Rhode Island School of Design

“Fur and Feathers.”

A story of a mythic samurai coming out of retirement for one final battle.

A Gold Medal recipient at the 1987 Student Academy Awards.

This rare collection of Ryan Trecartin's early short films, produced as a student at the Rhode Island School of Design, showcase the artist's maturation in experimental video which would culminate in his debut feature film - "A Family Finds Entertainment." Included are seven of Trecartin's titled short films, ranging from 2001-2003, and a number of secret extras scattered around the DVD menus. While there is no official information to be found about this DVD, the elaborate menu graphics and wildly varied original sound design point to this DVD as potentially a form of portfolio, allowing the artist to showcase their early work alongside original digital manipulations.

A house at the center is home to dog and cat. The sun shines down, and a day goes by. Thesis film from the Rhode Island School of Design.

In Yo! A Romantic Comedy, Trecartin borrows clichés from hip-hop culture and genre films to craft a dark, dream-like narrative that veers from comic melodrama to goth fantasy. Applying his signature digital editing and delirious sound processing to remarkable effect, Trecartin creates an alternative narrative universe that suggests a kind of psychodramatic hyper-reality.

“Cat’s Cradle.”

A short film showcasing the artist’s maturation in experimental video which would culminate in his debut feature film – “A Family Finds Entertainment.”