DEMI PIETCHELL
EXPERIMENTAL DOCUMENTARY ART FILM VIDEO SOCIAL MEDIA
INFO@DEMIPIETCHELL.COM

SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY

 

057 (2013) Feature-length experimental documentary exploring the connection between trauma narrative and collective memory by exposing viewers to ten years of video based documentation of a group of friends united by tragedy. Music by ISE, Projktnine, Reid, Shameful Act, Jennifer Kircherr and Demi Pietchell.

 

 

Fake in Front (2005) Pixilation process, music video. Music by FnB.

 

 

Idolatry (2005) Experimental documentary short exposing the connection between nightlife and ritual. Music by Jennifer Kircherr and Demi Pietchell.

 

 

Coney Island (2005) Surrealist performative experimental documentary exploring the gap between the nostalgic mythical view of Coney Island and the modern reality of the location. Inspired by the ironic tone of Luis Bunuel's Land Without Bread, the vintage filmstrip style narration in 'Coney Island' shows no mercy or compassion for the people it describes, causing a reaction of simultaneous humor, disgust, shame, and horror within its audience. 'Coney Island' explores the notion of society's 'tough love' heartlessness for the heroin addict, especially among his/her peers. The comic notion of society's having looked the other way is portrayed to an extreme which causes the audience to face its laughter as ironic guilt through its measure of coldness and cruelty.

 

 

Relative Dysfunction (2003) Narrative short. Jordyn, a sarcastic, defiant teenage girl attempts to balance her vulnerability and cynicism in a world where children no longer live sheltered and protected lives. Feeling trapped between the nosiness of her mother and the lack of attention she receives from her father, Jordyn decides to live her life in her own way, running with a wild crowd, taking illegal and prescription drugs to combat her depression, angst, and ultimately, a pervasive sense of suburban boredom. When the drug money runs out, Jordyn turns to burglary and prostitution. Music by Human Landscapes and The Yoko Theory.

 

SELECTED PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLAGE

 

Colosseum (2006)

 

Curtain Hall (2010)

 

Field (2008)

 

Forum (2006)

 

Ghost House (2008)

 

Ghost Train (2010)

 

Inside Ghost Train (2010)

 

Inside Snoqualmie (2010)

 

Snoqualmie Water (2008)

 

Spiral Stairs (2006)
Vesuvius (2006)

 

BIO

In addition to her work as an innovative artist, Demi Pietchell is an award-winning filmmaker with twenty years of experience as a writer, producer, director, and media publicist.

Pietchell’s work is personal and experimental, exploring the gaps between time and memory through the deconstruction of narrative, culture, myth, and media.

Pietchell has written, directed, and produced seven shorts, including Relative Dysfunction (2003), Coney Island (2005), Fake in Front (2005) and Idolatry (2005). Her work has been shown domestically and internationally in festivals and exhibitions, with the honor of receiving Best Long Format Narrative Drama, DV Awards; Best Picture and Best Writing, Palm Beach Film Society Competition, Palm Beach International Film Festival; and the Grand and Silver Goldie Awards.

With a fiscal sponsorship from the Independent Film Project (IFP), she is currently in post-production on her debut feature-length experimental documentary, 057 (2013), which explores the connection between trauma narrative and collective memory via ten years of mixed media documentation of a group of friends united by tragedy in their youth.

Pietchell is co-founder of TV Snatched the Goose Productions, and serves as Vice President of Creative Services at Surefire Media Group and Media Director for TEDxDelrayBeach. Pietchell attended New York University, receiving both a BFA in Film and Television and an MPS in Interactive Telecommunications (ITP) from Tisch School of the Arts.

 

ARTIST STATEMENT

As an artist, I am fascinated by both the whole and the fragmented. As human beings, we learn by taking objects and concepts apart and putting them back together to create meaning. As a society, we draw from the fragments of the cultures and ideas that came before us, forming a mosaic of memory, belief, thought, and emotion that becomes richer the more we explore. As individuals, our psyches fragment as a means for self-preservation; we break apart to hide our darkest moments from our conscious selves until we feel it is safe to explore those fragments and reconnect the pieces. We use our imaginations and our dreams as a means of communicating from subconscious to conscious, to bridge among the parts we keep separated so we may find understanding. And understanding ourselves helps us to find ways to empathize with others.

In my film/video work, I’ve been exploring the impact of shared trauma upon group dynamics. Currently in post-production with fiscal sponsorship from the Independent Film Project (IFP), my feature-length experimental documentary 057 is a case study of a group of friends united by tragedy. The piece looks into the connection between trauma narrative and collective memory over the course of ten years.

My photographic collages are imaginary scenes and landscapes consisting of original photography recontexualized to create a new place or mood, created entirely from fragments to conjure a reformed whole with its own unique feel and logic.

 

EDUCATION

MPS Interactive Telecommunications, Tisch School of the Arts, New York University, New York, NY, May 2006

BFA Film and Television, Tisch School of the Arts, New York University, New York, NY, May 2001

 

EXHIBITIONS/SCREENINGS/FESTIVALS/AWARDS

2010

The Land of Odd Gallery $100 and Under Show, Los Angeles, CA "Forum" and "Vesuvius," 2.13.10 - 3.27.10

2007

Independent Film Project (IFP) Fiscal Sponsorship, New York, NY, “057” feature experimental documentary, Ongoing

2006

Tisch School of the Arts at New York University Interactive Telecommunications Program Thesis Week, New York, NY, “The 057” feature experimental documentary trailer screening and discussion 5.2.06

2005

Bare Bones Script2Screen Independent Film Festival, Oklahoma City, OK, “Coney Island” 10.13.05 – 10.16.05

West Chester Film Festival, West Chester, PA, “Coney Island” 10.7.05 – 10.9.05 Nominated, Best Experimental Art Film

TVNET.net Online International Film Festival, “Coney Island” 7.6.05 – 7.31.05

Goldie Film Awards, Palatka, FL, “Coney Island” 5.23.05 Winner, Grand Goldie Award

2004

Tisch School of the Arts at New York University Interactive Telecommunications Program Winter Show, New York, NY “ePaparazzi” 12.19.04 – 12.20.04

Silver Lake Film Festival, Los Angeles, CA “Relative Dysfunction” 9.30.04

2003

Hertfordshire Independent Film Festival, Hertfordshire, England, UK “Relative Dysfunction” 10.10.03

Melbourne Independent Film Festival, Melbourne, FL “Relative Dysfunction” 9.11.03 – 9.14.03

Great Lakes International Film Festival, Erie, PA “Relative Dysfunction” 9.11.03

Media Co-Op Second Annual Digital Film Festival, Memphis, TN “Relative Dysfunction” 9.3.03 – 9.7.03

Festival de Cine Internacionale de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain “Relative Dysfunction” 8.31.03

Rhode Island International Film Festival, Providence, RI “Relative Dysfunction” 8.8.03

DaVinci Film and Video Festival, Corvallis, OR “Relative Dysfunction” 7.14.03

Nickel Independent Film Festival, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada “Relative Dysfunction” 7.16.03 - 7.19.03

Utah Short Film and Video Festival, Park City, UT “Relative Dysfunction” 6.20.03 Honorable Mention, Narrative Drama

Goldie Film Awards, Palatka, FL “Relative Dysfunction” 5.23.03 Winner, Silver Goldie Award

DV Awards, Park City, UT “Relative Dysfunction” 5.15.03 Winner, Best Long Format Narrative Drama

Palm Beach International Film Festival, Palm Beach, FL “Relative Dysfunction” 4.17.03 Winner, Best Picture and Best Writing/ Palm Beach Film Society Competition

1999

Tisch School of the Arts at New York University Best of Sight and Sound for Film Showcase, New York, NY Untitled Spring 1999

1995

Florida Association for Media in Education Awards, FL “Swarm” Spring 1995 Second Place, Music Video

 

PRESS

ArtChix Magazine "Demi Pietchell: An Exclusive Interview" 1.29.10

PR Web “Pietchell and Oterholm’s ‘Coney Island’ Nominated for Best Experimental/Art Film at West Chester Film Festival” 9.21.05

Tisch News “2 Students Win Grand Goldie” 5.23.05

Connect “Inspirational Interactivity: The ITP Winter Show 2004” Spring/Summer 2005

City Link Magazine "Lights! Camera! Indie!" 4.28.04