Dread Line; #1 In the hammock

HD Video, 81 seconds , colour, 2012

In 1991 I began a project called "Dread". It was conceived as an experimental film which studied the nature of fear. To collect data and elements, I established a phone answering machine and advertised it as the "Dread Line". No phone would ring, I had no ability to answer or communicate with the callers except through my outgoing message. The project quickly began to fail. The callers didn't want to divulge anything about themselves without context or examples or knowing what my response was. Therefore I began changing the message every week and then every day. As a result, I began to get regular callers who would dial me up to hear what I would say next and then would leave their own messages. However, the topics deviated away from fear to include a countless array of subjects. After a year and a half of collecting messages, I needed to finish the project. However, I did not use everything and even continued to record messages for another year. These tapes have remained in my collection for years. I began digitizing some of them and creating new videos.  I layer voices to challenge our ability to separate ideas. I find the mass of sound relaxing, much more than listening to only one voice. I shot the video from my hammock, staring up at the sky through the trees. I love the girl at the end who concedes that she "doesn't have any ideas". VIDEO

Sabbatical Video List

Gerald Saul Home