An Interview with Video Artist Jacob Trombetta: Video Artist Spotlight Series
/August 12th, 2020.
Interview by Maddie Curtis.
Jacob Trombetta.
Do you have a name you prefer to go by?
Jacob Trombetta
How would you personally describe video art?
I think of video art as any moving image incorporated work that doesn’t prioritize
traditional storytelling or journalistic devices over other avenues of expression.
How did you hear about and/or get involved with video art?
I watched a lot of MTV when I was young. That normalized some outsider ideas about
what videos could be early in my life. I started making comedy videos in high school.
Later I tried to make some traditional narrative films, but I would gravitate towards
exploring a mood or idea rather than the stage play aspects of filmmaking, like working
on dialog with actors. I eventually focused entirely on music. After Rubicon (Cinema) in Akron
started programming experimental films and bringing in filmmakers for screenings, I was
inspired to begin making videos again.
Still from Turning Heads in Tiretown (2019).
Turning Heads in Tiretown (2019). A visitor from New York City recalls his memories of a day spent in Akron, Ohio.
What inspires you to create video art?
I gravitate towards strange observations in daily life. For example, the entire script and
blocking of my video, Turning Heads in Tiretown (2019), is based off of the weird descriptions
and quotes from an article in the Akron Beacon Journal. A character gliding into a
Goodwill for a stuffed Donald Duck, purchasing industrial rubber gloves as fashion
accessories, making generic quotes about midwestern tolerance. I liked that the character
was presented as a collection of strange details.
Do you have a process when creating video art?
My process often depends on if I’m collaborating with other people or not. Generally, the
first step is sharing an idea, next props and equipment are gathered, and finally the
filming and editing process begins. Some projects, like my videos with Krümel, are
almost entirely done during collaborative editing. We start in the editing suite, then
follow ideas.
When you create video art, what is your favorite part of the process?
I like getting an idea while filming or editing, one I didn’t have when I started, and trying
to find a way to accomplish the idea. I think it’s a mix of inspiration, engineering, and
freedom that video artists get to explore more than narrative filmmakers do.
If you are based out of Akron, Ohio, do you find inspiration from this area and/or are encouraged by those in this area?
Totally! I find Rubicon and the community of artists in its orbit real inspiring.
"Intermediate Klangkörper" is off Krümel's album II.
Music video.
In terms of your own work, would you say you have a specific style and/or unique approach in your creative process?
Working on all aspects of music, from songwriting, to recording, mixing, and mastering
has made me approach video art in a specific way I think. From the rhythm of video
editing to the balance of capturing inspiration versus going over an edit thousands of
times to get it right. I also feel that the song gets better when you work with other people.
This has made me gravitate towards collaborations. I don’t believe any of this translates
into a specific visual style, but a set of tools I can use when working.
“ I think it’s a mix of inspiration, engineering, and freedom that video artists get to explore more than narrative filmmakers do.”
How do you incorporate the use of sound in your videos?
I really love sound. It is just as important as all other aspects of the work. In music
videos, the images support the idea of the song. In other work, I think about the sound’s
meaning and contribution to the idea I’m trying to convey. Are we in a memory, are we
scared, do we feel alone? Sound can support those ideas.
What kind of equipment do you typically work with?
I love the freedom of shooting on iPhone because it minimizes the distance between the
artist and the idea. I recently started using a Sony A7iii when I need more control over
the image. For editing I use Final Cut Pro and Ableton Live for sound.
Still from the music video of Krümel - “Intermediate Klangkörper” (2019).
From what I have seen of your work, it looks as though you don’t typically have one specific style but rather incorporate different mediums as you experiment with video. Can you expand upon this?
I think my specific style is more related to my process. I ask the same sorts of questions
about what I’m working on or who I’m working with. This doesn’t necessarily produce a
unifying visual footprint on my work, but I believe all the videos have details that are
revealed on multiple viewings.
What do you enjoy about collaborating on work with other video artists?
I love presenting an idea I think is good, having it shot down, then needing to figure out a
better idea. I used to die on every hill with my ideas, but I eventually realized that letting
the ones I think are good go often leads to better ones in the end.
Do you ever run into issues when going about your process in creating video art?
Often it feels like all issues all the time! When I am on location or create a set, it never
looks the way it did in my head when I view it in the camera. I also have a problem
starting a project. I’m guilty of waiting for inspiration to strike before I start. I often need
to remind myself to just show up and put in the hours.
What advice would you give to those interested in getting involved with video art?
This is a great time to be a video artist. First, the barrier to entry is really low in terms of
start up costs. If you have access to a smartphone, you can have the entire filmmaking
pipeline in your pocket. Second, rules have not been written for what it means to be a
video artist. If you want to be a professional filmmaker, you have to work within the
system. In the realm of video art, you write your own rules.
Still from the music video Krümel - “Fin de siècle III” (release TBD).
Do you have any upcoming projects?
I have another collaboration with Krümel (Nick Spolarich and Jennifer Anne Court) that I
am excited to finish.
Want to see more videos by Jacob Trombetta? Visit his YouTube channel Discrete Spectrum
Enjoyed listening to Krümel? Check them out on bandcamp: https://discretespectrum.bandcamp.com/album/ii-3
Maddie Curtis is one of our 2020 Summer Interns for the Akron Film Collective. She is in her senior year, working towards a Bachelor’s in Communications, with a focus in Media Studies, while also working towards a minor in Organizational Communication and a Certificate in Social Media Managing from the University of Akron. You can follow Maddie on Instagram at @maddiebo0.
