The holidays are upon us, so whether you looking for film-related gifts or simply want to pick up some of the finest the year had to offer in the category for yourself, we have a gift guide for you. Including must-have books on filmmaking, the best from the Criterion Collection, Kino Lorber, and more home-video picks, subscriptions, magazines, music, and more, dive in below.
4K & Blu-ray Box Sets
There’s no better gift for a cinephile than a beautiful Blu-ray box set. Leading the pack in this regard is a collection that actually arrived much earlier this year: World of Wong Kar-wai, the long-awaited Criterion release that features the Hong Kong master’s most celebrated works, along with the first U.S. release of his short The Hand. Another must-own trio of sets from Criterion: Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films, featuring four bold films from the late director, The...
4K & Blu-ray Box Sets
There’s no better gift for a cinephile than a beautiful Blu-ray box set. Leading the pack in this regard is a collection that actually arrived much earlier this year: World of Wong Kar-wai, the long-awaited Criterion release that features the Hong Kong master’s most celebrated works, along with the first U.S. release of his short The Hand. Another must-own trio of sets from Criterion: Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films, featuring four bold films from the late director, The...
- 11/29/2021
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Veteran actor J.J. Murphy has died just days after shooting first Game Of Thrones scenes...
More sad news this morning. Veteran Northern Irish actor J.J. Murphy, who was set to portray Ser Denys Mallister in Game Of Thrones season 5, has sadly passed away at the age of 86.
The exact cause of death hasn’t been disclosed, but it’s understood that the actor collapsed and died on Friday. He was set to play the oldest member of the Night’s Watch, and had in fact already filmed his first scenes.
Game Of Thrones creators and executive producers D.B. Weiss and David Benioff made this touching statement: “We will not be recasting J.J. Murphy. He was a lovely man, and the best Denys Mallister we could have hoped for. And now his watch is ended.”
Murphy, who spent many years at Belfast’s Lyric Theatre, can also be seen as a...
More sad news this morning. Veteran Northern Irish actor J.J. Murphy, who was set to portray Ser Denys Mallister in Game Of Thrones season 5, has sadly passed away at the age of 86.
The exact cause of death hasn’t been disclosed, but it’s understood that the actor collapsed and died on Friday. He was set to play the oldest member of the Night’s Watch, and had in fact already filmed his first scenes.
Game Of Thrones creators and executive producers D.B. Weiss and David Benioff made this touching statement: “We will not be recasting J.J. Murphy. He was a lovely man, and the best Denys Mallister we could have hoped for. And now his watch is ended.”
Murphy, who spent many years at Belfast’s Lyric Theatre, can also be seen as a...
- 8/12/2014
- by rleane
- Den of Geek
HBO's swords-and-dragons fantasy series “Game of Thrones” has chosen not to replace new cast member J.J. Murphy following the actor's death Friday at age 86. Murphy, who was best known as a theater actor and whose film credits include “Angela's Ashes” and the upcoming “Dracula Untold,” had been cast as Ser Denys Mallister, the eldest member of the Night's Watch. However, according to the Belfast Telegraph, the actor died after collapsing on Friday, mere days after shooting his first scenes for the series, which is currently filming its fifth season. Also read: ‘Game of Thrones’ Star Maisie Williams Watches ‘Saved By.
- 8/11/2014
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
The Belfast Telegraph brought word this morning that actor J.J. Murphy, who joined the cast of "Game of Thrones" for its fifth season, passed away at the age of 86 on Friday at his home. Murphy had already completed his first week of filming on the series in the role of Ser Denys Mallister, the oldest member of the Night's Watch.
- 8/11/2014
- Comingsoon.net
Suits
USA Network has confirmed that it has given its flagship legal drama "Suits" a sixteen episode, fifth season pickup. The series currently midway through its fourth season and will go on a break from next week for a few months.
The show currently averages nearly 4 million viewers and 1.6 million adults 18-49 per episode. The fifth season will commence next Summer. [Source: Deadline]
Better Call Saul
AMC has unveiled the first teaser for the "Breaking Bad" spin-off series "Better Call Saul" which they confirm will kick off its ten episode, first season run in February.
Game of Thrones
Four days into filming his first scenes for the fifth season of HBO's "Game of Thrones," 85-year-old Irish actor J.J. Murphy has died. Murphy was cast as Ser Denys Mallister, the oldest member of the Night’s Watch and commander of the Shadow Tower.
Murphy was reportedly due to film further scenes in the coming weeks,...
USA Network has confirmed that it has given its flagship legal drama "Suits" a sixteen episode, fifth season pickup. The series currently midway through its fourth season and will go on a break from next week for a few months.
The show currently averages nearly 4 million viewers and 1.6 million adults 18-49 per episode. The fifth season will commence next Summer. [Source: Deadline]
Better Call Saul
AMC has unveiled the first teaser for the "Breaking Bad" spin-off series "Better Call Saul" which they confirm will kick off its ten episode, first season run in February.
Game of Thrones
Four days into filming his first scenes for the fifth season of HBO's "Game of Thrones," 85-year-old Irish actor J.J. Murphy has died. Murphy was cast as Ser Denys Mallister, the oldest member of the Night’s Watch and commander of the Shadow Tower.
Murphy was reportedly due to film further scenes in the coming weeks,...
- 8/11/2014
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Irish actor J.J. Murphy has died only days after starting his new role on the HBO series Game of Thrones, according to authorities. He was 86. No cause of death was given for the veteran actor, who worked for decades on the Belfast stage. On the HBO drama, Murphy was cast to portray Ser Denys Mallister, the oldest member of the Night's Watch military order, and started filming scenes last week. He died Friday at his home. The premium cable network declined to say whether Murphy's role would be recast or if planned scenes involving Mallister will be rewritten. Much of...
- 8/11/2014
- by Associated Press
- PEOPLE.com
Irish actor J.J. Murphy has died only days after starting his new role on the HBO series Game of Thrones, according to authorities. He was 86.
No cause of death was given for the veteran actor, who worked for decades on the Belfast stage.
On the HBO drama, Murphy was cast to portray Ser Denys Mallister, the oldest member of the Night's Watch military order, and started filming scenes last week. He died Friday at his home.
The premium cable network declined to say whether Murphy's role would be recast or if planned scenes involving Mallister will be rewritten. Much of...
No cause of death was given for the veteran actor, who worked for decades on the Belfast stage.
On the HBO drama, Murphy was cast to portray Ser Denys Mallister, the oldest member of the Night's Watch military order, and started filming scenes last week. He died Friday at his home.
The premium cable network declined to say whether Murphy's role would be recast or if planned scenes involving Mallister will be rewritten. Much of...
- 8/11/2014
- by Associated Press
- People.com - TV Watch
The Game of Thrones family has lost one of its Watchers. J.J. Murphy died on Friday at the age of 86, E! News has confirmed. While the Irish actor had yet to make his debut on the HBO hit series, he was set to take on the role of Knights Watch member Ser Denys Mallister in the upcoming fifth season and died just four days after filming his first scenes for the show, The Belfast Telegraph reports. "I am heartbroken to pass on the news that the wonderful J.J. Murphy passed away this morning 8th August 2014," Murphy's agent said in a statement to E! News. "I had the pleasure and honour to be his Agent for the last 18 months and have never encountered a man with more spirit, passion and love...
- 8/11/2014
- E! Online
J.J. Murphy, who was among the most recent additions to the upcoming fifth season of Game of Thrones, has passed away just four days into filming. The veteran Northern Irish actor collapsed and died on Friday, Aug 8., having shot only a few scenes in his role as Ser Denys Mallister, the oldest member of the Night's Watch and commander of the Shadow Tower. According to the Belfast Telegraph, the 86-year-old had told friends of his excitement to be working on HBO's hit show, which has mostly been shot in Northern Ireland. Producers have yet to confirm
read more...
read more...
- 8/11/2014
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Belfast, Northern Ireland (AP) - Authorities say Belfast actor J.J. Murphy has died days after starting his new role on the HBO series "Game of Thrones."
No cause of death was given for the 86-year-old, who worked for decades on the Belfast stage. Murphy was cast to portray Ser Denys Mallister, the oldest member of the Night's Watch military order, and started filming scenes last week. He died Friday at his home.
HBO declined to say whether Murphy's role will be recast or if planned scenes involving Mallister will be rewritten. Much of "Game of Thrones" is filmed in Northern Ireland and local actors feature prominently in the cast.
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland praised Murphy as a mentor to younger Belfast actors, including Liam Neeson.
Murphy's Belfast funeral is scheduled for Wednesday.
No cause of death was given for the 86-year-old, who worked for decades on the Belfast stage. Murphy was cast to portray Ser Denys Mallister, the oldest member of the Night's Watch military order, and started filming scenes last week. He died Friday at his home.
HBO declined to say whether Murphy's role will be recast or if planned scenes involving Mallister will be rewritten. Much of "Game of Thrones" is filmed in Northern Ireland and local actors feature prominently in the cast.
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland praised Murphy as a mentor to younger Belfast actors, including Liam Neeson.
Murphy's Belfast funeral is scheduled for Wednesday.
- 8/11/2014
- by The Associated Press
- Moviefone
J.J. Murphy, the Northern Ireland actor who was in the midst of filming scenes for Game of Thrones' fifth season, has died. He was 86.
J.J. Murphy Dies
Murphy died on Friday after collapsing just days after shooting his first scenes for Game of Thrones, reported the Belfast Telegraph. Murphy had been cast as Ser Denys Mallister, the oldest member of the Night’s Watch and was filming his part in his native Northern Ireland.
Upon learning of Murphy’s death, Game of Thrones showrunners D.B. Weiss and David Benioff have decided not to recast the role of Ser Denys Mallister.
“We will not be recasting J.J. Murphy,” Weiss and Benioff said in a statement, according to Entertainment Weekly. “He was a lovely man, and the best Denys Mallister we could have hoped for. And now his watch is ended.”
Murphy, primarily a theater actor, is best known for film...
J.J. Murphy Dies
Murphy died on Friday after collapsing just days after shooting his first scenes for Game of Thrones, reported the Belfast Telegraph. Murphy had been cast as Ser Denys Mallister, the oldest member of the Night’s Watch and was filming his part in his native Northern Ireland.
Upon learning of Murphy’s death, Game of Thrones showrunners D.B. Weiss and David Benioff have decided not to recast the role of Ser Denys Mallister.
“We will not be recasting J.J. Murphy,” Weiss and Benioff said in a statement, according to Entertainment Weekly. “He was a lovely man, and the best Denys Mallister we could have hoped for. And now his watch is ended.”
Murphy, primarily a theater actor, is best known for film...
- 8/11/2014
- Uinterview
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
This Week’s Must Read: Nelson Carvajal wrote a very nice piece about a typically neglected subject: Women of the Avant-Garde, covering the work of Germaine Dulac, Maya Deren, Shirley Clarke, Janie Geiser and others.Speaking of Maya Deren, Making Light of It scanned and posted her “Notes, Essays, Letters.” Also, Ron Rice’s “Diaries, Notebooks, Sketches.”Donna k. reviews the acclaimed Holy Motors by Leos Carax, calling it the “best film I have seen in a loooong time … that explores the complications of the current cinematic landscape.”
J.J. Murphy reviews Tim Sutton’s debut feature Pavilion and praises it for the unexpected directions the narrative springs off to.I’m sure most of you reading this know all about Herschell Gordon Lewis, but Michael Varrati has an extremely nice profile the notorious horror filmmaker.Most people don’t write about the soundtrack to the infamous Cannibal Holocaust, but Electric...
J.J. Murphy reviews Tim Sutton’s debut feature Pavilion and praises it for the unexpected directions the narrative springs off to.I’m sure most of you reading this know all about Herschell Gordon Lewis, but Michael Varrati has an extremely nice profile the notorious horror filmmaker.Most people don’t write about the soundtrack to the infamous Cannibal Holocaust, but Electric...
- 2/3/2013
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
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
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
This week’s Must Read is actually a series from Melanie Wilmink’s new blog. One of her posts totally won Bad Lit over with the introductory sentence: “Short films regularly draw the short stick when it comes to being written about.” Ain’t that the truth! So, Melanie rights this wrong with an amazingly well-thought out article/review of the “Crime Wave” shorts at the Calgary International Film Festival that digs deep into issues of cinematic authenticity. Then, she has more in-depth reviews of the “End of Days” shorts program at the fest. Finally, at least for now that I know of, she tackles the anthology film V/H/S, which has been getting lots of press, and hammers it for its overt misogyny.Wanna hear Jonas Mekas talk lovingly about his five Bolexes?The Manitoba Scene got filmmaker Deco Dawson to write an essay about his award-winning short film Keep a Modest Head,...
- 9/30/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Ah, the dog days of summer. Links a’slowin’ down:
For this week’s Must Read, for Fandor, Jonathan Marlow interviews the usually very reticent Quay Brothers, divulging all kinds of details about their entire career, from their early days working as dishwashers in Philadelphia all the way up to their latest feature Piano Tuner of Earthquakes. (The image above, taken from the article, is of the Quay’s Street of Crocodiles.)The Brisbane Underground Film Festival muses on the notion of “forgiveness” in film, from Todd Solondz’s Storytelling to Lee Dong-Chang’s Secret Sunshine and more.Radio Mysterioso conducted an awesome podcast with Damon Packard regarding his new film about alien abduction/visitation theories, Foxfur. (One tip: The podcast player doesn’t show up for me on this page, so you might have to click through to the homepage to actually listen. Well worth finding it!)Alfred Eaker continues his Doris Wishman lovefest,...
For this week’s Must Read, for Fandor, Jonathan Marlow interviews the usually very reticent Quay Brothers, divulging all kinds of details about their entire career, from their early days working as dishwashers in Philadelphia all the way up to their latest feature Piano Tuner of Earthquakes. (The image above, taken from the article, is of the Quay’s Street of Crocodiles.)The Brisbane Underground Film Festival muses on the notion of “forgiveness” in film, from Todd Solondz’s Storytelling to Lee Dong-Chang’s Secret Sunshine and more.Radio Mysterioso conducted an awesome podcast with Damon Packard regarding his new film about alien abduction/visitation theories, Foxfur. (One tip: The podcast player doesn’t show up for me on this page, so you might have to click through to the homepage to actually listen. Well worth finding it!)Alfred Eaker continues his Doris Wishman lovefest,...
- 8/12/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This Week’s Must Read is Wired4Film’s interview with an ol’ Bad Lit fave: Chris Hansen, who has just wrapped up his 3rd feature film, Where We Started. The chat gets into detail on the challenges of filming a heavy dialogue indie film with just two actors that takes place mostly at night using a mostly student crew. Plus, there’s talk of the Christian themes that run through Hansen’s films, but don’t bonk you over the head, even considering he made a film with the word “Messiah” in the title.Another interview that’s not really film related, but I dig donna k.’s chats with artists, is her talk with sculptor Karyn Olivier. The photos of Olivier are also really worth clicking over for.This image from 1934′s The Black Cat starring Jacqueline Wells and Boris Karloff is also stunning to look at.Now...
- 7/29/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
If you’re like us at Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film and you watch a lot of older underground films, you’ve probably seen them. Maybe you wondered what they were. Maybe you pondered their significance and impact on the film you saw them in.
Were they inserted intentionally? Are they essential to the film’s themes and metaphors? Or are they aberrations that were left in for economy’s sake? Is their sequence random and arbitrary? Or is there a hidden meaning behind them?
They are, for lack of a better term, the mysterious white dots!
An example of which is above, a film still from George Kuchar‘s 1966 masterpiece Hold Me While I’m Naked. The movie tells the story of a lonely filmmaker (Kuchar himself) who is abandoned by his beautiful lead actress (Donna Kerness) in the middle of production of his latest project. Although a fictional film,...
Were they inserted intentionally? Are they essential to the film’s themes and metaphors? Or are they aberrations that were left in for economy’s sake? Is their sequence random and arbitrary? Or is there a hidden meaning behind them?
They are, for lack of a better term, the mysterious white dots!
An example of which is above, a film still from George Kuchar‘s 1966 masterpiece Hold Me While I’m Naked. The movie tells the story of a lonely filmmaker (Kuchar himself) who is abandoned by his beautiful lead actress (Donna Kerness) in the middle of production of his latest project. Although a fictional film,...
- 7/23/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This Week’s Must Read: Filmmaker Jesse Malmed has a wonderful in-depth article with fellow filmmaker Julie Perrini up at the art blog Bad At Sports. Yes, you’ll want to read all about Perrini’s work processes and her evolution as a filmmaker, but you’ll really be fascinated to hear why she had to — as the interview’s title says — explain what state smashers are to a grand jury.The Broward Palm Beach New Times ran a good interview with John Waters, not so much about his movies but about his general interests. Best part of the article: He says he loved J.J. Murphy’s recent book on the films of Andy Warhol, The Black Hole of the Camera. Just like us! Seriously, if you haven’t read that book yet, you’re really missing out on something wonderful.Name that Fleshapoid! (Ok, I know technically that’s not a Fleshapoid,...
- 7/22/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This week’s Must Read comes from donna k., whom I link to a lot every week. But her description this time about how Brent Green’s sculpture To Many Men Strange Fates Are Given was created is unbelievably fascinating. After reading this, you’ll have a new appreciation on how your LCD monitors work — and how visionary Green is.Curator and filmmaker Brenda Contreras has launched a new blog that you need to check out. Her first big post about seeing some experimental filmmakers — Bruce McClure, Marie Losier and Ricardo Nicolayevsky — is a great read already.Preservationist Mark Toscano writes about preserving Lous Hock’s 1975 film Studies in Chronovision.At the Filmmaker website, Eddie Mullins gives a great review to a new DVD box set of Robert Downey Sr.’s early films called Up All Night With Robert Downey Sr. and includes Babo 73, Chafed Elbows and more.Superstar...
- 6/17/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This week’s Must Read isn’t about underground film at all, but it’s absolutely fascinating reading. Potrzebie has Tom Conroy’s wonderful memoir about providing movie stills to lurid men’s magazines back in the ’60s and ’70s. If you like a good story about sleaze, drug use, questionable business practices and more, then you gotta check this one out. (P.S. Can you pick out Jack Nicholson on the above cover?)This is great news! A documentary filmmaker actually sued the IRS and won! Filmmaker Magazine recaps the “documentary filmmaking is not a hobby” case fought by Lee Storey.Movie reviewer cartoonist Rick Trembles takes on Ron Mann’s documentary Tales of the Rat Fink in a Motion Picture Purgatory strip that gives a good, concise background on artist Ed Roth in its own right.Swerve Calgary interviews Found Footage Film Festival curator Nick Prueher on the...
- 4/22/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 8th annual Brakhage Center Symposium has been programmed by curator Kathy Geritz and will examine the concept of experimental narrative over three days of screenings and lectures on March 16-18 at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Geritz has pulled together a program in which experimental films explore notions of narrative through diverse means, whether combining with documentary or animated elements, or through nonlinear structure, or through the direct experience of time. As Geritz hopes: “In these different ways, the films presented will challenge and expand our expectations as they push the boundaries of storytelling conventions.”
Some of the filmmakers who will be present at the symposium are animators Stacey Steers and Chris Sullivan, experimental documentary filmmaker Amie Siegel and Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winner Apichatpong Weerasethakul, who will be screening his 1987 acclaimed feature film Syndromes and a Century and the more recent short film Emerald (2007).
Also, film critic and historian J.
Geritz has pulled together a program in which experimental films explore notions of narrative through diverse means, whether combining with documentary or animated elements, or through nonlinear structure, or through the direct experience of time. As Geritz hopes: “In these different ways, the films presented will challenge and expand our expectations as they push the boundaries of storytelling conventions.”
Some of the filmmakers who will be present at the symposium are animators Stacey Steers and Chris Sullivan, experimental documentary filmmaker Amie Siegel and Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winner Apichatpong Weerasethakul, who will be screening his 1987 acclaimed feature film Syndromes and a Century and the more recent short film Emerald (2007).
Also, film critic and historian J.
- 3/12/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Motion Picture Purgatory cartoonist Rick Trembles has moved from purgatory and into hell recently thanks to what appears to be a possible illegal eviction by his landlord. A Montreal news station covers the story and interviews Trembles who provides some damning evidence. The turmoil has left Trembles in a bad way, so if there’s any way anyone reading this can throw him some work, he’d appreciate it. Lastly, his latest strip is a review of 1968′s Canuxploitation thriller Playgirl Killer.Cinemascope gives the true history of the filmmaking via cell phone phenomenon, giving rightful appreciation to Aryan Kaganof’s boundary-breaking SMS Sugar Man.Heard that old Bad Lit friend Christopher Folino (Gamers) has a new movie in the works called Sparks. Actually, I think it’s nearing completion and you can get a preview of it at its official website. Based on a comic book co-written with William Katt...
- 2/12/2012
- 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 Look is a series of film stills from Storm de Hirsch’s documentary about Jonas Mekas making his documentary of the performance of The Brig in 1964. So that’s what a filmmaker shooting with a film camera looks like!Aryan Kaganof had an unpleasant experience at a European film festival. Maybe it’s just me, but I think his comment to Bela Tarr is funny.Jason Kupfer has a snazzy new filmmaker website, which I’ve been meaning to link to for awhile, so I guess it’s new-ish.Dominic Deacon’s nunsploitation feature Bad Habits got reviewed on the site Scaryminds and received a 3 out of 5 on the sex and violence scale.The site Bad at Sports interviews filmmaker Jesse McLean.J.J. Murphy reviews Azazel Jacob’s feature Terri, marking it along the filmmaker’s inching closer to the mainstream. Or is there something...
- 1/22/2012
- 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
Oh yeah, it feels weird typing “2012″ in the post title. Guess we’re — as in the “collective we” — still getting our legs under us for the new year, so not too many links again:
Making Light of It, making a nice return of things, has lots of gorgeous film stills from Brakhage’s Unconscious London Strata. Plus, a comparison of Ezra Pound’s The Return with Nathaniel Dorsky’s The Return.Donna k. suggests some places where one can read about women artists.Luke Black debuts the very fine poster for his latest film Beef Barley Brothers.The Horror Club very nicely put Paul Campion’s The Devil’s Rock on its Best of 2011 list.Congrats to Bill Plympton on his recent nuptials! I really want some of that cake or whatever it is he and his bride are posing in front of…The Phantom of Pulp lists his Best...
Making Light of It, making a nice return of things, has lots of gorgeous film stills from Brakhage’s Unconscious London Strata. Plus, a comparison of Ezra Pound’s The Return with Nathaniel Dorsky’s The Return.Donna k. suggests some places where one can read about women artists.Luke Black debuts the very fine poster for his latest film Beef Barley Brothers.The Horror Club very nicely put Paul Campion’s The Devil’s Rock on its Best of 2011 list.Congrats to Bill Plympton on his recent nuptials! I really want some of that cake or whatever it is he and his bride are posing in front of…The Phantom of Pulp lists his Best...
- 1/8/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
1 more shopping week until Christmas!
Robert Maier wrote a book about working for John Waters and now he’s got a blog with a ton more stories. This article about how Hairspray became a PG-rated movie is extremely fascinating, but go ahead and read through the entire site, too.Michael Varrati has a wonderful interview up with Lewis Jackson, director of the Christmas cult classic You Better Watch Out aka Christmas Evil. Jackson is very candid about all the horrible things that went wrong making the film and with its distribution. Yet, he still managed to make a masterpiece.Film Comment posted up their list of the Best Unreleased Movies in 2011 and, of course, they have some underground films on there, like Alex Ross Perry’s The Color Wheel, which screened at this year’s Chicago Underground Film Festival; and experimental features like Nathaniel Dorsky’s The Return, Ken Jacobs’ Seeking the Monkey King,...
Robert Maier wrote a book about working for John Waters and now he’s got a blog with a ton more stories. This article about how Hairspray became a PG-rated movie is extremely fascinating, but go ahead and read through the entire site, too.Michael Varrati has a wonderful interview up with Lewis Jackson, director of the Christmas cult classic You Better Watch Out aka Christmas Evil. Jackson is very candid about all the horrible things that went wrong making the film and with its distribution. Yet, he still managed to make a masterpiece.Film Comment posted up their list of the Best Unreleased Movies in 2011 and, of course, they have some underground films on there, like Alex Ross Perry’s The Color Wheel, which screened at this year’s Chicago Underground Film Festival; and experimental features like Nathaniel Dorsky’s The Return, Ken Jacobs’ Seeking the Monkey King,...
- 12/18/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The Paul Sharits memorial website, run by his son Christopher, is looking for articles to post on art and music. Congrats to Stuart Simpson’s fantastic El Monstro Del Mar!, which has been picked up for distribution by IndieFilmNet. Careful, this one’s “dirty”: The great cartoonist/reviewer Rick Trembles covers Usama Alshaibi’s hilarious short film The Amateur. Then, Usama Alshaibi tackles the myth about Muslims not being able to render images of the prophets. J.J. Murphy tackles one of the most controversial movies of the last year or so, whether you knew it or not: Harmony Korine’s Trash Humpers. Always a cause for rejoicing: Jonas Mekas announces a new film debuting in Feb.: Sleepless Nights Stories! A little background on the film from Jonas here. SXSW interviews fellow festival founder Lisa Vandever of Cinekink four questions about her upcoming interactive panel in Austin, TX. Professor...
- 1/23/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Jan. 23
7:30 p.m.
Museum of the Moving Image
35 Avenue at 37 Street
Astoria, NY 11106
Hosted by: Academy Film Archive
Mark Toscano, a preservationist at the Academy Film Archive, presents an evening of restored masterworks and rarities as part of the Museum of the Moving Image’s Avant-Garde Masters series.
After being closed for three years, Momi has recently reopened with a $67 million renovation that features a brand new 267-seat theater and a 68-seat screening room.
The films of this particular screening have been chosen by Toscano based on an inspiration from Keewatin Dewdney’s 1967 film The Maltese Cross Movement, which is included in the lineup. Dewdney’s film and the others “playfully explore many elemental and metaphorical aspects of celluloid cinema.”
A couple other highlights in the lineup, which is listed in full below, include an early experimental film by indie screenwriting expert J.J. Murphy, Sky Blue Water Light Sign,...
7:30 p.m.
Museum of the Moving Image
35 Avenue at 37 Street
Astoria, NY 11106
Hosted by: Academy Film Archive
Mark Toscano, a preservationist at the Academy Film Archive, presents an evening of restored masterworks and rarities as part of the Museum of the Moving Image’s Avant-Garde Masters series.
After being closed for three years, Momi has recently reopened with a $67 million renovation that features a brand new 267-seat theater and a 68-seat screening room.
The films of this particular screening have been chosen by Toscano based on an inspiration from Keewatin Dewdney’s 1967 film The Maltese Cross Movement, which is included in the lineup. Dewdney’s film and the others “playfully explore many elemental and metaphorical aspects of celluloid cinema.”
A couple other highlights in the lineup, which is listed in full below, include an early experimental film by indie screenwriting expert J.J. Murphy, Sky Blue Water Light Sign,...
- 1/20/2011
- by screenings
- Underground Film Journal
In an effort to mix things up a bit, I’ve tried to do some searching to find random oldies, but goodies. I’ll try to keep doing this in the future so these weekly link roundups don’t start to get stale.
First, I dug up an interesting, older article by longtime underground film writer Fred Camper about the problems naming the avant-garde, experimental, underground, etc. He also comes up with a six-part “test” to determine if a film is underground or not. And, yes, there’s lots of hostility to the term “underground,” but, obviously, it’s what I personally go with. On the other hand, there’s this cute attempt at underground film history. Back in 2002, Gary Morris wrote an interesting appraisal of Andy Warhol’s Chelsea Girls for Bright Lights Film Journal. The Los Angeles Times reports that Charles Manson follower and convicted murderer Bobby Beausoleil,...
First, I dug up an interesting, older article by longtime underground film writer Fred Camper about the problems naming the avant-garde, experimental, underground, etc. He also comes up with a six-part “test” to determine if a film is underground or not. And, yes, there’s lots of hostility to the term “underground,” but, obviously, it’s what I personally go with. On the other hand, there’s this cute attempt at underground film history. Back in 2002, Gary Morris wrote an interesting appraisal of Andy Warhol’s Chelsea Girls for Bright Lights Film Journal. The Los Angeles Times reports that Charles Manson follower and convicted murderer Bobby Beausoleil,...
- 12/19/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The list is a little brief this week, but that’s all that was out there. However, the first three items thrill me so much, it sort of makes up for the overall brevity.
I have to say that I’m really thrilled to see Jack Sargeant blogging more lately, both re-printing older articles he’s written for others and new stuff. Sargeant is one of the most vital writers and historians of underground film we have today. And he has some great ones this week. First, there’s this fascinating profile of Samantha Sweeting, whose films sound so strange and lovely. And he has a nice overview / defense of UbuWeb, which originally appeared in FilmInk. A couple weeks ago, I publicly admitted my love of looking at old underground film flyers, posters, brochures, etc. To add to that jones, Landscape Suicide posted up an old flyer for a two-day...
I have to say that I’m really thrilled to see Jack Sargeant blogging more lately, both re-printing older articles he’s written for others and new stuff. Sargeant is one of the most vital writers and historians of underground film we have today. And he has some great ones this week. First, there’s this fascinating profile of Samantha Sweeting, whose films sound so strange and lovely. And he has a nice overview / defense of UbuWeb, which originally appeared in FilmInk. A couple weeks ago, I publicly admitted my love of looking at old underground film flyers, posters, brochures, etc. To add to that jones, Landscape Suicide posted up an old flyer for a two-day...
- 10/17/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Anybody who’s ever written or attempted to write a screenplay has run into the dreaded “Hollywood formula.” There’s even an entire industry of seminars, books and videos built of experts who explain all the rules one needs to follow in order to write a winning, successful screenplay, such as specific plot points that need to fall on specific pages, proper character arcs, etc.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with that formula. (Full disclosure: I love formulaic Hollywood movies.) Plus, Guidelines are actually a good idea for the beginning writer who’s not quite sure how to begin. (More disclosure: I’ve written my own share of “guideline”-based screenplays that never sold.) However, resistance to these guidelines start to build up thanks to the overly aggressive nature that each expert tries to instruct writers to follow them. What should be helpful guidelines become absolutely unbreakable “rules” enforced by...
There’s nothing inherently wrong with that formula. (Full disclosure: I love formulaic Hollywood movies.) Plus, Guidelines are actually a good idea for the beginning writer who’s not quite sure how to begin. (More disclosure: I’ve written my own share of “guideline”-based screenplays that never sold.) However, resistance to these guidelines start to build up thanks to the overly aggressive nature that each expert tries to instruct writers to follow them. What should be helpful guidelines become absolutely unbreakable “rules” enforced by...
- 7/16/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
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