It was always play for me.

I was just going on the ride. I felt that I'd find something, but I needed to enjoy myself. I was always moving onwards… it was always self-improvement…

One day the shit-luck thing happened… I was driving in Berkeley and hadn't remembered that there was a Len Lye show at the Pacific Film Archive. I wanted to see it and forgotten... but I was driving and drove by the archive and saw the sign. I was like, "Oh yeah..." and ordinarily there is no parking on the busy streets but I found a spot right out front, went inside and my whole life changed.

After seeing Len Lye's work, I went home and started doing drawing on 16mm film...but I knew he did his work on 35mm… so the next day I went to this 35mm lab that did a lot of porn films. I asked them if they had some spare footage and they pointed to a bin of film. So I worked on 35mm.

I had a little antique movieola… and it had a magnifying lens and I could do a strip and immediately watch it and study the results of my experiments. I noticed that I could make things appear in front or behind objects and define a three dimensional space.

Portability. Didn't need lights, cameras, crew.

Worked on Twice Upon A Time and Ewok's Adventures… assistant animator doing these pixie things… I felt that my own work was more important.

Sounds, especially those by regular composer, Allan Schindler work with and often against the music. Often the sounds seem to be taking us to a different space.

I don't see myself so much as an animator because of what that connotes… I feel myself more as a filmmaker... but I'm using digital… maybe its moving imagery… visual motionist…

Even within the indie/art side there's this strange realm of experimental/abstract.

…"absolute animation" because there's nothing to follow… how to communicate through this different way… you can't rely on trendy or traditional drawing styles or processes… you're on your own…

And yet you're all continually accused of looking the same… you're all apparently derivative of McLaren or Lye.

Yes, people sometimes say, "Oh you mean like Norman McLaren."

People are disappointing

In experimental circles, Maxwell is criticized for not being experimental enough… almost narrative… and in animation it's not accepted by most animation festivals.

The works are open… they go into these worlds… and its not ending... it keeps going… you're getting a moment with it and then it says okay… this is the end of your ride.

To find out more about Maxwell's work visit: http://www.rit.edu/~sampph/.

Chris Robinson is little more than a man. In his spare time he cares for the elderly. www.animationpimp.com.