Azazel Jacobs
Very rarely does one find an artist that can grasp your heart with both melancholy and humor. It is no small feat, yet Azazel Jacobs manages with great ease. Through his short films, docs, experimental pieces, and feature films he consistently reveals some ache in the human condition. The statement is not preached, but rather revealed subtlety, in story and tone. His film, “Momma’s Man,” centered around a lonely, grown-up son, returning to his parents flat to regain a semblance of safety and security. The understated dialogue and character’s actions ring true with a stark realism to disarm the viewer and create empathy. Aza is still very young and is already beginning to master the technique of involving and engaging the audience; opposed to letting them just watch. He comes from a very artistic background; his father is famed avant-garde artist and filmmaker, Ken Jacobs. Ken, who has been a driving force behind Aza’s development, constantly strived to connect with the audience through means beyond just celluloid. In the early 70’s, he coined the term “paracinema,” which describes the process of creating a cinematic experience through means that are not restricted by technology and budget. With this in mind, he made the works “Nervous System,” which consisted only of shadow play and flickering lights on a screen.
Aza contributed a short film from 2001, entitled “Message Machine,” for the PRISM index #1 DVD.
Track
(7) Azazel Jacobs – Message Machine (RT: 5 min)