Thom Andersen has spent the vast majority of his life residing in the City of Angels, specifically the city of Los Angeles. During the 1960s, he embarked on a creative journey, producing a series of short films that showcased his artistic talents. Among these notable works was the 1965 film "Melting", which made its premier debut that year.
Andersen's remarkable career in documentary filmmaking took a significant turn in 1974 with the completion of Eadweard Muybridge, Zoopraxographer, a meticulous and exhaustive documentary that thoroughly examines Muybridge's pioneering photographic endeavors, which had a profound impact on the development of motion pictures.
Decades later, in 1995, Andersen joined forces with the esteemed filmmaker and theorist Noël Burch to produce Red Hollywood, a thought-provoking and deeply insightful videotape that delves into the fascinating filmography of individuals whose careers were profoundly affected by the infamous Hollywood Blacklist, a dark period in Hollywood's history that had far-reaching consequences for the film industry and its artists.
As Andersen's documentary explores the lives and work of these individuals, it offers a nuanced and multifaceted perspective on the complex issues surrounding the Blacklist, shedding new light on the ways in which the blacklisters' actions influenced the development of American cinema and the careers of those who were affected by it.
Through his work on Eadweard Muybridge, Zoopraxographer and Red Hollywood, Andersen has demonstrated his ability to tackle complex and challenging subjects with sensitivity, nuance, and a deep understanding of the historical and cultural contexts in which they unfolded.
Their groundbreaking research on the history of the Blacklist ultimately culminated in the publication of a comprehensive book, titled Les Communistes de Hollywood: Autre chose que des martyrs, in the year 1994.
Notably, in the year 2003, Andersen released a captivating and thought-provoking videotape, aptly titled Los Angeles Plays Itself, which delved into the fascinating topic of the representation of Los Angeles in films. This documentary, which showcased Andersen's exceptional skills as a filmmaker, went on to earn the esteemed National Film Board of Canada Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 2003 Vancouver International Film Festival. Furthermore, it was voted the best documentary of 2004 in the prestigious Village Voice Film Critics' Poll, a testament to its outstanding quality and impact.
Throughout the extensive duration of his remarkable career, Andersen has not only demonstrated his extraordinary proficiency in the realm of filmmaking, but has also generously shared his profound knowledge and expertise by assuming the role of a dedicated instructor, where he has had the esteemed privilege of teaching the intricacies of film composition to students at the prestigious California Institute of the Arts, a position he has held with great distinction and dedication since the year 1987.
