Subterranean Video
   1983 - 1989
   Boston

Formed as a casual, late night endeavor around the Sandin Image Processor in a back office of the Boston Film/Video Foundation, Subterranean Video (SVID) was born early in 1983 by Ben Britton & Charles Jevremovic. Never a formal entity, SVID existed more as a socially transmitted virus, replicating itself
into a fluctuating line-up of as many as 13 'infectants' by the time of its practical disintegration around 1989.

Live video performances, new media events and installations were the hallmark of most of SVID's multi-faceted manifestations. The venues consisted of
basement galleries, industrial lofts and seedy artist hang-outs.

SVID often presented works in a live performance motif with some of Boston's most infamous underground musical groups such as Bam-Bam, Skin and Human Sexual Response. 

From 1984-1987 SVID members pioneered the concept and practice of what is now known as 'VJ-ing', creating a visual analog to freestyle audio turntableism. This was acheived by modifying 1/2" open reel portapacs to allow for unimpeded bi-directional playback of image and sound.

SVID also spawned several splinter groups over the years such as Danger Video and d-Con, both of which continued to expand the notion of 'flexible video'
further into the worlds of experimental video, media rich performance & installation. In 1986, SVID produced a 'Video LP' titled SubVersions, which lead to perhaps the collective's widest exposure including awards, screenings at the Centre Pompedieu in Paris and satellite broadcasts via the Deep Dish TV  roject.

Several of the SVID members participated in the Residency Program at the Experimental Television Center. 

SVID was:

Ben Britton            
Lisa Britton        
Rick Brown         
Daniel Hartnett
Charles Jevremovic
Phillip Kelly        
Craig Milanesi
Lisa Monrose
Mario Paoli
Chris Shine
Matthew Smotzer
Yvette Torell
Clea Waite
Geoff White