintage cameras booming. Is this a hipster fad, or is there a scientific explanation to the burgeoning enthusiasm for the tactile medium?
"They still make film for that?" will explore some of the scientific importance of getting off Instagram and cracking open a photo album instead, all while taking the audience through a live demonstration of how easy it is to develop film at home.
Come relish in the photo gallery with all the physical media presented, and enjoy the time honored tradition of darkroom film developing away from AI and the digital image deluge.”
This show seems to be exactly the kind of relaxing break from the rush of the rest of the Fringe I was expecting it to be, and for that reason I’m very much looking forward to it.
(Also, I wrote a screenplay for an independent film once - got to the finalist stage for a production grant, though it didn’t ultimately go anywhere - but it was very much based in the world of physical photography and darkrooms, so I’ve got a soft spot for the subject matter.)
If the audience participation tag has you (like me) worried about what might be involved, there’s a reassuring note:
“Audience members may have the opportunity to have their photo taken before or during the show. No audience member will have their photo taken without consent. The use of a camera flash may be used intermittently.”
Kevin Ealain’s artist statement is also just the vibe I was expecting for a show like this:
“As a film photographer based in the vibrant city of Minneapolis, MN, my work is deeply rooted in the exploration of mood, mystery, and the tactile nature of the analog medium. Drawing inspiration from the evocative imagery of Sylvia Plachy and James Hamilton, the shadowy allure of film noir, the haunting narratives of Tom Waits, and the whimsical darkness of Edward Gorey, my photographs invite viewers to ponder the enigmatic stories captured through my lens.
Each frame I compose is a deliberate meditation on the interplay of light and shadow, texture and form. The inherent tangibility of film photography allows me to engage intimately with my medium, imbuing each image with a sense of authenticity and depth that digital processes often lack. My work is a quiet rebellion against the instant gratification of contemporary photography, favoring instead a contemplative approach that honors the craft's rich traditions.
In a world saturated with fleeting digital images, my photographs stand as tactile artifacts of a deliberate and thoughtful process. They evoke a timeless quality, encouraging viewers to linger and delve into the layers of narrative and emotion embedded within each shot. Isolated and moody, my subjects often inhabit spaces that blur the lines between reality and imagination, inviting a sense of curiosity and introspection.
Through my work, I strive to create a visual dialogue that resonates with the introspective and the inquisitive, those who find beauty in the shadows and stories in the silences. By embracing the slow, deliberate nature of film photography, I offer an antidote to the haste of modern life, celebrating the deliberate, the curious, and the tactile.”
So, I’m there. If it sounds like the kind of change of pace you might want on your schedule, They Still Make Film For That? is one of several reasons it’s a good idea to head over to Strike Theater’s side of town and catch a few shows.
Here's some handy links to this year's Top 10 list and Top 11-20 list, also a full list of all returning favorites to this year's Fringe, plus a link to all the 2024 Minnesota Fringe Festival coverage.
While I have your attention, please VOTE :)
Minnesota is currently in the early voting period
for our Congressional and local primaries (I had the U.S. Senate,
Congress, and the Minneapolis school board on my ballot) - final day to
vote in the primary is Tuesday, August 13th, but you don't have to wait
until Fringe is over, go vote right now :)
Early voting for the Presidential Election itself in Minnesota starts on Friday, September 20th.
We're lucky to have a lot of time to get our voices heard, so cast your
vote, and then make sure everyone you know and love is registered and
gets to the polls to vote. Election Day, your final date to vote, is Tuesday, November 5th.
As a queer playwright and theater maker, I want a government that's compassionate and competent enough to keep us all safe and healthy, keep theaters open and running, and personally, I'd just like to be legal myself and keep the weirdos out of government and out of my personal business (and the things I post on this blog, for instance). We all have our reasons, so let's make sure we get the leaders we need and deserve, and get our friends, family and co-workers to raise their voices, too.
Find where to vote and what's on your ballot (with links to candidate websites) and other resources at the Minnesota Secretary of State's website.
For other resources on how to register, volunteer or donate, locally or nationally, check out Vote Save America.
Vote. Raise your voice. We're not going back.
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