Tom Bell : Cinemascope and The Crystal Street Bridge

About this event

Yarmouth Filmmaker Tom Bell returns to present his short film Crystal Street Bridge. After the screening Tom will give a talk about the film and its use of Cinemascope and the power of the widescreen.

From Tom “In the early 1980s when I was a college student, I directed a 16mm short film called “Crystal Street Bridge.” The film features a contemporary ballet dancer performing on a steel footbridge over the Providence & Worcester railroad tracks in Worcester.

Cinematographer Lorne Covington shot the film in CinemaScope. Dancer Lynn Frederiksen created the choreography and performed in the film. I haven’t seen it in 43 years.

Last summer, I stumbled across a short clip from the film online. I discovered that a film club in Detroit devoted to CinemaScope films shows it regularly. It has apparently become something of a cult classic there. I have no idea where the club found a print because I made only a few.

Lorne and I decided to create a 6K digital version of the film. The optical soundtrack had a great deal of noise, maybe because it had deteriorated with age. Or maybe we just didn’t notice in 1983 because the projector had hidden its defects. The soundtrack featured a piano performance by a fellow Clark University student, John Scott, of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13, “Pathétique.” ”

“Last week, acclaimed pianist Chihar Naruse, who has taught piano at @batescollege since 2008, agreed to record a new soundtrack.”

“In 1982, we had shot the six-minute film in with a spring-wound Bolex camera, so the timing is not consistent. To match her performance to the images, Chiharu played while watching the film on her cellphone, which was propped on the piano beside her sheet music.”

“I will be showing the restored version of “Crystal Street Bridge: with Chiharu’s new soundtrack.

It will be the first time in 43 years that I have watched the film on a screen with an audience.”

Refreshments will be served!

This event will be held in the Library on the 3rd floor in Lewis Hall.

Free and open to everyone.

Questions about this event can be emailed to us by emailing Mike at mcarnes@yarmouthlibrary.org