Experimental Film - What Is It?

When it comes to film, and the art that is created on film, much of what is produced is very much created so that it can tell a story, and will often be done in a way that falls into the traditions that have been created through Hollywood over the decades, however when it comes to experimental film it is really the antithesis of what films created in Hollywood are. Trying to do something completely different in film, and doing so in a way that has artistic merit yet still changes the goalposts of what is accepted as the limitations of film.

The linear way of telling a story that is used in most movies or documentaries very much focuses on the subject, however with experimental film it really doesn't have to tell a story at all, but is mainly about portraying a subject in a different way, or a way which hasn't been done before. Fighting stereotypes about film, and rejecting what is accepted and standard practice in the medium is a very important part of the execution of experimental film, and by doing this in a way that is distinctive and looks very different on the screen.

Indeed, for many people experimental film is something that is actually seen at an art gallery as one of the installations, but this certainly doesn't necessarily have to be the case as there is also often a place for experimental film on television or at a cinema, especially in those screens based at art centers or cinemas specializing in experimental film. It can often be a disconcerting experience to see experimental film, and this can include the angles being used, distortion of the subject or even utilizing a soundtrack to give the maximum possible effect, and in reality things that are surreal or made using different effects can be especially effective in terms of how well the experimental film will work.

In terms of experimental film, there are hundreds if not thousands of directors who have all in their own way tried to push the boundaries of film, and ever since the silent movie era there have always been examples of experimental film making which changes the way people actually think about the form, with some techniques actually making it through into the mainstream. The industries have often been set apart with those experimenting in the United States working separately from those in Europe, and names such as Slavko Vorkapic in the US, and Rene Clair in France have all advanced the medium of film.

On the whole there is a wide range of different types of film making that can be considered experimental, but especially with those that are done specifically to pursue the artistic aspects rather than to help tell a story, it can have the most effective visual impact. Enjoying experimental film will often be for those with an artistic taste rather than an interest in movies, and there are festivals and events for those people who do have an interest so that the latest in the medium can be promoted.