by Teller, USA 2013, 80'
| WRITTEN BY: Teller | SOUND: Billy Theriot | |
| SCREENPLAY: Penn Jillette, Teller | PRODUCER: Penn Jillette, Farley Ziegler | |
| CAMERA: Shane F.Kelly | PRODUCTION: High Delft Pictures | |
| EDITING: Patrick Sheffield | DISTRIBUTION: Park Circus Limited | |
| FILM SCORE: Conrad Pope | LANGUAGE: English |
Presented allo Schermo dell'arte Film Festival 2014
Founder of the American software company NewTek, famous throughout the world for having revolutionized video-editing with an innovative production system, Tim Jenison, Texan inventor and electronic engineer, is also a major art enthusiast. Moved by his insatiabile curiosity, which since his adolescence has led him to experiment and apply scientific method to other areas of knowledge, Jenison tries to solve one of the greatest mysteries in art history: how did 17th century Dutch master Jan Vermeer achieve photographic realism in his work 150 years before photography was invented? What secret is hidden behind his paintings? With a view to scientifically demonstrate an intuition which might prove to be one of the most fascinating discoveries in the field of art, the engineer dedicated five years to the greatest challenge of his life. Starting from David Hockney’s writings on the use of optical instruments in Renaissance painting, and more academic texts by Philip Steadman (both inteviewed by the director), Jenison tries his hand with the camera oscura used by Vermeer, and produces a perfect copy of the famous painting The Music Lesson.
Teller
Magician, illusionist , actor, writer and director. Quiet and peaceful half of the renowned duo Penn & Teller with Penn Jillette, from 1975. Known for the Showtime Bullshit!. He has been honored with a star on the Holywood Walk of Fame in 2013.
Selected Filmography
2014 The Tempest 2008 Macbeth
Founder of the American software company NewTek, famous throughout the world for having revolutionized video-editing with an innovative production system, Tim Jenison, Texan inventor and electronic engineer, is also a major art enthusiast. Moved by his insatiabile curiosity, which since his adolescence has led him to experiment and apply scientific method to other areas of knowledge, Jenison tries to solve one of the greatest mysteries in art history: how did 17th century Dutch master Jan Vermeer achieve photographic realism in his work 150 years before photography was invented? What secret is hidden behind his paintings? With a view to scientifically demonstrate an intuition which might prove to be one of the most fascinating discoveries in the field of art, the engineer dedicated five years to the greatest challenge of his life. Starting from David Hockney’s writings on the use of optical instruments in Renaissance painting, and more academic texts by Philip Steadman (both inteviewed by the director), Jenison tries his hand with the camera oscura used by Vermeer, and produces a perfect copy of the famous painting The Music Lesson.
Teller
Magician, illusionist , actor, writer and director. Quiet and peaceful half of the renowned duo Penn & Teller with Penn Jillette, from 1975. Known for the Showtime Bullshit!. He has been honored with a star on the Holywood Walk of Fame in 2013.
Selected Filmography
2014 The Tempest 2008 Macbeth