Asa Mader: A Polymath's Lens
An in-depth exploration of a contemporary artist whose work transcends film, digital design, and immersive installations.
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Overview
The Artist's Profile
Asa Mader, born on February 20, 1975, is an American creative force recognized for his multifaceted contributions as a film director, screenwriter, and visual artist. His career demonstrates a remarkable fluidity across various artistic and commercial domains, consistently pushing boundaries in visual storytelling and experiential design.[1]
Academic Foundations
Early Scholarly Pursuits
Mader's academic journey laid a robust foundation for his artistic endeavors. He pursued studies in cinema and new technologies at two distinguished institutions: Brown University and New York University.[2] His early promise was recognized with the prestigious Roberta Joslin Award for Excellence in Art, an accolade he received for one of his initial Super 8mm film projects, signaling his nascent talent in visual arts.[3]
Digital Form Studio
Pioneering Digital Design
Venturing into the commercial realm, Asa Mader co-founded DIGITAL FORM, a New York-based digital design studio. This venture quickly established itself as a prominent player in the high-end fashion and luxury market. The studio provided innovative digital solutions for an impressive roster of global brands, including Yves Saint Laurent, Versace, Valentino, Bulgari, Cacharel, Dolce&Gabbana, Pucci, Paul Smith, Sisley, Missoni, Moschino, Vivienne Westwood, and Oscar de la Renta.[4][5] This experience honed his understanding of visual communication and brand aesthetics.
Narrative Film Debut
''La Maladie de La Mort''
Asa Mader's foray into narrative filmmaking commenced with ''La Maladie de La Mort'' (The Malady of Death), a film adaptation of the eponymous novel by the acclaimed French writer Marguerite Duras. The film featured Anna Mouglalis in a starring role and garnered significant critical attention, earning a place in the official selection of the Venice Film Festival.[1] Its festival circuit also included the Locarno Film Festival, "Premiers Plans" in Angers, the Cannes Film Festival (Short Film Corner), the International Film Festival of Kerala, and the Festival "Entrevues" of Belfort, marking a strong debut in the international cinema landscape.[6]
Stage Direction
''HEROINE''
In 2004, Mader expanded his artistic repertoire into stage direction with ''HEROINE''. This theatrical installation and performance, starring Anna Mouglalis, was a compelling blend of film projections and textual elements. It wove together classical texts from Ovid and Marguerite Yourcenar with contemporary text messages (SMS), all serving as proclamations of love, anticipation, and the profound anguish of distant affection. ''HEROINE'' premiered at the Festival of Ortigia in Siracusa, Sicily, showcasing Mader's innovative approach to interdisciplinary art.[7]
Television Projects
Documentaries and Portraits
Asa Mader's directorial work extended to French television, where he helmed two notable films in 2005. ''Little Italy: Wiseguys, Bullets, Backrooms'' was a docu-fiction piece, drawing inspiration from Soundwalk audio tours that explored the storied mafia neighborhood of New York. Following this, he directed ''Pigalle'', starring Lou Doillon. This film was the inaugural entry in a five-part series commissioned by Paris Premiรจre, designed to immerse viewers in the heart of a specific Parisian neighborhood through the eyes of a young actress, with ''Pigalle'' focusing on the vibrant red-light district of Paris.
Soundwalk Collaborations
Audio Narratives
Mader's storytelling prowess also found expression in audio media. He co-wrote several Soundwalk audio tours, contributing to immersive sonic experiences that guide listeners through specific locations. Notable among these were a tour of New York City's DUMBO neighborhood[8] and the official ''Da Vinci Code'' tour of the Louvre, which featured the voice of actor Jean Reno.[9] These projects underscore his ability to craft engaging narratives across diverse platforms.
Art Installations
''Bombay: Maximum City''
In 2006, Asa Mader presented three large-format film and video installations as part of the ''Bombay: Maximum City'' exhibition, commissioned by Lille3000. These works, shot in Bombay, offered a profound visual commentary on the bustling Indian metropolis.[10] Concurrently, he showcased a diptych of "film portraits" within the same exhibition, focusing on the distinguished writers Suketu Mehta (a Pulitzer Prize Nominee) and Pavan Varma (author of ''Being Indian''), capturing their essence through his cinematic lens.
''Combat pour la vie / Struggle for Life''
Mader's work was also featured at Le Laboratoire in Paris in a joint exhibition with renowned photographer and photojournalist James Nachtwey, the subject of the Academy Award-nominated documentary ''War Photographer''. Titled ''Combat pour la vie / Struggle for Life'', the exhibit presented Nachtwey's powerful photographs documenting the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases across Siberia, Asia, and Africa. Asa Mader contributed film portraits of four leading medical scientists in this field, alongside an installation/portrait dedicated to James Nachtwey himself, creating a dialogue between still and moving images.[11]
Music Video Direction
Coldplay's ''Violet Hill''
Asa Mader directed the music video for "Violet Hill," the lead single from Coldplay's critically acclaimed album ''Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends''.[12][13] The video received significant recognition, earning nominations for Best UK Video at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards[14][15] and Best Special Effects in a Video at the same awards ceremony.[16] It was also nominated for Best Video at the Q Awards,[17] solidifying Mader's impact in the music video genre.
Dance & Film Collaborations
''Years Later'' with Baryshnikov
Mader engaged in a significant collaboration with choreographer Benjamin Millepied on a dance and film piece titled ''Years Later''. This work was commissioned and performed by the legendary Mikhail Baryshnikov.[18] The piece was previewed at the Baryshnikov Arts Center's Spring Gala in New York on April 14, 2009, before its official premiere in Riga, Latvia, on May 2, 2009. Further honoring Baryshnikov, a short film portrait by Asa Mader was presented on NOWNESS on January 27, 2012, coinciding with the dancer's birthday.[19]
''Time Doesn't Stand Still''
Another notable collaboration with Benjamin Millepied resulted in the short film ''Time Doesn't Stand Still''. This cinematic piece starred Lรฉa Seydoux and featured an original soundtrack composed by Angelo Badalamenti, a long-time collaborator of David Lynch.[20] A teaser for the film was released on the NOWNESS website in December 2010,[21] with the complete version debuting in 2011, showcasing a blend of dance, narrative, and evocative scoring.[22]
Immersive & Documentary
''Ray of Life'' and Residencies
In 2012, Asa Mader was invited to the Deauville American Film Festival for a writing residency, where he focused on developing a film based on a book by William Dean Howells.[23] That same year, he unveiled ''Ray of Life'', an immersive film experience starring Carmen Kass, during Pitti Uomo in Florence, Italy. This innovative project utilized 3D panoramic and holographic projections, developed in collaboration with fashion brand Jay Ahr and technology company Dassault Systรจmes, demonstrating Mader's commitment to cutting-edge visual experiences.[24]
Documentary Filmmaking
Mader's documentary work includes ''In The Shadow of the Dream'' (2013), a feature documentary project profiling Clarence Benjamin Jones, a trusted ally of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This project was presented at the Independent Filmmaker Project's Spotlight on Documentaries in New York[25] and later at the 2014 Hot Docs Forum in Toronto.[26] In 2014, he teamed up with filmmakers Arthur Jafa and Kahlil Joseph to produce the feature-length documentary ''Dreams Are Colder Than Death''.[27] This cinematic meditation explored the profound question of what it means to be Black in America in the 21st century. Co-produced with ZDF/Arte, the film premiered at the 52nd New York Film Festival[28][29] and the Los Angeles Film Festival,[30] ultimately receiving the Best Documentary Feature Award at the BlackStar Film Festival.[31]
Filmography
Feature Films
- ''Dreams Are Colder Than Death'' (2014)
- ''In The Shadow of the Dream'' (2013)
Films for TV
- ''Pigalle with Lou Doillon'' (2006)
- ''Little Italy: Wiseguys, Bullets, Backrooms'' (2005)
Short Films
- ''Time Doesn't Stand Still'' (2011)
- ''La Maladie de la Mort/The Malady of Death'' (2003)
Music Videos
- "Violet Hill" by Coldplay (2008)
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References
References
- "Alumni, Modern Culture and Media", Brown University
- "Les Rencontres Paris-Berlin", Festival Les Rencontres Paris-Berlin
- "Geek Chic - New York's Digital Form Delivers Bytes and Sites with Style", Women's Wear Daily, May 12, 2000
- "Pucci Conquers Cyberspace", Women's Wear Daily, July 30, 2001
- "International Competition 2013", International Film Festival Entrevues Belfort
- "Soundwalk NYC - Brooklyn" Barnes & Noble
- "Louvre Offers Da Vinci Code Tour", BBC News, May 15, 2006
- "Violet Hill", Youtube Official
- "'George Bush' gets on his dancing shoes for new Coldplay video", NME, May 20, 2008, retrieved 2010-01-21
- "2008 MTV Video Music Awards | Best UK Video", MTV UK News
- "Best UK Video", BBC News Aug 2008
- "MTV Video Music Awards 2008 - Nominees", MTV Video Music Awards, retrieved 2010-01-21
- "Coldplay Top Q Awards List", MTV UK
- "On This Day in 1948", NOWNESS, Jan 27,2012
- "Black Swan Choreographer in Romantic Tango Short", Filmmaker Magazine, December 12, 2010
- "NOWNESS presents Time Doesn't Stand Still" NOWNESS, Dec 12, 2010
- "Millepied returns to Movies: New short film with director Asa Mader ", Vogue Italia
- "Festival Press Release" 38th Deauville American Film Festival
- "Spotlight on Documentaries", 2013 IFP Project Forum Slate
- "Hot Docs 2014: Buckets of Rain, Beaucoup de Docs" Documentary Magazine
- "Dreams Are Colder Than Death - Full Credits", IMDB
- "Producer Asa Mader at NYFF", Getty Images
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