Time code

“Time code” is a 57 minute international co-production between television stations, artists, and independent producers form seven countries. Participating are France (INA), United Kingdom (Channel Four Television), The Netherlands (NOS), Spain (RTVE), West Germany (ZDF), Canada (Agent Orange/CBS), and the United States (The CAT fund/ WGBH-PBS). “Time code” represents the effort and commitment of a number of individuals whose innovative work with artists has helped to establish television as a means of artistic expression. Each artist was commissioned to capture the spirit, reality and “pulse” of a specific environment, creating (with-out dialogue or commentary) the atmosphere and rhythm of the locale. In this way “Time code” directly addresses the issue of boundaries, the needs of a diverse international television audience and the understanding of television as a creative medium. Each participating producer agreed to finance the work from their country, a video work between 3-5 minutes was initially established. In return, each country would receive the entire package - 57 minutes, with the rights to their stations territory. Distribution beyond the territory of the producers would be divided between the producers and artists.