Yasmina Tawil discusses programming Hou Hsiao-hsien, David Fincher, Tom Tykwer, and others for BAM's Electronica Series.

      As the old song suggests: summer is here, and it’s the perfect time for dancing in the street. While the theater setting has its advantages as a confined space, and we don’t promote disrupting those seated next to you with excessive movement, there are moments when it’s nice to have a reason to tap your feet. Or at least to be reminded that theaters are more than just a big screen; they also feature sound systems that surpass the built-in speakers found behind your television.

      Enter: Electronica. This new series is running at BAM from today, July 10, through July 14, showcasing a collection of films from around the world featuring electronic-driven soundtracks. Some of these titles might be familiar to you; others, I believe, haven’t been shown in New York for at least the ten years I’ve lived here. I was pleased to discuss Electronica with Yasmina Tawil from BAM, though what follows is really an exploration of the nuances of programming: determining when to screen certain films and the rationale behind it; recognizing instances where you can't show a film but wish you could; understanding what draws an audience, and how to entice them with content they might not initially want; and noticing that this appears to be the only area of cinema where individuals often decline monetary compensation. I hope you enjoy and find something noteworthy in Electronica during its run.

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      Music provided by Lex Walton: “Love Theme from an Unreleased Film” from the album Giving It Up.