Parallel Planes

Parallel Planes

Nicole Wegner

DE
2018
Documentary
100’
Panorama

Nicole Wegner’s documentary essay film Parallel Planes is something of a cross between road movie and diary novel, a journey of discovery into America’s music scene. Ian MacKaye (Minor reat, Fugazi), Michael Gira (Swans) and Valentine Falcon (Get Hustle) are just three of twelve protagonists who speak to Wegner about their visions of musical self-fulfilment beyond the logics of commercial exploitation. Their standpoints produce a tableau that finds its momentum not least of all in the director’s deep affinity to her subject and to the aesthetics of the music and concert videos. Like a thoughtfully compiled mixtape, Parallel Planes offers a comprehensive insight into the last four decades of subculture and music in the US.

»I wanted to make a film that shows there are people who simply feel this inner need to make music without thinking about selling it or appealing to target groups, who don’t work with the industry’s traditional means. I think nothing is further removed from music than the music industry – and nothing is further removed from art than the art market. Ian MacKaye summed it up so well in his interview: ›Music was a central part of life since the beginning. Somehow it has been consigned to be this very weird little entertainment device.‹«
– Nicole Wegner

Director / Script / Editing

Nicole Wegner

Cinematography

Mark Kempken

Animation

Simon Steinhorst, Hannah Lotte Stragholz, Devin Flynn, David Jansen Ton Marcus Zilz

Production

Susanne Ritter, Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln, Particular Productions

Contact

Nicole Wegner, Particular Productions

Nicole Wegner

Nicole Wegner is an experimental, animation and documentary filmmaker. She studied at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne. Since then, she has produced various music videos and music-related films. Parallel Planes is her graduation film and her first feature. Wegner also works as a music curator, as a DJ, and as a programmer for the off galleries Baustelle Kalk and GOLD+BETON in Cologne, and runs the label baumusik.


Films by Nicole Wegner
Broke Vultures 2015 | KERN 2011 | In Particular 2010 | To Be Continued 2009 | Wup Wolgawahn 2008 | Bridefeast 2007