Above the Arroyo: A Dream of the Stairs of Los Angeles

Drift backward down the hidden staircases of Los Angeles in a hypnotic, hallucinatory, and meditative adventure set to an improvised ambient score. The encroachment of nature upon the city’s built surfaces, the artistry employed in construction, the mysterious essence of staircases, the visceral passage of time, and the distinctive beauty of Los Angeles are all visual themes explored over the course of this 82-minute tone poem. Shot over the course of several months, filmmaker Russell Brown scouted more than 70 staircases, ultimately choosing 28 for their unique individual personalities and aesthetic qualities. Each staircase was then documented at a chosen time of day to showcase specific shadows and colors. He then employed a combination of horizontal and vertical stabilizing devices, as well as stabilizing filters, to create the drifting effect.