The Signal and the Noise

This 15-minute film explores the paranormal research of Alec Harley Reeves (1902 - 1971) as a means of connecting with the more-than-human world.

Reeves was a brilliant engineer whose invention of the Oboe radio navigation system made a major contribution to the Allies' success in World War II. He frequently sought input to his work from psychic sources and believed he was influenced by the spirit of Michael Faraday.

Part séance, part stream of consciousness, the film follows the journey of a WWII Pathfinder plane and its crew, counting down towards their target, as guided by the Oboe system. The flow is periodically interrupted by the secret signals from Oboe, heard over the pilot's headset.

Along the way, a narrator / spirit medium invites us to tune in to different voices and sounds in the landscape. These include archive recordings of Alec Reeves, as well as signals from nonhuman beings such as birds, insects, wind and ghosts of the past.

The work was based on research and development undertaken with Megan Calver, who also acted as a creative consultant on the film. It was made as part of a Developing Your Creative Practice Award from Arts Council England.