On the Edge

10th entry in the popular "Honto ni Atta. Noroi no Video" series.

"Kobresia: What Is" is a long-form experimental film or visual tone poem. This video is one element generated for Phil Garrett's performance art event/installation as part of the exhibition "Stage/Studio: Space Transformed" at the The Ohio State University's Urban Arts Space. In the installation, the film plays as both a part of a complex Isadora projection, and as the source video being fed through a network of technologies: from an iPod Touch, fed through a video splitter to vintage video equipment including a 1970 Zenith B&W TV, a Sony Trinitron field monitor, an oscilloscope, waveform monitor, and vectroscope.

DISSONANCE is composed of documentary material of diverse kinds, juxtaposed on an HD wide-screen, in a challenging formal manner. The opening sequence is composed of 3 screens, each with a single shot on it, lasting 50 minutes; the interaction between the 3 images is force which compels interest. Following this sequence are a number of other much quicker shots, often enigmatic. The conclusion is abrupt. I have no idea what it means, only that it poetically probes the meaning of life, and offers no conclusions. It is meant, on many levels, to disturb the viewer.

Really scary! Can you face the truths shown by the cameras? 1. 'Video shichô-sha kara no koe' Terrifying experiences happened to those who watched Volume 1 of this series.... 2. 'Yakyû-ba ni arawareru shônen' A video taken when the provider went to support an acquaintance's baseball game. A boy's spirit is by the field.... 3. 'Kuruma no mado ni haritsuita te' A video casually passed by an acquaintance of the provider who was sitting in the passenger seat in a car running at night. A pale hand came from the back seat.... 4. 'Undôkai no 8mm film ni...' An 8mm film taken by the father of a field day when the provider was in the second grade of elementary school. A sad boy's face is shown.... 5. 'Yami ni ukabu otoko no kao' A video of a test of courage held at a club's training camp. In the darkness, there's a face that's clearly not related.... 6. 'Shinrei shashin ga tora reta genba nite' This photo was taken at a castle ruin in the outskirts of Tokyo. It was a staff member who visited the place where the photo was taken with the provider, but.... 7. 'Yaneura ni dô meku hito no kao' The state of an attic shot for preliminary inspection by a pest control contractor. A white spirit moves as if to avoid the light source.... 8. 'Couple o mitsumeru on'na no yokogao' A video shot at a love hotel. On the wall behind the couple, there is a woman's face staring at them with resentment.... 9. 'Iru hazu no nai otoko no koe' A mysterious voice is heard in a radio drama recorded in a recording studio. The voice of someone other than the voice actors is calling someone.... 10. 'Video letter kara mitsumeru me' A video message shot to send to a girlfriend in a long-distance relationship. An eye is peeking through a gap in the bookshelf behind.... 11. '4-nin iru' A video of when four members went camping. Even though they don't remember asking a third party to do it, there's a distant view shot of all the members.... 12. 'Butsudan no iei no kao ga...' The provider came to visit her parents' house with a young child. For some reason, the portrait of her grandfather placed on the Buddhist altar behind has gotten bigger.... 13. 'Osoikakaru rap-on' A video that accidentally captured the moment when a rap sound suddenly resounded in an empty space. And the woman who was there suddenly lost consciousness.... The fear grows! Earthbound spirits, vengeful spirits, floating spirits, guardian spirits.... It's full of mysterious images that cannot be explained by science!