AV Club’s 70th Anniversary of MDPLS’ 16mm Short Film Collection

The disco phenomenon in America is documented in this cinema verité style. Using a popular disco in Columbus, Ohio, as a typical example, the film moves from a disco dance class to people dressing up for an evening to the final energies of people in the thrall of hypnotic music. This wildly acclaimed documentary aired on PBS and RAI, (Italy) television networks and was screened at numerous film festivals like the Athens International Film Festival where it won Best Social Documentary. The story is cheeky and sexy and a fascinating chronicle of the time. The narrative is structured between the gay and straight perspective of this cultural and social episode in the late 1970’s.

Florida artist Evelyn Marx tells of her creative thought processes and techniques as she works on fabricollage in her studio. Eleven of her creations are explored and interrelated.

The Florida Everglades, a unique ecological region which is totally dependent upon water, is shown with special attention to the animals and unusual flora. The area is also the scene of an unresolved struggle between the needs of man and the needs of nature. The film pleads for its preservation.

Made by a Miami filmmaker Larry Kleinman, this is a startling suspense drama on the future and ecology. A story about two boys who are on their way to see a tree in a museum, showing that their behavior is indicative of their environment. Set in the near future which is insulated from the polluted outside world and which is run by computers.

An animated Superman adventure made in Miami. A scientist’s experiment with a magnetic telescope causes a huge comet to fall to the earth. Even Superman has a hard time with this crisis!