ELECTRUM
SYNOPSIS
REVIEWS
SCREENINGS
AWARDS
CAST
CREW
PRODUCTION DETAILS

SYNOPSIS
Lightning has fascinated man from the earliest times, inspiring both awe and fear. At the turn of the century, scientist Nikola Tesla developed his Tesla coil: an electrical current generator that he envisioned as a potential power source, shooting lightning into the air to be pulled down by energy customers around the world. Almost a century later, artist Eric Orr was commissioned to build a huge sculpture that would throw magnificent lightning bolts. He turned to high-voltage engineer Greg Leyh for help, and the result was the largest Tesla coil in the world - a tower four stories high that generates three million volts of electricity and 40-foot bolts of lightning. So often we think of science and art as being irreconcilable opposites. This program proves the reverse: Electrum is a fascinating opportunity to explore the relationship between technology and art, and meet the people who see beyond the ordinary.

SCREENINGS
Electrum has been broadcast on select PBS stations WGBH and KTEH and had a national PBS broadcast in 2003. Portions of the film have been featured on NBC and CNN. Electrum has screened internationally at film festivals and can be found in the collections of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Exploratorium (San Francisco) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC).

Videos are currently on sale for non-commercial educational use only to institutions, community groups and libraries, which prohibits any broadcasts, duplication and admission charges. Please inquire about other licenses and public performance rights directly to ASKlabs. Alberta Chu is also available to accompany the film for lecture tours. The film is available on 16mm, Digibeta, Beta SP, Mini DV, VHS. Electrum is currently not available on DVD. For tesla coilers, grassroots and low-income users, please contact us with your special request.

AWARDS
Best Documentary and Spirit of Da Vinci Award - Da Vinci Film and Video Festival Golden Sheaf Award - Best International Documentary Short, Yorkton Short Film Festival
Second Place - Documentary, Marin County Short Film Festival
Official Selection - Docside Documentary Film Festival, Texas
Finalist, USA Film Festival

CAST
ERIC ORR The late Artist, of the "light and space" movement of the 1960's, is best known for his kinetic sculptures which implement basic elements such as fire, water, and vapor cloud as his media. With the Electrum sculpture he adds lightning to his repertoire. The Electrum sculpture is a site-specific work commissioned for The Farm, a vast outdoor sculpture park in New Zealand, comparable to Storm King in New York state. To experience the Electrum sculpture is an unforgettable experience.
GREG LEYH The electrical engineer with the imagination to try to do something that's never been done before. His successful tesla coil is the biggest one ever built, and he is worshipped by his fellow "coilers" as the tesla coil hobbyist subculture is called. Learn more about Greg's current projects, the Artificial Lightning Facility: Nevada Lightning Laboratory.
CHIP FLYNN The skills of this multi-talented technician are instrumental in the fabrication of the Electrum sculpture. Here's a video clip of a project by Chip's Peoplehater machine performance art: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kjf-DCvaxU
MARK PAULINE The Founder of machine performance art group Survival Research Laboratories enable Engineer Greg Leyh to hone his high-voltage skills in a truly experimental lab setting
JEFF PARISSE The Coiler with business sense who had turned his hobby into his profession, is the head of kVA Special Effects a group that provides tesla coil and lightning effects for film, tv, and theater.
FULL CAST+CREW

PRODUCTION DETAILS
Total Duration: 29:17
Format: miniDV video
Camera: Sony VX1000
Year: 1999-2001
Producer/Director: Alberta Chu
Camera/Sound: David Safian
Editor: Monica Gillette
Composer: Sky

Electrum was produced in Los Angeles, CA and filmed in San Francisco, CA and Auckland, New Zealand. The film features rare and unique tesla coil footage shot by Director of Photography David Safian. Editor Monica Gillette worked her magic in the cutting room. The original musical score by SKY is a haunting blend of electronica and classical music.