John Whitney Sr.

Abstract Cinema

Several well-known and pioneering abstract filmmakers discuss the history of non-objective cinema, the works of those that came before them and their own experiments in the field of visionary filmmaking.

A Personal Search For the Complementarity of Music and Visual Art

A Personal Search For the Complementarity of Music and Visual Art (1992) uses the concept of complementarity to make sense of the confusion that existed between fine art and technology in the late 20th century.

Home Movies 1971-81

Home movies shot on Super 8mm by W+B Hein over 10 years.

Experiments in Motion Graphics

John H. Whitney Sr. explains the graphic art potential of the computer and the methods and philosophy involved in his computer filmmaking. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2012.

The Film Art of John Whitney, Sr.

John Whitney, Sr. one of the early pioneers in films made by computer-driven cameras explains and demonstrates his work. Shot on location at Whitney's home in California, includes excerpts from his films "Matrix 3", "Catalog", "Permutations" and "Lapis." 1975. Making abstract motion in time, and impinging directly on the viewer's emotions as music does -- these were among Whitney's early goals. "Music organizes time in a special way, creates tension in us, then satisfies, gratifies. We can do the same for patterns-- something is going to happen, make it happen in a way you don't expect. Film permutations can be parallel to tones in harmonic sequence; dominant chord resolves into tonic chord." To do this, says Whitney, "we need new tools, and to learn how to control them. They're unlike musical instruments which we have been practicing on for 300 years. We have to start from scratch. " - Stephan Chodorov, Writer.