Home : N.Y.,N.Y. : FRANCIS THOMPSON

Francis Thompson began his career as a painter and art teacher before he made his first film, EVOLUTION OF THE SKYSCRAPER (1938-39), for the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. He soon went on to make his most artistic film, N.Y., N.Y., which was inspired by his cubist art foundation. Thompson is best known for his work on large format (IMAX) and multi-screen films. His most acclaimed three-screen film, TO BE ALIVE (1962), was created for the 1964 World's Fair in New York and later that year won an Academy Award. Thompson was one of the pioneers of the 70mm IMAX format. In 1976, he was commissioned by the Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. to make TO FLY, the family classic about the history of aviation still viewed by thousands every day. Today, Thompson is in his 90s and still working in New York City. He is not only a true industry pioneer, but also a film artist and creator of unique film experiences. He was recently awarded the LFCA Abel Gance Lifetime Achievement Award. Questionnaires were sent to each artist participating in REEL NEW YORK -- Season Four. Below are the artist's written responses.

	Francis Thompson
	N.Y.,N.Y.
	What inspired you to make this piece? As a painter, I had been through cubism and surrealism and I was interested in how you could photograph that kind of imagery.  From N.Y., N.Y. Tell us a little about the process involved in making this work. Ohhh, it was a magic, secret process of bending, twisting, and turning inside out. It was a self-funded project that involved my roaming about New York City with a camera over my shoulder.  From N.Y., N.Y. Do you have any interesting and/or amusing behind-the-scenes stories about the making of this particular work? None that I care to tell or have published. Actually, making this film was so secretive. I didn't want anyone to know what I had done. Is there a relationship between your work as a video/filmmaker and life in the New York metropolitan area? Profound and unspeakable.

Home : N.Y.,N.Y. : FRANCIS THOMPSON
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