Arthur Lipsett

Arthur Lipsett (13 May 1936 – May 1 1986) was a Canadian avant-garde director of short experimental films.

In the 1960s he was employed as an animator by the National Film Board of Canada. Lipsett's particular passion was sound. He would collect pieces of sound and fit them together to create an interesting auditory sensation. After playing one of these creations to friends, they suggested that Lipsett put images to it. He did what his friends suggested, and the result became the 7 minute long film "Very Nice, Very Nice" which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Short Subject, Live Action Subjects in 1962. Despite not winning the Oscar, this film brought Lipsett considerable praise from critics and directors. Stanley Kubrick was one of Lipsett's fans, and asked him to create a trailer for his upcoming movie "". Lipsett declined Kubrick's offer. Kubrick went on to direct the trailer himself; however, Lipsett's influence on Kubrick is clearly visible when watching the trailer.

Lipsett's film "21-87" was a profound influence on director George Lucas who included elements from 21-87 in "THX 1138", his "Star Wars" films and also "American Graffiti". The film 21-87 has been credited by Lucas as the source of the "The Force" in Star Wars. [ [http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.05/lucas.html?pg=3&topic=lucas&topic_set=%20Life%20After%20Darth Wired 13.05: Life After Darth] ] . Lucas never met the filmmaker but tributes to 21-87 appear throughout Star Wars. For example, the holding cell of Princess Leia in "" on the "Death Star" is cell No. 2187.

Lipsett's success allowed him some freedom, but as his films became more bizarre, this freedom quickly disappeared. He suffered from psychological problems. Later in his life he is said to have done strange things like taking a taxi from Toronto to Montreal (costing several hundred dollars). Lipsett committed suicide in 1986, two weeks shy of his 50th birthday.

In 2006, a feature-length documentary about Lipsett, "Remembering Arthur", was produced by Public Pictures. The film was directed by Lipsett's close friend Martin Lavut.

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0513750
* [http://www.nfb.ca/animation/objanim/en/filmmakers/filmmaker/overview.php?id=9919 Focus on Arthur Lipsett at the NFB Web site]
* [http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/directors/04/lipsett.html Senses of Cinema: Great Directors Critical Database]
* [http://www.siegelproductions.ca/filmfanatics/arthurlipsett.htm A Clown Outside the Circus]
* [http://www.public-pictures.com Remembering Arthur]