Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One (1968)

Filmmaker William Greaves auditioned acting students for a fictional drama, while simultaneously shooting the behind-the-scenes drama taking place.

Director:

William Greaves

Writer:

William Greaves

Stars:

Patricia Ree Gilbert, Don Fellows, Jonathan Gordon

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview:
Patricia Ree Gilbert	...	Self - Actress Testing for Alice
Don Fellows	...	Self - Actor Testing for Freddy
Jonathan Gordon	...	Self - Soundman
Bob Rosen	...	Self - Production Manager (as Bob Rosen)
William Greaves	...	Self - Director

Storyline

Filmmaker William Greaves is shooting a series of screen tests in New York City's Central Park for the two leads of a feature length movie, with the working title of "Over the Cliff". Simultaneously, he has a documentary filmmaking crew filming the behind the scenes making of the movie. In addition to seeing these two sets of footage (the film and the film of the film), the viewer also sees footage of a third film crew filming the these two in relation to what is happening overall as they film in the park while real life goes on around them, which in Bill's mind is part of the realism of the movie. "Over the Cliff" itself has no plot and no full script but only a working concept of sexuality being the movie's theme and snippets of scripted dialogue. This unstructured approach is to give the movie a sense of realism. The actors imply as much, but many of the crew, discussing in Grieves-less bullpen sessions, believe Greaves is unfocused and inept at what he is doing, while a minority ...

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Plot Keywords:

experimental film | avant garde | film within a film | national film registry | park | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Screened at Sundance Film Festival 1992.

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Quotes

Ree Gilbert - Actress Testing for Alice: Let's have a baby.
Don Fellows - Actor Testing for Freddy: Well, it's not the time.
Ree Gilbert - Actress Testing for Alice: That is a cop out, you faggot!
Don Fellows - Actor Testing for Freddy: Do you know what you're doing? You keep, you keep saying these things to me, alright, about: faggot. You're a project, Alice. Because you're trying to see things in me that you see in your own self.
Ree Gilbert - Actress Testing for Alice: Bull shit. You're just turning everything around to suit yourself. You just don't want any responsibilities. You don't want any life. You don't want marriage. You don't want children.
Don Fellows - Actor Testing for Freddy: That's all part of your fantasy. That's part ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

Coming Soon Symbiopsychotaxiplasm Take Two

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Connections

Referenced in Symbiofaerietaxiplasm oder die Feen von Hadres (2015)

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Soundtracks

In A Silent Way
Written by Joe Zawinul
Performed by Miles Davis

User Reviews

Ahead of its time

Symbiopsychotaxiplasm points the way toward so many later development in film. It manipulates reality by provoking the hapless cast, crew and bystanders to play roles by provoking them. The director of the film uses his own behavior as a Rorschach test. The whole genre of reality television as well as avant-garde documentary styles are anticipated in this film.

In addition to its historical importance the film is fascinating on its own terms for anyone who likes to think about the nature of performance vs. reality. Gender, race, sexuality and the march of time also make appearances.

Criterion has done its usual terrific job in rescuing this forgotten masterpiece from undeserved obscurity.

Details

Official Sites:

William Greaves

Country:

USA

Language:

English French Italian

Release Date:

26 October 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One

Filming Locations:

Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Take One Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1