June 9, 2026
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with corrections
or breaking news
Welcome to Club V (for Vampire)
by Doniphan Blair
The full moon becomes part of the title frame for a new film from Leslie Streit and Robin McCain, AKA Cinematiks, 'When I Become a Ghost' (2023). photo: courtesy Cinematiks. photo: courtesy CinematiksPLEASE support our research expenses, rebuilding the cineSOURCE site and more with a one-time or ongoing subscription.
THE VAMPIRE LEGEND DATES BACK TO
Ancient Egypt, the Garden of Eden and maybe even the beginning of humankind. In today’s world, vampires are popular on TV, in the movies and around the globe. They are thought to exude a romantic, beguiling charm. It is said they will haunt your dreams. Their breaking of the protective skin barrier symbolizes sex.
In San Francisco, there is a place called Club V where dreams are for sale. It can be found down an alley, somewhere east of North Beach, and through a secret door. Most nights of the week, the Goth community hangs out there, and we find three friends meeting up for a wild and psychedelic night. But beware of anyone who stares into your eyes. They may want your blood!
This is the basis for the latest project from filmmakers Leslie Streit and Robin McCain, a two-woman team known as Cinematiks. It’s called “Five Dreams & a Drop of Blood” (2024-‘26). The project consists of a series of six short videos. Each video is a micro film ranging from 1–1/2 to 4 minutes and are intended to be exhibited with all six videos as an installation in a gallery.
Susan Marvin as the woman roaming the stairs in 'Haunting' from 'When I Become a Ghost' (2023). photo: courtesy CinematiksCollaborating since the 1990s, Streit and McCain built their own experimental theater company in an artists’ warehouse in San Jose. The duo were involved in every aspect of production. You name it, they did it!
From the beginning they integrated short films and technology into their live performances. There were recurring themes in their work mixing vampires, ghosts, dreams, and space aliens with topics such as identity, homelessness, ghost towns, gender and the rise of computers. Whatever the issue of the day, they built a story around it. Audiences came and it was fun.
Later the team became known for feature documentaries. But in 2021, they returned to their experimental films with a piece about climate change in the Bay Estuary. They also began a project about ghosts and collected a series of interviews describing paranormal events. These were ultimately turned into an interesting website but never a film.
It was a time of pandemic, drought, wildfires, a smoke polluted day when the sun never rose in the sky, which inspired Leslie to turn to the great avant-garde filmmaker Maya Deren.
Maya Deren (1917-1961) was a 20th century filmmaker, poet, dancer, writer and more—perhaps the most influential experimental filmmaker of her generation. On a whim, Leslie decided to watch Deren’s famous “Meshes of the Afternoon” (1943). Although she first viewed the film years ago, it now became a revelation, with its non-linear structure, jump cuts, repeated motifs and a surreal dreamlike scenario. Deren’s theory was that every film should be an experience.
Susan Marvin plays the woman seated in a grave, a publicity photo from Leslie Streit and Robin McCain' s film 'When I Become a Ghost' (2023). photo: courtesy CinematiksSoon after that, Streit and McCain began working on “When I Become a Ghost” (2023) , a three-part exploration of one woman’s journey into the afterlife. The project was designed to be a video installation in which all three parts played simultaneously on separate screens. The films were accompanied by a single soundtrack which allowed a continuous flow of music. Every viewer could see the same three narratives in any order at random. Each viewing would then become a unique experience based on chance.
“When I Become a Ghost” premiered at Pastine Projects in San Francisco in 2024 and was included in Form 2024 at the CICA Museum in Seoul Korea. In 2025, the Pluribus Multimedia Fest in Naples, Italy, showed the film and awarded it Best New Media Film. In May 2026 it was part of the Riga Contemporary Surrealism Biennale in Latvia. The project was not site specific. It could be (and was) installed a different way everywhere it was seen.
A word about venues. It is becoming increasingly popular for museums to exhibit video art and installations. But in San Francisco it seems to be risky for commercial galleries to include video art in their shows. Video is not a profit commodity in the same way as paintings, drawings, prints or sculpture. Many galleries in the city have not been selling much lately and several well-known galleries are already closing their doors. There is growing talk that the gallery system itself may be coming to an end, perhaps to be replaced by humongous art fairs. Time will tell.
Susan Marvin as a priestess in ancient Luxor from 'Egypt Mon Amour' (2025), one of a series of short videos from the project 'Five Dreams & a Drop of Blood'. photo: courtesy CinematiksBut film festivals are thriving. There are over 12,000 festivals on Film Freeway. A few of them invite multi-screen installations. But for the most part they are showing single channel films in theaters and screening rooms. There are many categories that filmmakers can enter and short films are encouraged to submit. Every festival and every jury will have their own opinion of what the categories mean and who fits into their programming.
This circles us back to “Five Dreams & a Drop of Blood”. The original design was to follow in the footsteps of “When I Become a Ghost” as a stream-of-consciousness narrative on multiple screens in a gallery. Viewers would be free to ponder what it’s all about. It would be like solving a puzzle or playing a game. But there were alternate plans.
Each of the five dreams and the finale, “Club V” (2026), have their own evocative storylines. They can be shown at film festivals one at a time. The five dreams are “The Crow’s Journey”, “Egypt Mon Amour”, “Nosferatu & the Dreamer”, “Last Day in Eden”, “The Conjurer’s Dream”. Each one is beautiful, surreal, humorous and very strange. “Club V” ties the series all together. It has a unique energy, a visceral and sensual appeal, see the trailer here.
All the videos have been popular with film festival juries. By early 2025, 4 of the them had already begun to win awards like Best Experimental Film, Best Female Director and Best Foreign Film. Most recently actress Susan Marvin won a Best Actress award for the “Conjurer’s Dream”.
But the series has not yet been seen in its entirety as a solo show and has no future invitations to do so.
So Streit and McCain started working on smaller exhibits built around a single film. They added wall art to the concept for a more expansive experience. “The Crow’s Journey” (2025) was installed for a month last November in the ATA Left Window Gallery. It included 6x8 ft. background murals, three video monitors and some realistic toy crows suspended from the ceiling. Passersby viewed the exhibit from the sidewalk outside the building. In essence it was public art (see "The Crow's Journey).
An adventurous crow takes off for San Francisco in 'The Crow's Journey' (2025), one of a series of short videos from the project 'Five Dreams & a Drop of Blood' photo: courtesy CinematiksMicro films and immersive installations have almost endless exhibition possibilities. But only if their creators are able to find enthusiastic curators and venues. Meanwhile Streit and McCain are busy navigating the intersections of visual art, film, technology and imagination. They’re determined to remain flexible and go with the flow. They’re also challenging the boundaries of traditional cinema. It’s quite an adventure!
Cinematiks is starting two new projects so stay tuned.
If you want to know more about them or their projects you contact or view their website.
EMAIL RESPONSES
Please email responses to and they will be posted here. Thanks for your interest.
Posted on Jun 10, 2026 - 09:59 AM
by Doniphan Blair
The full moon becomes part of the title frame for a new film from Leslie Streit and Robin McCain, AKA Cinematiks, 'When I Become a Ghost' (2023). photo: courtesy Cinematiks. photo: courtesy CinematiksTHE VAMPIRE LEGEND DATES BACK TO
Ancient Egypt, the Garden of Eden and maybe even the beginning of humankind. In today’s world, vampires are popular on TV, in the movies and around the globe. They are thought to exude a romantic, beguiling charm. It is said they will haunt your dreams. Their breaking of the protective skin barrier symbolizes sex.
In San Francisco, there is a place called Club V where dreams are for sale. It can be found down an alley, somewhere east of North Beach, and through a secret door. Most nights of the week, the Goth community hangs out there, and we find three friends meeting up for a wild and psychedelic night. But beware of anyone who stares into your eyes. They may want your blood!
This is the basis for the latest project from filmmakers Leslie Streit and Robin McCain, a two-woman team known as Cinematiks. It’s called “Five Dreams & a Drop of Blood” (2024-‘26). The project consists of a series of six short videos. Each video is a micro film ranging from 1–1/2 to 4 minutes and are intended to be exhibited with all six videos as an installation in a gallery.
Susan Marvin as the woman roaming the stairs in 'Haunting' from 'When I Become a Ghost' (2023). photo: courtesy CinematiksFrom the beginning they integrated short films and technology into their live performances. There were recurring themes in their work mixing vampires, ghosts, dreams, and space aliens with topics such as identity, homelessness, ghost towns, gender and the rise of computers. Whatever the issue of the day, they built a story around it. Audiences came and it was fun.
Later the team became known for feature documentaries. But in 2021, they returned to their experimental films with a piece about climate change in the Bay Estuary. They also began a project about ghosts and collected a series of interviews describing paranormal events. These were ultimately turned into an interesting website but never a film.
It was a time of pandemic, drought, wildfires, a smoke polluted day when the sun never rose in the sky, which inspired Leslie to turn to the great avant-garde filmmaker Maya Deren.
Maya Deren (1917-1961) was a 20th century filmmaker, poet, dancer, writer and more—perhaps the most influential experimental filmmaker of her generation. On a whim, Leslie decided to watch Deren’s famous “Meshes of the Afternoon” (1943). Although she first viewed the film years ago, it now became a revelation, with its non-linear structure, jump cuts, repeated motifs and a surreal dreamlike scenario. Deren’s theory was that every film should be an experience.
Susan Marvin plays the woman seated in a grave, a publicity photo from Leslie Streit and Robin McCain' s film 'When I Become a Ghost' (2023). photo: courtesy Cinematiks“When I Become a Ghost” premiered at Pastine Projects in San Francisco in 2024 and was included in Form 2024 at the CICA Museum in Seoul Korea. In 2025, the Pluribus Multimedia Fest in Naples, Italy, showed the film and awarded it Best New Media Film. In May 2026 it was part of the Riga Contemporary Surrealism Biennale in Latvia. The project was not site specific. It could be (and was) installed a different way everywhere it was seen.
A word about venues. It is becoming increasingly popular for museums to exhibit video art and installations. But in San Francisco it seems to be risky for commercial galleries to include video art in their shows. Video is not a profit commodity in the same way as paintings, drawings, prints or sculpture. Many galleries in the city have not been selling much lately and several well-known galleries are already closing their doors. There is growing talk that the gallery system itself may be coming to an end, perhaps to be replaced by humongous art fairs. Time will tell.
Susan Marvin as a priestess in ancient Luxor from 'Egypt Mon Amour' (2025), one of a series of short videos from the project 'Five Dreams & a Drop of Blood'. photo: courtesy CinematiksThis circles us back to “Five Dreams & a Drop of Blood”. The original design was to follow in the footsteps of “When I Become a Ghost” as a stream-of-consciousness narrative on multiple screens in a gallery. Viewers would be free to ponder what it’s all about. It would be like solving a puzzle or playing a game. But there were alternate plans.
Each of the five dreams and the finale, “Club V” (2026), have their own evocative storylines. They can be shown at film festivals one at a time. The five dreams are “The Crow’s Journey”, “Egypt Mon Amour”, “Nosferatu & the Dreamer”, “Last Day in Eden”, “The Conjurer’s Dream”. Each one is beautiful, surreal, humorous and very strange. “Club V” ties the series all together. It has a unique energy, a visceral and sensual appeal, see the trailer here.
All the videos have been popular with film festival juries. By early 2025, 4 of the them had already begun to win awards like Best Experimental Film, Best Female Director and Best Foreign Film. Most recently actress Susan Marvin won a Best Actress award for the “Conjurer’s Dream”.
But the series has not yet been seen in its entirety as a solo show and has no future invitations to do so.
So Streit and McCain started working on smaller exhibits built around a single film. They added wall art to the concept for a more expansive experience. “The Crow’s Journey” (2025) was installed for a month last November in the ATA Left Window Gallery. It included 6x8 ft. background murals, three video monitors and some realistic toy crows suspended from the ceiling. Passersby viewed the exhibit from the sidewalk outside the building. In essence it was public art (see "The Crow's Journey).
An adventurous crow takes off for San Francisco in 'The Crow's Journey' (2025), one of a series of short videos from the project 'Five Dreams & a Drop of Blood' photo: courtesy CinematiksCinematiks is starting two new projects so stay tuned.
If you want to know more about them or their projects you contact or view their website.
EMAIL RESPONSES
Please email responses to and they will be posted here. Thanks for your interest.
Posted on Jun 10, 2026 - 09:59 AM
