Jem Cohen: Compass & Magnet | May 10, 17, & 24 | Little Valley School Online Arts Workshop
Jem Cohen is an American director, cinematographer, and editor. His work includes the feature films Instrument (1999), Benjamin Smoke (2000), Chain (2004), Counting (2015), Museum Hours (2012), and Little, Big, and Far (2024). Shorts include Lost Book Found (1996), Lucky Three (1997), and the recent Robert and June (and all the time in the world). Jem has collaborated with many musicians including Patti Smith, Fugazi, Xylouris White, REM, Vic Chesnutt, Terry Riley, Elliott Smith, DJ Rupture, and Godspeed You! Black Emperor.
Jem will join workshop participants for three Sundays in May to unpack the merging of documentary and fiction that culminated in the sister-films Museum Hours and Little, Big, and Far and to explore the wild and mysterious magnetism of editing. Along the way, he will examine what he got right (and wrong) over four decades of truly independent filmmaking and offer participants a set of exercises aimed at generating productive habits and spirited approaches to non-commercial art-making.
Dates: May 10th, 17th, and 24th, 1:00 – 3:30 PM EDT.
Integrated Artist Talks & Commons: Jem will spend the first 1.5 hours of each workshop with participants. For the last hour, participants will meet in small groups to discuss the artist talk and proposed exercises, as well as share their work and experience.
Cost: US $200; limited scholarships are available with priority for participants living and working outside of the US, Canada, and Europe.
