Bio:
Lev grew up in a tight-knit family in Boston Massachusetts. He and his two brothers and began making satire films at a very early age, largely inspired by the Dr. Demento show and MAD Magazine. Lev concentrated more on music through school, but began making Video again at School of the Museum of Fine Arts in 1991. He won a 5th Year Travelling Scholarship in 1994 with the 30 minute 'Untitled Video 1994', which was then exhibited in the Boston MFA. Upon graduation, Lev began to explore a middle ground between Art and comedy, and made a series of black humor social commentaries with the 10 minute 'Child's Play', and the hour long 'Liberty Beast'. Using puppets, very basic animation and sing-along songs, these works were often described as "A Sesame Street gone raving mad" and "Rat poison disguised as Marshmallow Fluff".
Lev relocated to San Francisco in 1998 to pursue an animation carrer. In 1999, he started the INGREDIENT X website to display his body of video work. In late 99, Lev did an experimental piece which quickly blossomed into a series: Using a very simple low-rent animation technique and never over 2 minutes long, "Tales of Mere Existence" are intimate observational/confessional stories of identity, social confusion, sex and human behavior, and wind up funny seemingly by accident. The series won the Short attention span film & Video festival in 2000, and recieved Best Animation at the Atlanta Film & Video Festival in 2002.
Lev describes his work as 'Subversive comedy' or 'The fine line between very stupid artwork and very intelligent entertainment'. He continues to make new episodes of the TOME series, as well as other works.
Filmography/Awards Info:
TALES OF MERE EXISTENCE: (Series) 1999-Present
1st place, Short attention span film & Video festival, 2000
Best Animation, Atlanta Filn & video Festival, 2002
Best Film: Black Box festival, 2002
THE DARK BERET DUO: (Series) 2000-2001
BAD NIGHT: 1998
Toured in RESFEST, 1999
WE SHOULD GO:
Best Performance animation, World Animation Celebration, 1998
LIBERTY BEAST: 1997
UNTITLED VIDEO 1995:
Honerable mention, poetry film & video Festival, 1995
3 VIGNETTES: 1995
1st Place, Short attention span film & Video festival 1995
CHILD'S PLAY: 1994
Screened for a month at Decordova Museum, 1995
VARIOUS SHORTS TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION: 1991-
See www.ingredientx.com
This Contact appears in this database if Microcinema International has screened a film directed by the Contact, a film directed by the contact
is featured in a DVD distributed by the Blackchair Collection Shop, or featured an organization or activity linked with the Contact. This database
is used for commercial as well as informational, non-commercial purposes. It is a historical archive of Microcinema International's activities.
Inclusion in this database and archive in no way implies a continuing formal relationship or affiliation with Microcinema International or the
Blackchair Label nor an endorsement of its activities by the Contact.
Contact details are not displayed in order to protect privacy. If you wish to contact this artist please see their website as listed above or
write Microcinema International and we will be happy to forward your e-mail.
 |
Girls
directed by Lev Yilmaz
USA, Animation,
0,
00:00:00
A witty "video-wishlist" about one of the artists favorite pastimes.... more info
|
 |
Scapegoat
directed by Lev Yilmaz
USA, Animation,
2002,
DV,
Color,
Magnetic Stereo,
00:11:00
SCAPEGOAT is the first long-form episode of Lev Yilmaz's Black Comedy series 'Tales Of Mere Existence'. It is a first hand account of being bullied in Grade School, fitting in socially in High School, and fig... more info
|
 |
Tales of Mere Existence
directed by Lev Yilmaz
USA, Animation,
1999,
DV,
Color,
Magnetic Stereo,
00:07:00
8 episodes from this series of true stories about everything and nothing.... more info
|
 |
Tales of Mere Existence II (How I Feel at Parties)
directed by Lev Yilmaz
USA, Comedy / Satire,
2006,
DV,
B&W,
Magnetic Stereo,
00:02:00
An excerpt from Tales of Mere Existence II - The 7 Habits of Highly Negative People.
"Tales Of Mere Existence" is not necessarily about interesting stories, It is what it's title indicates, anecdotes about... more info
|
 |
Tales of Mere Existence II (My Successful Friends)
directed by Lev Yilmaz
USA, Animation,
2006,
DV,
B&W,
Magnetic Stereo,
00:02:20
An excerpt from Tales of Mere Existence II - The 7 Habits of Highly Negative People.
"Tales Of Mere Existence" is not necessarily about interesting stories, It is what it's title indicates, anecdotes about... more info
|
 |
Tales of Mere Existence II (The Times I Have Smoked Pot)
directed by Lev Yilmaz
USA, Animation,
2006,
DV,
B&W,
Magnetic Stereo,
00:02:00
An excerpt from Tales of Mere Existence II - The 7 Habits of Highly Negative People.
"Tales Of Mere Existence" is not necessarily about interesting stories, It is what it's title indicates, anecdotes about... more info
|
 |
Tales of Mere Existence III (How to Cope with Depressions)
directed by Lev Yilmaz
USA, Comedy / Satire,
2006,
DV,
B&W,
Magnetic Stereo,
00:02:00
An excerpt from Tales of Mere Existence III - The 7 Habits of Highly Negative People.
"Tales Of Mere Existence" is not necessarily about interesting stories, It is what it's title indicates, anecdotes abou... more info
|
 |
Tales of Mere Existence III (I'm Not Going to Think About Her)
directed by Lev Yilmaz
USA, Comedy / Satire,
2006,
DV,
B&W,
Magnetic Stereo,
00:01:55
An excerpt from Tales of Mere Existence III - The 7 Habits of Highly Negative People.
"Tales Of Mere Existence" is not necessarily about interesting stories, It is what it's title indicates, anecdotes abou... more info
|
 |
Tales of Mere Existence III (Ready)
directed by Lev Yilmaz
USA, Animation,
2006,
DV,
B&W,
Magnetic Stereo,
00:01:48
An excerpt from Tales of Mere Existence III - The 7 Habits of Highly Negative People.
"Tales Of Mere Existence" is not necessarily about interesting stories, It is what it's title indicates, anecdotes abou... more info
|
| Screening History |
| Girls |
| Venue/Organization |
City |
Country |
Date |
|
| Speakeasy Café | Seattle | USA | 1996-07-25 | Event Details |
| Tales of Mere Existence |
| Venue/Organization |
City |
Country |
Date |
|
| Petaluma Friday Night Films | Petaluma | USA | 2007-09-28 | Event Details |
| San Francisco Indie Fest | San Francisco | USA | 2006-04-29 | Event Details |
| Living Arts of Tulsa | Tulsa | USA | 2006-03-19 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2006-01-15 | Event Details |
| Project 304 | Bangkok | Thailand | 2005-12-23 | Event Details |
| The Substation | Singapore | Singapore | 2005-12-20 | Event Details |
| Festival de Cinema Independent de Barcelona - Alternativa | Barcelona | Spain | 2005-11-13 | Event Details |
| Ithaca College | Ithaca | USA | 2005-10-17 | Event Details |
| Modified Arts | Phoenix | USA | 2005-09-15 | Event Details |
| St. Balbach Volxkino | Wien | Austria | 2005-08-25 | Event Details |
| Urban 15 | San Antonio | USA | 2005-07-22 | Event Details |
| CRASH: Audiovisual Alternative Art | Mexico City | Mexico | 2005-07-21 | Event Details |
| Programa de Media electronica | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | 2005-07-19 | Event Details |
| Revelation Perth International Film Festival | Fremantle, WA | Australia | 2005-07-10 | Event Details |
| MediaArtLab | Moscow | Russian Federation | 2005-06-23 | Event Details |
| Transat Video, Garsouille | Caen Cedex 1 | France | 2005-06-08 | Event Details |
| Angelika Films/Harvard indie film group | New York | USA | 2005-05-25 | Event Details |
| MUU - Producoes Culturais, Lda | Sao Miguel - Acores | Portugal | 2005-05-01 | Event Details |
| 111 Minna Gallery | San Francisco | USA | 2005-03-21 | Event Details |
| Cleveland Film Society | Cleveland | USA | 2005-03-20 | Event Details |
| Gadabout Travelling Film Festival, the | New Paltz | USA | 2005-03-18 | Event Details |
| Y Galerii | Tartu | Estonia | 2005-03-17 | Event Details |
| Project 101 | Paris | France | 2005-03-16 | Event Details |
| Real Art Ways | Hartford | USA | 2005-02-26 | Event Details |
| Nanaimo Film School | Nanaimo | Canada | 2005-02-26 | Event Details |
| Subterranean Cinema Nacogdoches | Nacogdoches | USA | 2005-02-26 | Event Details |
| Olympia Film Society | Olympia | USA | 2005-02-11 | Event Details |
| Subterranean Cinema | Jacksonville | USA | 2005-02-08 | Event Details |
| Miami Beach Cinematheque | Miami Beach | USA | 2005-02-04 | Event Details |
| 21 Grand | Oakland | USA | 2004-07-29 | Event Details |
| MendoCinema | Mendocino | USA | 2004-07-09 | Event Details |
| Cleveland Cinematheque at The Cleveland Institute of Art | Cleveland | USA | 2004-07-02 | Event Details |
| 111 Minna Gallery | San Francisco | USA | 2004-06-28 | Event Details |
| CHAOS Studios Artspace | Colorado Springs | USA | 2004-06-17 | Event Details |
| Axiom Theatre | Houston | USA | 2004-06-11 | Event Details |
| Revival House, The | Westerly | USA | 2004-06-08 | Event Details |
| Revival House, The | Westerly | USA | 2004-04-13 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2004-01-22 | Event Details |
| Real Art Ways | Hartford | USA | 2004-01-16 | Event Details |
| Images Cinema | Williamstown | USA | 2004-01-09 | Event Details |
| Axiom Theatre | Houston | USA | 2003-11-30 | Event Details |
| Real Art Ways | Hartford | USA | 2003-11-21 | Event Details |
| Miami Beach Cinematheque | Miami Beach | USA | 2003-11-20 | Event Details |
| Brighton Michigan Film Festival | Brighton | USA | 2003-11-10 | Event Details |
| Garage, The | Winston-Salem | USA | 2003-10-16 | Event Details |
| New Space, The | Portland | USA | 2003-10-10 | Event Details |
| Imperial Beach Film Festival | Imperial Beach | USA | 2003-10-03 | Event Details |
| M&M Proyectos | Viejo San Juan | Puerto Rico (US) | 2003-09-18 | Event Details |
| Miami Beach Cinematheque | Miami Beach | USA | 2003-09-04 | Event Details |
| St. Balbach Volxkino | Wien | Austria | 2003-08-29 | Event Details |
| St. Balbach Volxkino | Wien | Austria | 2003-08-28 | Event Details |
| CineFeel UK | London | United Kingdom | 2003-08-23 | Event Details |
| CineFeel UK | London | United Kingdom | 2003-08-23 | Event Details |
| Alabama Filmmakers Co-op | Huntsville | USA | 2003-08-09 | Event Details |
| Miami Beach Cinematheque | Miami Beach | USA | 2003-08-07 | Event Details |
| CineFeel UK | London | United Kingdom | 2003-07-28 | Event Details |
| Cinema Obscura | Santa Barbara | USA | 2003-07-17 | Event Details |
| MediaArtLab | Moscow | Russian Federation | 2003-06-25 | Event Details |
| Sex on Screen | Seattle | USA | 2003-06-22 | Event Details |
| Sex on Screen | Seattle | USA | 2003-06-21 | Event Details |
| Sex on Screen | Seattle | USA | 2003-06-20 | Event Details |
| Sex on Screen | Seattle | USA | 2003-06-20 | Event Details |
| Sex on Screen | Seattle | USA | 2003-05-31 | Event Details |
| Rum Doodle Bar & Restaurant | Kathmandu | Nepal | 2003-05-27 | Event Details |
| Brash Young Cinema | Makati City | Philippines | 2003-05-02 | Event Details |
| Cinema Obscura | Santa Barbara | USA | 2003-04-17 | Event Details |
| Cafe Phaidros | Tokyo | Japan | 2003-03-30 | Event Details |
| Fundição Progresso | Rio de Janiero, RJ | Brazil | 2003-03-29 | Event Details |
| Dallas Video Festival | Dallas | USA | 2003-03-22 | Event Details |
| Project 101 | Paris | France | 2003-03-15 | Event Details |
| New Filmmakers Los Angeles | Los Angeles | USA | 2003-03-05 | Event Details |
| Red Eye Theater | Minneapolis | USA | 2003-02-21 | Event Details |
| Cinematheque Vivante | Parnu | Estonia | 2003-02-01 | Event Details |
| Fundição Progresso | Rio de Janiero, RJ | Brazil | 2003-01-31 | Event Details |
| Nemo Festival | Paris | France | 2003-01-25 | Event Details |
| Cinema Obscura | Santa Barbara | USA | 2003-01-24 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2003-01-23 | Event Details |
| Heaven Gallery | Chicago | USA | 2003-01-18 | Event Details |
| University of Chicago | Chicago | USA | 2003-01-17 | Event Details |
| Project 101 | Paris | France | 2003-01-15 | Event Details |
| Reel Noise | Seattle | USA | 2003-01-13 | Event Details |
| The Video Underground | Jamaica Plain | USA | 2003-01-03 | Event Details |
| Green Bean | Greensboro | USA | 2002-12-17 | Event Details |
| Rio Theatre | Santa Cruz | USA | 2002-12-01 | Event Details |
| Mad River Microcinema | Billings | USA | 2002-11-22 | Event Details |
| VideoMarathon | Chisinau | Moldova | 2002-11-21 | Event Details |
| Mad River Microcinema | Billings | USA | 2002-11-10 | Event Details |
| Edgeworks Film Festival | Corpus Christi | USA | 2002-11-09 | Event Details |
| Mad River Microcinema | Billings | USA | 2002-11-08 | Event Details |
| Texas A&M Universtiy Viz Lab | College Station | USA | 2002-10-11 | Event Details |
| Live Feed | Houston | USA | 2002-08-24 | Event Details |
| 111 Minna Gallery | San Francisco | USA | 2002-07-30 | Event Details |
| Firestation #3 | Houston | USA | 2002-07-26 | Event Details |
| Scapegoat |
| Venue/Organization |
City |
Country |
Date |
|
| Electrofringe | Newcastle | Australia | 2003-10-05 | Event Details |
| Blaffer Gallery | Houston | USA | 2003-05-04 | Event Details |
| Blaffer Gallery | Houston | USA | 2003-05-03 | Event Details |
| Blaffer Gallery | Houston | USA | 2003-04-27 | Event Details |
| Blaffer Gallery | Houston | USA | 2003-04-25 | Event Details |
| SF Camerawork | San Francisco | USA | 2003-03-04 | Event Details |
| Tales of Mere Existence II (How I Feel at Parties) |
| Venue/Organization |
City |
Country |
Date |
|
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-10-07 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-10-06 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-10-05 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-09-09 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-09-08 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-09-07 | Event Details |
| Dean's Credit Clothing | Houston | USA | 2007-08-02 | Event Details |
| 111 Minna Gallery | San Francisco | USA | 2007-04-30 | Event Details |
| Central Cinema | Seattle | USA | 2007-04-11 | Event Details |
| Axiom Theatre | Houston | USA | 2007-04-06 | Event Details |
| Tales of Mere Existence II (The Times I Have Smoked Pot) |
| Venue/Organization |
City |
Country |
Date |
|
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-10-07 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-10-06 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-10-05 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-09-09 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-09-08 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-09-07 | Event Details |
| Dean's Credit Clothing | Houston | USA | 2007-08-02 | Event Details |
| 111 Minna Gallery | San Francisco | USA | 2007-04-30 | Event Details |
| Central Cinema | Seattle | USA | 2007-04-11 | Event Details |
| Axiom Theatre | Houston | USA | 2007-04-06 | Event Details |
| Tales of Mere Existence II (My Successful Friends) |
| Venue/Organization |
City |
Country |
Date |
|
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-10-07 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-10-06 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-10-05 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-09-09 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-09-08 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-09-07 | Event Details |
| Dean's Credit Clothing | Houston | USA | 2007-08-02 | Event Details |
| 111 Minna Gallery | San Francisco | USA | 2007-04-30 | Event Details |
| Central Cinema | Seattle | USA | 2007-04-11 | Event Details |
| Axiom Theatre | Houston | USA | 2007-04-06 | Event Details |
| Tales of Mere Existence III (Ready) |
| Venue/Organization |
City |
Country |
Date |
|
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-11-30 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-11-25 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-11-24 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-11-23 | Event Details |
| Singapore Film Society | Singapore | Singapore | 2007-11-23 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-11-18 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-11-17 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-11-16 | Event Details |
| Petaluma Friday Night Films | Petaluma | USA | 2007-09-28 | Event Details |
| 111 Minna Gallery | San Francisco | USA | 2007-08-27 | Event Details |
| Central Cinema | Seattle | USA | 2007-06-13 | Event Details |
| Tales of Mere Existence III (I'm Not Going to Think About Her) |
| Venue/Organization |
City |
Country |
Date |
|
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-11-30 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-11-25 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-11-24 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-11-23 | Event Details |
| Singapore Film Society | Singapore | Singapore | 2007-11-23 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-11-18 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-11-17 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-11-16 | Event Details |
| 111 Minna Gallery | San Francisco | USA | 2007-08-27 | Event Details |
| Central Cinema | Seattle | USA | 2007-06-13 | Event Details |
| Tales of Mere Existence III (How to Cope with Depressions) |
| Venue/Organization |
City |
Country |
Date |
|
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-11-30 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-11-25 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-11-24 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-11-23 | Event Details |
| Singapore Film Society | Singapore | Singapore | 2007-11-23 | Event Details |
| 111 Minna Gallery | San Francisco | USA | 2007-11-19 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-11-18 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-11-17 | Event Details |
| Out North | Anchorage | USA | 2007-11-16 | Event Details |
| 111 Minna Gallery | San Francisco | USA | 2007-08-27 | Event Details |
| Central Cinema | Seattle | USA | 2007-06-13 | Event Details |
Microcinema Interview/Article:
1. Why did you select this style of filmmaking when you
set out to make your art? What were the initial emphases?
The images or the story?
I didn't nescessarialy 'Select' it, I found it. I had toyed with the technique before but to no tremendous avail, and then a few years ago I had an idea for a story that fit the technique. It was more of an evolution than a concious
decision. The images and the story go hand in hand, I don't remember one being more important than the other at the time.
2. Try to help us understand why or how you feel your work is unique from other moving image artists?
I go to great lengths not to think about things like that. If my stuff is different, it's not because I'm trying to be. I actually have tried to make more traditional style movies or scripts or whatever, and I simply wasn't very good at it. When I look at my stuff, it all looks perfectly logical and normal to me. It's little more than a blunt representation of my general psyche on display for public scrutiny.
3. Your sense of humor seems to be one of your main "collaborators" - can you explain this "relationship"?
I think the pieces are funniest when I'm trying to be honest rather than funny. I'm like anyone else in that I'm embarassed by my emotions at least to a certain degree. I doubt my dumb little thoughts and obsessions are significantly different than most people's, though the experience of doing this work has made me a bit more comfortable with them. When I write, I have a little policy which is simply "Jokes aren't funny" and I do my best to stick to it.
4. How important is telling a story in your works?
Paramount.
5. Do you find it "easier" to write about your own life in your work versus fictionalized characters?
I've written for both, and you can certainly take more liberties and do crazier stuff when it's not yourself. Even when you're writing for a fictionalized character though, it's sort of yourself anyway when you get down to it. At
the moment, I prefer working without that layer of pretense.
6. Who would you want to see your films at a special screening if you had the choice of all living and dead? Why?
Kurt Vonnegut & Iggy Pop, just as long as I got to hang out with them afterwards. I have a feeling they'd get it. They are true masters of being blunt.
7. Is there anything else that you would like to tell us?
I think I make work because as a conversationalist I'm a bit timid and never feel like I get my point across. I'm really bad at arguing with people. There's something about
artwork that people do their best to respect, and are usually willing to at least let the piece finish without freaking out and interrupting. Therefore they hear you. I
think it's as simple as that.
|
