AV Geeks Feature: Testy, Testy

May, 16, 2008 , by Tim

On Sunday night, May 18th, AV Geeks presents Testy, Testy, a video compilation dedicated to odd films about tests and testing in tribute to America’s preoccupation with End of Grade Testing. The AV Geeks website lists several of the films to be featured: You Bet Your Life, The Handtrap Test, and Comparative Tests on a Human and a Chimpanzee Infant of Approximately the Same Age. As usual, there will be trivia and door prizes. The event begins at 7:30 Sunday night at Tirnanog with a suggested donation of $5.

AV Geeks is the result of one man’s irrational passion, Skip Elsheimer, who owns over 20,000 16mm educational and industrial films harvested from the fertile grounds of school auctions, thrift stores, closets and dumpsters. Skip is based out of Raleigh but does travel from time to time, taking his show to venues ranging from rock and roll dive bars to museums. Skip has converted many of the films to digital media, readily available at his online archive. All suggested donations support the digitization process.

Here is a clip dug up from the archives, which in no way ties into the test theme, but does seem appropriate given our nation’s current political fervor.

This trippy tribute to our country’s 200th birthday was funded by a Bicentennial Project Grant and animated by Vincent Collins who made other psychedelic cartoons. This film was produced by the United States Information Agency—the government’s propaganda agency.

Testy, Testy
7:30PM, Sunday, May 18th Tir Na Nog, 218 S. Blount St. Raleigh, NC 27601
7:00PM, Thursday, May 22nd Center for Documentary Studies, 1317 W. Pettigrew Street, Durham, NC