My pal T. J. creates a new movie Survey and I can't resist it! (I forgot the last one on my last post).
1.movies you've seen recently?
In Theaters: Well, of course I saw all the movies we have played recently at my festival Don't Knock The Rock. But to actually get out the door and drive to a theater, the most recent movie I saw was...okay it was porn, but it was rockabilly porn, and like how many times recently have you seen porn on the screen?
"(Young, Hot & Nasty) Teenage Cruisers" (1977), Rated X, written, directed & produced by Johnny Legend. This was a must see for us (me and my main squeeze) as we love Johnny Legend, and it was playing at our DKTR venue Cinefamily's Silent Movie Theater, and Legend was supposed to be there, but wasn't -- he was laid up with back trouble, so we got to hear from his little sister, painter Lynnie Legend (known her for years) who was a PG actress in the movie and porn star/free speech activist William Margold.
The soundtrack was produced and created by Rockin' Ronnie Weiser for Rollin' Rock Records, the label he ran out of his garage in the San Fernando Valley. For those who are unaware of this Jewish Italian rockabilly fanatic, Weiser came to America expecting everyone to look like Elvis Presely and Bettie Page, only to find everyone looking like Elvis Costello and Jimmy Page. He was depressed, and decided to re-create the American rock 'n' roll culture of his dreams. He not only recorded new rockabilly artists like Colin Winski , Billy Zoom, Jerry Sikorski,and The Blasters, he also sought out all the artists he admired and the American music biz had lomng since discarded: Ray Campi, Mac Curtis, Tony Conn, and even Gene Vincent himself and recorded new material and old classics with them, in his garage studio in Van Nuys. ( I actually shot some great footage of Rockin' Ronnie Weiser at his studio office in van Nuys for one of my student films at UCLA in the early 80s).
The music in the film is pretty much all of these guys (cept Vincent). And it provides a raucous back beat to all the outrageous, hialrious situations. Shot on location in the city of San Fernando and cruising scenes from Hollywood Blvd, and Van Nuys Blvd, it's a great time capsule of 70s LA, between orgies and orgasms.
Chances are you are never going to see this on the screen again, so you can check it out on DVD from www. legendhouse. net.
2.movies that always make you laugh no matter how many times you see them?
Blake Edwards "The Party". It may be politically incorrect but Edwards has always directed the best party scenes of anyone, and here we get a whole movie that's a giant farcical party scene with the great Peter Sellers and oh so lovely and tragic Claudine Longet. NO REMAKE Please! (Yes, it's in the works).
3.favorite vehicle for a comedy team?
"Bedazzled" for Peter Cook and Dudley Moore! Life was too short for these guys as a team in movies!
In the screwball comedy vein, "My Man Godfrey" for Carole Lombard and William Powell, and "The Awful Truth" for Irene Dunne and Cary Grant. Any Marx Brothers movie rules. And I happened to see on TCM some movie, really early one, 1930s, with Clayton, Jackson and (Jimmy) Durante which blew my mind -- they were insanely funny and weird and hip/cool. I had no idea...did you? Wish I knew the name of that movie! Also gotta say anything I have seen with Mabel Normand and Roscoe Arbuckle is just too good! (She directed some of em too!). And although I don't think they never got their own movie, any chance I get to see Stump and Stumpy, I'm happy! I find it harder with comic teams today, although did very much love "Talledega Nights".
4.favorite gary oldman performance?
Oh my god I love him SO MUCH as Lee Harvey Oswald in "JFK". Superb! There's one fresh moment, so genuine, where Lee is visiting Marina and his baby and little girl, (he's now no longer living with them) and the little girls are both sobbing, and he is half weary and half laughing, wailing, "what is wrong with this family?" It could well have been something that was accidental, but he made it so perfectly real and it added a whole new layer to this complex character.
5.coolest recent poster artwork you've seen?
Have to say I'm digging the Baghead poster -- and partly it's because my fella was the drummer in LA punk band The Bags in the late 70s, and before he joined they wore bags on their heads when they performed and they all had Bag monickers: Alice Bag, Pat Bag, and my bfriend Terry was Dadbag (cause he was a few years older and prone to giving fatherly advice).
SO Ladies and Gentlemen -- the Fabulous BAGS (sans 'head- bags'):
6.favorite richard widmark performance (rip)?
"Pick Up On South Street" and a brilliantly flawed western "Death of A Gunfighter", it's like a spaghetti western but made here in the US. Messed up, in a good way, and he's so good in it.
I love that in real life, despite all the bad guys he played, Widmark was an anti-gun activist!
7.favorite charlton heston performance (rip)?
Well, god so many! But tops for me is "Ruby Gentry"...no one else could have done that role. "El Cid" he's stunning - that film made a huge impression on me -- back when I was five years old! Can you imagine -- we saw everything as kids in ye olde 1960s -- even epic movies about -- medieval Spanish conquest. Also love Heston in "Major Dundee" and very cool in "Omega Man".
And get this -- in the early 70s, I also saw Heston in a performance of Macbeth with Vanessa Redgrave (as Lady Macbeth!) Now can I just say these two actors were hardly on the same side of the political fence. They both showed me plenty sharing the stage that way.
I met him once about 10 years ago. He was so devoted to his grandkids who went to the same school as my son, and always showed up to school events and plays and open houses. He was incredibly gracious when I gushed like a starry eyed fan over "Ruby Gentry".
8. favorite film about survival?
De Sica's "Two Women", with Sophia Loren, I mean, it's brutal to watch for me, but it's an amazing look at what it takes for a woman and her daughter to survive war.
9. in your opinion, most interesting male actor's faces? (not good looking, interesting)
Well to me these guys are all fabulous looking cause interesting IS good looking: John Ireland, Willem Dafoe, WARREN OATES! Lawrence Fishbourne. Klaus Kinski. Tony Leung Chiu Wai. Danny Trejo. David Thewlis. Wes Studi. Buster Keaton. Jospeh Cotton, Jack Pickford. Walter Houston. Lee Van Cleef. Royal Dano. Andrew Prine...so many...
10. favorite brian de palma movie?
Phantom Of The Paradise!
11. favorite bond villian?
Goldfinger! And later...Elektra King in "The World Is Not Enough"
12.favorite dracula performance?
Frank Langella in "Dracula" 1979.
13.favorite paul schrader film(as a director)?
I really loved "The Walker" last year which...incredibly didn't get out there really at all. Woody Harrelson is truly so wonderful in this movie. If you haven't seen it, Netflix it.
14. favorite "modern western" (takes place in the 20th or 21st century but has a certain western feel)?
No Country For Old Men, Tender Mercies, The Last Picture Show, Badlands, Paris, Texas,
15. favorite sidney lumet film?
I LOVE "The Group", it's kinda pretnetious and insanely long (it feels really long), but I am absorbed! Such good performances from ALL of those women, my god, Jessica Walter -- insane! Also really love "The Anderson Tapes", where I first saw Christopher Walken on screen as a young lad.
16.favorite painter biopic?
I'm pretty compelled to not stop watching "Pollack" anytime it comes across my TV screen.
It's a painful movie, but I can't resist it, even knowing what's coming!
17. favorite charlie chaplin film?
Oh I just love "Modern Times" to death!
18.favorite tom ripley film?
Wim Wenders "The American Friend"! Dennis Hopper killls it in this one as Ripley!
19.best quality natural unhammy acting you've seen in a cheesy "big monster" movie?
Jamie Bell keeps it real throughout the most preposterous events in "King Kong".
20.favorite (live) performance movie?
"The T.A.M. I. Show" by Steve Binder (1965). It was a concert at Santa Monica Civic in 1964, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, James Brown, Jan & Dean, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Chuck Berry, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Barbarians, Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas, Lesley Gore....insanely great movie. Binder was only 23 years old when he made this classic which many (including me) consider the best concert film ever made. Toni Basil choreographed the go go dancers which included actress Teri Gaar. Phil Spector conducted (and Jack Niezche arranged) the Wrecking Crew session players as the house band (which included Leon Russell and Glen Campbell). And Darlene Love and The Blossoms were the back up singers.
And some of the most vibrant performances you have ever seen. When you see Marvin Gaye, who considered himself a bad dancer, doing a simple hitch-hike move that is so seriously cool -- you will seriously wonder next time you see Usher on SNL or Jay Leno next why he has to try so hard. And Lesley Gore and Smokey had our audience at Holllywood Forever cemetery this year screaming. And of course James Brown forced Mick Jagger to grow up on stage before our very eyes, when he had to follow the Hardest Working Man In Showbiz 's mind-blowing performance.
And the most incredible accomplishment is that Binder captures the excitement of its young audience. If you weren't there -- The T.A.M.I.Show is the next best thing!
Don’t Knock The Rock Film And Music Festival ’08 program!
Current mood: adventurous
Category: fabulous Music
Don't Knock The Rock is happy to be partnered with Cinespia and Cinefamily in '08 and housed in two new homes this year!
Opening and closing nights will take place at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, and every Thursday night of July and August at The Silent Movie Theater, with some special Saturday Matinee Events!
Sunday June 29
OPENING NIGHT!
Cinespia and Don't Knock The Rock present the ENCORE screening of the great rock concert film classic, rarely seen "THE T.A.M.I. SHOW" (1964)by Steve Binder
In 1964 young Steve Binder was hired to film a concert at Santa Monica Civic which featured the biggest jukebox stars of the day, who have since become pop history legends: Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Jan & Dean, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Lesley Gore, Chuck Berry, garage rockers The Barbarians, The Rolling Stones, James Brown, and more. Go Go dancers Toni Basil and Teri Garr back up the acts! The energy of the performances and the audience Steve Binder captured has not been matched since. If you ever wished you had been there, this is the next best thing!
Plus extra bonus material never before screened, and other surprises!
When & Where:
June 29, gates at 7:30, film at 9pm Hollywood Forever Cemetery 6000 Santa Monica Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90038
SUNDAY AUGUST 31 CLOSING NIGHT FILM @ HOLLYWOOD FOREVER To be announced! Staytuned!
DKTR THURSDAY NIGHTS @ THE SILENT MOVIE THEATER 611 N. Fairfax Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036 323.655.2510
July 3rd - A Life In The Death of Joe Meek (L.A. premiere!) An incredible chronicle of the rise, fall and resurrection of Joe Meek, Britain's first independent pop record producer, whose pioneering DIY recording techniques and hit-making philosophy left an indelible stamp on the recording industry and gave us masterpieces like "Telstar", the most successful instrumental recording of all time. Despite his genius, Meek led a tormented life crammed with social hardships, psychological eccentricities and a gay lifestyle very much banned in 1960s England. The filmmakers spent five years interviewing over eighty of Meek's friends, followers, family, colleagues and critics, to form a fresh, frank perspective on this important, enigmatic and unjustly forgotten innovator. The film features on-screen appearances by Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand, Keith Strickland of the B-52's, Huw Bunford of Super Furry Animals, and members of Meek's vast stable of artists including John Leyton, Steve Howe (founding guitarist of Yes) and members of The Tornados, The Outlaws and The Honeycombs. Following the screening will be a Q&A with the filmmakers, and Iconoclast Boyd Rice will also be present on the decks, spinning tunes from the Joe Meek catalogue, as well as screening scopitones of Meek's artists. Preceeded by the trailer by Jeff McCarty's feature in progress, "Os Mutantes And The Garden Of Notes". Later in the evening Larry Wessel's trailer for "Iconoclast".
July 10th -You Think You Really Know Me: The Gary Wilson Story Championed by the likes of Beck and Matt Groening, and obsessed over by record collectors, Gary Wilson's album "You Think You Really Know Me" is one of the most unique, personal musical statements of the 1970s. Inspired by the seminal album's 2002 reissue, director Michael Wolk set out to learn more about its creator, only to find that Wilson had vanished shortly after its release, making for a story just as peculiar as the album itself. "You Think You Really Know Me: The Gary Wilson Story" is a look at the bittersweet life of a musician well ahead of his time and ripe for rediscovery. As a special treat, Gary Wilson will perform live on the Cinefamily stage after the screening. Preceded by the short film by D. Sticker "My Pal Foot Foot".
July 17th - Such Hawks, Such Hounds (L.A. premiere!) A heavy, heavy film exploring the music and musicians of the American hard rock underground from 1970 to 2007, emphasizing psychedelic and '70s proto-metal-derived styles such as doom metal, stoner rock, desert rock and space rock, which have in recent years all formed a rich tapestry of ear-splitting sounds. The film charts the evolution of these styles, while serving as a character study of the musicians themselves: artists on the fringes of both straight society and hip indie circles. We see how these musicians work and live, and how they sustain careers outside the rock mainstream. Bands featured include Pentagram, Black Sabbath, Dead Meadow, Earthless, Fu Manchu, Sleep, Comets on Fire, Kyuss and Nebula. DJ Tony "Tee Pee" Presedo will be presiding over the decks before and after the show, and following the screening will be a Q&A with filmmakers John Srebalus and Jessica Hundley, and a live performance by San Diego psych band Earthless.
Rounding out the evening is "Wasted Orient", a profile of Chinese band Joyside (also in "Beijing Bubbles.") Obsessed with Johnny Thunders and American punk, the film follows the band spreading their beer-soaked message across an unprepared Chinese countryside. Filmmaker Q&As will follow the screenings of "Beijing Bubbles" and "Rock 'N Tokyo."
July 31st - This Is The Life (L.A. premiere!) + Return Of The Rub-A-Dub Style (World premiere!) "This Is The Life" tells the little-known story of a group of teens who, starting in 1989, regularly met at the South Central L.A. health food store The Good Life and revolutionized hip-hop by innovating rhyme patterns, melodic concepts and lyrical styles used by many of today's biggest rap stars. Directed by former Good Life emcee Ava DuVernay, the film features interviews and performances from members of Freestyle Fellowship, Jurassic 5 and more. Also showing is "Return of the Rub-A-Dub Style", which charts the dual history of reggae soundsystem culture in Jamaica and its renewal at L.A.'s weekly Dub Club, held in Echo Park, where hardcore Jamaican micsmiths known as "deejays" come from around the world to "chat on the mic" with their lyrics of consciousness. Featured artists include Brigadier Jerry, Ranking Joe, Sister Nancy and U-Roy. Filmmaker Q&As will follow the evening's screenings, plus an after-hours party hosted by the Dub Club.
August 7th - Regional Punk Double Bill - You Weren't There: A History of Chicago Punk + DFW Punk (L.A. premieres!) This double feature celebrates two cities with overlooked vibrant punk scenes during the same early era. "You Weren't There," is a gritty, exhilarating look back on the impact punk had on the Windy City. From what is now considered to be the first punk club in America (La Mere Vipere) to other proto-hardcore clubs and DIY venues, Chicagoans made sure that there were outlets for the genre that was often blacklisted by the mainstream rock scene. Featuring archival footage of Naked Raygun, Big Black and more. Next, we leave Chicago behind for "DFW Punk", covering the Dallas/Ft. Worth punk/new wave scene. If you thought Texas in the late '70s was all about urban cowboys, country tunes and bible-thumping, get ready to be proved dead wrong. Filmmaker Q&As follow the screenings, and DJ Terry "Dadbag" Graham (Gun Club, The Bags) will be on-hand to spin tunes during the breaks.
August 14th - If It Ain't Stiff (U.S. premiere!) By the mid '70s, rock had disappeared up its own corporate "arse". Thank goodness for Stiff Records, a ramshackle indie label formed by two penniless visionaries that took music out of the boardroom and gave it back to the fans. Stiff invented the new wave with Nick Lowe, put punk on vinyl with the Damned, gave the world Elvis Costello and Ian Dury, and dominated the charts in the '80s with Madness. In its own words, "If it ain't Stiff, it ain't worth a fuck." The film features appearances from all the acts mentioned above, plus Shane MacGowan, Wreckless Eric, Larry Wallis, Devo Tracey Ullman, and label bosses Dave Robinson and Jake Riviera. Filmmaker Ben Whalley will be present for a post-screening Q&A, Stiff founder Dave Robinson will bring along videos he directed for the label, DJ Wreckless Ian Marshall will spin the Stiff catalogue, and be sure to stick around for our live Stiff tribute concert with very special guests later in the evening. Preceded by the short film by Carol Chiodini "Action Woman".
August 21st - Music Nerd Double Bill: Under The Covers + Let Me Be Your Band (L.A. premieres!) Seen through the eyes of world-famous rock photographer Henry Diltz and three- time Grammy-nominated art director/artist Gary Burden, "Under The Covers" takes us through the classic rock era of the late 60s and early 70s via the iconic album covers these two friends designed together. Bill Day's charming film contains candid conversations with Ray Manzerek of The Doors, David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, and footage of Joni Mitchell, America, The Eagles, and many more. A Q&A with Bill Day and Henry Diltz will follow! And then it's time for "Let Me Be Your Band," a joyous ode to the tradition of the one-man band. It's a heart-pumping trek leading to the rockabilly sounds of Hasil Adkins, the punk-infused Delta Blues skronk of Bob Log III, Eric Royer's self-built five-piece bluegrass band, the haunting tones of the Lonesome Organist, Washboard Hank performing on his kitchen-sink tuba, and more. After the screening, filmmaker Derek Emerson will conduct a Q&A session.
August 28th - Far Off Town: Dunedin to Nashville (L.A. premiere!) Founding member of the seminal 1980s band The Clean and a legendary presence on New Zealand's independent music scene for almost thirty years, "Far Off Town" follows David Kilgour on a 2003 trip to Nashville to make his album "The Frozen Orange" with the alt country band Lambchop. The film is a fascinating glimpse into Kilgour's creative process, and features David's travels from Lambchop frontman Kurt Wagner's basement, to the recording studio of maverick producer Mark Nevers, to the underworld haunts of the Nashville music scene. Also performing in the film are The Clean and Kilgour's other band The Heavy Eights, and strewn along his journey's path are Yo La Tengo, Al Kooper, Billy Joe Shaver, Will Oldham, Ramblin' Jack Elliot and David Berman (of The Silver Jews). Following the screening will be a live solo set from Kilgour, plus a Q&A with filmmaker Bridget Sutherland. Preceded by the short film by Sergi Rubio "Madison Class Of '64"
SATURDAY SPECIAL EVENTS@ The Silent Movie Theater
Don't Knock The Rock presents these matinees combined with special workshops to be announced!
Saturday August 2
THE WRECKING CREWby Denny Tedesco
Denny Tedesco's love letter to The Wrecking Crew, a group of LA studio musicians which included his father Fender guitar player great Tommy Tedesco, Hal Blaine, Carol Kaye, Don Randi and Glenn Campbell. In the 1960s The Wrecking Crew played on over half of the country's top 40 hits for the Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Sonny and Cher, Jan & Dean, The Monkees, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Mamas and Papas, Tijuana Brass, Ricky Nelson, Johnny Rivers and were Phil Spector's Wall of Sound. A beautiful film for our music savvy DKTR audiences!
Saturday August 16
SONIC YOUTH: SLEEPING NIGHTS AWAKE by Michael Alrbight
In the summer of 2006, a group of seven high school students from Reno, NV set out to make a documentary on Sonic Youth. As part of a non-profit organization called 'Project Moonshine', these teens were given cameras and a few days of training and set loose to record a day in the life of DKTR board members Sonic Youth! Shot on location in Reno, NV on the 4th of July, this intimate verite documentary is a behind the scenes look at one of the most influential indie bands of all time and contains some of the most insightful and candid concert footage ever recorded.
Also stay tuned for info on DKTR music and film workshops and BMI special panel and guests!
And returning for his 4th year as Master Of CeremoniesThe Marquis Michael Des Barres!
For the complete Thursday Night program of films and live performances updates go here:
warm
adventurous
The Marquis Michael Des Barres!
