Profiles
Dr Allister Gall
Lecturer of BA (Hons) Filmmaking
School of Art, Design and Architecture (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business)
Biography
Biography
BA Filmmaking programme leader and lecturer in Filmmaking.
Co-founder of Imperfect Cinema (2010-ongoing). The project began as an open-access film collective. We now create films that explore place, people and memory and facilitate local participatory projects. We are currently working on a large scale film commission for the BFI and The Box, which will explore local communities after dark. In addition, over the previous two years, we have been researching Plymouth’s Union Street and in particular, it’s largely forgotten cinema history for the Home of Movies Project.
My papers, workshops and films have been published, screened and exhibited internationally, including The Box (UK), Besides The Screen (Brazil), The Atlantic Project (UK), Interstate Gallery, (New York, USA), Sightlines: Filmmaking in the Academy (Australia), Situated Cinemas (Austria), Bad Video Art Festival (Russia), One Plus One Film Journal (UK), Peckham24, South Kiosk Gallery (UK), The London Lift-Off Film Festival (UK), The River Tamar Project / All About the River Festival (UK), the Supersonic Festival (UK), One Plus One Film Journal (UK), The Guardian (UK), Visible Evidence XIII (USA), NECS (Paris and Prague), KISMIF (Portugal) and British Radical Screens (UK).
Qualifications
Doctor of Philosophy, Plymouth University, 2016
Professional membership
Associate Fellow of The Higher Education Academy (HEA)
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
Allister leads the BA (Hons) Filmmaking programme.
Allister is interested in narrative forms, experimental moving image practice and interdisciplinary approaches, including socially engaged art practices and expanded approaches to filmmaking and cinema.
Research
Research
Research interests
Dr Allister Gall explores filmmaking and socially engaged community film projects.
There are two main themes to my research:
1, I co-facilitate the Imperfect Cinema project (2010 – on-going), a social-participatory project for filmmaking and other forms of cultural production. We organise DIY micro-cinema events, workshops, live screen/music performance, documentary-interactive projects, symposiums and get-togethers. As practice as research, we consider how the lessons from Imperfect Cinema can develop new forms of participative processes, opportunities for knowledge exchange and new imaginings around pedagogy. This work is focussing on the important role imperfection and socially situated art practice plays in instigating actions/productions and shaping experiences and values in and through local communities.
2, The second aspect of my work considers ways in which filmmaking can explore place, people and memory.
Publications / Conferences / Talks
Imperfect Cinema: Home of Movies artist talk and screening at Exeter Phoenix Arts Centre, 2020.
Contributor to Robert Brown’s Professorial Lecture Series; dialogues: towards a community of praxis, 2020.
Invited Talk: Reel Lives, Amateur, DIY and ‘Imperfect’ Filmmaking, University of the Arts, London, UK.
Co-creator of Diffractive Happening PhD Workshop, Plymouth University, 2019.
Co-convener of Artistic Research Will Eat Itself, Society of Artistic Research (SAR) conference, Plymouth, 2019.
Imperfect Cinema Guest Talk | Workshop at Situated Cinemas Conference, Klagenfurt University, Austria, 2018.
Situated Cinemas, Alpen-Adria-University Klagenfurt, ‘The Virtues of Non-Virtuosity in Socially Situated Cinema’, 2018.
Artistic Research Will Eat Itself, Society of Artistic Research, Plymouth University. ‘Becoming Imperfect’, 2018.
Workshopping an Imperfect I.Docs Praxis, I.Doc Conference, Bristol, 2018.
The NECS 2017 Conference, Sensibilities and the senses: Media, bodies, Practices, ‘The Politics of Imperfect Aesthetics’, 2017
Visible Evidence xxiii: New Frontiers in Documentary, ‘For an Imperfect i-doc’, School of Film and Photography, Montana State University, USA, 2016
MeCCSA2016 Conference, Canterbury University: ‘Imperfect d.i.y Communities’, 2016
KISMIF Conference, Porto: ‘Imperfect Practices: Film, punk and collectivity’, 2015
Plymouth University, Inclusive Practice: ‘The Problems of Assessment in Media Arts’, 2014
The Guardian: ‘DIY Culture, how to do it yourself’, 2014
Exeter University, QERN: ‘Interplay(ing): Building Democratic Approaches to Film’, 2013
Roehampton University Theorising Practice, Practicing Theory: “For An Imperfect Practice’, 2013
Plymouth University, ‘Is it TV? Or Something Else?: ‘Online and Local Television Networks: A new pedagogy for a changing media’, 2013
Avanca Cinema: Arts and Communication, ‘(Re)Framing Punk Cinema’, 2013
NECS Cinema and Media International Conference, Prague: ‘Imperfect Makes Practice’, 2012
Avanca Cinema Conference, Portugal: ‘Reviewing Punk Cinema’, 2012
Making Futures International Conference: ‘Imperfect Cinema: Making Futures?’ 2012
Dirty Hands Symposium: ‘Imperfect Cinema; Participation, Micro-Cinema & DIY Punk’, 2012
As a research assistant, I co-organised the ‘Is it TV? Or Something Else?’ symposium at Plymouth University, 2012
One Plus One Filmmaker’s Journal, in collaboration with Dan Paolantonio, Imperfect Cinema: DiY Punk, Micro-Cinema and Participation, 2011
Requiem///102 Project with Nicholas Rombes, 2011
British Radical Screens Symposium: ‘Towards an Imperfect Film Practice’, 2010
Workshops
Home of Movies Workshop at Exeter School of Art, 2020.
Cinaesthesia Workshop, part of the Imperfect Cinema Home of Movies Project, Plymouth, 2019.
Imperfect 68, part of the Radical Film Network 1968 project, Plymouth, 2018
An imperfect film workshop, COGNOVO Scientific Mythologies Workshop, 2016
Imperfect Cine-Train, All About the River Festival, 2014.
An Imperfect Walk, Walk On, 2014
Grants & contracts
Grants & Contracts
2020 - The Box After Dark Film Commission
2020 - The Box State of Emergency Commission
2020 - Artistic Research Grant for Home of Movies Project
2020 - Nudge Community Builders grant for Home of Movies Project
2018 - Cinaesthesia - The Atlantic Project
2017 - Artistic Research Grant for Future Imperfect Symposium
2016 - Residential workshop participant - Cornwall Workshop with LUX
2014 - Grant for Tamar film & workshop project, All About the River Festival
2013 - Grant for Imperfect Takeover project, Peninsular Arts
2010 - Grant for View From Here Documentary
Creative practice & artistic projects
Screenings / Exhibitions
DAILY EXERCISE, The Box, 2020.
BLVD (Work in Progress). Plymouth Art Weekender, 2019.
UNION STREET CINEMA HISTORY WALK, 2019.
CINAESTHESIA, The Atlantic Project, 2019.
HOME OF MOVIES, The Atlantic Project, 2019.
IMPERFECT CINEMA: HIDDEN VOICES, Plymouth History Festival, 2019.
ARRIVAL OF A TRAIN IN LOS SANTOS, Besides the Screen, Brazil, 2019.
EYEBALL, Bad Video Art Festival, Zverev Center of Contemporary Art, Moscow, Russia, 2019.
NO COMMANDER 5, Imperfect 68/Radical Film Network. Imperfect Cinema Union Corner, Plymouth, 2018.
SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE: IMPROVISED! Studio24, Leeds. IRIS, 2017
NO FIXED RULES: Four films inspired by Malcolm Le Grice. Inspired by Le Grice, created with Gall, Take a Part & Peninsula Arts, 2017
SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE! Future Imperfect Symposium, Plymouth University, 2017
SPRING. Love to Read Filmmaking Project. Future Imperfect Symposium, Plymouth University, 2017.
EVERYTHING IMPERFECT. Sightlines: Filmmaking in the Academy, RMIT University, Melbourne, 2016
TAMAR: RECORDED. Peckham24 Moving image, Omgyjer Glusek: South Kiosk Gallery London, 2016
EVERYTHING IMPERFECT. MeCCSA2016 Conference, Canterbury University: ‘Imperfect d.i.y Communities’, 2016
HOME: 3 YEARS ON. Native Makers Festival, 2015
TAMAR (revisited) with IMPERFECT ORCHESTRA. Plymouth Arts Centre, 2014.
TAMAR with IMPERFECT CINEMA ORCHESTRA. Commissioned by ‘All About the River Film Festival’ & ‘River Tamar Project’, 2014
EVERYTHING IMPERFECT. Imperfect Takeover. Peninsula Arts, 2013
THE BIG DREAM. Goldsmith & Exploding Cinema: Besides the Screen, 2013
IMPERFECT CINEMA. One Minute edition. Plymouth Art Centre, 2012
Co-workshop facilitator and producer of collaborative film Imperfect Cinema & ‘Drunk in Hell’ at the Supersonic Festival, Birmingham, 2012
Co-workshop facilitator and producer of collaborative film Imperfect Cinema & ‘SOUNDkitchen’ at the Supersonic Festival, Birmingham, 2011
IMPERFECT CINEMA NYC. Interstate Gallery in Brooklyn, NYC, 2011
NEED. London Lift-Off International Film Festival, 2011
DEADLY IS THE DOLL. View From Here Film Festival, 2010
Workshops Facilitated
Home of Movies Workshop at Exeter School of Art, 2020.
Cinaesthesia Workshop, part of the Imperfect Cinema Home of Movies Project, Plymouth, 2019.
Imperfect 68, part of the Radical Film Network 1968 project, Plymouth, 2018
An imperfect film workshop, COGNOVO Scientific Mythologies Workshop, 2016
Imperfect Cine-Train, All About the River Festival, 2014.
An Imperfect Walk, Walk On, 2014
Publications
Publications
PUBLICATIONS & CONFERENCES
Sightline's: Filmmaking in the Academy, RMIt University, Melbourne Australia
Visible Evidence xxiii: New Frontiers in Documentary, 'For an Imperfect i-doc', School of Film and Photography, Montana State University, USA
MeCCSA2016 Conference, Canterbury University:‘Imperfect d.i.y Communities'
KISMIF Conference, Porto: ‘Imperfect Practices: Film, punk and collectivity'
Plymouth University, Inclusive Practice: ‘The Problems of Assessment in Media Arts’
The Guardian: ‘DIY Culture, how to do it yourself'
Exeter University, QERN: ‘Interplay(ing): Building Democratic Approaches to Film'
Roehampton University Theorising Practice, Practicing Theory: “For An Imperfect Practice'
Plymouth University, ‘Is it TV? Or Something Else?:‘Online and Local Television Networks: A new pedagogy for a changing media
Avanca Cinema: Arts and Communication, ‘(Re)Framing Punk Cinema'
NECS Cinema and Media International Conference,Prague: ‘Imperfect Makes Practice'
Avanca Cinema Conference, Portugal: ‘Reviewing Punk Cinema’
Making Futures International Conference: ‘Imperfect Cinema: Making Futures?'
Dirty Hands Symposium: ‘Imperfect Cinema; Participation,Micro-Cinema & DIY Punk’
As research assistant, co-organised the ‘Is it TV? Or Something Else?’ symposium at Plymouth University 2011
One Plus One Filmmakers Journal, in collaboration with Dan Paolantonio
Requiem///102 Project with Nicolas Rombes, author of New Punk Cinema
British Radical Screens Symposium: ‘Towards a Radical Film Practice’
Personal
Personal
Reports & invited lectures
Imperfect Cinema: Home of Movies artist talk and screening at Exeter Phoenix Arts Centre, 2020.
Contributor to Robert Brown’s Professorial Lecture Series; dialogues: towards a community of praxis, 2020.
Invited Talk: Reel Lives, Amateur, DIY and ‘Imperfect’ Filmmaking, University of the Arts, London, UK.
Imperfect Cinema Guest Talk | Workshop at Situated Cinemas Conference, Klagenfurt University, Austria, 2018.
Situated Cinemas, Alpen-Adria-University Klagenfurt, ‘The Virtues of Non-Virtuosity in Socially Situated Cinema’, 2018.
Conferences organised
Co-creator of Diffractive Happening PhD Workshop, Plymouth University, 2019.
Co-convener of Artistic Research Will Eat Itself, Society of Artistic Research (SAR) conference, Plymouth, 2019.
Co-convener fo Future Imperfect Symposium, Plymouth, 2017
As a research assistant, I co-organised the ‘Is it TV? Or Something Else?’ symposium at Plymouth University, 2012
Other academic activities
Publications / Conferences / Talks
Workshopping an Imperfect I.Docs Praxis, I.Doc Conference, Bristol, 2018.
The NECS 2017 Conference, Sensibilities and the senses: Media, bodies, Practices, ‘The Politics of Imperfect Aesthetics’, 2017
Visible Evidence xxiii: New Frontiers in Documentary, ‘For an Imperfect i-doc’, School of Film and Photography, Montana State University, USA, 2016
MeCCSA2016 Conference, Canterbury University: ‘Imperfect d.i.y Communities’, 2016
KISMIF Conference, Porto: ‘Imperfect Practices: Film, punk and collectivity’, 2015
Plymouth University, Inclusive Practice: ‘The Problems of Assessment in Media Arts’, 2014
The Guardian: ‘DIY Culture, how to do it yourself’, 2014
Exeter University, QERN: ‘Interplay(ing): Building Democratic Approaches to Film’, 2013
Roehampton University Theorising Practice, Practicing Theory: “For An Imperfect Practice’, 2013
Plymouth University, ‘Is it TV? Or Something Else?: ‘Online and Local Television Networks: A new pedagogy for a changing media’, 2013
Avanca Cinema: Arts and Communication, ‘(Re)Framing Punk Cinema’, 2013
NECS Cinema and Media International Conference, Prague: ‘Imperfect Makes Practice’, 2012
Avanca Cinema Conference, Portugal: ‘Reviewing Punk Cinema’, 2012
Making Futures International Conference: ‘Imperfect Cinema: Making Futures?’ 2012
Dirty Hands Symposium: ‘Imperfect Cinema; Participation, Micro-Cinema & DIY Punk’, 2012
One Plus One Filmmaker’s Journal, in collaboration with Dan Paolantonio, Imperfect Cinema: DiY Punk, Micro-Cinema and Participation, 2011
Requiem///102 Project with Nicholas Rombes, 2011
British Radical Screens Symposium: ‘Towards an Imperfect Film Practice’, 2010
Links
www.allistergall.com