Noah Eckstein Blends Sound and Light in Experimental Film Cladosporium Coke Dial
- TYREE POPE III
- Apr 20
- 2 min read
At the Milwaukee Film Festival, filmmaker and composer Noah Eckstein presents a project that pushes beyond traditional storytelling.
Cladosporium Coke Dial is not built from a script.
It is built from sound.
And from experimentation.
Music First, Film Second
For Eckstein, the process began with music.
Using a modular synthesizer, he created electronic compositions by experimenting with cables, signals, and sound textures.
Unlike traditional composition, there was no fixed plan.
Instead, the music developed organically.
Sounds emerged.
Patterns formed.
And eventually, a structure revealed itself.
Visualizing Sound
Once the music was complete, Eckstein faced a new challenge.
How do you visualize something abstract?
The answer came from an unexpected place.
Liquid light projection.
By combining water, oil, and dyes on an overhead projector, he created constantly shifting visuals.
The result is a psychedelic aesthetic inspired by 1960s rock concerts and artists like The Doors.
The visuals don’t follow a narrative.
They respond to the music.
A Creative Without Boundaries
Eckstein doesn’t define himself by a single medium.
Classically trained in music, he continues to explore different forms of creativity.
From performing in a rock band to teaching music, from composing to filmmaking, his approach is rooted in exploration.
For him, creativity is about trying everything.
Finding what works.
And following the idea wherever it leads.
Milwaukee as a Creative Playground
After moving to Milwaukee, Eckstein found something he had been missing.
Opportunity.
Coming from a smaller town, he was used to limited collaboration.
Milwaukee offered something different.
A larger creative space.
More artists.
More possibilities.
But unlike many creatives, Eckstein doesn’t describe his experience as a grind.
For him, it feels like play.
A constant flow of creating, performing, and experimenting.
A Surreal Premiere
Premiering Cladosporium Coke Dial at the Milwaukee Film Festival is a moment Eckstein is still processing.
Having spent time watching films at the historic Oriental Theatre, the idea of seeing his own work on that screen feels unreal.
It is a milestone.
But also a beginning.
A City That Supports Its Artists
Eckstein highlights something unique about Milwaukee.
The support.
Unlike larger cities where competition dominates, Milwaukee fosters a sense of community.
People show up for each other.
They support local work.
They celebrate creativity.
That energy is what makes the city special.
Just the Beginning
For Eckstein, Cladosporium Coke Dial is only the first step.
His first film.
His first exploration of merging sound and visuals.
And like the process itself, the path forward remains open.
Unpredictable.
Experimental.
And full of possibility.
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