About me

Working in NYC one of the busiest cities in the world, I am bombarded each day with sound. In this experimental video I wanted to visually show the sounds and noises of everyday life in NYC. I used an app called SpectroPro to record the frequencies of the sounds I experienced while filming. I layered the frequency information associated with the clip both over and under the image to create a moving image of the city of both sight and sound.

By making this video I wanted to bring awareness to the problem of noise pollution in large metropolitan areas. I read that city background noise levels average around 60 decibels which studies show can raise your blood pressure, heart rate and stress levels in additional to ruining your concentration and sleep patterns. It is up to us who live in these areas to explore ways of reducing these levels to maintain our health and wellbeing.

Winner of the Global Shorts film festival 2020 for Best Concept Film  (info page https://www.global-shorts.net/best-concept-art-marlene-szczesny-sounds-of-the-city-usa/ )

Semi-finalist in the IndieX Film Fest 2020

Finalist in the Jellyfest season 6 2021

Just a glimpse of my day to day during quarantine. Lots of coffee, wine and hand washing. 

The exploration of self, isolation and the longing for connection in the technological landscape we live in.

"Nature Speaks" is a video that intertwines the beauty of natural landscapes with a subtle message conveyed through superimposed letters.  As the imagery unfolds, floating letters appear on the screen, underlining the interconnectedness between humans and the natural world. Accompanying the visual narrative is the soothing sound of a waterfall, surrounding viewers in a soundscape of nature's melodies. The cascading water serves as a metaphor for renewal, cleansing, and the eternal cycle of life—a harmonious backdrop that enhances the contemplative atmosphere of the video.

Through this video I hope to evoke a sense of introspection towards the natural world. I would like to encourage viewers to listen to the whispers of nature, try to decipher its silent language, and reflect on our responsibility to protect and preserve the fragile ecosystems that sustain life on the planet.

"Disjointed" is a visual and sound experience that showcases a series of women in motion, presented through fragmented perspectives. Each segment focuses on different parts of the body—upper body, torso, feet—creating an abstract portrayal of women and movement. The jerky and spasmodic movements reflect the ways in which some women contort themselves to meet social media expectations. Accompanied by purposefully discordant sound effects, these audio elements enhance the disjointed feel, immersing viewers in a thought-provoking exploration of identity, perception, and the pressures of conformity.

These are 2 videos that overlap and create a third image bringing together the 2 parts of the video on the condition of our oceans. It runs on a continuous loop with 1 video shorter than the other so that the overlapped image is never the same. The first part of the video speaks to the effects of global warming on our oceans. The second part of the video is  a visualization of how deep sea mining will have an effect on the delicate ecosystems of our oceans. I manipulated the  video I shot of the ocean to mirror how we are manipulating nature.

"The Dance" is an experimental video artwork that delves into the intricate tapestry of human relationships. Through a series of dynamic visual metaphors, the piece explores the ebb and flow of connections—friendships, romantic partnerships, and communal bonds—highlighting the beautiful complexity of how we relate to one another. At its core, "The Dance" portrays the duality of human interactions. The solitary dancer symbolizes individuality and introspection, while the group represents collective experiences and shared emotions. This juxtaposition illustrates how we often oscillate between moments of connection and solitude.

In my video "Struggle/Strength," I share with the viewer an artistic exploration of resilience and liberation. It begins with a visual of a woman trapped beneath the water, symbolizing the weight of struggle and confinement. As the narrative unfolds, the imagery transforms, depicting her gradual emergence into freedom. Using water as a metaphor for both confinement and liberation, it transitions from despair to empowerment, culminating in a scene of the woman swimming freely in the vast ocean celebrating the triumph of overcoming obstacles.

 In the whimsical video "When You Can't Sleep," join a relatable journey with a woman trying to catch some Z's. As she tosses and turns in her bed, a mischievous shadow hand playfully dances around, adding a touch of magic to her sleepless night. Watch as the woman and the shadow hand engage in a quirky bedtime tango, turning restless moments into a whimsical adventure. Will this unexpected nighttime visitor help her find the sweet dreams she's been searching for?

An underwater fantasy fever dream.

A study of color and movement.

This is my stream of consciousness video meditating on the construct of time.  I embarked on a mesmerizing journey in this video  as it took me back to the dawn of existence where swirling atoms and boundless energy interacted to set the stage for creation. I attempted to imagine the breathtaking transformation from primordial chaos to the radiant birth of the sun, illuminating our universe with its fiery brilliance.