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

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. This is important because it will be the only entity of its kind in the western United States. It will be part of a growing community of small artist-run labs worldwide that provide the ability to work in a forcibly rarified format nearing extinction due to the dictates of industrial capitalism. By reclaiming the modes of celluloid production from this rapidly crumbling industry, we will not only be keeping the art form alive and accessible but will also be 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 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. 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.

In addition, Black Hole Collective Lab 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.

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)

• BH was originally offered free space by OOC as a member collective to incubate their community resource. To start, we propose to contribute our share of utilities up to $200 per month for the first 2 months beginning April 1st, while we improve and invest in basement infrastructure (mold abatement, new drywall, additional plumbing, improved ventilation, as well as installing improved projection facilities in Ballroom & Disco Room)
• After two months of working on the space, we can commit $400 rent and better accommodate new contributing members
• We will contribute more financially as our project and membership grows and infrastructure is established.
• BH is fully commited to financial transparency. Our collective members will pay a monthly fee to cover rent costs. We plan to have a multi-tiered membership engagement/payment model to increase accessibility. We also want exhibitions and screenings to contribute to infrastructure, supplies and rent costs.

5. Dedicated space

Basement area, showing proposed BHCL lab area and 'Bunker 2' work area

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)

• Shared area: We will contribute analog and digital film projection equipment as we can for use in the Ballroom and Disco Room, so that all Omni member collectives and the community at large can present film and video screenings (with some training.)

• Dedicated areas:
• We propose two areas to accommodate community film production and processing; a 'wet' area and a 'dry' area.

• The 'wet' darkroom will be in the basement in the NW corner. We will complete installation of ventilation and run plumbing to accommodate darkroom sinks and drainage at our expense.

• We propose a 'dry' area as a dedicated film workspace in Bunker 2 containing irreplaceable, delicate film editing equipment, and sharing a third of Bunker 1 immediately outside the door to bunker 2, that would have some work tables.

• The Bunker 2 area is an ideal space for BHCL as it is an existing room wherein we can secure irreplaceable film equipment and it provides needed dark space. It is important for those donating equipment to know that it will be kept safe and secure. The equipment is not manufactured anymore and to secure equipment donations, we need to have a secure space.

• The work tables set up in the Western third of Bunker 1 would be privileged for film production use, including equipment such as light boxes and edit tables. It would be demarcated by a temporary, freestanding partial partition (such as a 'cube' wall) that could still allow access to the rest of bunker room area, while blocking sound etc.

• We had earlier discussed using the east hallway as workspace, however we recognize that there may be code compliance issues around actively using this space before our final Fire Life & Safety and building inspection has been performed. In order for Black Hole Collective Lab to move in as soon as possible, and to allow fire inspection to move forward smoothly, we would like to leave that space open.

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.