Rehearsals for Early Retirement
(Part of the Mark LaPore Trilogy)

In Memoriam Mark LaPore [Phil Solomon]
One of the contemporary masters of expressive 16mm optical printing, Solomon's trilogy of videos in honor of his late friend, filmmaker Mark LaPore, bear an unexpected provenance: They're created entirely within the crime-spree video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Unlike so much geek-generated machinima, however, the In Memoriam videos conjure subtle, powerful visions, transforming gangland SoCal into a desolate, cursed land of overcast skies, shadowy figures, and ominous symbols. Appropriately mournful yet mysteriously evocative, they're a fitting tribute to LaPore's own penetrating and haunting powers. (VV)