Lightning has fascinated man from the earliest times, inspiring both awe and fear. At the turn of the century, scientist Nikola Tesla developed his Tesla coil: an electrical current generator that he envisioned as a potential power source, shooting lightning into the air to be pulled down by energy customers around the world. Almost a century later, artist Eric Orr was commissioned to build a huge sculpture that would throw magnificent lightning bolts. He turned to high-voltage engineer Greg Leyh for help, and the result was the largest Tesla coil in the world - a tower four stories high that generates three million volts of electricity and 40-foot bolts of lightning. So often we think of science and art as being irreconcilable opposites. This program proves the reverse: Electrum is a fascinating opportunity to explore the relationship between technology and art, and meet the people who see beyond the ordinary.
Ordering Information
Videos are currently on sale for non-commercial educational use only to institutions, community groups and libraries, which prohibits any broadcasts, duplication and admission charges. Please inquire about other licenses and public performance rights directly to ASKlabs. For tesla coilers, grassroots and low-income users, please contact us with your special request. Alberta Chu is also available to accompany the film for lecture tours. Contact ASKlabs.
Screenings and Broadcast
Electrum has been broadcast on select PBS stations WGBH and KTEH and has recently been selected for a national PBS broadcast in 2003. Portions of the film have been featured on NBC and CNN. Electrum has screened internationally at film festivals and can be found in the collections of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Exploratorium (San Francisco) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC). More
Cast and Crew
Electrum features rare and unique tesla coil footage shot by Director of Photography David Safian. Monica Gillette was the editor of the Electrum documentary. The original musical score by SKY is a haunting blend of electronica and classical music. More
Awards
Best Documentary and Spirit of Da Vinci Award - Da Vinci Film and Video Festival Golden Sheaf Award - Best International Documentary Short, Yorkton Short Film Festival Second Place - Documentary, Marin County Short Film Festival Official Selection - Docside Documentary Film Festival, Texas Finalist, USA Film Festival