NIGHT RIDE FROM LA, 5min,. Germany, Experimental
Directed by Martin Gerigk
‘Night Ride from LA’ is based on a real car ride at night from downtown LA to the desert near Palm Springs a few years ago. The footage was taken from the car by continually shooting single long exposure photos to document the ride of about two hours without any break. This technique condensed the whole trip to a flickering twirl of time-stretched movements and night light graffiti causing a kind of psychedelic trance. A love letter to the energy and vibe of the Californian way of life.

https://www.martin-gerigk.de/
https://www.facebook.com/martin.gerigk.792/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

After a couple of rather quiet films, it was kind of time for me to make a fast crazy film, a sort of a creative inner purification. What came out was 'Night Ride from LA' which embodies the unusual experience of a wild psychedelic car ride: the mixture of whirling, hypnotic night lights, psychedelic trance, and wild emotions. All mingled with a pinch of humor. A love letter to the energy and vibe of the Californian way of life.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

About a year because of the complex editing. But the footage was taken a few years ago.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Psychedelic ride!

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

'Night Ride from LA' is based on a real car ride at night from downtown LA to the desert near Palm Springs a few years ago. I took the footage from the car by continually shooting single long exposure photos to document the ride of about two hours without any break. Physically and mentally it was an intense and painful experience, holding the camera uninterruptedly against the violent frontal airstream for such a long time.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I was very happy that the audience felt the intended vibe of the car ride!

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

It was a slow process. I'm a professional composer of contemporary music. Step by step my audiovisual compositions became experimental films over the years.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Star Wars.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

The concept is great. It helps a filmmaker a lot to get feedback from the audience.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

Only good experiences. The concept is very comfortable for filmmakers in my opinion.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Shakshouka

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I just finished my new film 'Demi-Goddesses'. At the moment I work on the third and last part of my Japanese film trilogy, a short film called 'Torii', and a film based on a cut-up poem called 'A Fractal is...'

Written movie review:
https://festivalreviews.org/2023/06/25/short-film-review-night-ride-from-la-5min-experimental/