LUX/NOX
An experimental film project written, directed and acted by Malado Baldwin and Sarah Walko
LUX/NOX is the visualization of the “philosopher’s stone”. The philosopher’s stone was a term used in ancient alchemy as the steps towards enlightenment and was gained through acts of personal and cultural catharsis. Each scene was designed, acted, and sequenced using these seven skeletal steps and is fused with our invented visual language.
The two female characters symbolize the depths of the dark and light parts of one human psyche. The film references many forms of ancient intuition and wisdom as enacted through the feminine. In the making of the film, we invented rituals informed by research based in historical narratives. We began with the mythological figures of the Medusa and the Odalisque, who are archetypes that exemplify both beauty and terror, representing good/bad and light/dark. These mythic figures speak to the complex relationship of fear and desire as it applied to powerful women. Our journey led us to a lab, the center of a labyrinth, and the further out we looked, the further back in time we seemed to drift. Ancient wildflowers and grasses heaved as the sky darkened. We were a little frightened but we did not move. We held its stare because water is stronger than stone.
Full Cast and Credits:
Video Interpretations by: Eddie Nichols/ Kristi Harper/ Anne Katrine Senstad/
Anne Coburn/ Sarah Walko
Principal Cinematography: Kevin Foong/ Christopher Keohane
Actors: Malado Baldwin/ Sarah Walko
Voice Over: Anna Fish
Set Design: Malado Baldwin
Costume: Malado Baldwin
Props/Sculpture: Sarah Walko
Hair: Anna Fish
Makeup: Denise Daly
Special Effects Makeup: Matthew Jackson
Choreography Consultant: Sasha Welsh
Production Assistant: Andrea LaBouff
Jewelry Design: Sarah Walko / Nina Gottlieb, Virginia Galvan, Kristy Sword
Music: Symbiosis Syndicate
Steve Giordano – guitar, guitar synthesizer, piano, keyboard synths and a laptop virtual synth.
John Swana – E.V.I. (electronic valve instrument)
Bob Meashey – trumpet, flugel horn
Joe Mullen – percussion
Symbiosis various guests over the years:
John Mosemann – percussion
Tony Micili – K.A.T. (vibes controller), laptop virtual synth
Peter Cobb – alto sax
Stills:
