Think Before You Think is a portrait of film poet, animator and artist Rick Raxlen. Shot on 16mm film and digital video at his Victoria, BC home and studio over the course of a year, the film follows Raxlen’s daily practice, uncovering the rituals and gestures of a creative process. Mining the highly specific and personal nature of this life-sized project, excerpts from Raxlen’s films, drawings, paintings and mark-making from a 50+ year art practice combine with hand-processed and manipulated film materials to play off the rites and relaxed rigour of his unique approach to making a life. “Perfectly captures Rick as he is now, yet with deep intimations of earlier times, creating a tender and deeply moving portrait. The subdued tones of his voice and characteristic understatement of his observations intensify the vibrancy of his film work, which is sensitively woven together with the various images he continues to engage with. The essential human need to externalize our felt experience throughout our lives is what stays with me, together with the metaphors on light, and suggests much about resilience and being true. A really beautiful film.” – Marilyn Brakhage, film archivist/writer/curator.
