After many decades, we have re-accessed the Screen Tests shot from early 1964 to 1966 by Andy Warhol, which in a sense can be considered a precursor to the age of social media:they highlight the possibility of turning ordinary people into celebrities , presenting their faces and personalities on film.
In May 2015, New Yorkers had the opportunity to see some of Warhol's Screen Tests nightly at 11:57 on electronic billboards in Times Square. At the end of last month, Londoners saw a selection of them at the Barbican, with new music.
The origins of this Warhol project go back to early 1964, when he saw a New York Police Department flyer with the faces of the then Thirteen Most Wanted Men. He was inspired by the idea to create his own series of "portraits", in groups of 13 people. The idea evolved into a series of "living portraits" of some of the most famous artists of his time, in short films lasting a few minutes. In late 1965, this series became known as the 'Screen Tests'.
Although the name is not appropriate, as the term "screen test" seems to have been first used by the film industry in 1917 and referred to a test of one's ability to play a role in front of the camera. Warhol, creator of many feature films, never used his screen tests as auditions.
Many visitors to Warhol's Factory were invited to sit for a screen test. Andy wanted the most famous people passing through to participate and the camera was always ready for the willing. Most were flattered. But Andy shot with his camera also people close to him, friends, lovers and partners. It is estimated that 472 screen tests were completed (189 faces, since some were the subject of more than one screen test).
In 1970, Warhol stopped giving permission for public display of his film camera work. Some of the most famous "Screen Tests", those of Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Nico, Eddie Sedgwick, Salvatore Dali and Marcel Duchamp, have not been seen by human eyes for half a century. With their screening in London, the "hiatus" is over, and they are worth stopping by.
Bob Dylan sat for two screen tests in 1966, which attracted the attention of the media of the time. On his visit, Bob strolled through the Factory, looking at works by Warhol. Two reels of film were ready, one for a long shot and one for a close up. Dylan was persuaded to sit for two shoots. Afterward, Andy presented him with a painting of Elvis he had done, which Bob accepted and later traded the work for a sofa.
Lou Reed and the rest of the Velvet Underground met Warhol in 1965 and Andy became their manager and one of the producers of their first album, 'The Velvet Underground and Nico'. Some of the screen tests with them were shown at Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitable events (multimedia events, with live music, projections of moving or still images, dance performances and experiments in lighting and sets).
Niko was the voice of the Velvet Underground. Warhol introduced her to the band and suggested they work together. He sat for 11 screen tests, and Paul Morrissey considered ST238 to be one of Nico's best images.
Warhol didn't just focus on established artists, he was interested in turning 'everyday' people into celebrities, those who later became known as 'Warhol Superstars'. The most famous "Warhol Superstar" was Edie Sedgwick - she marked an entire era - whom Edie first met in March 1965 and who would star in several of his films that year, including "Poor Little Rich Girl" (filmed inside her apartment).
Andy Warhol met Salvador Dali for the first time at the St Regis Hotel in New York and the experience captivated him. Dali sat for two screen tests:in one, the camera takes him upside down. In the other, in the middle of the tape, he disappears from the screen. Such was his fascination with Warhol that in 1966 Andy made a 35-minute film about Salvador's visit to the Factory.
Marcel Duchamp and Andy Warhol greatly admired each other's work. Warhol had acquired over 20 works by Duchamp and, in February 1966, Duchamp invited Warhol to participate with other artists in a chess-themed exhibition. Andy lost the card with the request to answer about his participation or not, but he appeared at the exhibition and there he did the screen test with Duchamp (it is one of the few that did not take place at the Factory).