Sidewalk Film Center Birmingham, AL
Frank Schellace
Artist, master beekeeper, and founder of the science education nonprofit Traveling Hive
Phase IV— Insect Minds: Science Behind Phase IV
Program Description
Join us for a screening of Phase IV (1974), Saul Bass's visually striking cult science-fiction film about a mysterious cosmic event that accelerates the evolution of an ant supercolony. Before the event, experience a unique multimedia lecture-performance by Frank Schellace, artist, master beekeeper, and founder of the science education nonprofit Traveling Hive. The event also features a display of scientific artwork by Amanda Konishi, a scientific illustrator and fine artist whose work focuses on entomological and botanical subjects.
Presented At
Sidewalk Film Center Birmingham, AL
Film Synopsis
Desert ants suddenly form a collective intelligence and begin to wage war on the desert inhabitants. It is up to two scientists and a stray girl they rescue from the ants to destroy them.
Due to a mysterious cosmic event, ants in the Arizona desert have undergone rapid evolution, developed a hive mind, and declared war on the human race. It’s up to two scientists (Nigel Davenport, Michael Murphy) and a woman they rescue (Lynne Frederick) to destroy them. But the ants have other ideas. After creating credit sequences for films like The Man With the Golden Arm, and directing segments of films such as Grand Prix and Psycho, Saul Bass made his directorial debut with this stylized sci-fi flick.