Hey Presto! The Secret of Sound Travel 

Single channel digital video, colour, 2:01 mins

Hey Presto! explains in a fashion refreshingly free from common sense, the primary laws of the science surrounding telephony. 

Taking the scientific maxim ‘’ Any technology which is suitably advanced cannot be distinguished from magic’ (Arthur C Clarke) the film takes the Slinky toy, often used as a tool for describing the properties of a sound wave to offer a reflective, surreal slant on the journey of a wave in its application to modern communication. In the guise of an information film, it fails to deliver; instead it leads us down a nonsensical path, exposing our unquestioning faith in the authority of science.

The accompanying music, an extract from a Nellie Melba recording, was selected for Melba’s work with Marconi and his early experiments broadcasting by telephone.

A WillsWanders booklet was published to coincide with the films screening. (see publications)       

WATCH HEY PRESTO! The Secret of Sound Travel  >>>

SCREENINGS

Inherent Process, Fabrica, Brighton, British Shorts, Berlin, Chemistry of Incidence, Sheffield Fringe, Experimenta Cinecity Film Festival, Broken Ground, Phoenix Brighton