Phil on Special Effects

The first twelve minutes features Phil keying his own image over his left eye (right on the screen), where he smokes and performs various facial gestures. The audio begins with background static noise, but part way through, it changes to a puzzling sound effect that he explains later.

After the rather inactive section, Phil cuts in to explain various video and audio equipment. He first introduces the video tape recorder and how to do “rough assembly edit.” Reflecting DIY aesthetics, he then illustrates how to attach a wide angle lens (from a peephole designed for a door) over a zoom lens with a simple wire structure and tape. Throughout this demonstration section, he repeatedly and lightheartedly says “Did you see it? Did you see it?” as a transition. He describes using a trick camera to display a mirror image and introduces a 1595 audio recorder.

Phil finishes his presentation with the hydrophone—a specialized microphone for recording sound underwater. To conclude, he plays a game to ask viewers to guess where the hydrophone ends up. Hear it for yourself—he explains the sound effect at the six- and ten-minute marks.

–Gordon Dic-Lun Fung

For more information, visit the Phil Morton Memorial Research Archive page. 

The date for this title is approximate.