If a Tree Falls in a Forest
16mm > 35mm, 15 minutes, color/b&w, sound, 2021
Set in the landscapes of Los Angeles, this hybrid documentary seeks to explore harmful cyclical occurrences that exploit natural resources and bring us closer to extinction. Following the discovery of a mysterious metal structure in the desert, this film documents the encased objects found within the structure. This film is made up of speculative recreations of the study conducted, analysis of the found objects, and surrounding landscapes.
VOICES
John Hawk
Zazie Ray-Trapido
WRITING
Andrew Kim
Leonardo Pirondi
MUSIC & SOUND
Leonardo Pirondi
SUPPORTED BY
Galeria Mola
MONO NO AWARE
CalArts Film/Video Project Grant
FESTIVAL EXHIBITIONS
- SOLO SCREENING: EARTH/GRAIN/PIXEL: Short Films by Leonardo Pirondi at Spectacle Theatre; Brooklyn, USA 2023
- University of Wisconsin Milwaukee; Milwaukee, USA 2023
- Visiting Artist Lecture at the University of Chicago; Chicago, USA 2023
- Wexner Center for the Arts: A Cosmic Rays Touring Program; Columbus, USA 2023
- 1666 Festival Internacional de Cinema 16mm; São Paulo, Brazil 2022 (Included in the Cinematheque of MAM Rio )
- Lima Alterna Festival Internacional de Cine: Wild Regions; Lima, Peru 2022
- Cosmic Rays Touring Program at International Film Series UCB; Boulder, USA 2022
- Film & Environment: University of Wisconsin Milwaukee; Milwaukee, USA 2022
- Cosmic Rays Touring Program at Vertical Cinema; Iowa City, USA 2022
- Ambulante Cine Documental Itinerante: Injerto; Ciudad de México, México. 2022
- LABOCINE: Picks of the Week; Streaming Service 2022
- Edinburgh International Film Festival: Echos in the Landscape; Edinburgh, Scotland 2022
- California Institute of the Arts (on 35mm); Valencia, USA 2022
- Millennium Film Workshop; Brooklyn, USA. 2022
- Brooklyn Film Festival; Brooklyn, USA 2022
- Moviate Underground Film Festival; Harrisburg, USA 2022
- Cosmic Rays Film Festival; Chapel Hill, USA 2022
- San Diego Underground Film Festival; San Diego, USA 2021
- Silver Dusk; Echo Park, USA 2021
- Light Matter Film Festival; Alfred, USA 2021
- Cámara Lúcida Festival de Cine Contemporáneo: Transmisiones de Tierra; Cuenca, Ecuador 2021
WORDS
"Within the uncanny desert landscape of Los Angeles, the discovery of a mysterious structure highlights the cyclical destruction of natural resources ushering humanity ever closer to environmental devastation.” — Lydia Beilby (Edinburgh Intl. Film Festival)
“The discovery of an obelisk in the desert outside of Los Angeles leads to the uncovering of a mysterious prismatic disc. Its decoding reveals a cyclical warning of exploitation and extinction.” — Stephen Cappel (Spectacle Theater)