Flying Cards

Lighting and music continue an atmosphere of unease as the librarian stands at a small desk to complete an entry in a log book. Still, she is alone. The music pauses before a lone whistle is heard as she makes her way down another aisle. Coincidentally (or not?), the lone whistle is similar to the theme music to The X-Files, a mid-1990’s TV-show about paranormal investigators. As the librarian continues about her work, on one side there are tall, heavy book shelves, on the other, smaller wooden filing drawers. Suddenly, one of the drawers of the smaller cabinet begins to open by itself, revealing a tray full of library index cards. The music becomes more urgent as the cards begin to blow out and scatter. Almost in unison, another drawer opens and the same happens again, until a third and a fourth…

The angle switches to face Alice Drummond’s librarian, whose expression quickly morphs from worry to fear as she turns to witness the unusual activity. Frightened, she lets out a weakened scream and begins to run away.

Once again, the invention of in-camera, practical illusions contribute to a feeling of more organic movie-making, something that is celebrated and pined-for in the today’s ‘more advanced’ digital age.

Trivia: The bank of smaller cabinets is a false wall. Behind the cabinets, special effects technicians pushed the drawers open and blew air through to disperse the cards.

Words by Gareth Rhodes.