A symposium in Paris this week celebrates the 50th anniversary of the publication of Burroughs' masterpiece, featuring talks, music and film screenings.  FLicKeR is there.  Thanks and congratulations to Oliver Harris and Ian MacFadyen.

S/he left me some time ago, s/he thought s/he would go far in the world.  Instead, s/he ended up in a producer's basement, broken and neglected.

S/he was missed, so I retrieved him/her and puzzled over how to repair with Richard Vandantilliart, who never took off his bicycle helmet the whole time he was here. 

After two days and five different hardware stores, s/he is working perfectly, and is ready for an overseas trip to the Era New Horizons Festival in southwest Poland, thanks to Ewa Szablowska.

And s/he is now available for personal appearances anywhere.

Many thanks to the folks at Anthology Film Archives, Alive Mind and Cinema Purgatorio for making this happen.

DJ Spooky and Nik Sheehan at FLicKeR NYC premiere, 14 June 2009

Paul D. Miller, aka DJ Spooky That Sublimal Kid, will be there for the Q&A following the second New York City premiere screening of FLicKeR, Sunday, 14 June, 8pm, Anthology film Archives, 32 Second Ave.

Paul is one of America's most brilliant and dynamic artists.  Along with his DJ-ing and recordings, his lectures, writings and film re-workings mark him as a true heir to the Gysin-WSB art flux.  His contribution to FLicKeR is inestimable.

Higly recommended is his expansive and brilliantly eclectic collection of writings on the philosophy of sound, image and art in Sound Unbound.  The included CD is alone worth the price.

His slyly subversive remix of D.W. Griffith's notorious debut of the cinema age, Rebirth of A Nation, screens at the MOMA 22-28 June.

Not to be missed.

As part of the Asia Consciousness Festival, Hong Kong, China, Wednesday, 10 June, 6pm.

With an introductory presentation by Dr. Bastiaan ter Muelen, Beat Neurologist and Flickerite.

Thanks to Jeff Warren.

FLicKeR plays the 23rd (!) edition of the Mix Milano Film Festival, Milan, Italy, 7 June, 6:30pm

"In cervelli pensanti."

Thanks to Joe Balass

Two top Australian film festivals will feature FLicKeR in July 2009:

Revelation Perth Film Festival

thanks to Jack Sargeant

And the largest down under: the Melbourne International Film Festival

details TBA

It is repaired, and wow, does it work.

I convince Ben Schaub, an old friend, and Discovery Channel producer who is concerned that host Jay will need his dream machine back intact.  Seven hours of work over two days with a trip to the hardware store.  Maddenly slow to figure out, it being an ingeniously -- and madly -- rigged old turnable.  But I have to say, nice work David Woodard.

We tune it exactly right, and when I close my eyes and lean into the gentle strobe I see colours of blue and yellow that I have never seen before.  And sparkling fields of flowers, of stars. 

It made me realize yet again just what an extraordinary device this is, so unique, and so powerful compared to digital flicker. 

When I think how right Gysin was about it, I shudder.

There truly should be a dream machine in every domicile of the universe.

Ben Schaub

Ben's daughter Thea