Addovolt Explorations "A Murky Path Down Archer Avenue" short documentary

The short documentary, "Murky Path Down Archer Avenue", has been uploaded.  This project--an addition to the Addovolt Explorations short documentary series--is a 13-minute long film exploring the very creepy folklore relating to Chicago's infamously haunted street.

And here is the video on YouTube:

Very Special Thanks to Michael Marius Massett for doing narration and music compositions.  And, also, Very Special Thanks to Andre Almaraz for the pitch-perfect original pipe organ main theme music used in variations throughout the film.  Some old music, some new music, some classical and rock and synthpop…..   Lots of good stuff.  After premiering online February 1st, 2019 through Paranormal Globe, "A Murky Path..." has been featured on  Paranormal Daily News, Creepy Americana, Haunt Jaunts, and Fun Size Horror among other publications.

This was a cold shoot and there was plenty of nature involved (expected and unexpected).  No one got pneumonia so that's always a plus.

More still images are below; all pics are via Addovolt Productions.

different poster image (charming)

Addovolt Explorations

Addovolt Explorations is a series of quick, casual, mini-documentaries that we'll be doing on a regular basis between extensive projects (i.e. music videos, films, and longer documentaries).  The Explorations will be focusing on creators, locations, science, and history.  They're kind of like our version of a podcast (sort of, in a way).

The entries so far are (from most recent to oldest):

*"Theoretical" (suspicious?)

*"Illuminated" (look on the bright side)

*"Buried Treasure" (Jurassic Lark)

*"you're projecting" (movies, quite literally, aren't what they used to be)

*"Friends In High Places" (stoned monsters at church)    

*"plastic, fantastic" (for power shoppers only)

*"Resonance" (Greece is the word and it's not about to let you forget it)

*"Cast of Thousands" (these conventions are certainly not boring....)

*"Cereal Invaders" (even when they aren't human, they still manage to be really good salesfolk)

*"A Murky Path Down Archer Avenue" (an entertaining and fast-paced ride through the folklore of the Windy City's spookiest street)

*"Lovely Labels" (unnerving locations and their appropriate names)

*"Wishes and Miles" (Route 66 and its reign as the Main Street of America)

* "Nuclear U" (not every school gets the honor of hosting atomic research beneath its campus)

* "micro manor" (1920's movie star Colleen Moore excelled at fine detail)

* "Galactic" (the first journeys away from Earth weren't quick, cheap, or easy)

* "Greenery" (a downtown spot that will make you feel highbrow in a different sort of way.....)

* "(re)Purposeful" (interesting places that started out for one use and eventually turned into something else entirely)

* "Union Departures" (a quiet graveyard that shouldn't be overlooked)

* "Mystery Masks" (a small neighborhood holds a ton of premium disguises)

* "Well, What?" (an allegedly miraculous water pump in a forest preserve)

* "White City, Emerald City" (Oz Park and the connection between L. Frank Baum and the city of Chicago)

slices of life in bite-sized pieces

An article HERE discusses the idea behind Addovolt Explorations as a series concept.

The Vault Projections Series

Allegories, myths, fairy tales, and histories.

Quests, disasters, triumphs, celebrations, memories, dreams, realities, the sacred, the profane, nihilism, humor, hope. absurdities, metaphors, secrets, and declared truths.  

The Natural and The Magical as collective experience.

Vault Projections is an ongoing project; a series of 21 short films to be created.

So far, the short films within this series are:

- "Salome" (2009)

- "Danse Macabre" (2010)

- "Second Star" (2010)

- "October Sketches" (2016)

- "Someplace" (2018)

I know, I know.....

sometimes I think about them.....

I'm a nerd and I like statistics.

I like to have an accurate assessment of which of my films get watched, how much, by who, where, and which films don't get watched at all (truth! because that's life sometimes).  It's good to know this kind of stuff.  

That way I can have a general idea of what people are responding to.  Accurate, precise, non-goofy numbers.

A few of my projects get relatively decent view numbers (I'm legit underground indie, no conglomerate ties, no moon-eyed features on Buzzfeed, etc.) but my stuff has never been the type of material that goes viral and that's fine.  My numbers--even on the projects that people like--aren't super-high.  That's just not a thing in my world.

Here's the deal:

I don't use bots.

That's a choice.  

As I mentioned, I traded the "wow!" view counts for on-point, private statistics.  Is that a smart choice?  Ehh….  Hmmm.  Well.....

Has it hurt me?  Probably.  But it's a choice.  No fluffed-up view counts.  I've actually had people tell me:  "Derek, don't forget to buy some views on the day that you launch a new video!  It's very important."

Do I sometimes get tempted?  Of course!  Plump, juicy view counts aren't difficult to purchase (Google it) but I'm okay with accepting the realities associated with going bot-free in exchange for my beloved, dorky, natural numbers.  Do I regret that sometimes?  Absolutely!

Addovolt Explorations: Lovely Labels

nope

Narrated by Melanie Deprest, this newest quick doc in the Addovolt Explorations series gives credit to places trying to scare you away.  Devil's Den in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is a prominent example.

notice the expression on the horse's face when it hears the destination

Reaching beyond quirky names, some locations provided signage featuring possible misfortune while, for others, you needed to talk to the locals.

if a pond is called Death's Dive--or something along those lines--that's an indication that you shouldn't be swimming there

"Lovely Labels", all 3 minutes and 30 seconds of it, is HERE on YouTube.

Special Thanks to Melanie Deprest for doing narration duties.  You're a gem, Melanie!

"Someplace" short film

Click HERE to watch "Someplace", a short film, on YouTube.  It premiered September 2nd, 2018 and has been featured in Art Reveal Magazine online and Quail Bell Magazine online.

This project is an odd composite of different influences: documented incidents from vintage newspapers, community rumor-mongering, and old-world urban myths/explanations for situations that defy complete understanding.  When aspects of our lives suddenly vanish, we have a tendency to fill in the gaps with whatever material we have in our possession.  Truth is sought but not always paramount.  "Someplace" is about how we, collectively, replace lost pieces of puzzles with shapes of our own creation.  It also touches on how the old world can sometimes invade the new world, how the past can interrupt the present, and that, yes, all stories do have endings whether they're satisfying or not.

"Someplace"--experimental in many ways--is a mood piece.  Was it meant to be a crowd-pleaser for everyone?  No, I can't say that it was made with that intent.  Even though there are fantasy elements in the film, the story is extremely straightforward and will inevitably remind you of certain people, moments, and locations drifting through the chambers of your past memories.  In a strange way, maybe "Someplace" was made for everyone because everyone can relate to it on some level.

The narrative, condensed into one sentence, is summed up as:

When a town's kids are baffled by a local woman gone missing, the librarian attempts to provide a possible reason.

"Someplace"
a film by Derek Quint
Addovolt Productions, 2018

cast:

Arlene Arnone Bibbs as the lady
France Jean-Baptiste as the librarian
Michael Marius Massett as the sandman
Jacob Bates as the northern star
Remy Osborne as glas
Jazmine Osborne as rua

The music featured in the film is "Cave Kidz (version 2)" composed and performed by Michael Marius Massett.

Some director's notes and interesting bits of information about this project:

- Although it's a short film, "Someplace" was filmed in over 20 different locations throughout Illinois and Indiana.

- The costume worn by the green man (glas) includes an actual masonic ceremonial robe from the 1800's.  The robe was literally falling to pieces throughout the project but managed to hold it together enough to shoot our scenes.

- Ironically, the very large, heavy book that the lady is shown holding/reading did end up going missing at some point during the shoot and hasn't been found since.

- The 4 enchanted characters that the lady encounters represent the 4 elements and the 4 directions.  The northern star signals the north (obviously) and air, the green man is the west and the earth, the red princess is fire and the south, and the sandman is the east and water.  The sphere on top of his staff is a shiny, watery globe that echoes the world ball shown next to the children's cupcake debris seen in an earlier shot.

- Those 4 fantasy characters were intended to be like paper cutouts.  Children's books of the late 19th/early 20th centuries inspired their cartoony, simple designs.

- The font on the subtitles is one that's commonly used in newspapers (like the town newspaper briefly mentioned in the film).  To an extent, it's like you're reading a newspaper as you're watching the film....black font surrounded by a pale, gray border.

- Certain shots were framed in ways that hid tattoos.

- When it came to the bright, vivid colors displayed in some sequences, they're meant to be relatively limited to simple shades similar to Crayola crayons.

- Aesthetic choices for the red princess (rua) were partially inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's painting, the Mona Lisa.

- Filming in the abandoned house felt extremely safe and comfortable, so much so that I ended up shooting too long in there, messed up the shooting schedule, and had to add another production day.

- "Someplace" was written to be longer but there were scenes that we didn't have time to shoot.  The short ended up being a quicker piece than originally intended.

- I considered plenty of different options of items that could be revealed inside rua's flower box but I decided that what, specifically, is in there should stay a mystery.  Whatever present she's bringing to the lady can be determined by the viewer.

- There are other subversive aspects to this film but you can find those for yourselves.  I shouldn't be giving everything away.

Addovolt Explorations: Wishes and Miles

Whether they were seeking fortune, fame, freedom, or freshness, plenty of folks found what they were searching for.

This quick doc is going to take you on the road again.....

"Addovolt Explorations:  Wishes and Miles"--about the history and meaning of Route 66 (or what was Route 66.....) can be watched on YouTube HERE

The starting point of the former Main Road of America is right outside of the Chicago Art Institute on Adams Street.  For some reason, people have smacked all kinds of random stickers on the designation sign.

Route 66--as we know it--no longer exists as an unbroken road as it used to in the past but you can travel through sections of it all the way to the West Coast.

Projects of the U.S. Highway System are, and always have been, coordinated efforts between federal and local/state governments.

I wanted to use Route 66 as a subject for an Exploration because I never really understood what all the hullaballoo was beyond the buzz term.  Now I understand it and I thought that it was incredibly moving and insightful, especially what it signified in mid-20th Century America.

Very Special Thanks to one of my favorite collaborators, actor Michael Marius Massett for doing the narration.

Addovolt Explorations: Nuclear U

Henry Moore's "Nuclear Energy" sculpture near 56th Street at the University of Chicago

As mentioned before, these Addovolt Explorations quick docs are just like our own version of casual, no-fuss, little podcasts.  Well, for this one, "Nuclear U", Belinda and I recorded it in probably the loudest environment that I've ever recorded at: the airport.  We won't be doing that again, that's for sure!  We were pressed for time and everywhere we went was over-the-top loud as can be so, yes, the audio on this video is not good, my apologies.  Sometimes you get experimental just to try things out to see how it goes and, sometimes, it blows up right in your face.  Oh well.  Despite that, it's still a fun piece with interesting information and features some beautifully-designed, retro footage from vintage television projects.

Just because my naively optimistic voice-recording episodes weren't a homerun this month, doesn't mean that other ChiTown experiments long ago haven't been more successful (luckily).  The city was the chosen location for some very different kinds of potentially explosive experiments--important ones--in the distant past (1942, specifically) which is the main subject of this newest addition to the Explorations.

Watch "Addovolt Explorations:  Nuclear U" right HERE

physicist Enrico Fermi led a team of scientist towards discovering ways to harness the power potentialities of nuclear fission.  

What I learned from the reading-up that I did for this quick doc is that atomic research is complicated (surprise, surprise) and that nuclear fission can be like driving on the freeway:  watch your speed or bad stuff can happen!

Other videos from the Addovolt Explorations can be viewed right HERE

a small scale model of Pile 1, an underground development room that used to be beneath the University of Chicago (this model is on display at the Museum of Science and Industry)

It's incredible the kinds of risks that were done in the past for the sake of technical research (some people knew that they were at risk.....and a lot of people had no idea whatsoever!) and, it goes without saying, that other sorts of experiments are constantly taking place unbeknownst to us.  But, hopefully, whatever THEY're working on won't blow us up to smithereens.

Pile 1 was located directly under what is now Stagg Field

It's always a good time to learn a few nuggets regarding history, science, and the history of science along with a couple of chuckles to help put everything in perspective.  But that's because we're looking at things from the privilege perch of 2018.  With all due respect to Dr. Fermi and his team for fulfilling their assignment, let's hope that nuclear explosions will stay a thing of the past.

Special Thanks to Belinda Stamps for doing the narration and, also, for staying close to this emergency phone just in case you got sick of listening to me 💚

Addovolt Explorations: micro manor

minimalism is for chumps:  one of the largest of the small rooms in Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle

Let's lighten up a little bit, alright?

Another Addovolt Exploration has emerged out of the ether (not really) and this one takes us for a visit to the world's most elaborate dollhouse (probably?).  A wild piece of creative indulgence, dreamed up by a 1920's cinema icon, is housed in a side room within Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry.  Our video about it is right HERE

big star:  Ms. Moore spares no expense (archival photograph)

Special Thanks to Lauren Hearter for doing the narration for this quick doc.

a feat unto itself:  the Museum of Science and Industry, near the University of Chicago, utilizes one of the original buildings from the notorious World's Columbian Exposition, aka the White City, from 1893 

Even wrapping my mind around the idea of doing the kind of tiny detail work featured in/on the Fairy Castle gives me a headache but it sure is incredible to look at.  Check it out when you get a chance.  The Museum of Science and Industry is open every day, year-round, except for Christmas and Thanksgiving.

don't call it a comeback:  a poster from a recent screening at the Music Box Theater proves that Colleen Moore is still relevant and continues to sell tickets

The other Addovolt Explorations are HERE

Yes, the Fairy Castle is a feast for the eyes but I would also recommend watching some of Colleen Moore's films.  You can find material online (on YouTube, for example).  Sometimes old movies don't always hold their narrative appeal (comedy, especially, can age strangely) but Colleen Moore's talent is timeless, she's very funny, and it's clear why she was one of the greatest--and most celebrated--artists of her era.  It's easy to imagine that she would be an award-winning comedian today, too, if her birthdate had been different.   Google her and see for yourself.  Colleen Moore was (is!) unique, badass, and truly exceptional.

map

My films aren't dark for the sake of being dark.

I have my beliefs.

There's a sliver in modern culture that pushes us to deny or ignore the shadow part of nature--human and otherwise--so that we can supposedly coast along on some kind of light/blissful/sugary river of perception.

If you turn away from acknowledging/accepting death and wickedness (everyone/thing has these grains surging through their cells, some more/less than others.....), you're somehow supposedly safe.

No. 

If anything, I think that's the most dangerous way to look at things.

Only angels have halos.

You and I?  Not so much.  Don't kid yourself, don't believe the hype.

Everyone should have at least a little bit of playful familiarity with the evil side of things.

It helps us, strangely, to be the best that we can be, to be able to recognize the poisons within ourselves and others.  None of us are ever completely good.  Complete goodness is for the angels, not for you and I.

But we can improve ourselves and still be good and know how to be so without tiptoeing towards destruction in the process.  But I'm no martyr and certainly no saint.  I'll leave that role for others to try if they choose so.  It's not for me.

And probably not for you either.  Just a wild guess.

Everyone needs to have at least some kind of general understanding of shadows and shadow nature--some kind of flimsy, scribbled, frustratingly undetailed map is better than no guide at all--so that we're not constantly stumbling.  We all need to be able to play around, without being shocked and terrified, when the sun sets.  

It's simply a matter of self-preservation.  If you're into that sort of thing.

"Walls" graphic novel concept video

A sinister glimpse at medieval England, shrouded in smoke, grief, and superstition......

In an upcoming graphic novel project created by writer Zachary Anderson and artist Joshua Mitchell-Taylor, a monk must fight for his soul during the Black Plague.

This video, commissioned by Anderson and Mitchell-Taylor, quickly tells us a little bit about the tone and narrative of the graphic novel.  It's sort of like a live-action preview commercial in a sense; I've seen a few of these for other books recently on TV and it's fun that I've now ended up doing one as well.  Although I didn't want to give away too much about the plot--I'm one of very few people who knows the storyline and, let me tell you, it's good, very original, and deeply intriguing--it's clear that the main character is going to be dealing with some shadowy circumstances and unexpected visitors......

That's all that I'm going to say. 

To get the full scoop, we'll all have to get the "Walls" graphic novel once it becomes available for purchase.

The Kickstarter for this project is HERE

The "Walls" graphic novel concept video is HERE

The narration was written by Zachary Anderson.  Actor Michael Moody portrays the tormented monk and Christine Thompson provides the closing v.o. work at the end of the video.  The music featured is by Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.  All photographs from this video were done by me (Derek Quint, Addovolt Productions) and the wonderful illustrations here are from the "Walls" graphic novel, done by Joshua Mitchell-Taylor.

Addovolt Explorations: Galactic

the super-sized telescope at Yerkes Observatory in Wisconsin

This addition to Addovolt Explorations is for history nerds and space cadets.

The newest video, "Galactic", is right HERE

the trippy, vintage Atwood Sphere in Chicago

narrator Michael Moody outside of the Yerkes Observatory

Narrated by actor Michael Moody, we explore a little bit about how the first journeys away from Earth weren't quick, cheap, or easy.

a beautifully designed way to star-gaze at Adler Planetarium  

And there are some other Addovolt Explorations HERE if you're feeling ambitious.  Addovolt Explorations is a series of quick, casual mini-documentaries focusing on creators, locations, science, and history.

company policies

These days, it's difficult to escape politics.  Lines have been drawn in the sand and everybody asks everyone else questions on record.  I'm tired of it too (I think that I can hear your eyes rolling just reading this page and mine were rolling while I was writing it so I can completely sympathize).

Projects created by Addovolt Productions often explore the darker corners of human experience and imagination.  The types of films that we make--the ideas that we explore (dreams, realities, and nightmares, essentially)--exist on their own wavelength.  The ways in which we operate, as creators and craftspeople, exist on a separate, very different, wavelength.

Addovolt Productions is my company and I work very hard to keep things running.  I love clear, straightforward approaches and I'm comfortable with making statements. 

My life, my work, and my company is one big non-partisan safe space.  That will never change.

I draw my own lines in the sand and I'm not particularly interested in following contours appointed by others.

What I, and my work, stand for:

-savage individualism

-absolute equality, inclusion, and diversity from A to Z

-total empowerment for all children, women, and men and those who reject gender binaries

-respect

-unexclusive humor and satire

-fearlessness

-civil, challenging, and nuanced discussions and debates

-empathy

-kindness

-fairness

-accountability 

-forward progression


What I do not and will not support:

-groupthink and mob behaviors

-intimidation

-groveling or ring-kissing

-"cancel" culture

-bullying

-bigotry

-harassment or abuse of any kind

-name-calling

-fear, intolerance, or cruelty towards those of other races, philosophies, political beliefs, socioeconomic backgrounds, and/or religions
.............

I don't think that I could be any more direct than that.  Questions, comments, concerns?  Contact me.

--Derek Quint