Take any standard Hollywood action thriller and strip out all convoluted backstories, remove all romantic subplots, shoot down any unnecessary exposition, eviscerate all special effects — CGI and practical — and film the whole thing with Super 8 and camcorders. Do all that and you’ve got yourself another Bob Moricz masterpiece.
In Krimi, a mysterious stranger rolls back into town searching for a missing family member and becomes embroiled in the seedy criminal underground that he’s tried so hard to escape. That’s the kind of set-up that’s fueled a zillion movie plots. Here, though, writer/director/editor Moricz has boiled that plot completely down to its absolute essentials and filmed the whole thing in his trademark surrealist lo-fi style that the end product is a trip into a nightmarish netherzone that bears absolutely no resemblance to reality.
Moricz himself stars as that mysterious stranger — the awesomely named Vic Slezak...
In Krimi, a mysterious stranger rolls back into town searching for a missing family member and becomes embroiled in the seedy criminal underground that he’s tried so hard to escape. That’s the kind of set-up that’s fueled a zillion movie plots. Here, though, writer/director/editor Moricz has boiled that plot completely down to its absolute essentials and filmed the whole thing in his trademark surrealist lo-fi style that the end product is a trip into a nightmarish netherzone that bears absolutely no resemblance to reality.
Moricz himself stars as that mysterious stranger — the awesomely named Vic Slezak...
- 8/3/2015
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The Experimental Film Festival Portland will host its 3rd annual edition on May 28-June 1 at various locations around the city, including the Hollywood Theatre, the Clinton Street Theater, Disjecta and more.
The Opening Night festivities at the historic Hollywood Theatre features a massive lineup of short films, including Kent Lambert‘s award-winning Reckoning 3 and films by Clint Enns, Stephen Broomer, Jb Mabe, Cornelia Abrecht and Michelle Mellor.
Some special events to keep an eye out for throughout the fest include the EFFPortland Throwdown, a series of showcases where local Portland filmmakers battle it out for bragging rights and supreme galactic superiority. The first event is on May 29 featuring work by Bob Moricz, Julie Perini, Karl Lind and more.
In addition to the Throwdowns, there are just an absolute ton of short experimental films, including work by Christine Lucy Latimer, Andrew Rosinski, Bryan Konefsky, Sara Koppel, Zachary Epcar and loads more.
The Opening Night festivities at the historic Hollywood Theatre features a massive lineup of short films, including Kent Lambert‘s award-winning Reckoning 3 and films by Clint Enns, Stephen Broomer, Jb Mabe, Cornelia Abrecht and Michelle Mellor.
Some special events to keep an eye out for throughout the fest include the EFFPortland Throwdown, a series of showcases where local Portland filmmakers battle it out for bragging rights and supreme galactic superiority. The first event is on May 29 featuring work by Bob Moricz, Julie Perini, Karl Lind and more.
In addition to the Throwdowns, there are just an absolute ton of short experimental films, including work by Christine Lucy Latimer, Andrew Rosinski, Bryan Konefsky, Sara Koppel, Zachary Epcar and loads more.
- 5/28/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Charles Pinion exists at a unique transection of the modern underground film scene.
A pioneer of the Analog Video Feature Film movement. (That never materialized.) Interaction with the Cinema of Transgression, but not a part of it. Screened back-to-back features at the then-nascent Chicago Underground Film Festival.
He’s been there. He’s done that.
To date, he’s made just three feature films. (Although, hard at work on finishing up his fourth.) And all three — Twisted Issues, Red Spirit Lake and We Await — deserve to be freshly rediscovered and recontextualized. These films put out vibes that stretch out and can be felt in work by makers such as Calvin Lee Reeder, Bob Moricz, Waylon Bacon and others, whether they were specifically influenced by them or not.
All of Pinion’s films can be purchased on DVD from the filmmaker’s website. Gross. Surreal. Unsettling. If that’s your bag...
A pioneer of the Analog Video Feature Film movement. (That never materialized.) Interaction with the Cinema of Transgression, but not a part of it. Screened back-to-back features at the then-nascent Chicago Underground Film Festival.
He’s been there. He’s done that.
To date, he’s made just three feature films. (Although, hard at work on finishing up his fourth.) And all three — Twisted Issues, Red Spirit Lake and We Await — deserve to be freshly rediscovered and recontextualized. These films put out vibes that stretch out and can be felt in work by makers such as Calvin Lee Reeder, Bob Moricz, Waylon Bacon and others, whether they were specifically influenced by them or not.
All of Pinion’s films can be purchased on DVD from the filmmaker’s website. Gross. Surreal. Unsettling. If that’s your bag...
- 4/28/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
April 24
8:00 p.m.
Videofag
187 Augusta Avenue
Toronto, On M5T, Canada
Hosted by: Regional Support Network and Videofag
Toronto will get a little taste of the Portland, Oregon underground film scene courtesy of Regional Support Network, the screening series run by Clint Enns and Leslie Supnet. A night of short films all by Portland indie filmmakers will screen at the Videofag screening room. The lineup has been curated by animator/filmmaker Ben Popp and is listed in full below.
Included in the program are several films by Popp, including his classic Lázsló Lassu, plus work by living legend Bob Moricz, experimental film/video documentarian Julie Perini, Hannah Piper Burns, Orland Nutt, Karl Lind and many more.
Official Lineup:
Torn, dir. Qathi Hart
Entrance, dir. Stephen Slappe
Counter’s Edge, dir. Dylan McDaniel
Rocky’s Moves From The Fight Scene In Rocky, dir. Chris Freeman
Dear Peter: Yaks, dir. Orland Nutt
Dear Peter: Goats,...
8:00 p.m.
Videofag
187 Augusta Avenue
Toronto, On M5T, Canada
Hosted by: Regional Support Network and Videofag
Toronto will get a little taste of the Portland, Oregon underground film scene courtesy of Regional Support Network, the screening series run by Clint Enns and Leslie Supnet. A night of short films all by Portland indie filmmakers will screen at the Videofag screening room. The lineup has been curated by animator/filmmaker Ben Popp and is listed in full below.
Included in the program are several films by Popp, including his classic Lázsló Lassu, plus work by living legend Bob Moricz, experimental film/video documentarian Julie Perini, Hannah Piper Burns, Orland Nutt, Karl Lind and many more.
Official Lineup:
Torn, dir. Qathi Hart
Entrance, dir. Stephen Slappe
Counter’s Edge, dir. Dylan McDaniel
Rocky’s Moves From The Fight Scene In Rocky, dir. Chris Freeman
Dear Peter: Yaks, dir. Orland Nutt
Dear Peter: Goats,...
- 4/17/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Bob Moricz says: Here is a photo my wife Irina took of me and our two lovely cats. Auggie is on the left and Anton on the right. Anton is named for Anton Lavey for his devilish hair tufts on his ears, making him look like he has horns. He’s also pretty devilish by nature.
Underground Film Journal says: Bob Moricz is an incredibly prolific underground filmmaker based in Portland, Oregon. Bob makes down and dirty pictures, runnin’ and gunnin’ in a dizzying tailspin of cinematic madness, just like his mentor George Kuchar taught him.
We first noticed him via his disturbing short film Slut Shack and have grown to love his work, which includes the controversial teen pregnancy drama Bumps, the tale of disorderly madness Felony Flats and the web series Overdose in the Hospital of Love.
Bob’s work is challenging, thought-provoking, provocative and damn good fun.
Underground Film Journal says: Bob Moricz is an incredibly prolific underground filmmaker based in Portland, Oregon. Bob makes down and dirty pictures, runnin’ and gunnin’ in a dizzying tailspin of cinematic madness, just like his mentor George Kuchar taught him.
We first noticed him via his disturbing short film Slut Shack and have grown to love his work, which includes the controversial teen pregnancy drama Bumps, the tale of disorderly madness Felony Flats and the web series Overdose in the Hospital of Love.
Bob’s work is challenging, thought-provoking, provocative and damn good fun.
- 3/20/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Ben Popp says:
I have two cats, one is a fat white fluffy thing named Frieda, who sticks her tongue out when a finger is run over a comb near her. The other is a fluffy black cat with extra toes named Charlie. He’s a loudmouth bastard. They form two complete members of the Hairpants Club, the other one being a Dog, but ya know… Dogs…
I make animated films that sometimes make sense in narrative fashion and other times just use the animated form to convey an abstract concept. I mainly shoot on 16mm and hand process it. I also use cut outs or the world as my subject(s). I should really be making cat films though… They were in one film a long time ago.
Underground Film Journal says:
Ben Popp is a terrific and unique animator whose short films are extremely playful and fun. A...
I have two cats, one is a fat white fluffy thing named Frieda, who sticks her tongue out when a finger is run over a comb near her. The other is a fluffy black cat with extra toes named Charlie. He’s a loudmouth bastard. They form two complete members of the Hairpants Club, the other one being a Dog, but ya know… Dogs…
I make animated films that sometimes make sense in narrative fashion and other times just use the animated form to convey an abstract concept. I mainly shoot on 16mm and hand process it. I also use cut outs or the world as my subject(s). I should really be making cat films though… They were in one film a long time ago.
Underground Film Journal says:
Ben Popp is a terrific and unique animator whose short films are extremely playful and fun. A...
- 3/17/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
March 13
7:00 p.m.
Northwest Film Center
1219 Sw Park Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97205
Hosted by: Northwest Film Center
Portland-based underground filmmaker Bob Moricz will be in attendance at the Northwest Film Center to present a selection of his short films and excerpts from his features spanning his prolific career from 1991 to 2012.
Although Moricz has been making films his entire life, he kicked into high gear after participating in classes taught by the legendary George Kuchar at the San Francisco Art Institute.
Moricz brazenly employs the Kuchar aesthetic of shooting his films dirty and cheap, focusing his attention on melodramatic, sleazy and degenerate behavior. His work also embraces and celebrates his lo-fi filmmaking techniques, blurring the lines between the end product with the processes of their making.
Also, in recent years, Moricz has become an increasingly integral part of the Portland indie film scene, having taken over the Portland Underground Film Festival...
7:00 p.m.
Northwest Film Center
1219 Sw Park Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97205
Hosted by: Northwest Film Center
Portland-based underground filmmaker Bob Moricz will be in attendance at the Northwest Film Center to present a selection of his short films and excerpts from his features spanning his prolific career from 1991 to 2012.
Although Moricz has been making films his entire life, he kicked into high gear after participating in classes taught by the legendary George Kuchar at the San Francisco Art Institute.
Moricz brazenly employs the Kuchar aesthetic of shooting his films dirty and cheap, focusing his attention on melodramatic, sleazy and degenerate behavior. His work also embraces and celebrates his lo-fi filmmaking techniques, blurring the lines between the end product with the processes of their making.
Also, in recent years, Moricz has become an increasingly integral part of the Portland indie film scene, having taken over the Portland Underground Film Festival...
- 3/12/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
A recent Underground Film Journal article titled “Web Series Or Movie: Which Should You Make?” inspired a lively and spirited discussion on Facebook between several independent filmmakers that explored their personal ideas on the future of digital distribution. The provocative back-and-forth has been reprinted below. (With all the filmmakers’ permission.)
The dialogue was particularly kicked off by Australian indie filmmaker Dominic Deacon (Only the Young Die Good, Burlesque) and also included filmmakers Nathan Wrann (Burning Inside, Hunting Season), Bob Moricz (Felony Flats, Bumps), Robin Franzi (Susan for Now), Michael Galinsky (Battle for Brooklyn, Horns and Halos) and Journal editor Mike Everleth.
(Filmmaker comments below have not been edited except for some extremely minor format/style changes and typos. Otherwise, these are their exact words.)
Dominic Deacon
“No filmmaker claims their feature-length film is only seven minutes and nobody is making 90 minute webisodes. But, why the hell not? Easy answer: Nobody...
The dialogue was particularly kicked off by Australian indie filmmaker Dominic Deacon (Only the Young Die Good, Burlesque) and also included filmmakers Nathan Wrann (Burning Inside, Hunting Season), Bob Moricz (Felony Flats, Bumps), Robin Franzi (Susan for Now), Michael Galinsky (Battle for Brooklyn, Horns and Halos) and Journal editor Mike Everleth.
(Filmmaker comments below have not been edited except for some extremely minor format/style changes and typos. Otherwise, these are their exact words.)
Dominic Deacon
“No filmmaker claims their feature-length film is only seven minutes and nobody is making 90 minute webisodes. But, why the hell not? Easy answer: Nobody...
- 1/28/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This year will see the 9th annual edition of the Portland Underground Film Festival, which also marks it as the second edition run by filmmaker Bob Moricz and the first edition that will run for six nights at two different theaters. The fun begins at Puff’s traditional home of the Clinton Street Theater on August 21-23, then will conclude on August 24-26 at the Hollywood Theater.
Festival director Moricz, a maverick filmmaker himself, makes some bold moves with this year’s Puff with a real idiosyncratic lineup of films. For example, the opening night program — when most fests like to show the best film they can — Puff is hosting, along with Grand Detour, a special event looking for the worst films they can find in the “open mic style” showcase called War of the Worst. This will then be followed by a special program of the best Spanish underground...
Festival director Moricz, a maverick filmmaker himself, makes some bold moves with this year’s Puff with a real idiosyncratic lineup of films. For example, the opening night program — when most fests like to show the best film they can — Puff is hosting, along with Grand Detour, a special event looking for the worst films they can find in the “open mic style” showcase called War of the Worst. This will then be followed by a special program of the best Spanish underground...
- 8/5/2013
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This week’s Must Read is a first-person account by Kenneth Anger about the making of his classic troubled production Lucifer Rising. He gets into his personal relationships with Charles Manson cohort Bobby Beausoleil and star Marianne Faithful. Fascinating, fascinating reading. This week’s Must Listen is the radio program The Film Show on Kboo community radio in which host Jenn Chavez chats with Journal good friend Bob Moricz about the upcoming blowout Portland Underground Film Festival. But, they also talk about underground films in general and Moricz’s unique thoughts on our little subculture. Lots of good thoughts on the subject. Nathaniel Dorsky announces that his latest films, Song and Spring, will be debuting later in the year. Read about ‘em and look at some very pretty film stills. “I Am Film, not steel, O user, have mercy.” And so beginith the Film Prayer. (Courtesy of Cineflyer.) Mike White...
- 7/28/2013
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Take a hallucinogenic tour through a consumerist suburban hellscape in the video for Eat Skull’s jangly song “How Do I Know When to Say Goodbye,” directed by two Portland, Oregon underground film masters, Ben Popp and Bob Moricz.
You couldn’t find two more different filmmakers than Popp and Moricz, yet this melding of warped artistic minds coagulates perfectly in an extremely disorienting fashion.
Popp is most well-known for his cut-out inspired black and white animated short films while Moricz’s grungy video aesthetic has been terrorizing screens for years. However, what most connects these two is the frenetic energy with which they both imbue their work, which makes them surprisingly the perfect creative duo, especially to make visuals to match the jumpy beat of this particular song.
You couldn’t find two more different filmmakers than Popp and Moricz, yet this melding of warped artistic minds coagulates perfectly in an extremely disorienting fashion.
Popp is most well-known for his cut-out inspired black and white animated short films while Moricz’s grungy video aesthetic has been terrorizing screens for years. However, what most connects these two is the frenetic energy with which they both imbue their work, which makes them surprisingly the perfect creative duo, especially to make visuals to match the jumpy beat of this particular song.
- 3/11/2013
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This Week’s Must Read is actually a few weeks old, but I’ve been skipping these links posts a lot. Anyway… The Brooklyn Rail got a bunch of big names, such as P. Adams Sitney and Ken Jacobs, to discuss the legacy of their friend, Jonas Mekas. That legacy, of course, can never be summed up in just one article, but this is good.Media artist Clint Enns interviewed media artist Sabrina Ratté about her working process. Clint’s probably one of the most insightful people regarding our world of experimental media I know, so this is a must read.Filmmaker Magazine interviewed one of our favorite underground comedy directors, Zach Clark, about his new Christmas movie White Reindeer, which, of course, we’re dying to see.Our pal J.J. Murphy recently posted his annual “Best of 2012″ indie films list, as he traditionally does around this time of year.
- 3/3/2013
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
5) Elliphant “Live Till I Die”
Directed by ?
Swedish girl band Elliphant kick off this week’s list with fuzzy yet stylish, choreographed driven video. “Live Till I Die” has a typical girl band video feel when we see shots of the trio dancing, but there is also a cool, dark pop/lofi feel present when we’re treated to projections and other editing tricks. Another pop element present is the costume changes. With a number of music videos becoming mini-blockbusters it’s refreshing to see a video with a home-made feel and an edgy track to match.
4) Ghosts “Wlvs”
Directed by Gilles Labarbe
Pitched as a story of a young wolf trying to escape the pack, this video is packed with beautiful shots of real wolves juxtaposed by ambiguous performance shots. For a slightly trance-y track, this is an interesting video that accompanies it. Instead of heavy visuals, or people...
Directed by ?
Swedish girl band Elliphant kick off this week’s list with fuzzy yet stylish, choreographed driven video. “Live Till I Die” has a typical girl band video feel when we see shots of the trio dancing, but there is also a cool, dark pop/lofi feel present when we’re treated to projections and other editing tricks. Another pop element present is the costume changes. With a number of music videos becoming mini-blockbusters it’s refreshing to see a video with a home-made feel and an edgy track to match.
4) Ghosts “Wlvs”
Directed by Gilles Labarbe
Pitched as a story of a young wolf trying to escape the pack, this video is packed with beautiful shots of real wolves juxtaposed by ambiguous performance shots. For a slightly trance-y track, this is an interesting video that accompanies it. Instead of heavy visuals, or people...
- 2/24/2013
- by Tara Costello
- SoundOnSight
I really wanted to break my link posting hiatus on its traditional Sunday yesterday, but a technical crisis prevented me from doing so. But, here we are:
The other reason I only wanted to come out of hiatus was to share this brilliant article by donna k. giving advice to young filmmakers. I was particularly taken with her 3rd note regarding asking oneself the ever important question “Why make this film?” That’s something I’ve come across on my own as a paid screener for a festival, too, but also checking out the films submitted to Bad Lit via email. When a film doesn’t work, the first question I typically ask myself is: “Why did that person even bother?” And I usually assume the answer is just to regurgitate other shit seen in our culture. So, please take Donna’s advice: Be introspective, thoughtful and have a Pov.
The other reason I only wanted to come out of hiatus was to share this brilliant article by donna k. giving advice to young filmmakers. I was particularly taken with her 3rd note regarding asking oneself the ever important question “Why make this film?” That’s something I’ve come across on my own as a paid screener for a festival, too, but also checking out the films submitted to Bad Lit via email. When a film doesn’t work, the first question I typically ask myself is: “Why did that person even bother?” And I usually assume the answer is just to regurgitate other shit seen in our culture. So, please take Donna’s advice: Be introspective, thoughtful and have a Pov.
- 1/21/2013
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Short list this week, but I want ya’ll to get your reading over early so you can run out and finish up your Christmas shopping!
This week’s Must Read isn’t underground at all: BadAzz MoFo takes on the subject of African American “squalor porn” and how it applies to the widely acclaimed Beasts of the Southern Wild. He doesn’t slam the film — in fact, he says many nice things about it — but David always has an interesting take on subjects like this that are mandatory reading, with insights such as “the continued acceptance of squalor porn as a persistently accepted representation of black reality is the result of ideological constructs of racism and colonialism, manifested in cinema.” Great food for thought.This is very brief, but J Hoberman has a piece on Jonas Mekas turning 90 tomorrow.The Boulder Weekly has an article about local professor and...
This week’s Must Read isn’t underground at all: BadAzz MoFo takes on the subject of African American “squalor porn” and how it applies to the widely acclaimed Beasts of the Southern Wild. He doesn’t slam the film — in fact, he says many nice things about it — but David always has an interesting take on subjects like this that are mandatory reading, with insights such as “the continued acceptance of squalor porn as a persistently accepted representation of black reality is the result of ideological constructs of racism and colonialism, manifested in cinema.” Great food for thought.This is very brief, but J Hoberman has a piece on Jonas Mekas turning 90 tomorrow.The Boulder Weekly has an article about local professor and...
- 12/23/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This week’s Must Read: A rare interview with one of the unsung legends of underground film research, history and promotion, Sheldon Renan, the author of the essential An Introduction to the American Underground Film and the “father” of several arts films centers in the U.S. that are still going strong.Jonas Mekas is set to turn 90 in just a few weeks and he’s having one of his biggest years ever with the DVD release of most of his films (unfortunately in all-region Pal format) and major retrospectives/showings in England and France. So, first, the Guardian has an incredible and incredibly lengthy article on the man who all owe such a debt to.Next, BBC Radio has an audio interview with Mekas.Fandor has posted a fantastic list of films most in need of restoration. Of course, I agree with Shirley Clarke’s Portrait of Jason, but...
- 12/9/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Hope everyone in the U.S. had a nice holiday weekend! I’m thankful I actually got this week’s edition done, even though I guess most folks were busy as I only have a few links:
This week’s Must Read is an oldie, but a goodie. And by “oldie” I don’t mean two weeks ago in Internet time! This is an article from 1948 by filmmaker Lewis Jacobs that is considered the first substantial history of American avant-garde filmmaking called “Experimental Cinema in America.” It was published in the Hollywood Quarterly and is broken down into a couple chapters, exploring the typically little written about period of 1921-41, then gets into the post-war boom of Deren, Anger, etc., as well as a brief bit on Amos Vogel’s groundbreaking Cinema 16. Plus, lots of great pictures!Here’s some Dirty Pictures for you to look at. Plus, Cockfighter and...
This week’s Must Read is an oldie, but a goodie. And by “oldie” I don’t mean two weeks ago in Internet time! This is an article from 1948 by filmmaker Lewis Jacobs that is considered the first substantial history of American avant-garde filmmaking called “Experimental Cinema in America.” It was published in the Hollywood Quarterly and is broken down into a couple chapters, exploring the typically little written about period of 1921-41, then gets into the post-war boom of Deren, Anger, etc., as well as a brief bit on Amos Vogel’s groundbreaking Cinema 16. Plus, lots of great pictures!Here’s some Dirty Pictures for you to look at. Plus, Cockfighter and...
- 11/25/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This Week’s Absolute Must Read: Actually, this is This Week’s Only Read. For years now, I have been singing the praises of Portland, Oregon filmmaker Bob Moricz, but I’m not entirely convinced everyone’s been listening as closely as they should.
In addition to creating mind-shattering movies, Moricz has also developed into one helluva top-notch writer. But, because he makes movies, his writing has had an on-again/off-again flow of productivity. He recently re-launched his website as a blog and it is there you absolutely must read is poignant and spot-on article “Why I Love Experimental Film Screenings.”
I think Moricz perfectly captures the exact reason all of us who are into experimental films spend so much time with them. What makes the article extra special is that he doesn’t tear down other forms of media in order to bolster the case for watching experimental films,...
In addition to creating mind-shattering movies, Moricz has also developed into one helluva top-notch writer. But, because he makes movies, his writing has had an on-again/off-again flow of productivity. He recently re-launched his website as a blog and it is there you absolutely must read is poignant and spot-on article “Why I Love Experimental Film Screenings.”
I think Moricz perfectly captures the exact reason all of us who are into experimental films spend so much time with them. What makes the article extra special is that he doesn’t tear down other forms of media in order to bolster the case for watching experimental films,...
- 11/18/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This week’s Must Browse is the new Tumblr blog by the Anthology Film Archives, which you must bookmark, add to your feed reader, etc.! The site has, of course, notes about upcoming screenings, plus lots of great film stills posters, notes, anecdotes and more. (Wish they had a sidebar calendar of their screenings on the blog, tho’. Something to think about…)Donna k. jumps into the “death of cinema” fray and finds life! Albeit in a film about death: V/H/S.In all articles about comics made into films, all journalists must include this one dug up by the Temple of Schlock: Sex in the Comics!One+One Filmmakers Journal’s latest film primer is on Ralph Bakshi’s Heavy Traffic. Also, a couple of big updates re: the Journal.366 Weird Movies has a capsule o’ weirdness devoted to Hollis Frampton’s Zorns Lemma.As he promised, Jon Jost...
- 11/11/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
So, I was on vacation last week and ill this week, so our links are kinda spotty…
This week’s Must Read: Jaimz Asmundson goes into great detail on the making of his amazing film The Magus, which he made in collaboration with his father, artist C. Graham Asmundson. Even if you haven’t seen the film — and you can here — the making of article is a fantastic insight into artistic process and choices one must make as a filmmaker.Electric Sheep reports on the Trent Harris retrospective at the 20th annual Raindance Film Festival, describing how his films “all easily engage the audience.”Jon Jost continues to up the ante in his efforts to get Ray Carney to return the films of Mark Rappaport to the filmmaker, saying he’ll start an online petition if Carney doesn’t step up.Donna k., like us, has been under the weather,...
This week’s Must Read: Jaimz Asmundson goes into great detail on the making of his amazing film The Magus, which he made in collaboration with his father, artist C. Graham Asmundson. Even if you haven’t seen the film — and you can here — the making of article is a fantastic insight into artistic process and choices one must make as a filmmaker.Electric Sheep reports on the Trent Harris retrospective at the 20th annual Raindance Film Festival, describing how his films “all easily engage the audience.”Jon Jost continues to up the ante in his efforts to get Ray Carney to return the films of Mark Rappaport to the filmmaker, saying he’ll start an online petition if Carney doesn’t step up.Donna k., like us, has been under the weather,...
- 10/14/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Charlemagne is the latest twisted opus by reigning Portland, Or underground film champion Bob Moricz. The film is described simply as being about a horror host who “loses his shit,” which you can see him do multiple times in the above embedded trailer.
There also looks like a lot of other craziness going on, as one should expect from a Moricz film.
Charlemagne is directed, edited and shot by Moricz; and stars Jeremy Benjamin, Kim Bissett, Kelsey Rider, John Schreiner, Greg Hamilton, Ian Sundahl, Susan Cummings and Moricz himself.
There also looks like a lot of other craziness going on, as one should expect from a Moricz film.
Charlemagne is directed, edited and shot by Moricz; and stars Jeremy Benjamin, Kim Bissett, Kelsey Rider, John Schreiner, Greg Hamilton, Ian Sundahl, Susan Cummings and Moricz himself.
- 9/11/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Here’s the official trailer for the 8th annual Portland Underground Film Festival, which is curated and run by Portland filmmaker Bob Moricz for the first time this year.
The trailer includes clips from films showing at the fest, such as Damon Packard’s amazing SpaceDisco One and Bob Moricz’s controversial Bumps.
For more on the fest, please check out it’s official lineup. It runs June 29 to July 1 at the Clinton Street Theater — and looks to be total effin’ blast!
Promotional still from Bumps:...
The trailer includes clips from films showing at the fest, such as Damon Packard’s amazing SpaceDisco One and Bob Moricz’s controversial Bumps.
For more on the fest, please check out it’s official lineup. It runs June 29 to July 1 at the Clinton Street Theater — and looks to be total effin’ blast!
Promotional still from Bumps:...
- 6/29/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 8th annual Portland Underground Film Festival is back with a vengeance and under new management! Superstar Portland filmmaker Bob Moricz has assumed total control of Puff and promises to keep the fest’s traditional raucous spirit, but covered with a more artful sheen. The shenanigans will once again take place at Puff’s beloved home, the Clinton Street Theater.
Things kick off on June 29 with a live Skype appearance by none other than sex guru Annie Sprinkle as part of the “Ecosex Symposium,” a frank celebration of sex in the natural world. This will be followed with the traditional “Bike Smut” program of short films celebrating the power and the glory of the bicycle.
Then, on June 30, there will be a selection of short films by some of the most notorious names in underground film today, including Carey Burtt, Neil Ira Needleman, Greg Hanson and Jim Haverkamp, plus filmmakers Jenn Keyser,...
Things kick off on June 29 with a live Skype appearance by none other than sex guru Annie Sprinkle as part of the “Ecosex Symposium,” a frank celebration of sex in the natural world. This will be followed with the traditional “Bike Smut” program of short films celebrating the power and the glory of the bicycle.
Then, on June 30, there will be a selection of short films by some of the most notorious names in underground film today, including Carey Burtt, Neil Ira Needleman, Greg Hanson and Jim Haverkamp, plus filmmakers Jenn Keyser,...
- 6/28/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This Week’s Absolute Must Read is Clint Enns’ extremely helpful guide for filmmakers submitting to film festivals, including tips on figuring out the essentials to put into your information packet and how to figure out which festivals are good for your film. Clint’s work screens in a ton of festivals, so the man knows what he’s talking about.This Week’s Absolute Must Listen is the Cinemad Podcast #7 in which journalist Mike Plante interviews two very fine fellows: Ed Halter and Thomas Beard of the Brooklyn-based microcinema, Light Industry. All three men discuss their experience curating for festivals and give tips on how to run a successful microcinema or screening series. If knowledge is power, this one is powerful enough to blow your head off.GreenCine Daily interviews Jonas Mekas about his recent film My Mars Bar Movie, which is running at the Anthology this weekend.Congrats...
- 4/15/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This week’s Must Read: Michael Varrati excellent profile of filmmaker, actor and all-around B-movie icon Paul Bartel. Not only is the article a terrific overview of Bartel’s amazing career, but the personal angle Varrati uncharacteristically tosses in is very moving.What do Abel Ferrara and John Carpenter have in common? Um, well, the Phantom of Pulp has some not nice words for them, of which he’s completely correct. Plus, a rave review of the little seen film Boy Wonder.I already urged people to do this on Facebook, but now I’m urging you all over again: Please encourage Mark Toscano to write more about the projects he’s preserving at the motion picture academy. These are articles we need to read!I have never heard of the horror movie Burning Moon (1997) and no matter how much Rick Trembles claims its awful in his latest Snubdom, he...
- 3/25/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Lausanne Underground Film Festival
The Lausanne Underground Film Festival is an epic 5-day event in Switzerland of the most outrageous movies from all over the world. The 11th annual edition will run on Oct. 17-21 at the Swiss Film Archives and will feature tons of new films, as well as retrospectives of legendary underground filmmakers. Submitting a film, as per Luff tradition, is free.
Luff typically screens a cross-section of over-the-top gross-out flicks, trippy cult movies, experimental narratives, documentaries on fringe subjects, short experimental films and a ton more.
Last year, they screened films such as the unbelievably outrageous The Taint by Drew Bolduc and Dan Nelson, Calvin Lee Reeder’s experimental The Oregonian, Adam Rehmeier‘s fantastically brutal The Bunny Game, Marie Losier’s acclaimed portrait The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye and Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film’s 2011 Movie of the Year Profane by Usama Alshaibi,...
The Lausanne Underground Film Festival is an epic 5-day event in Switzerland of the most outrageous movies from all over the world. The 11th annual edition will run on Oct. 17-21 at the Swiss Film Archives and will feature tons of new films, as well as retrospectives of legendary underground filmmakers. Submitting a film, as per Luff tradition, is free.
Luff typically screens a cross-section of over-the-top gross-out flicks, trippy cult movies, experimental narratives, documentaries on fringe subjects, short experimental films and a ton more.
Last year, they screened films such as the unbelievably outrageous The Taint by Drew Bolduc and Dan Nelson, Calvin Lee Reeder’s experimental The Oregonian, Adam Rehmeier‘s fantastically brutal The Bunny Game, Marie Losier’s acclaimed portrait The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye and Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film’s 2011 Movie of the Year Profane by Usama Alshaibi,...
- 3/24/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This Week’s Must Read: The guys at Stag Films have been maintaining a blog about their “green filmmaking” philosophy and, more importantly, about their latest upcoming epic, President Wolfman. Some great articles on their working process that you need to check out.The Glen Park Association has a gallery report and pictures from a new show of the late Bruce Conner’s work at the at the Gallery Paule Anglim. The show is made up of photographs that Conner took about the San Francisco punk scene.Cineflyer gives props to Winnipeg animator Leslie Supnet, whose praises need to be sung about more frequently all over the ‘net.Landscape Suicide points out a few highlights of Newcastle’s Av Festival, including work by Bela Tarr and James Benning.Luke Black posts some highlights from this year’s $100 Film Festival that was just held in Calgary. He’s got a bunch...
- 3/18/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Yes, the Oscars are being held tonite and despite Bad Lit’s predilection towards underground film, we will be watching, red carpet and all. But, if you want to kill time during the commercials, then consider clicking on some extra links below and boning up on non-Oscar film.
This week’s Absolute Must Read is J. J. Murphy’s Best Indie Films of 2011 list and commentary. In general, I rarely read movie reviews, but I find Murphy’s reviews to always be so insightful, educational and entertaining, that I savor every word of them — and you should, too! I’m also 100% with him when he discusses the issues of writing about over-looked and under-appreciated movies. It can be absolutely heartbreaking work, but we do it because we love it. And the other thing about Murphy’s reviews is that they always make me want to run right out and see...
This week’s Absolute Must Read is J. J. Murphy’s Best Indie Films of 2011 list and commentary. In general, I rarely read movie reviews, but I find Murphy’s reviews to always be so insightful, educational and entertaining, that I savor every word of them — and you should, too! I’m also 100% with him when he discusses the issues of writing about over-looked and under-appreciated movies. It can be absolutely heartbreaking work, but we do it because we love it. And the other thing about Murphy’s reviews is that they always make me want to run right out and see...
- 2/26/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Electric Sheep has an excellent profile of experimental filmmaker Barbara Hammer, who is having a major retrospective of her work at the Tate Modern this month.For artforum, Ed Halter writes a touching obituary of George Kuchar, and reminds us of how neglected he and his brother were from the critical space early in their careers.In a strange twist of events, underground filmmaker Jon Moritsugu is up for a Grammy Award next week with his wife Amy Davis, who perform in the band Low on High together. Except, their Grammy is for directing a music video for the band TV on the Radio.The Caulfield Glen Eira Leader profiles local filmmaker Donna McRae, who won the Best Editing Award at the 2011 Minneapolis Underground Film Festival for her debut horror feature film Johnny Ghost. It’s always nice to get a little local love.Cineflyer profiles its own local filmmaker Scott Fitzpatrick,...
- 2/5/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
New feature that I tried out last week and which I plan on continuing into the future: Check Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film’s Facebook page tomorrow (Monday) to see which link got the most clicks.
The L.A. Times published an in-depth profile of filmmaker Nicholas McCarthy about his struggles in trying to get a feature film going. A coda that happened post article publication: McCarthy’s The Pact just got picked up for distribution by IFC Midnight after a few successful Sundance screenings. I remember reviewing the short film version of The Pact about a year ago…Speaking of Sundance, if you want an awesome “boots on the ground” report on what attending the festival is actually like, you have to scroll through donna k.’s tons of film reviews and photo posts about her adventures there. I’ve avoided all other Sundance coverage except hers.
The L.A. Times published an in-depth profile of filmmaker Nicholas McCarthy about his struggles in trying to get a feature film going. A coda that happened post article publication: McCarthy’s The Pact just got picked up for distribution by IFC Midnight after a few successful Sundance screenings. I remember reviewing the short film version of The Pact about a year ago…Speaking of Sundance, if you want an awesome “boots on the ground” report on what attending the festival is actually like, you have to scroll through donna k.’s tons of film reviews and photo posts about her adventures there. I’ve avoided all other Sundance coverage except hers.
- 1/29/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This Week’s Absolute Must Read: Mark Toscano’s touching tribute to the recently deceased Robert Nelson. I posted this link up a few days ago in Nelson’s Bad Lit obit, but I know from my stats that not many of you clicked it. If you haven’t read this yet, you must do so. Nelson is one of the under-appreciated greats of the ’60s underground and his work may have been lost forever if not for Toscano. This is important. Go read. And learn.Also on Nelson, Making Light of It has scanned in and posted Scott MacDonald’s interview with the filmmaker for his Critical Cinema series.And, while you’re at it, go check out Canyon Cinema’s Robert Nelson offerings and read up on his work.And in “classic” underground filmmaker news, Experimental Cinema has the scoop on Criterion putting out a Hollis Frampton DVD and Blu-ray.
- 1/15/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
New On DVDMaximum Shame
Movies don’t get much cultier than Carlos Atanes‘ post-apocalyptic S&M musical. Filmed in a dirty warehouse filling in for the edge of the universe just as said universe is about to fall into a massive black hole, Maximum Shame plays out like an oblique chess match with a demented black leather clad Queen (the phenomenal Marina Gatell) forcing the other players to sit in barbed wire cardboard boxes and shovel pounds of spaghetti into their mouths. Atanes, already Spain’s underground master, really pulls out the stops on this happy mess of madness.
Buy on Amazon!
The Films of Bob Moricz
If you’re looking to give a special someone something absolutely out of this world and one-of-a-kind, then you can’t go wrong with a Bob Moricz hand-produced “Bobbywood” production or two. Or go for a full 6-pack of reality-warping DVDs! Whether it...
Movies don’t get much cultier than Carlos Atanes‘ post-apocalyptic S&M musical. Filmed in a dirty warehouse filling in for the edge of the universe just as said universe is about to fall into a massive black hole, Maximum Shame plays out like an oblique chess match with a demented black leather clad Queen (the phenomenal Marina Gatell) forcing the other players to sit in barbed wire cardboard boxes and shovel pounds of spaghetti into their mouths. Atanes, already Spain’s underground master, really pulls out the stops on this happy mess of madness.
Buy on Amazon!
The Films of Bob Moricz
If you’re looking to give a special someone something absolutely out of this world and one-of-a-kind, then you can’t go wrong with a Bob Moricz hand-produced “Bobbywood” production or two. Or go for a full 6-pack of reality-warping DVDs! Whether it...
- 12/15/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
For anybody who’s been checking in periodically: All links are up to date.
Two of Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film’s favorite people — John Waters and Ed Halter — contribute their 2011 Best of film lists to Artforum. Waters picks mostly films that, I believe, would show up on many people’s best of lists, such as The Tree of Life, Uncle Boonmee and the TV movie/miniseries Mildred Pierce. Meanwhile, Halter has a list of experimental film reg’lars, such as Luther Price, Kevin Jerome Everson, Jerome Hiler and more.The fourth annual Minneapolis Underground Film Festival is wrapping up today and the Minnesota Daily conducted a nice interview with its founder, Greg Yolen, to mark the occasion.At Crikey, Luke Buckmaster weighs in on the Human Centipede II banning in Australia. Remember, whenever a government bans a movie, an angel cries.Jessica Oreck continues to list her favorite documentaries.
Two of Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film’s favorite people — John Waters and Ed Halter — contribute their 2011 Best of film lists to Artforum. Waters picks mostly films that, I believe, would show up on many people’s best of lists, such as The Tree of Life, Uncle Boonmee and the TV movie/miniseries Mildred Pierce. Meanwhile, Halter has a list of experimental film reg’lars, such as Luther Price, Kevin Jerome Everson, Jerome Hiler and more.The fourth annual Minneapolis Underground Film Festival is wrapping up today and the Minnesota Daily conducted a nice interview with its founder, Greg Yolen, to mark the occasion.At Crikey, Luke Buckmaster weighs in on the Human Centipede II banning in Australia. Remember, whenever a government bans a movie, an angel cries.Jessica Oreck continues to list her favorite documentaries.
- 12/4/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Bright Lights Film Journal editor Gary Morris introduces #74: "This issue opens with Jd Markel's enchanting exegesis of Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-Lucky, but as in Jd's previous contribution, expands into a much wider cultural critique…. In the Movies section, one of our new writers — come on down, Graham Daseler! — appears with two delightful entries, one on My Dinner with André, the other on the life and career of John Huston. Bl regular David Pike authoritatively analyzes Denis Villeneuve's disturbing feature Incendies, while Bl newbie Barry Stephenson offers a thoughtful study of ritual in Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited. First-time contributors William Anselmi and Sheena Wilson shine light on the dark side of cinema technologies in a daring piece on Inception. And two recent returnees to these cyberpages, Mark Chapman and Alex Kirschenbaum, stylishly weigh in on, respectively, the 'aesthetic of disavowal' of Haneke's La Pianiste and Scorsese's The Color of Money...
- 11/14/2011
- MUBI
The Art Voice newspaper in Buffalo, NY reviewed Chris Hansen’s film Endings, which is currently playing at an interesting screening space/restaurant called Screens. Here’s the poster quote to pull: ” [Endings] ends up going somewhere you don’t quite expect.” Nice to see local papers reviewing truly indie movies, which typically get ignored.Speaking of which: The Denver Westword paper interviews documentary filmmaker Larry Wessel regarding the screening of his doc Iconoclast at the Denver Underground Film Festival tonight. The interview will warm your heart, especially when Wessel calls his doc subject, Boyd Rice, a “lonely, cold-hearted, pretentious, hypocritical sociopath.”Bright Lights Film Journal has a lengthy expose on the work of Bob Moricz, whose work we’re continually praising ourselves here on Bad Lit.If you live or want to move to Houston, TX, the Aurora Picture Show is hiring part-time Media Arts Educators.Save the Evans City Cemetary Chapel!
- 11/13/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Short batch this week, but these are all terrific links. First, we have two more moving remembrances of the amazing George Kuchar:
First, Kuchar protege Bob Moricz wrote a long tribute for Bright Lights Film Journal on how George inspired him directly, how a nicely written fan letter turned into a terrific friendship. And you absolutely don’t want to miss the tube sock story, a tale I never tire of hearing.Second, Lenny Lipton has a very different kind of George Kuchar story, of a relationship that unfortunately soured following a rough incident. This is the only story of this kind that I’ve ever heard about George and one I wish had worked out differently.In other links: Jessica Oreck has some really nice screengrabs from Frederick Wiseman’s Zoo. Plus, even prettier Lapland landscapes.Speaking of screen captures: Chris Hansen has a few of his lovely...
First, Kuchar protege Bob Moricz wrote a long tribute for Bright Lights Film Journal on how George inspired him directly, how a nicely written fan letter turned into a terrific friendship. And you absolutely don’t want to miss the tube sock story, a tale I never tire of hearing.Second, Lenny Lipton has a very different kind of George Kuchar story, of a relationship that unfortunately soured following a rough incident. This is the only story of this kind that I’ve ever heard about George and one I wish had worked out differently.In other links: Jessica Oreck has some really nice screengrabs from Frederick Wiseman’s Zoo. Plus, even prettier Lapland landscapes.Speaking of screen captures: Chris Hansen has a few of his lovely...
- 9/18/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Although there has been no official word yet, news has erupted on social media today that underground filmmaking legend George Kuchar passed away last night. He was 69 years old and just celebrated his last birthday on August 31.
Those who were closest to the filmmaker knew that he was very ill with cancer and, from what Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film can gather, had a difficult summer.
Without argument, George Kuchar is one of the — if not the most — influential, inspiring and beloved figures in underground history. He and his twin brother, Mike, began making films while still teenagers living in their Bronx neighborhood in the early 1950s with films such as The Wet Destruction of the Atlantic Empire (1954).
While their style of making campy homages to classic Hollywood movies was very different than most other avant-garde cinema at the time,...
Those who were closest to the filmmaker knew that he was very ill with cancer and, from what Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film can gather, had a difficult summer.
Without argument, George Kuchar is one of the — if not the most — influential, inspiring and beloved figures in underground history. He and his twin brother, Mike, began making films while still teenagers living in their Bronx neighborhood in the early 1950s with films such as The Wet Destruction of the Atlantic Empire (1954).
While their style of making campy homages to classic Hollywood movies was very different than most other avant-garde cinema at the time,...
- 9/7/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This week’s Must Read: Photographic portraits of the filmmaker as a young man: The early creative life of Nathaniel Dorsky. Pictures, yes, plus lots of great autobio info.Underground film distributor Canyon Cinema is moving this weekend and Maia Cybelle has some Flickr photos of the move. A brief post-move mention on the Canyon blog says they have moved to Yosemite Place in San Francisco, CA.The Melbourne Underground Film Festival, which begins this week, has an official blog written by Jj DeCeglie. Although the fest is yet to start, DeCeglie is already busy interviewing founder Richard Wolstencroft and Jury Head Jimmy Jack; and has written other articles.Cinemad has a new podcast up, this time with comedian, actor and filmmaker Bobcat Goldthwait.Rick Trembles sends Final Destination 5 to Motion Picture Purgatory.The Arizona Underground Film Festival has a snazzy, newly redesigned website you need to check out.
- 8/14/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This is the full list of Underground Film Links for today:
Triple Canopy has compiled an interactive profile of Jason Holiday, the star of Shirley Clarke’s classic underground film Portrait of Jason. They have an excerpt from the film, a press blurb written by Allen Ginsburg, ad mats, behind-the-scenes reminiscences and more.Winnipeg animator Leslie Supnet, whom we love, has totally redesigned her personal filmmaker site into a WordPress blog. Go read it, look at her art, bookmark it and subscribe to its feed.Speaking of redesigns: I don’t know when this happened, but Experimental Cinema has a newer, sleeker look. Check it out if you haven’t seen the site in awhile.Mike Rollo has posted some lovely stills from his new film in progress, The Broken Altar.Camouflage Lenses wants you to sample the work of Cosmotropia de Xam, who makes short tributes to ’70s horror flicks.
Triple Canopy has compiled an interactive profile of Jason Holiday, the star of Shirley Clarke’s classic underground film Portrait of Jason. They have an excerpt from the film, a press blurb written by Allen Ginsburg, ad mats, behind-the-scenes reminiscences and more.Winnipeg animator Leslie Supnet, whom we love, has totally redesigned her personal filmmaker site into a WordPress blog. Go read it, look at her art, bookmark it and subscribe to its feed.Speaking of redesigns: I don’t know when this happened, but Experimental Cinema has a newer, sleeker look. Check it out if you haven’t seen the site in awhile.Mike Rollo has posted some lovely stills from his new film in progress, The Broken Altar.Camouflage Lenses wants you to sample the work of Cosmotropia de Xam, who makes short tributes to ’70s horror flicks.
- 8/7/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Kind of a short list this week. Not sure why that is, but what I can say is that there are some really great articles linked to below.
Underground figures invaded mainstream newspapers this week. First, the Alexandria Gazette Packet has a very lovely profile of the legendary Mink Stole.Then, the Vancouver son profiled bad boy pornographer and avant-garde troublemaker Bruce Labruce.Now you can download the amazing soundtrack to Jaimz Asmundson’s trippy short film The Magus.Mark Savage has tons of great photos from his latest naughty production, the awesomely titled Pond Scum, which looks very classic transgression-ish just from the pictures of star Renae Boult.I always really enjoy reading Bill Plympton’s reviews of classic animated films. They’re usually very brief, but direct and insightful. Most recently, he checked out and loathed The Great Mouse Detective.Jack Sargeant has a nice, short write-up of...
Underground figures invaded mainstream newspapers this week. First, the Alexandria Gazette Packet has a very lovely profile of the legendary Mink Stole.Then, the Vancouver son profiled bad boy pornographer and avant-garde troublemaker Bruce Labruce.Now you can download the amazing soundtrack to Jaimz Asmundson’s trippy short film The Magus.Mark Savage has tons of great photos from his latest naughty production, the awesomely titled Pond Scum, which looks very classic transgression-ish just from the pictures of star Renae Boult.I always really enjoy reading Bill Plympton’s reviews of classic animated films. They’re usually very brief, but direct and insightful. Most recently, he checked out and loathed The Great Mouse Detective.Jack Sargeant has a nice, short write-up of...
- 7/24/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This week’s Must Read: The Brooklyn Rail offers up a eulogy for Adolfas Mekas by gathering comments from the likes of P. Adams Sitney, Peggy Ahwesh, Ken Jacobs and other colleagues/contemporaries. Mekas passed away in May.The Guardian got a rare interview with Jean-Luc Godard who has declared that we are all auteurs now. Good.If you hadn’t heard, structural film pioneer Owen Land passed away last month, but news of his passing only came late last week. I think Lux has the best, most detailed obit for him. Although, the Office Baroque Gallery has a very passionate one — and I think initial word of Land’s death came from them.More Land: Making Light of It posts a scan of an interview with him conducted by P. Adams Sitney from Film Culture. (I actually happen to own two issues of Film Culture, one of which includes this great interview.
- 7/17/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Felony Flats is, for all intents and purposes, a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde story — except that the good doctor never appears on screen. Instead, he hides behind the camera in the form of director Bob Moricz. The Mr. Hyde is, of course, also Moricz himself, as the film’s main character, Todd, a hideous-looking, mentally-impaired man.
The early scenes of Felony Flats are reminiscent of the early scenes of David Lynch’s Eraserhead. Both films begin with a bizarre-looking character with hair piled way high on top of his head stumbling around a decrepit, ramshackle neighborhood. In Moricz’s case, this is the Portland, Oregon region nicknamed Felony Flats, which has a history that matches its name, but is in the process of being cleaned up.
Like Lynch’s Henry Spencer, Moricz’s Todd is the type of character who doesn’t do much, but becomes involved in various uncomfortable situations.
The early scenes of Felony Flats are reminiscent of the early scenes of David Lynch’s Eraserhead. Both films begin with a bizarre-looking character with hair piled way high on top of his head stumbling around a decrepit, ramshackle neighborhood. In Moricz’s case, this is the Portland, Oregon region nicknamed Felony Flats, which has a history that matches its name, but is in the process of being cleaned up.
Like Lynch’s Henry Spencer, Moricz’s Todd is the type of character who doesn’t do much, but becomes involved in various uncomfortable situations.
- 7/13/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Happy almost Independence Day! Hope everybody is having a great holiday weekend. This first link should put you in the mood. Or not.
This is a little different than my typical Must Reads, but I thoroughly enjoyed Jack Sargeant reprinting his history and analysis of the ’80s “death film” genre, most famously epitomized by the film Faces of Death. I’ve never seen any of these films — nor do I want to — but Jack’s conclusion is fabulous.Filmmaker Waylon Bacon has written a fantastic overview of the Berkeley film scene for CineSource Magazine.Fangoria interviews director Rona Mark on the eve of her awesome Strange Girls finally getting a DVD release. Finally!GorePress.com has a really nice interview with Paul Campion about his first feature film, The Devil’s Rock.IndieWIRE interviews Mike Plante about his new Cinemad distribution venture, who, strangely enough, isn’t in it for the money.
This is a little different than my typical Must Reads, but I thoroughly enjoyed Jack Sargeant reprinting his history and analysis of the ’80s “death film” genre, most famously epitomized by the film Faces of Death. I’ve never seen any of these films — nor do I want to — but Jack’s conclusion is fabulous.Filmmaker Waylon Bacon has written a fantastic overview of the Berkeley film scene for CineSource Magazine.Fangoria interviews director Rona Mark on the eve of her awesome Strange Girls finally getting a DVD release. Finally!GorePress.com has a really nice interview with Paul Campion about his first feature film, The Devil’s Rock.IndieWIRE interviews Mike Plante about his new Cinemad distribution venture, who, strangely enough, isn’t in it for the money.
- 7/3/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Senses of Cinema editor Rolando Caputo introduces the new issue: "For some time now, Senses has wanted to publish an English language translation of Jean-Baptiste Thoret's seminal article, 'The Seventies Reloaded: (What does the cinema think about when it dreams of Baudrillard?),' first published in French in 2005. So, it has been some wait, but finally we've got our wish thanks to a translation by Daniel Fairfax that does full justice to the original. Thoret is both one of the most esteemed scholars on Baudrillard's writings (a long-term Editor-in-Chief of Panic, a French journal closely associated with Baudrillardian thought), and a specialist of the American cinema of the post-classical Hollywood period (author of Le Cinéma américain des années 70, 2006). Both strands come together in sticking fashion in 'The Seventies Reloaded.'"
Among the other highlights of Issue 59: Jiwei Xiao on Jia Zhangke, Peter Tonguette on King Vidor, Graham Daseler on...
Among the other highlights of Issue 59: Jiwei Xiao on Jia Zhangke, Peter Tonguette on King Vidor, Graham Daseler on...
- 6/28/2011
- MUBI
Filmmaker Bob Moricz has reported that legendary underground film actor Bob Cowan has passed away. While Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film hasn’t completely confirmed the report, it appears that Cowan died on Tuesday, June 23, in his home in Toronto, Canada. He is survived by his wife Jane.
Cowan was a regular performer and collaborator with the filmmakers George and Mike Kuchar, and is most well-known as starring as the robot Xar in the classic film Sins of the Fleshapoids. (Pictured) But, more than just acting in the movie, Cowan also served as the film’s narrator and assembled its memorable music score.
In the ’60s and ’70s, Cowan was one of a few underground film acting “superstars,” along with performers such as Taylor Mead, Jack Smith, Gerard Malanga, Mario Montez and Donna Kerness.
Other Kuchar films Cowan appeared in were George’s Lust for Ecstasy and The...
Cowan was a regular performer and collaborator with the filmmakers George and Mike Kuchar, and is most well-known as starring as the robot Xar in the classic film Sins of the Fleshapoids. (Pictured) But, more than just acting in the movie, Cowan also served as the film’s narrator and assembled its memorable music score.
In the ’60s and ’70s, Cowan was one of a few underground film acting “superstars,” along with performers such as Taylor Mead, Jack Smith, Gerard Malanga, Mario Montez and Donna Kerness.
Other Kuchar films Cowan appeared in were George’s Lust for Ecstasy and The...
- 6/23/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This week’s Must Read: While I’m not familiar with the films of Winnipeg director Winston Moxam, he sadly passed away very young back in April. Cineflyer has a round-up of articles and reviews about Moxam’s last feature film, Billy, which just opened in the filmmaker’s hometown. Plus, Randall King of the Winnipeg Free Press gave the film a glowing review.Battle for Brooklyn opened in NYC this week, so the New York Times published a semi-positive review by Neil Genzlinger. On the one hand Neil had some good things to say and the paper made the film a Critics Pick for the week, but way too brief reviews of very powerful movies like this always make me sad.Australia’s Beat magazine profiled Richard Wolstencroft about his latest venture, the just ended genre film festival Bloodfest Fantastique.Filmmaker Nathan Wrann has started a new Tumblr blog...
- 6/19/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This week’s Absolute Must Read is a letter Hollis Frampton wrote to MoMA regarding a planned retrospective of his work in 1973. The hitch: The museum wanted Frampton to give them his films for free. Too bad he’s not still alive because we need more letters like this written, especially in today’s “free” internet culture. My favorite line: “I leave it to your surmise whether [Maya Deren's] life might have been prolonged by a few bucks.”In case you missed it on Bad Lit, Jonas Mekas reprinted the very informative and insightful comment he left here on his own website. Good stuff on the demise of his Movie Journal column.If you can name the three dudes and know where they’re sitting in this photograph, then you are a 100% underground film nerd. (And, yes, I canChris Hansen continues his production diary for his film An Affair. Day Three found...
- 6/12/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 7th annual Portland Underground Film Festival opens tonight, June 9, with the World Premiere of superstar local filmmaker Bob Moricz’s epic Felony Flats. The film begins at 8:30 at the Clinton St. Theater.
Moricz filmed Felony Flats in some of the more disreputable areas of Portland and he stars in it as a mentally unstable man let loose on the city streets. Much of the action was inspired by the director’s own experiences working in a mental health clinic.
Watch the trailer for the film below.
The Portland Underground Film Festival runs from tonight until June 12. The full lineup of movies screening can be found here.
Read More:2011 Portland Underground Film Festival: Official Lineup2010 Portland Underground Film Festival: Official Lineup2008 Portland Underground Film Festival: Official Lineup2007 Portland Underground Film Festival: Official Lineup...
Moricz filmed Felony Flats in some of the more disreputable areas of Portland and he stars in it as a mentally unstable man let loose on the city streets. Much of the action was inspired by the director’s own experiences working in a mental health clinic.
Watch the trailer for the film below.
The Portland Underground Film Festival runs from tonight until June 12. The full lineup of movies screening can be found here.
Read More:2011 Portland Underground Film Festival: Official Lineup2010 Portland Underground Film Festival: Official Lineup2008 Portland Underground Film Festival: Official Lineup2007 Portland Underground Film Festival: Official Lineup...
- 6/9/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Now this is what I always want to see more of: Filmmaker Chris Hansen started chronicling the shoot for his latest feature film, An Affair. He has several posts up, so I recommend going to his June blog archives to read up on how it’s going. (The shoot’s still in it’s very early stages.) I know blogging after a day of shooting probably sucks, but I love reading production diaries.In case you missed the fascinating recent dust up between the media advocacy group Reel Grrls and Comcast, Flip the Media has a great article on it, including the positive outcome of the whole thing.Usama Alshaibi’s Profane screened at the Chicago Underground Film Festival the other day and Ben Sachs has a capsule review of it in the Chicago Reader, which focuses on the film’s more lurid aspects.Speaking of Cuff, the Chicago Sun-Times...
- 6/5/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 7th annual Portland Underground Film Festival is all set to terrorize and revile the entire Pacific Northwest with their lineup of seriously deranged feature films and shorts that will run for four nights on June 9-12.
The insanity begins Opening Night when Portland’s own most demented filmmaker, Bob Moricz, premieres his latest feature-length cinematic crime against nature, Felony Flats. Moricz stars in the film himself as a mentally ill man trying to find love and acceptance in Portland’s seediest neighborhood. Bad Lit has been hard pimpin’ Moricz’s work for years and we’re thrilled he’s been chosen to open this year’s Puff.
Other feature films include the Australian punk rock documentary 6 Foot Hick; the female revenge flick Cherry Bomb; the Portland-based drama The Gray Area; the heavy metal musical Mr. Bricks; and the film Puff says is the most gruesome movie they’ve ever...
The insanity begins Opening Night when Portland’s own most demented filmmaker, Bob Moricz, premieres his latest feature-length cinematic crime against nature, Felony Flats. Moricz stars in the film himself as a mentally ill man trying to find love and acceptance in Portland’s seediest neighborhood. Bad Lit has been hard pimpin’ Moricz’s work for years and we’re thrilled he’s been chosen to open this year’s Puff.
Other feature films include the Australian punk rock documentary 6 Foot Hick; the female revenge flick Cherry Bomb; the Portland-based drama The Gray Area; the heavy metal musical Mr. Bricks; and the film Puff says is the most gruesome movie they’ve ever...
- 5/30/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
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