Posted April 28, 2011
Bass’ hybrid approach to film enlightens students and audiences
Three decades ago, a young, socially conscious film director took a position touching the lives of young filmmakers-to-be in Temple University’s School of Communications and Theater. Since then, every student in the Film and Media Arts department has benefitted from Warren Bass’ vast knowledge and commitment.
Bass is an award-winning independent filmmaker, working in a variety of media, and striving to make others aware of the social injustices in this world. These are not topics that he has chosen; rather, the topics have chosen him.
Bass came of age during the 1960s and was called to action by the civil rights movement, taking part in marches and championing other social causes. His awareness of inequality, though, came at a much younger age. Bass was raised in a home that he shared with his Native American grandfather, who often spoke of the first-hand discrimination he had experienced. It was the seed that grew into Bass’ lifelong passion.
“The whole purpose of art is to say something about the human condition and to share it in some kind of form,” said Bass, a film and media arts professor and recipient of Temple’s 2011 Faculty Award for Creative Achievement.
And when it comes to different forms, Bass is a master. He has produced more than 60 works, including documentaries, dramatic productions, abstract animations, dance and experimental films.
“Most of the time, I like natural materials in animation. I think pencils and paints and chalk are much more expressive than a graphics tablet on a computer.” As an example, his animated film Monument Rubbings combines original graphics with charcoal rubbings he made by tracing on top of stone and bronze historical monuments and animating the imprints in the computer. The film deals with the treatment of black volunteers in the American Civil War.
The one-time chair and director of the department, Bass has done it all in his 32 years at Temple. He designed many of the courses for a program consistently recognized as one of the top 10 in the nation.
“Throughout his career, Professor Bass has been one of our most dedicated and successful teachers,” said Nora M. Alter, professor and chair of the Film and Media Arts department. “Students from his classes have gone on to receive top national and international student awards.”
In addition to the Creative Achievement Award, Temple honored Bass with its Great Teacher Award in 1999. While Bass appreciates the accolades from colleagues and the international recognition he’s received, his focus remains on his teaching and his films. He admits he doesn’t have multi-million dollar budgets, but then again, what he does have — freedom to produce works that raise awareness worldwide and raise the bar in his field — satisfies this media maker just the same.