108 spin film q&a with arco
CONVERSATION: 001 SUBJECT: 108 spin, TRANSMISSION [arco]
Q: Why a laundromat? Why this specific machinery?
arco: because it’s honest. museums are curated. churches can be pageantry. a laundromat is just people. it’s adam and eve. it’s the constant cycle of being soiled and getting clean. it doesn't matter who you think you are or what status you claim—the stain doesn't care. it's a silent ritual that plays out in our every moment. i didn't want to build a set or create a fiction. the machines were already there—the machines of our lives, of society—already spinning. i just opened my mind and turned the camera on.
Q: You shot this entirely on an iPhone 11. Was that a budget constraint or a choice?
arco: it’s a tool. if i brought a cinema camera, i would have worried about lighting and focus and permits. the phone removes the ego. it fits in my pocket. i don't care about pixels; i care about the texture. the grain feels like the grit on the floor. that’s enough.
Q: The film is called 108 spin. What is the significance of the number?
arco: 108 is the cycle. in buddhism, you count the beads to keep your mind from wandering. here, the drum is the bead. but you don't need to overthink it. it’s just a number. just watch it spin.
Q: The soundscape is abrasive. Some people might find it difficult to sit through.
arco: life in part is abrasive. suffering is abrasive—it’s like the dirt ground into the fabric. you can’t have the 'clean' without the 'dirty.' avoiding the noise doesn't help. the beauty comes from acknowledging the friction, not hiding it. if you can find a little happiness inside that grinding sound, you’re doing okay.
Q: What do you hope the audience takes away from the five minutes?
arco: i hope they find new perspectives. the glass door is dark, so if you stare at it long enough, you start to see your own reflection in the spin. looking in is looking out. looking out is looking in. mostly, i just want them to realize you can actually have fun doing just about anything. (laughs).