 In June 1914, in order to develop his idea, Survage unsuccessfully applied for a patent to the Gaumont Film Company.Had he been able to raise the funds, he would have preceded Viking Eggeling and Hans Richter as the first to develop abstract films.Beginning in 1917, Survage shared a studio—and a penchant for alcoholic excesses—with Amedeo Modigliani in Paris.