DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS
Photo: Will Paice
I consider Julius Shulman my mentor and my friend. Few people have had such a profound impact on my life as he. Two things were apparent to me upon my initial meeting with Julius in the spring of 1999. First, the photography created by the man is nothing short of astounding and second, Julius himself is as equally impressive as the work he created.
The true defining characteristic of a Shulman photograph is that vibrant, uplifting, profound energy that transcends the two-dimensional space. When viewing one of Julius’ “constructed views” I am reminded of the potential for greatness inherent within each individual. I am then usually driven to a state of bewilderment knowing that within the Shulman archive are 8000+ projects dating back to 1927 when Julius started photographing with a Brownie Box Camera.
The photography however is only half the story; Julius himself is the other. Distilled to its barest essence it is this: Julius Shulman is a humanist. His genuine love for people, culture and the arts preserves my 98 year old friend as an eternal youth.
The above compelled me to create a documentary film on Julius Shulman and Modernism. It is an honor and privilege to work on a project possessing such depth and distinction; I do so with the utmost passion, determination and humble appreciation. It is my hope to have created a cinematic experience that successfully impacts and inspires as many people as it can possibly reach.
Eric Bricker, Los Angeles, September 2007
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
It is a combination of coincidence and a lifetime of preparation that has led Eric Bricker to Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman.
Active in music and theater in St. Louis, Missouri combined with a grandmother who took him to countless films, Eric knew that Los Angeles was an inevitable move. However, before moving to Los Angeles Eric went on to graduate from Indiana University where he received his B.A. in English Literature with a minor in Theatre.
After graduation, Eric spent the next few years acting with the California Repertory Company and the Utah Shakespearean Festival.
Upon settling in Los Angeles, Eric turned his focus toward film and television production where he worked with such notable talent as Jerry Seinfeld, Alec Baldwin and Danny Aiello. Meanwhile, Eric explored his affinity for music, playing percussion with the likes of Lula & Afro-Brasil and Perry Farrell at Coachella Festival. It was during this period that Eric decided producing and directing his own film projects was the most conducive route for his creative expression.
As his passion for filmmaking grew, so too did his art consultation firm, Artistic Designs Unlimited, which was formed in 1996. Developing an understanding of client’s spacial needs and translating those specifics into original works of art enabled Eric to develop a greater visual vocabulary and sense of design.
It was in 1999 when in need of vintage photos of San Francisco that Eric was led to Julius Shulman. At the outset, an enduring friendship between the two began. Recognizing the extraordinary amount of humanity and profundity Shulman and his work possessed, Eric put into motion his inspiration for Visual Acoustics.
Eric is currently at work on a narrative feature film exploring the contemporary art world while running Kaleidoscope Mediaworks. He lives in Austin, Texas with his wife and son.