Graw Böckler - HOW TO
Videos

how to help a person in a life threatening condition? can you cook a sauce bernaise nacked? which visual post-production-effects do exist? how to legalize marihuana and abolish animal transports? what do japanese words mean in english? can you trust yourself? this and other questions are the creative points of origin in "how to" - a dvd project by the photo-arstists and filmmakers Graw Böckler. the 13 musicvideos with sound or being silent movies transfer useful and emotional knowledge. the actresses, Tujiko Noriko, Lena Böhm, Niobe, Bettina Latak und Katrin Hallenberger outclass themselves in instinctiveness on the documentary settings. most of the melancholic songs are written and performed ba the japanese singer Tujiko Noriko. the other songs are by Niobe, Donna Regina, Nova Huta und Xiu Xiu. “how to” is the second dvd by Graw Böckler after “super 8 years” in 2003.

the videos

"first aid" - once learned and directly forgotten. you should watch the video „how to practice first aid“ more then once! the accompanying track "Passer by" by Donna Regina tells the story of an incidental meeting, that the video interprets as the encounter with a needy character.

In „how to play you record" - Noriko is testing how the audience reacts to her new record. she is visiting strangers and playes them her slowest and longest piece, "Robot Hero“.

„how to tie a bowline knot“ - shows how to do the "Palsteg", the most important tie-sling for the every day, next to the "Kreuzknoten".

In „how to stop“ - Lena Böhm smokes the "cigarette after" and explains, why it is her last one. she is "show-cooking" an asparagus recipe during the monologue - naked with steaming cook pots.

„how to translate“ - is the literal translation of japanese lyrics into english. and as well the nightly recordings of Tujiko Noriko are mirrored into another reality.

an empty pool. a group of kids. the teacher explains that they shall jump "feet first" into the bassin. a girl spreads her arms and jumps completely relaxed and full of trust a belly-flop on to the water surface. Tujiko Noriko wanted to experience this moment as well, documented in „how to trust“.

therory and praxis: the singer niobe talks about processes and inspiration during the creation of music in „how to make music“. the incomprehensible becomes comprehensible during a live performance.

In „how to legalize“ - two women convince her surrounding environment to legalize marihuana and to become vegetarians. the dialogs are visualized by the means of subtle trick techniques in the background of the two women speaking. the film stays a silent movie, which makes the visual ardour even more comfortable to watch.

In „how to find a frame“ - endless time is taken to find the perfect display detail.

the opposition of "believe" and "knowledge" is transcendet in „how to believe in jesus“ in a sinister way. visual effects and presets are declined by the means of a sequence with the statue of christ in Rio De Janeiro. "how to believe in jesus" won the second price - best german musicvideo - at the MUVI Award 2004, Internationale Kurzfilmtage (days of the shortfilm) Oberhausen.

„Support our troops" - a song by Xiu Xiu about soldiers, who do not deserve any support of ours, as they turn into murderers during war, even if it is "only" carnival soldiers.

„how to relax“ - follows female soccer fans around, who relax by crusing town during the european soccer championships in portugal. you have to say goodbue: „how to say goodbye“ is an analysis of movements made during welcome and goodbye rituals, that directly merges into the filmcredits. the "making of" with wonderfull photos, taken during the filmprodution is accompanied by the portugese version of „Heb Dir deine Tränen für jemand anders auf“ ("save your tears for someone else).
© translation: Sibyll Kalff

Who is who

Tujiko Noriko previously released three albums. She is a natural pop artist - often compared to Björk - heading to be an actress and a movie director as well. Her work with Graw Böckler for the DVD "How to" is based on her recent album "From Tokyo to Naiagara" - published at Tomlab. She lives and works in Paris, France.

Graw Böckler (Ursula Böckler & Georg Graw) are visual artists specialised in the short format. They received the MUVI 2001 and 2004 for best and 2nd best german music video. Graw Böckler founded the temporary projection space and DVD label "Raum fuer Projektion" in 2001. They previously released the DVD "Super 8 Jahre" with music videos shot on Super 8. site graw boeckler: www.grawboeckler.de

Tracklist (all videos filmed, directed & edited by graw böckler)

how to practice first aid
m: donna regina, t: passer by, l: karaoke kalk, d: emin kanli, bettina latak, tujiko noriko, lena böhm, céline keller, shot on super-8, 4:56 min.

how to play your record
m: tujiko noriko, t: robot hero, l: tomlab, d: Tujiko Noriko, Ulf Lohmann, Betsy Rheinbay, Céline Keller, Sarah Szcesny, Sarah Gress, Matias Aguayo, Mathias Lück, Markus Gertken, Birgitta Homburger, Thordes Tesmer; shot on mini-dv & super-8, 8:23 min.

how to tie a bowline knot
d: georg graw, silent, shot on super-8, 0:22 min.

how to stop
m: Xiu Xiu, l: tomlab, d:Lena Böhm, Emin Kanli, Indrane Nottebrock, shot on super-8 & mini-dv, 6:27 min.

how to translate
m: tujiko noriko, t: Rocket Hanabi, l: tomlab, d: Tujiko Noriko, shot on mini-dv, 7:06 min.

how to trust
d: tujiko noriko, silent, shot on super-8, 0:22 min.

how to make music
m: niobe, t: everybody shares a lounge, d: niobe, shot on super-8 & mini-dv, 8:13 min.

how to legalize
d:Katrin Hallenberger, Michael White, Lena Böhm, Dietmar Saxler, Rainer Lamprecht, Pepe Hille, Lina Hille, Christian Dohm, Ursula Böckler, Katrin, Barbara, Andreas, Eric, Kai, Florian, silent, shot on 16mm, super-8 & mini-dv,5:29 min.

how to find a frame
m: tujiko noriko, d: tujiko noriko, filmed on mini-dv, 2:46 min.

how to believe in jesus
m: tujiko noriko, t: mugen kyouuku, l: tomlab, filmed on super-8, 6:05 min.

how to support our troops
m: Xiu Xiu, t: support our troops, oh!, l: tomlab, filmed on super-8, 4:36 min.

how to relax
d: Rute, Marta, Rita, Miguel, Rita, Pedro, Caroline, Vicente, filmed with digital photo camera, 6:36 min.

how to say goodbye
m: nova huta, t: heb dir deine tränen für jemand anders auf, l: variz, d: bettina latak, wilbert und alle darsteller aus allen filmen, filmed on super-8, c-prints & digital photos, 6:51 min. extra singing by kids from manaus, brazil.

text and informations by Graw Böckler