Exploring Your Inner Demons

A programme compiled by Jack Stevenson. Viewed at Cinema Orion, 28 Feb 2009. 16mm
The programme note with comments.

EXPLORING YOUR INNER DEMONS: A SAMPLING OF AMERICAN UNDERGROUND CINEMA
Presented by Jack Stevenson
"American author and print collector Jack Stevenson has complied an entertaining and thought-provoking program that spans American Underground cinema from the Mid-60’s to the modern day and captures the essence of what personal (aka ‘underground’) filmmaking is all about."
In order of play:
BEHIND EVERY GOOD MAN - 1966, 9 min., by Nikolai Ursin. Home movie style docu-drama about a day in the life of a negro transvestite living in mid-60's Los Angeles. / AA: recovered by Jack from an unmarked cardboard box
HOLD ME WHILE I'M NAKED - 1966, 15 min., color, by George Kuchar. One of the best loved films of the 60s underground, a playful satire of motion picture making: the fantasy of Hollywood glamour collides with the reality of loneliness in the Bronx. /AA: colour ok in GK's most famous film, exploring his own feelings in a mode now familiar from webcams, the diarist format, 0 budget
THE CRAVEN SLUCK, 1967, 23 min. b/w, directed by Mike Kuchar. This film concerns itself with the sordid domestic routines of a typical Bronx married couple, Adel and her goofy salaryman husband, Brunswick, played by Bob. Adel - played with verve by Floraine Connors - seeks escape in the arms of a secret lover, Morton, played by George Kuchar. To complicate matters, Morton is married, to a rotund, pill-popping frump called Florence, played by Bob in a cheap wig. Yet all these complications of the flesh are suddenly rendered inconsequential by a squadron of attacking UFOs that vaporize the leading lady and bring the plot to an unexpected and gloriously implausible halt. The skillful use of music in the Hollywood tradition makes the story come alive. / AA: the fascination with glamour, living in the most unglamourous Bronx, the mixture of horror, melodrama, scifi, 0 budget
ROCKFLOW: 1968, 9 min. color, directed by Bob Cowan. This 9 minute film is constructed largely of footage Bob shot at The Electric Circus (in NYC) in connection with the opening of a boutique there at which the Chambers Brothers rock band played. Mod fashions are on display as folks pack the dance floor, including Donna Kerness (in trademark antenna headgear) and Hopeton Morris (their outfits designed by Hope). But what appears to be a straightforward if experimental fashion/dance/rock document changes mid-point into a psychedelic nightmare as eerie music creates an ominous mood, the images grow more hallucinatory and the editing more rapid-fire. Donna now reappears in a solitary setting in close-up, swinging giant earrings and staring at the camera as if she's casting a spell. The effect is sinister and trance-like as special effects bombard the screen. / AA: a fascinating psychedelic discovery, a fine example of rock music and dance film, a great sense of rhythm
LOVE IT / LEAVE IT: 1970, 15 min., color. This second film by Tom Palazzolo more fluidly weaves sound and image together to create an hallucinatory montage of urban America at the height of anti-war demonstrations. Equal parts totalitarian nightmare and candy-coated consumer fun fair, it is like most of his work: devoid of overt editorial comment and full of ambiguity – a searching to capture the spirit and times and people without imposing the filmmaker’s own political agenda. /AA: a nudist movie juxtaposing militarism and nudism, with a fine musique concrète score
SIAMESE TWIN PINHEADS - 1972, 4 min., b&w, Kurt McDowell and Mark Ellinger do their perverse ‘siamese twin pinhead’ act.The two would stand at the center of San Francisco’s rebellious underground film scene of the 70’s. / AA: the makers of Thundercrack! in an offensive short film of two masturbating imbecile twin pinheads, compared by Jack with Lars von Trier's Idiots
ASTHMA – 1995, 2 min., by Martha Colburn / an early collage film on the subject of smoking. One of her most straight-forward films, it hints at the more frenetic style she would later adopt. / AA: belongs to the music video phenomenon, wonderful, broken, rapid cutting, rhythm, dots, patterns, signs, interesting music by Smoking Jaunties
SPIDERS IN LOVE – 2000, 2.5 minutes, by Martha Colburn / A gloriously chaotic take on sex, spiders and various other hallucinations – handmade annimation and some found footage clips. / AA: belongs to the music video phenomenon, "an arachnorgasmic musical", rapid cutting, penis obsession, death imagery
END

Joensuu 1685: Crystal Light

A music video. Finland 2009. PC: Bare Bone Business. P: Asko Keränen. D+ED: Mika Taanila. DP: Mika Taanila (16mm, 8mm), Leo Taanila (8mm), Martti Jämsä (8mm). FEAT: Mikko Joensuu, Markus Joensuu, Risto Joensuu. 7'30". - The strong flicker can cause headache, malaise, or migraine. - The music video was first screened in Cinema Orion, Saturday 14 Feb 2009, but I missed it as I was in Berlin. - Viewed at home on dvd 21 Feb 2009. - A flicker video. Big water. Waterfalls. Blue. Ultra rapid cutting. Acceleration. Performance footage: hard rhythmic electric metal sound, first instrumental, then with vocals. Time lapse. Negative. Leader. Holes on film. Red colour. Yellow colour. Extreme close-ups. Fire. Flowers. Back to the waterfalls, back to big water. - Pure elementary observations.

Antonionin lyhytelokuvia 2

Kortfilmer av Antonioni 2 / Antonioni Shorts 2. IT 1978-1997. Tapes and prints from Cinecittà Holding. Viewed at Cinema Orion, Helsinki, 31 August 2008.
Ritorna a Lisca Bianca. IT 1983. PC: RAI Tre. D: Michelangelo Antonioni. DP: Carlo Di Palma. 8 min. Betacam, alas. - Revisiting the location of L'avventura.
Gianni Moretti: Fotoromanza. IT 1984. P: Maurizio La Pira. D+SC: Michelangelo Antonioni. DP: Luciano Tovoli (video). 6 min. Betacam. - A music video to Gianni Moretti's pop song "Fotoromanza", a typical music video of its era. The artist in the room watching a monitor. Numbers flying from the telephone. Smoke emerging from behind the door. Slow motion. Solarization. Manhattan skyline and gangster cliches. Boxing motifs. Clumsy superimpositions. The music video now looks like a parody of the early MTV era, and the audience could not help but laugh.
Kumbha Mela. IT 1989. P: Enrica Antonioni. D: Michelangelo Antonioni. DP: Carlo Di Palma. 18 min. Betacam, alas. - A devout vision of the Hindi purification rites in the holy water of the river Ganges, beautifully shot, with haunting Indian music.
Roma '90. IT 1990. PC: Recta Film / Istituto Luce et Ministerio del Turismo e dello Spettacolo. D: Michelangelo Antonioni. DP: Fiorenza Muller. M: baroque classics such as Vivaldi. 10'. - A wonderful view of the beauty of the buildings, statues and paintings of Rome, focusing finally on the Cappella Sistina, Michelangelo meeting Michelangelo, final image: God's hand gives spirit to Man. In gorgeous colour in analogue 35mm.
Noto, Mandorli, Vulcano, Stromboli, Carnevale. IT 1992. D: Michelangelo Antonioni. DP: Felice de Maria. 11 min. A cluster of five short films from the Sicilian area and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Visions of volcanic power and a Sicilian carneval. Splendidly beautiful in a brilliant 35mm print.
Sicilia. IT 1997. PC: Arancia Cinema. D: Michelangelo Antonioni. DP: Maurizio Dell'Orco. 12 min. Volcano, ruins, clouds, fountain, market, woman on the beach. Delicious views in a gorgeous 35mm print.
Antonioni vista da Antonioni. IT 1978. PC: Unità Procuttiva CCS. D+interviewer: Lino Miccichè. DP: Luciano Tovoli. Interviewee: Michelangelo Antonioni. 26 min. Betacam, very bad visual quality with horizontal lines, sound unnatural. - Antonioni in good form in this interview that starts from Gente del Po. His early interest in the private and the social. The Italian episode of I vinti destroyed by censorship (Neofascism as a subject not allowed). The theme of the falsification of images. I have always had to fight to make my films, some have been huge commercial flops. When I started, melodramas such as Catene were popular. I made unfeeling melodramas. The market tried to isolate Antonioni. Le amiche: the outlook on life very different from Pavese. I focus on female characters because women are a more subtle filter of reality. The psychological stress in the working class because of the lack of money.

Eurodisc Playlist For 12.41.03

100682 / G / US etc. / 1998 / various / / music video
Eurodisc Playlist For 12.41.03 / Musiikkikooste 12-41-03. Compiled by Pioneer Video Manufacturing. DIST: Ulkokaupat Oy. Laserdisc projection in Helsinki, VET, Friday 3 April 1998.
Backstreet Boys: All I Have To Give **
Wes: Alane ***
Metallica: Unforgiven II ***
Imani Coppola: Legend Of A Cowgirl ***
Robyn: Show Me Love **
Solid Harmonie: I’ll Be There For You ***
Huff & Herb: Feeling Good **
Shania Twain: You’re Still The One ***
Enya: Only If **
Aaron Carter: Crazy Little Party Girl **

German Natdisc Playlist For 19.81.03

100683 / G / DE etc. / 1998 / various / / music video
German Natdisc Playlist For 19.81.03 / Musiikkikooste 19-81-03. Compiled by Pioneer Video Manufacturing. DIST: Ulkokaupat Oy. Laserdisc projection in Helsinki, VET, Friday 3 April 1998.
Nana: Too Much Heaven **
Epsen Lind: When Susannah Cries **
Groove Gangsters: Funky Beats ***
Gil: Round ‘N’ Round (It Goes) **
Spektacoolär: Du bist abgehau’n **
Sweetbox: Everything’s Gonna Be Alright **
Tic Tac Toe: Bitte küss’ mich nicht
X-Perience: Game Of Love **
Lisa Loeb: I Do **
Largo: Tango Passion **

Eurodisc Playlist for 11.40.02

100637 / G / US etc. / 1998 / various / / music video
Eurodisc Playlist for 11.40.02 / Musiikkikooste 11-40-02. Compiled by Pioneer Video Manufacturing. DIST: Ulkokaupat Oy. Laserdisc. Projected at VET, Helsinki, Wednesday 4 March 1998.
Aqua: Doctor Jones ***
Peter Andre: All Night, All Right **
Various: Perfect Day ***
All Saints: Never Ever ***
Spice Girls: Too Much **
Oasis: All Around The World ***
Space: Avenging Angels **
M People: Fantasy Island **
Allure: All Cried Out **
Will Smith: Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It ***

German Natdisc Playlist for 18.05.02

100639 / G / DE etc. / 1998 / various / / music video
German Natdisc Playlist for 18.05.02 / Musiikkikooste 18-05-02. Compiled by Pioneer Video Manufacturing. DIST: Ulkokaupat Oy. Laserdisc. Projected at VET, Helsinki, Wednesday 4 March 1998.
C-Block: Eternal Grace **
Boyz, The: One Minute **
Westbam: Hard Times ***
5ive: Slam Dunk (Da Funk) **
Chris Rea: The Blue Café **
Missy Elliot: Sock It 2 Me **
Black Attack: It’s A Shame ***
Mr. President Featuring Münchner Freiheit: Where Do I Belong **
Down Low: Johnny B **
Star: We’re Only Human **

German Natdisc Playlist for 17.19.01

100589 / G / DE etc. / 1998 / various / / music video
German Natdisc Playlist for 17.19.01 / Musiikkikooste 17-19-01. Compiled by Pioneer Video Manufacturing. DIST: Ulkokaupat Oy. Laserdisc. Projected at VET, Helsinki, Thursday 5 February 1998.
R.O.O.S.: Instant Moments *
Basis: Wenn ich nur noch einen Tag…
‘N Sync: Together Again
La Bouche: You Won’t Forget Me *
Young Deenay: Walk On By **
Stefan Raab: Es war Sommer (…und bei uns Winter) *
Licensed To Soul: Reunited *
Der Wolf: Frau aus Seide *
Amanda Marshall: Dark Horse ***
Usher: You Make Me Wanna **

Eurodisc Playlist for 14.64.12

100536 / G / US etc. / 1997 / various / / music video
Eurodisc Playlist for 14.64.12 / Musiikkikooste 14-64-12. Compiled by Pioneer Video Manufacturing. DIST: Ulkokaupat Oy. Laserdisc. Projected at VET, Helsinki, Wednesday 7 January 1998.
Natalie Imbruglia: Torn ***
Brand New Heavies, The: You’ve Got A Friend **
Rolling Stones, The: Anyone Seen My Baby? ***
Puff Daddy: It’s All About The Benjamins ***
Sly & Robbie Featuring Simply Red: Night Nurse **
Depeche Mode: Useless **
Joe Cocker: N’oubliez jamais qui tu es **
Jimmy Ray: Are You Jimmy Ray? **
Smash Mouth: Walkin’ On The Sun **
Barbra Streisand & Celine Dion: Tell Him *

German Natdisc Playlist for 16.24.12

100535 / G / DE etc. / 1997 / various / / music video
German Natdisc Playlist for 16.24.12 / Musiikkikooste 16-24-12. Compiled by Pioneer Video Manufacturing. DIST: Ulkokaupat Oy. Laserdisc. Projected at VET, Helsinki, Wednesday 7 January 1998.
Cappuccino: Du fehlst mir *
Lutricia McNeal: Ain’t That Just The Way **
Nana: He’s Comin’ *
Rhapsody, The, Featuring Warren G. & Sissel: Prince Igor **
Eros Ramazzotti: Quanto amore sei **
Touché: I Want You Back… **
Future Breeze: How Much Can You Take ***
Savage Garden: To The Moon And Back **
Refugee Camp All Starts Featuring Pras: Avenues **
Trademark: I’ll Be The One **

Eurodisc Playlist for 10.40.01

100590 / G / US etc. / 1998 / various / / music video
Eurodisc Playlist for 10.40.01 / Musiikkikooste 10-40-01. Compiled by Pioneer Video Manufacturing. DIST: Ulkokaupat Oy. Laserdisc. Projected at VET, Helsinki, Thursday 5 February 1998.
Bryan Adams: Back To You **
U2: MOFO **
Janet Jackson: Together Again ***
Steven Houghton: Wind Beneath My Wings **
Boyz II Men: A Song For Mama **
Bobby Brown: Feelin’ Inside **
Shola Ama: Who’s Loving My Baby **
Louise: Let’s Go Round Again **
Genesis: Shipwrecked *
Steps: 5,6,7,8 *

Eurodisc Playlist for 13.40.11

100463 / G / US etc. / 1997 / various / / music video

Eurodisc Playlist for 13.40.11 / Musiikkikooste 13-40-11. Compiled by Pioneer Video Manufacturing. DIST: Ulkokaupat Oy. Laserdisc. Viewed on big screen at VET, Helsinki, Wednesday 26 November 1997.
Sash! Featuring La Trec: Stay **
Oasis: Stand By Me **
Backstreet Boys: As Long As You Love Me **
Spice Girls: Spice Up Your Life **
Aqua: Barbie Girl **
Janet Jackson / Q-Tip / Joni Mitchell: Got ‘Til It’s Gone **
N-Trance Featuring Rod Stewart: Do Ya Think I’m Sexy **
Dario G: Sunchyme ***
Lighthouse Family: Raincloud: ***
Eternal: Angel Of Mine **

German Natdisc Playlist for 15.90.11

100462 / G / DE etc. / 1997 / various / / music video

German Natdisc Playlist for 15.90.11 / Musiikkikooste 15-90-11. Compiled by Pioneer Video Manufacturing. DIST: Ulkokaupat Oy. Laserdisc. Viewed on big screen at VET, Helsinki, Wednesday 26 November 1997.
Da Hool: Meet Her At The Love Parade **
X-Perience: I Don’t Care **
Wyclef Jean: Guantanamera **
Tic Tac Toe: Ich wär’ so gern so blöd wie du **
Bootsy Collins Featuring MC Lyte: I’m Leavin’ U *
Mr. President: Take Me To The Limit *
Marusha: My Best Friend *
Cultured Pearls: Sugar Sugar Honey **
Blur: MOR **
Fleetwood Mac: Temporary One *

Eurodisc Playlist for 12.40.10

100441 / G / US etc. / 1997 / various / / music video

Eurodisc Playlist for 12.40.10 / Musiikkikooste 12-40-10. Compiled by Pioneer Video Manufacturing. DIST: Ulkokaupat Oy. Laserdisc. Viewed on big screen at VET, Helsinki, Thursday 6 November 1997.
Elton John: Something About the Way You Look Tonight *
Jon Bon Jovi: Queen of New Orleans *
Chumbawamba: Tubthumping ***
Boyz II Men: 4 Seasons Of Loneliness **
Mariah Carey: Honey *
All Saints: I Know Where It’s At ***
Genesis: Congo **
En Vogue: Too Gone, Too Long *
Jam & Spoon Featuring Plavka: Kaleidoscope Skies ***
Diana King: I Say A Little Prayer *

German Natdisc Playlist for 19.77.10

100440 / G / DE etc. / 1997 / various / / music video

German Natdisc Playlist for 19.77.10 / Musiikkikooste 19-77-10. Compiled by Pioneer Video Manufacturing. DIST: Ulkokaupat Oy. Laserdisc. Viewed on big screen at VET, Helsinki, Thursday 6 November 1997.
Down Low: Moonlight *
Bandits: Catch Me *
Blacknuss: Last Night A DJ Saved My Life *
Caught In The Act: Babe *
C-Block: Summertime *
Plastic Voice: Los niños del parque ***
Bell Book & Candle: Rescue Me **
Object One: Typewriter ***
‘N Sync: For The Girl Who Has Everything *
Bed & Breakfast: All I Wanna Do *

Eurodisc Playlist For 11.39.09

100430 / G / US etc. / 1997 / various / / music video

Eurodisc Playlist For 11.39.09 / Musiikkikooste 11-39-09. PC: Pioneer Video Manufacturing. DIST: Ulkokaupat. Laserdisc. Viewed on big screen projection in Helsinki, VET, Monday 27 October 1997.
Backstreet Boys: Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) **
Will Smith: Men In Black **
Boyzone: Picture Of You **
Hanson: Where’s The Love **
Bellini: Samba De Janeiro **
Texas: Black Eyed Boy **
U2: Last Night On Earth ***
R. Kelly: Gotham City **
The Verve: Bitter Sweet Symphony **
Mark Owen: I Am What I Am **

German Natdisc Playlist For 18.01.09

100429 / G / DE etc. / 1997 / various / / music video

German Natdisc Playlist For 18.01.09 / Musiikkikooste 18-01-09. PC: Pioneer Video Manufacturing. DIST: Ulkokaupat. Laserdisc. Viewed on big screen projection in Helsinki, VET, Monday 27 October 1997.
Dr. Motte & Westbam: Sunshine *
Tic Tac Toe: Mr Wichtig *
Rammstein: Du hast *
Garcia: Bamboleo *
Nena: Let It Rain *
DJ Sammy & Carisma: Prince Of Love *
Masterboy: La Ola Hand In Hand *
No Mercy: Kiss You All Over *
Strike: I Have Peace *
Age Of Love: The Age Of Love *

Eurodisc Playdisc for 10.39.08

100386 / G / US etc. 1997 / various / music video
Music Video Laserdisc - Eurodisc Playlist For 10.39.08 / Musiikkikooste 10-39-08. Laserdisc. DIST: Ulkokaupat Oy. Viewed at VET, Helsinki, on Thursday, 4 September 1997.

Puff Daddy & Faith Evans: I’ll Be Missing You **

Meredith Brooks: Bitch ***

Eternal Featuring Bebe Winans: I Wanna Be the Only One ***

The Wallflowers: One Headlight ***

The Brand New Heavies: You Are the Universe **

Az Yet: Hard To Say I’m Sorry **

Michael Jackson: History ***

Sheryl Crow: A Change Would Do You Good ***

En Vogue: Whatever ***

Shola Ama: You Might Need Somebody ***

German Natdisc Playlist for 17.15.08

100387 / G / US etc. 1997 / various / music video

Music Video Laserdisc - German Natdisc Playlist For 17.15.08 / Musiikkikooste 17-15-08. Laserdisc. DIST: Ulkokaupat Oy. Viewed at VET, Helsinki, on Thursday, 4 September 1997.

Members of Mayday: Sonic Empire ***

Nalin & Kane: Beachball ***

Chilli Featuring Carrapicho: Tic, Tic, Tac **

Black Attack: Bang Bang (2 Shots in the Head!) ***

DJ Bobo: It’s My Life **

Foxy Brown: I’ll Be **

Organized Noize: Set It Off **

Sweetbox: I’ll Die For You **

RMB: Break the Silence ***

Heath Hunter & The Pleasure Company: Walking On Clouds **