The underground film “Ticket to Total Freedom” was created by now architect/designer William Edward Summers during the late 1960s.
It is a documentary about what it was like to be young in a small Midwestern American college town during that era just after Woodstock, before computers and cell phones.
The film has only been shown once publicly in 1971 but is being made public again at http://www.designenvelope.com/film
The film was shot primarily at the University of Kansas campus, downtown, and in Old West Lawrence. The work is in four parts. Part one, called “Faces and Trees” was inspired by Monet’s “Water Lilies” and uses focus and color to create a dreamy mood.
Parts two and three are the “Vignettes” segment during which the participants act out various scenes such as the parting of the Red Sea performed in a pasture, the match fight, and the fake mugging. This part shows the activities of a pre-computer and cell phone youth most clearly.
Part four is the “Celebration of Life” segment showing Summers, his girlfriend, and the bass player from one of his bands cavorting in the empty KU football field. “Celebration of Life” expresses the joy of being young during this peaceful prosperous time in America.
For more information about the film maker today:
http://www.designenvelope.com
Television interview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-jg_w-9RaI
Snapshots of projects:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWpSZnWZyBU
Partial list of articles:
http://designenvelope.com/articles.htm
More information:
http://williamedwardsummersbiography.blogspot.ca/2011/11/links.html
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