A still from the film “The Recure Party” by Matthew Reynolds, Mill Valley, Calif.

Influenced by surrealist animator Jan Svankmajer, Reynolds uses stop-motion animation within a single set to surface the raw aspects of film, telling stories in a way that predated cinema. “There’s something charming about just barely conveying an effect, movement or structure,” he says. “It exposes the magician’s trick, but showcases his ingenuity.”