Food From The Sun

Essentially a film on photosynthesis, this film includes demonstrations and drawings to show how life on earth relies on the sun for energy. It describes the basic processes by which plants and animals obtain the sun's energy stored in food, and how this energy is converted into food. The avant-garde jazz music score is thought to be performed by the Art Ensemble of Chicago. About the music, director Tom Smith notes: "It was a group of perhaps five or six musicians led by a pianist. The pianist “prepared” the piano inserting things over the strings etc…(It was a good Steinway I rented for the occasion and bought to our small sound studio.) There was no written music. I projected the sequences where I wanted music and they improvised as it ran. I probably projected it four or five time and they dabbled with various approaches. Then we recorded it. We may have done a few takes before we were satisfied... so it was a fun evening of images and sounds."