What is a still? As a noun it is defined as
- a static photograph (especially one taken from a movie and used for advertising purposes); "he wanted some stills for a magazine ad"
photo, photograph, pic, exposure, picture - a representation of a person or scene in the form of a print or transparent slide; recorded by a camera on light-sensitive material
photo, photograph, pic, exposure, picture - a representation of a person or scene in the form of a print or transparent slide; recorded by a camera on light-sensitive material
All in all an useful definition. It's interesting to note that the term still is generally recognized as something to do with movies. Furthermore it seems a nice set of objective characteristics (static photograph, representation, light-sensitive material, advertising purposes) to discuss as a starting point. I will be using those in later entries.
However my interest for stills goes far byond these objective characteristics. It's not so much the definition of a still as a noun that attracts me, it's the romantic and eternal quality of stillness that does so. It has to do with the uniqueness of the moment of representation that will last forever. If I would overdramatize I'd say that as the moment of representation passes, a minute piece of eternity is captured by time. That is of course, as long as it is recorded with the help of light-sensitive materials....
To labour and milk this point, the representation of the moment stays forever, but the moment itself is gone forever. A very rewarding romantic and atmospheric idea I think. The still serves as a historical record as well, while at the same time it has a testimonial value.
Let's demonstrate this by the still I'm showcasing this time. I just got this one last Sunday. It's a bit of a cheat as the historic and testimonial value of this still are enhanced or encrypted by the writing on it. On the other hand it has a story of it's own to tell. I got this still while rummaging through a few boxes of movie books (thanks Dini!) that once belonged to Wim Verstappen who died in 2004.
It is a representation of Dutch cinema history. The photograph shows Sylvia Kristel in a beautiful pose of reflection. She was one of the leading Dutch exports in the seventies and became almost synonymous with erotic cinema through her role as Emmanuelle. Her fame emphasized Hollands typecast in the world as the country with the most liberal morals towards sexuality. Miss Kristel has signed the photograph and dated it (Amsterdam, Schiphol 20-1-1980). She has added a dedication:
"WIM, GA SCHRIJVEN" (meaning Wim, go and write)
It's a dedication to Wim Verstappen. Dutch readers (if any probably quite old!) might have an inkling who he was, others will probably not. Wim Verstappen was an important director in Dutch cinema history. His most well-known movie is called Blue Movie (1971) with which he purposely attacked the Dutch censor. After heavy debate he insured that the movie, containing a lot of full frontal nudity and sex, passed the censor, effectively rendering the latter powerless. If they were not able to censor virile members, what were they able to?
Anyway, the still and it's dedication refer to important figures in the early seventies in regards to both cinematic history and liberal views to sexuality. The dedication itself is bittersweet. Verstappen would not write much and would only direct three more movies since 1980. He did became an important lobbyist and fighter for the intellectual rights of artists. La Kristel would carry her sexual image through into the nineties. Actually she does so still, though not as an actress anymore but by painting and photography.
Finally, Sylvia ends her dedication with the most beautiful and magical word in dedication country:
"FOREVER"
