Ben Model’s blog
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In recently viewing the scoring screener of Berlin: Symphony of a Great City (1927) that was provided to me by MoMA, I had a unique opportunity. I was able to watch MoMA’s brand-new restoration, which was mute, while also hearing the film’s original score recorded by an orchestra. For the…
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Silent Film at the David Rubinstein Atrium at Lincoln Center
On Friday, July, 25 at 7pm, I will be accompanying the rarely screened 1926 silent film Love ’em and Leave ’em starring Evelyn Brent, Louise Brooks and Lawrence Gray. The show will be presented at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center. Okay, so where exactly is this place? The…
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The Strand Theater in Schroon Lake NY
I’ve had the privilege of presenting and accompanying a silent film show at the historic Strand Theater in Schroon Lake NY every summer since 2017. The Strand Theater in Schroon Lake NY is a vintage, single-screen movie house in the Adirondacks. It originally opened 1921, and is still open today.…
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A 16mm Home Projector from the Silent Era – Kodascope Model B
I don’t usually take on new pieces of equipment, but the Kodascope Model B projector didn’t take up that much space – something that was probably a part of the intent of the item’s design back in 1927. I’ve had a thing for the dawn of 16mm and its uses…
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ep. 68: “The Silent Film Universe” mini-episode
Ben and Kerr talk about Ben’s new book “The Silent Film Universe” on this mini-episode. Ben discusses the various aspects of silent film language covered in each chapter and how we as viewers are engaged with them, his own development and honing of the ideas in the book, and his…
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Episode 68 show notes: The Silent Film Music Podcast
Episode 68 Show Notes: “The Silent Film Universe” On this mini-episode, Ben Model discusses his new book The Silent Film Universe with co-host and co-producer Kerr Lockhart, and the ideas and insights that inspired it. Works referenced during this podcast: Sign up for Ben’s regular email here to keep up…
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ep. 67: Scoring Wallace Reid in Kansas, Maurice Tourneur at MoMA, and “Ramona” for Kino Lorber
In this episode, Ben and Kerr talk about accompanying a rare Wallace Reid Film “The Valley of the Giants” and other films at the Kansas Silent Film Festival; playing for the newly restored “The White Heather” and for Francis Ford’s “The Craving” (both 1919) at MoMA’s “To Save and Project”…
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Episode 67 show notes: The Silent Film Music Podcast
Episode 67 Show Notes: Silent Film music at the museum, on the radio, and at home On this episode, Ben and Kerr talk about Ben’s accompanying “The White Heather” (1919) at MoMA, “The Valley of Giants” (1919) at the Kansas Silent Film Festival, and creating and recording a new score…
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ep. 66: Catching up on live shows from the 2nd half of 2024
In this episode, Ben and Kerr talk about: Ben’s accompanying a rare Reginald Denny feature, sight-unseen, at Capitolfest 21; the rediscovery of “The Gorilla” (1927) and accompanying it on both piano and on theatre organ; Ben tries a new approach to underscoring the house-fall in Buster Keaton’s “Steamboat Bill, Jr.”…
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Episode 66 show notes: The Silent Film Music Podcast
Episode 66 Show Notes: Catching up on live shows from the second half of 2024 On this episode, Ben and Kerr talk about Ben’s process for scoring Roland West’s “The Bat” (1926) for a home video release. The new restoration was produced and released by Ben’s Undercrank Productions home video…