Black Hole Collective Lab

Vision

• Celluloid film development lab
• Communal workspace
• Film screenings and workshops

Lab / Machines provided to the community:

• • 1x film processor
  • 1x contact printer
  • 1x optical printer
  • 1x flatbed editor
  • 1x sync machine
  • Multiple Rewinds
  • Splicers
  • Multiple film projectors
  • Many more devices to enable celluloid film production
  • Multiple film enlargers

Resources provided to show films at the omni

• • 1x Xenon 16mm film projector (very bright :)
  • Digital HD video projector
  • Some equipment augment existing sound system

Screenings

• Can bring screenings of filmmakers & films to the space

Collective Members

• 1. Tooth
• 2. Matt Christiansen
• 3. Jason Wade
• 4. Isaac Sherman
• 5. Lauren O'Connor
• 6. Chloe Minervini
• 7. David Keenan
• 8. Niko Kommodore
• 9. Gui Komel
• 10. Vanessa O'Neill
• 11. Kent Long
• 12. Michael Bucuzzo
• 13. Christina Kolozsvary
• 14. Zach Iannazzi
• 15. Sarah Watlington
• 16. Brooke Porter

Financial Contribution to OOC

• We propose to pay our share of utilities for 2 months while we develop infrastructure
• BH was originally offered free space by OOC to incubate their community resource
• Initially pay $400 rent
• Will contribute more $ as project / membership grows / infrastructure is established

Floorplan

• Proposed use

Form questions

1. Mission statement

What do you do? What happens in the world because you exist? (1-3 sentences)

By creating an artist-run film lab and workspace/screening space we will be enabling a large community of people working in photochemical celluloid filmmaking (motion picture and still photography), a unique resource, to bring their work through all stages of creation, production, and exhibition in an encouraging community atmosphere. The importance of this is manifold in that it would be the only entity of it's kind in the western United States, and that it will be part of a growing community of small artist-run labs worldwide that are providing the ability to work in a format that is being forcibly rarified towards extinction due to the dictates of industrial capitalism which no longer see the medium as profitable. By reclaiming the modes of celluloid production from this rapidly crumbling industry, we will not only be both keeping the art form alive and accessible but also by providing a space to make works outside of the artistic, ideological, and financial compromises inherent in a commercial market.

2. Origin and group history. How did you start? What have you done? (1-3 sentences)

Black Hole Film Collective is a more recent formation of a looser group of filmmakers with roots in the larger experimental/avant-garde filmmaking community of the bay area. We have been brought together by shared affinities, ideologies and working methods fostered within Black Hole Cinematheque and the constellation of local microcinemas it is a part of. Black Hole Cinematheque has been operating as 16mm archive since 2009 and running free weekly screenings regularly since 2011. These similar affinities led us to a natural merging with the still photography collective to communize our resources and work against an atmosphere of increasing endangerment.

3. Participation in the Omni

Why are you interested in becoming a member? How does your group intend to use the space? What are your needs? (less than 5 sentences)

We see the Omni project as an important entity of resistance and community and it seems the perfect place to get involved! Our group intends to use two spaces in the basement to set up a wet lab for processing and printing of still and motion picture film, and a dry work space for editing and post production. We fixed the ventilation for the darkroom and the larger common space downstairs.

We also intend to outfit the ballroom and disco room for various sized screenings, including setting up a projection booth with multiple playback formats (16mm, 35mm, digital video), a new projection screen, and chairs, all for community and event use. Exhibition is an important way to showcase the collectives’ work, as well as the larger international community of filmmakers. It also functions as an educational resource, workshop asset and infrastructural upgrade to all. The screenings will provide funding for our collective and the Omni costs at large. By outfitting common spaces for cinematic presentation, we will be transforming them into a greater community asset for the film collective as well as the Omni.

4. Group finances and paying rent

What does your group do to support itself financially? What is your best plan for contributing your potential share of rent to the Omni? (less than 5 sentences)

We propose to have a two month time frame of paying utilities only as we build our spaces out. After this timeframe, we can commit to $400 in rent as development continues. We will increase incrementally, with a goal of $600/month. Our collective members will pay a monthly fee to cover rent costs, with the future plan that as more people join, we can contribute more. We also want exhibitions and screenings to contribute to infrastructure, supplies and rent costs. We plan to have a multi-tiered membership engagement/payment model.

5. Dedicated space

If your group would like some dedicated space at the Omni, what square footage and what features are you looking for? Which specific rooms do you feel might be suitable? (1-3 sentences)

Two spaces in the basement on the east and west sides, keeping wet and dry rooms separate. We have two options for where the dry space can be located in the basement, based on Omni members' input. Please see floor plan for details. We would need some dedicated space in the ballroom and disco room to create projection booths, and secure projection equipment. This would function as part of the common space, but be maintained and managed by the Black Hole Collective.

6. Additional

Is there any other information that you think would be useful for us to know about your group? (as many sentences as you like)

Our collective is a group with vastly different skills to share and trade. We represent a wide breadth of knowledge and through workshops and educational events, can share these skills and talents and promote arts in our community.

BHCL education program

The Black Hole Collective seeks to engage community youth members through an educational outreach program. This program would involve teaching young adults about traditional photographic practices, both through the camera and by working in the darkroom. In a world dominated by fast pace technology we aim to provide a space in which analog processes can be preserved. Harnessing interest from our community’s youth will help to preserve these traditional forms of art and create a deeper understanding for modern technology and its influence in both film and photography.

Improvements BHCL hopes to make for building

• Outfit Ballroom & Disco Room to accomodate professional sound screenings
  • Lets work on both at the same time

Ballroom - professional film screening setup & prep

• Acquire big screen
  • Should be able to retract (roll up) to protect it
  • Should be mounted to come down near front (not back) of stage

Disco Room - professional film screening setup & prep

• Allowing for a dark space: Flame-retardant theatre curtains that also function as blackout curtains (curtains that could also be pulled aside to allow in light)

• Meeting notes - misc
  • Another flatbed is being donated (from B.)