CinemaSolo
The Home of One-Man Moviemaking
The Cinemasolo is my own little art form. It relates to traditional film the way comic opera relates to theater. So far, I'm the only person that I know of who does this.
I started out making these funny musical videos mostly to amuse myself and my friends. I usually work alone because . . . well, I can. Why waste other people's time when I can waste so much of my own? I never really thought about bringing other people into the process - it just wasn't necessary.
Eventually, the Cinemasolo took on a life of its own. It grew into a series of entries in film contests and screenings. Everywhere I went, people asked how many people worked on my films. I'd say . . . . "Uh, one. Just me." For some reason they were impressed with that. Over time, I realized that making silly musical videos all by myself was my "brand." That's show biz, ya know - ya gotta have a gimmick!
At one point I saw that I'd actually created my own little art form, which I describe like this:
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There are two essential roles in film and theatre -- actors and audiences. All other film and theatre jobs are extensions of those two roles. A Cinema Soloist distills that relationship to its essence by telescoping all “behind the camera” tasks into the work of a single individual. Composers and theatre artists have experienced direct artist-to-audience contact for centuries, but only recently has it become possible for cinematic artists to explore that same direct connection through the power of digital technology. We are now at a critical moment in which cinematic performers can define the parameters of entirely new art forms. The Cinema Solo is a unique genre, as distinct from conventional moviemaking as a piano sonata is from a symphony. A piano sonata can be composed and played by a single performer, and so it expresses the unique vision of one particular individual. The symphony, on the other hand, requires a conductor and orchestra, making it the collaborative result of a large group effort. Would anyone say that Beethoven’s piano sonatas are less worthwhile than Beethoven’s symphonies because they involve fewer people? Of course not -- they’re simply different categories of work. The Cinema Solo is defined by its limitations, but limitations are what define a style. Only by pushing against the boundaries of existing limitations do you truly begin to make art.
There are two essential roles in film and theatre -- actors and audiences. All other film and theatre jobs are extensions of those two roles. A Cinema Soloist distills that relationship to its essence by telescoping all “behind the camera” tasks into the work of a single individual. Composers and theatre artists have experienced direct artist-to-audience contact for centuries, but only recently has it become possible for cinematic artists to explore that same direct connection through the power of digital technology. We are now at a critical moment in which cinematic performers can define the parameters of entirely new art forms.
The Cinema Solo is a unique genre, as distinct from conventional moviemaking as a piano sonata is from a symphony. A piano sonata can be composed and played by a single performer, and so it expresses the unique vision of one particular individual. The symphony, on the other hand, requires a conductor and orchestra, making it the collaborative result of a large group effort. Would anyone say that Beethoven’s piano sonatas are less worthwhile than Beethoven’s symphonies because they involve fewer people? Of course not -- they’re simply different categories of work.
The Cinema Solo is defined by its limitations, but limitations are what define a style. Only by pushing against the boundaries of existing limitations do you truly begin to make art.
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So now I post a new item to Youtube every weekend and travel to various film festivals to find new audiences for the things I do. If you attend one of the live events that I'm part of, please say come over and say hi! -Bill Dyszel
Cinemasolo Cast Album available at iTunes
Upcoming appearances:
Providence, RI, 48 Hour Film Project, July 17
Contact Bill
646.224.4557
212[dot]212[at]usa[dot]com