We Are The Lambeth Boys The London Short Film Festival has announced the full programme for its 14th edition, which will run from January 6 to 15 2017.
Among the festival highlights is a night entitled David Bowie Sound & Vision, a series of screenings at 19 Picturehouse cinemas across the UK. The showcase, featuring Michael Armstrong's The Image, Alan Yentob's The Cracked Actor and Julien Temple's Jazzin' For Blue Jean, aims to tell the story of his career, taking in three decades, from his experimental beginnings of the Sixties to the golden era of the Seventies to his world of domination in the Eighties.
Also dipping into the archives are two evenings celebrating youth culture across the decades - the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies night will feature Karel Reisz's We Are The Lambeth Boys while the Eighties, Nineties, Noughties and beyond includes Heavy Metal Parking Lot by Jeff Krulik and John Heyn along with.
Among the festival highlights is a night entitled David Bowie Sound & Vision, a series of screenings at 19 Picturehouse cinemas across the UK. The showcase, featuring Michael Armstrong's The Image, Alan Yentob's The Cracked Actor and Julien Temple's Jazzin' For Blue Jean, aims to tell the story of his career, taking in three decades, from his experimental beginnings of the Sixties to the golden era of the Seventies to his world of domination in the Eighties.
Also dipping into the archives are two evenings celebrating youth culture across the decades - the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies night will feature Karel Reisz's We Are The Lambeth Boys while the Eighties, Nineties, Noughties and beyond includes Heavy Metal Parking Lot by Jeff Krulik and John Heyn along with.
- 12/17/2016
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Jeff Krulik says:
My cat’s name is Iggy, full name Iggy Smalls, but now he’s just Iggy, not named after Iggy Pop.
He was a stray I took in, in 2009. Someone had callously abandoned him in the neighborhood and, after what might have been nearly two months trying to make his way in the cold cruel world (and several weeks of me trying to tend to him), we brought him inside. He was a handful. But he finally settled in to a nice and apparently happy life.
I love the guy.
Anyway, he zig-zagged all over the place when you tried to get near him when he was outside, so originally he was Ziggy, but that name just mutated into Iggy, which I liked better. So there you have it. Plus, I always liked the name Small from a character in Winnie the Pooh-land, so that’s where Smalls came from him.
My cat’s name is Iggy, full name Iggy Smalls, but now he’s just Iggy, not named after Iggy Pop.
He was a stray I took in, in 2009. Someone had callously abandoned him in the neighborhood and, after what might have been nearly two months trying to make his way in the cold cruel world (and several weeks of me trying to tend to him), we brought him inside. He was a handful. But he finally settled in to a nice and apparently happy life.
I love the guy.
Anyway, he zig-zagged all over the place when you tried to get near him when he was outside, so originally he was Ziggy, but that name just mutated into Iggy, which I liked better. So there you have it. Plus, I always liked the name Small from a character in Winnie the Pooh-land, so that’s where Smalls came from him.
- 3/24/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This week we're featuring the 1986 documentary "Heavy Metal Parking Lot" because, well, it's about a bunch of heavy metal fans tailgating a Maryland concert venue. Not to mention the fact that the now cult film was reportedly a favorite on Nirvana's tour bus. That's Nirvana, arguably one of the greatest the rock bands. Ever. Oh, Sofia Coppola is also a fan. Read More: SnagFilms Movie of the Week: Fall For 'Endless Love' Ahead of its Valentine's Day Remake To go along with the short documentary film, which is almost 17 minutes long, SnagFilms has created a short quiz and drinking game that you can play with your close friends and/or worst enemies. Some of the challenges require taking a drink every time Metallica or Judas Priest is mentioned. Fun stuff, but be safe. Check out the quiz over here to see what type of metal fan you are.
- 2/21/2014
- by Eric Eidelstein
- Indiewire
Jeff Krulik is one of the best interviewers ever in documentary film history. That’s not hyperbole, that’s a fact.
However, in the above embedded podcast, Krulik has the tables turned on him by one of the best interviewers in film journalism, Mike Plante. That’s not hyperbole, either. That’s a fact, too. And, happily, Krulik is a wonderful storyteller, so this 100-minute chat is a breezy, informational, fascinating and educational discussion about Krulik’s influences, the Baltimore/D.C. music scene, a personal history of public access TV, a reminiscence about Ernest Borgnine and, oh, so much more.
On a personal note, I’ve known Krulik myself for several years now, yet I still learned a lot about the guy listening to this. Since I’m such a huge fan of his work, a lot of it makes more “sense” to me now, hearing about how such...
However, in the above embedded podcast, Krulik has the tables turned on him by one of the best interviewers in film journalism, Mike Plante. That’s not hyperbole, either. That’s a fact, too. And, happily, Krulik is a wonderful storyteller, so this 100-minute chat is a breezy, informational, fascinating and educational discussion about Krulik’s influences, the Baltimore/D.C. music scene, a personal history of public access TV, a reminiscence about Ernest Borgnine and, oh, so much more.
On a personal note, I’ve known Krulik myself for several years now, yet I still learned a lot about the guy listening to this. Since I’m such a huge fan of his work, a lot of it makes more “sense” to me now, hearing about how such...
- 3/28/2013
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The fourth annual Strange Beauty Film Festival will screen on January 24-26 at the Manbites Dog Theater in Durham, North Carolina. The fest primarily screens avant-garde and experimental short films.
Special Events: On Jan. 25, Tom Whiteside’s Circle Spiral Slow, featuring films from Whiteside’s film collection accompanied by live music by local band Arrows Out. And on Jan. 26, give your eyes a rest and your ears a workout with the “Strange Beauty Aural Fixation” experimental audio program.
Bad Lit picks: Leslie Supnet’s The Animated Heavy Metal Parking Lot (Jan. 24), which is quite frankly one of the most charming animated films of all time; and Clint Enns’ psychosexual 8-bit adventure ♥++ (Jan. 24). Also be on the lookout for films by Aaron Zeghers, Kelly Sears, Bill Brown, Robert Todd and Roger Beebe.
For more info and to buy tickets, please visit the official Strange Beauty Film Festival website.
Full lineup below:
January 24
8:15 p.
Special Events: On Jan. 25, Tom Whiteside’s Circle Spiral Slow, featuring films from Whiteside’s film collection accompanied by live music by local band Arrows Out. And on Jan. 26, give your eyes a rest and your ears a workout with the “Strange Beauty Aural Fixation” experimental audio program.
Bad Lit picks: Leslie Supnet’s The Animated Heavy Metal Parking Lot (Jan. 24), which is quite frankly one of the most charming animated films of all time; and Clint Enns’ psychosexual 8-bit adventure ♥++ (Jan. 24). Also be on the lookout for films by Aaron Zeghers, Kelly Sears, Bill Brown, Robert Todd and Roger Beebe.
For more info and to buy tickets, please visit the official Strange Beauty Film Festival website.
Full lineup below:
January 24
8:15 p.
- 1/22/2013
- 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
Embedded above is a trio of (blurry) photos taken at the Jeff Krulik retrospective that was held at the Cinefamily theater in Los Angeles on August 26, 2012 as part of the Everything Is Festival III: The Domination event. Click each photo to embiggen.
The first photo features Krulik himself in the Cinefamily audience while his cult classic documentary Heavy Metal Parking Lot, which he co-directed with John Heyn, screens in front of him. (By the way, depicted on the screen happens to be Bad Lit’s favorite “character” from the film due his slurred delivery of the line, “Yo, Priest is the best, man.”)
The second photo is of Mike Plante and Jeff Krulik. Plante interviewed Krulik between the short films, which included Hmpl; the Michael Jackson episode of the long-lost “Parking Lot” TV show that was inspired by Hmpl and ran on the cable channel Trio for two seasons; the...
The first photo features Krulik himself in the Cinefamily audience while his cult classic documentary Heavy Metal Parking Lot, which he co-directed with John Heyn, screens in front of him. (By the way, depicted on the screen happens to be Bad Lit’s favorite “character” from the film due his slurred delivery of the line, “Yo, Priest is the best, man.”)
The second photo is of Mike Plante and Jeff Krulik. Plante interviewed Krulik between the short films, which included Hmpl; the Michael Jackson episode of the long-lost “Parking Lot” TV show that was inspired by Hmpl and ran on the cable channel Trio for two seasons; the...
- 8/27/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
August 26
2:30 p.m.
The Silent Movie Theater
611 N. Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Hosted by: Everything Is Festival III: The Domination
It’s official! The biggest film event of 2012 in Los Angeles will take place on August 26 when documentary filmmaker Jeff Krulik will present a selection of his favorite short films at the 3rd annual Everything Is Festival.
Cranking out cult hits since the early ’80s, the Maryland-based Krulik will be making a rare sojourn out to the West Coast for this incredibly special event. As a master storyteller, you won’t want to miss this special live presentation. Nobody spins great yarns about wild adventures better than Jeff Krulik. Nobody!
Beginning with the runaway cult hit Heavy Metal Parking Lot, which he co-produced and co-directed with his partner John Heyn, Jeff Krulik has been making wonderfully quirky documentaries for over thirty years. He frequently shines a spotlight on...
2:30 p.m.
The Silent Movie Theater
611 N. Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Hosted by: Everything Is Festival III: The Domination
It’s official! The biggest film event of 2012 in Los Angeles will take place on August 26 when documentary filmmaker Jeff Krulik will present a selection of his favorite short films at the 3rd annual Everything Is Festival.
Cranking out cult hits since the early ’80s, the Maryland-based Krulik will be making a rare sojourn out to the West Coast for this incredibly special event. As a master storyteller, you won’t want to miss this special live presentation. Nobody spins great yarns about wild adventures better than Jeff Krulik. Nobody!
Beginning with the runaway cult hit Heavy Metal Parking Lot, which he co-produced and co-directed with his partner John Heyn, Jeff Krulik has been making wonderfully quirky documentaries for over thirty years. He frequently shines a spotlight on...
- 8/23/2012
- by screenings
- Underground Film Journal
Heavy Metal Parking Lot
A strong contender for the title of most famous movie you've probably never heard of. When cable TV first hit the Us, a certain amount of space was given over to public access, so every area had some local content. It was open to all-comers and equipment was made available to anyone strong enough to lug it around. So Maryland residents John Heyn and Jeff Krulik took it upon themselves to record the activity of attendees of the local enormodome indoor arena. They lucked out too because on the evening they chose, Judas Priest rolled into town.
What resulted was a jaw-dropping 17 minutes where we're treated to a procession of kids who were, to assume the vernacular of the time, super-wasted and hyped up to see a proper rock show; none of that sucky new wave or Madonna crap for them. Full of bad haircuts, baffling fashion choices and ranting teens,...
A strong contender for the title of most famous movie you've probably never heard of. When cable TV first hit the Us, a certain amount of space was given over to public access, so every area had some local content. It was open to all-comers and equipment was made available to anyone strong enough to lug it around. So Maryland residents John Heyn and Jeff Krulik took it upon themselves to record the activity of attendees of the local enormodome indoor arena. They lucked out too because on the evening they chose, Judas Priest rolled into town.
What resulted was a jaw-dropping 17 minutes where we're treated to a procession of kids who were, to assume the vernacular of the time, super-wasted and hyped up to see a proper rock show; none of that sucky new wave or Madonna crap for them. Full of bad haircuts, baffling fashion choices and ranting teens,...
- 8/3/2012
- by Phelim O'Neill
- The Guardian - Film News
Jeff Krulik and Jon Heyn revisit their head-bangin’ roots in their documentary Heavy Metal Picnic, which is now available on DVD through the film’s website for $15. Or buy the new film and the original Heavy Metal Picnic Parking Lot for just $25.
Back in the 1980s, Maryland was the epicenter for hard rockin’ and even harder partyin’ moreso than anywhere else on Earth. And there was no bigger, more debauched, more deranged gathering at the time than the Full Moon Jamboree weekend farm party in the sleepy suburb of Potomac.
Forget peace, love and understanding, the Full Moon was an unabashed, unending heavy metal concert planned by a couple of bored layabouts and one brazen entrepreneur looking for something exciting to do. The result was such a raucous event that it made the evening news and new laws had to be written so that nothing like it could ever happen again.
Back in the 1980s, Maryland was the epicenter for hard rockin’ and even harder partyin’ moreso than anywhere else on Earth. And there was no bigger, more debauched, more deranged gathering at the time than the Full Moon Jamboree weekend farm party in the sleepy suburb of Potomac.
Forget peace, love and understanding, the Full Moon was an unabashed, unending heavy metal concert planned by a couple of bored layabouts and one brazen entrepreneur looking for something exciting to do. The result was such a raucous event that it made the evening news and new laws had to be written so that nothing like it could ever happen again.
- 3/20/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
First there was Bieber. Then there was (probably) Katy Perry. Naturally, Metallica will follow in the 3-D movie trend. The august shredders have enlisted Hungarian director Nimród Amtal (Predators, Vacany, Kontroll), who sounds as psyched as a beer-chugging interviewee from Heavy Metal Parking Lot: "We are going to harness the powerful and almighty energy of Metallica’s live shows, inject a narrative into it, and shoot it in 3D to elevate the entire experience." That narrative angle sounds like the perfect opportunity for a spiritual successor to Some Kind of Monster, where the 3-D tears really pop out at you!
- 3/8/2012
- by Zach Dionne
- Vulture
The raw footage shot of actor Ernest Borgnine driving across the country, which became the 1997 documentary Ernest Borgnine on the Bus but was originally shot to be an early reality series, is now online, thanks to Jeff Krulik, its director. Krulik may be best known for the cult classic Heavy Metal Parking Lot, a 1986 short documentary about heavy metal as illustrated by fans in the parking lot of a Judas Priest concert (rent...
- 1/25/2012
- by Andy Dehnart
- Reality Blurred
Heavy Metal Parking Lot
Directed by John Heyn and Jeff Krulik
USA, 1986
Often hailed as a hidden anthropological gem, it seems too many misunderstand the context and importance of this Heavy Metal Parking Lot. There seems to be a feeling that this film is in some way, mocking it’s subjects. I am not sure that is the case. Even with the addition of “critical” commentary from the likes of John Waters, who deems the film “creepy,” there is a sense of celebration in that title. This is a film that could only really have been made by young people and nothing interests young people more than each other. That’s why this film succeeds at being an accurate portrait of a lifestyle that perhaps too many among us deem unworthy.
As for its anthropological value, Heavy Metal Parking Lot shows the very beginning of a shift in culture. We...
Directed by John Heyn and Jeff Krulik
USA, 1986
Often hailed as a hidden anthropological gem, it seems too many misunderstand the context and importance of this Heavy Metal Parking Lot. There seems to be a feeling that this film is in some way, mocking it’s subjects. I am not sure that is the case. Even with the addition of “critical” commentary from the likes of John Waters, who deems the film “creepy,” there is a sense of celebration in that title. This is a film that could only really have been made by young people and nothing interests young people more than each other. That’s why this film succeeds at being an accurate portrait of a lifestyle that perhaps too many among us deem unworthy.
As for its anthropological value, Heavy Metal Parking Lot shows the very beginning of a shift in culture. We...
- 9/25/2011
- by Justine
- SoundOnSight
Heavy Metal Picnic
Directed by Jeff Krulik
USA, 2010
Heavy Metal Picnic is a follow-up to the short cult film, Heavy Metal Parking Lot, which depicted the Maryland Heavy Metal scene during the mid-1980s. Heavy Metal Picnic mixes the home video footage from a 34 hour concert called the “Full Moon Jamboree”, as well as contemporary footage of the people and musicians who made it possible.
What makes this event such a compelling film subject, is that it takes place right at the tail end of an era. Even in that 1985 footage people seemed well aware that this might be the very last concert of it’s kind. The “Psychotic Revolution” (phrased coined by concert promoter/organizer Billy Gordon), was upon them. This revolution defined by growing technology came perhaps a little later than expected, but it nonetheless suggests both the foresight of Billy Gordon as well as the underlying paranoia of this moment in time.
Directed by Jeff Krulik
USA, 2010
Heavy Metal Picnic is a follow-up to the short cult film, Heavy Metal Parking Lot, which depicted the Maryland Heavy Metal scene during the mid-1980s. Heavy Metal Picnic mixes the home video footage from a 34 hour concert called the “Full Moon Jamboree”, as well as contemporary footage of the people and musicians who made it possible.
What makes this event such a compelling film subject, is that it takes place right at the tail end of an era. Even in that 1985 footage people seemed well aware that this might be the very last concert of it’s kind. The “Psychotic Revolution” (phrased coined by concert promoter/organizer Billy Gordon), was upon them. This revolution defined by growing technology came perhaps a little later than expected, but it nonetheless suggests both the foresight of Billy Gordon as well as the underlying paranoia of this moment in time.
- 9/25/2011
- by Justine
- SoundOnSight
Quadrangle Film Festival, Shoreham
Leave your red carpet gear at home and get out the tent for this rural festival, set in 19th-century farm buildings, with screenings in the stables, discussion in the granary, and camping in the meadows. The mainly documentary programme is filled with curiosities: film-makers in conversation (Iain Sinclair, veteran experimentalist John Smith), special guests introducing their favourite documentaries (Herzog making-of Burden Of Dreams, eccentric family study The Moon And The Sledgehammer, etc), a preview of Afghanistan doc To Hell And Back Again, plus short films, art installations and the great outdoors.
Fri to 4 Sep, quadranglefilmfest.com
Metal On Film, Wolverhampton
As part of the project to reclaim Birmingham and the Black Country's musical heritage, a series of screenings hammering home just how important the genre is. And how ridiculous. The line between the two is often blurry. At one end, Spinal Tap is a compulsory inclusion,...
Leave your red carpet gear at home and get out the tent for this rural festival, set in 19th-century farm buildings, with screenings in the stables, discussion in the granary, and camping in the meadows. The mainly documentary programme is filled with curiosities: film-makers in conversation (Iain Sinclair, veteran experimentalist John Smith), special guests introducing their favourite documentaries (Herzog making-of Burden Of Dreams, eccentric family study The Moon And The Sledgehammer, etc), a preview of Afghanistan doc To Hell And Back Again, plus short films, art installations and the great outdoors.
Fri to 4 Sep, quadranglefilmfest.com
Metal On Film, Wolverhampton
As part of the project to reclaim Birmingham and the Black Country's musical heritage, a series of screenings hammering home just how important the genre is. And how ridiculous. The line between the two is often blurry. At one end, Spinal Tap is a compulsory inclusion,...
- 8/26/2011
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
This year, Pop Montreal, an annual smrgasboard of concerts and music-themed films, celebrates its 10th anniversary. While the concert side of the equation is typically stacked (including, but not remotely limited to, a free Arcade Fire concert), the film portion is no slouch either. This year, film topics include legendary folkie Phil Ochs, The Replacements, Alan McGee and Creation Records, Aice Donut, and the Vancouver punk scene, among others. The fest runs from Sept. 21st-25th here in Montreal – the complete lineup and press release are below.
Montreal, August 11th, 2011 – Where music and movies make out in the dark: Film Pop returns. From September 21st to the 25th, as the Pop Montreal festival turns 10, Film Pop will once again resurface an always-pertinent array of underground musical films and captivating documentaries. Throughout the 5 days of the festival, Film Pop events will be held in 3 main venues: Blue Sunshine (3660 St-Laurent), the Pop...
Montreal, August 11th, 2011 – Where music and movies make out in the dark: Film Pop returns. From September 21st to the 25th, as the Pop Montreal festival turns 10, Film Pop will once again resurface an always-pertinent array of underground musical films and captivating documentaries. Throughout the 5 days of the festival, Film Pop events will be held in 3 main venues: Blue Sunshine (3660 St-Laurent), the Pop...
- 8/11/2011
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
For their 5th annual event, which is set to run Sept. 8-11, the Sydney Underground Film Festival is looking a little more demented than ever. And that’s saying a lot for this scrappy, still relatively young fest, which typically offers ample twisted cinematic offerings.
The fun kicks off with the Opening Night film, the demented superhero comedy Super, written and directed by former Troma go-to screenwriter James Gunn (Tromeo & Juliet); then ends with the Closing Night wallowing in Sydney’s seedy underbelly, X, by homegrown filmmaker Jon Hewitt.
Crammed between these two excursions into violence and depravity is a lineup filled with perverse visions, scandalous public figures, sickening horror, experimental pop culture remixes and more.
For Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film, the highlight of the fest is Usama Alshaibi‘s Profane, a complex psychological, psychosexual, spiritual morality play about a Muslim sex worker who endures a “reverse...
The fun kicks off with the Opening Night film, the demented superhero comedy Super, written and directed by former Troma go-to screenwriter James Gunn (Tromeo & Juliet); then ends with the Closing Night wallowing in Sydney’s seedy underbelly, X, by homegrown filmmaker Jon Hewitt.
Crammed between these two excursions into violence and depravity is a lineup filled with perverse visions, scandalous public figures, sickening horror, experimental pop culture remixes and more.
For Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film, the highlight of the fest is Usama Alshaibi‘s Profane, a complex psychological, psychosexual, spiritual morality play about a Muslim sex worker who endures a “reverse...
- 8/9/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This week’s Must Read is actually a series of articles. Cineflyer is reprinting and transcribing articles from the first 2007 edition of The Moose, the newsletter of the Winnipeg Film Group. Here’s a scan of the cover. The issue included movie reviews by Darryl Nepinak and Mike Maryniuk’s top 10 Wfg films. Plus, there’s filmmaking tips by Cecilia Araneda and Heidi Phillips. An article by King of the Internet, Jaimz Asmundson. Guy Maddin interviews his favorite filmmaker, Guy Maddin.Heavy Metal Parking Lot hits the big time with a profile in the Wall Street Journal, of all places!Did you know Chicago’s Facets had a Tumblr blog? We didn’t, but now we do. Go bookmark.Plus, on the Facets blog, Gregory Hess reviews Steven Soderbergh’s “lost” film Kafka, which is only available on VHS. That’s weird.Speaking of Chicago, the Tribune spotlights two homegrown...
- 7/10/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
July 8 & 9
8:00 p.m. (both nights)
The Dryden Theatre
900 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607
Hosted by: The Dryden Theatre
The world’s greatest documentary filmmaker, Jeff Krulik, will make a special two-night live appearance at the Dryden Theatre on July 8 & 9! On July 8, he will be screening his latest masterpiece, Heavy Metal Picnic, along with his most infamous film, Heavy Metal Parking Lot. Then, on July 9, he will screen a collection of his legendary short docs, such as King Of Porn, Obsessed with Jews, I Created Lancelot Link, Ernest Borgnine On The Bus, Mr. Blassie Goes To Washington, and more.
As great an opportunity to see any collection of Krulik’s work may be, it’s really a special bonus to go hear him speak in person. He is an amazing yarn-spinner and, listening to him talk, you really get to understand what makes his films so wonderful. His passion for life...
8:00 p.m. (both nights)
The Dryden Theatre
900 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607
Hosted by: The Dryden Theatre
The world’s greatest documentary filmmaker, Jeff Krulik, will make a special two-night live appearance at the Dryden Theatre on July 8 & 9! On July 8, he will be screening his latest masterpiece, Heavy Metal Picnic, along with his most infamous film, Heavy Metal Parking Lot. Then, on July 9, he will screen a collection of his legendary short docs, such as King Of Porn, Obsessed with Jews, I Created Lancelot Link, Ernest Borgnine On The Bus, Mr. Blassie Goes To Washington, and more.
As great an opportunity to see any collection of Krulik’s work may be, it’s really a special bonus to go hear him speak in person. He is an amazing yarn-spinner and, listening to him talk, you really get to understand what makes his films so wonderful. His passion for life...
- 7/8/2011
- by screenings
- 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
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
Jeff Krulik and John Heyn’s latest head-banging documentary Heavy Metal Picnic makes its Windy City debut tonight, June 4 at 8:00 p.m., as the Closing Night film of the Chicago Underground Film Festival. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Cuff website. The screening is at the Gene Siskel Film Center.
Heavy Metal Picnic is a quasi-sequel to Krulik and Heyn’s immortal classic Heavy Metal Parking Lot. It details, via archival home footage and modern reunion interviews, a raucous weekend-long outdoor farm party held in Maryland. Heavy metal bands played, alcohol was consumed, drugs were ingested, romances were born and a ton of fun was had.
Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film reviewed the film several months ago. An excerpt:
Listening to the Jamboree party goers with their thick Maryland accents, completely inebriated ramblings, rude attempts at humor and at least one fistfight makes the event...
Heavy Metal Picnic is a quasi-sequel to Krulik and Heyn’s immortal classic Heavy Metal Parking Lot. It details, via archival home footage and modern reunion interviews, a raucous weekend-long outdoor farm party held in Maryland. Heavy metal bands played, alcohol was consumed, drugs were ingested, romances were born and a ton of fun was had.
Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film reviewed the film several months ago. An excerpt:
Listening to the Jamboree party goers with their thick Maryland accents, completely inebriated ramblings, rude attempts at humor and at least one fistfight makes the event...
- 6/5/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Tonight marks the opening of the 18th annual Chicago Underground Film Festival. The fest is kicking off this year with the transcendental comedy debut feature by Jerzy Rose, Some Girls Never Learn.
The film chronicles several coincidental paranormal discoveries, including the unearthing of Amelia Earhart’s leg bone, the spontaneous gatherings of wildlife into concentric circles, the loss of helium into the luminiferous aether, and the journey a high school science teacher takes to the underworld to find his girlfriend.
The film screens tonight at 8:00 p.m. at the Gene Siskel Film Center.
Watch the trailer below.
Cuff will then continue every night until June 9. Some other highlights of the fest include Usama Alshaibi’s Profane, Marie Losier‘s The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye, Jeff Krulik & John Heyn’s Heavy Metal Parking Lot and Michael Galinsky & Suki Hawley‘s Battle of Brooklyn.
Check out the full lineup here.
The film chronicles several coincidental paranormal discoveries, including the unearthing of Amelia Earhart’s leg bone, the spontaneous gatherings of wildlife into concentric circles, the loss of helium into the luminiferous aether, and the journey a high school science teacher takes to the underworld to find his girlfriend.
The film screens tonight at 8:00 p.m. at the Gene Siskel Film Center.
Watch the trailer below.
Cuff will then continue every night until June 9. Some other highlights of the fest include Usama Alshaibi’s Profane, Marie Losier‘s The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye, Jeff Krulik & John Heyn’s Heavy Metal Parking Lot and Michael Galinsky & Suki Hawley‘s Battle of Brooklyn.
Check out the full lineup here.
- 6/2/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Project Parlor & Junk Food Dinner present...
We're back! Round 7 was one of the best nights yet! For this week (Round 8) we thought we'd do something a little different. While "Krull" and "Return to Oz" were hits, they were both really long, right? Right. So, Tuesday (June 7th!) we're presenting 4 bite-sized morsels of weirdness for you to cram into your brain.
Heavy Metal Parking Lot (1986)
Circulating only as a bootleg for many years, this is a true American time capsule. Thirty minutes of solid gold from the parking lot of a Judas Priest concert at the USAir Arena in Maryland. Witness the majesty of cool t-shirts, sing-alongs, beer, dope, bad hair, good hair, cars, swear-words, groupies, and more as we present this once lost gem.
This girl wants to party with you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyN-OAHC4TY
Mr. T's: Be Somebody or Be Somebody's Fool (1984)
You know who cares about kids?...
We're back! Round 7 was one of the best nights yet! For this week (Round 8) we thought we'd do something a little different. While "Krull" and "Return to Oz" were hits, they were both really long, right? Right. So, Tuesday (June 7th!) we're presenting 4 bite-sized morsels of weirdness for you to cram into your brain.
Heavy Metal Parking Lot (1986)
Circulating only as a bootleg for many years, this is a true American time capsule. Thirty minutes of solid gold from the parking lot of a Judas Priest concert at the USAir Arena in Maryland. Witness the majesty of cool t-shirts, sing-alongs, beer, dope, bad hair, good hair, cars, swear-words, groupies, and more as we present this once lost gem.
This girl wants to party with you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyN-OAHC4TY
Mr. T's: Be Somebody or Be Somebody's Fool (1984)
You know who cares about kids?...
- 6/2/2011
- by noreply@blogger.com (Kevin, Mark & Parker)
Today marks the 25th anniversary of one of the most important days in underground film history. On May 31, 1986, public access TV guys Jeff Krulik and John Heyn “borrowed” some equipment from their station, drove out to the Capital Centre arena in Largo, Maryland and videotaped a bunch of stoners in the parking lot partying before a Judas Priest concert. The edited together footage would become one of the most beloved bootlegged classics of all time: Heavy Metal Parking Lot. Watch it again embedded above and feel the love. And the drugs.
Tell us what your favorite heavy metal bits are!
(With us, we mutter “Yo, Priest is the best man!” for hours after viewing every time, so we love that guy.)
From initial showings in Krulik’s and Heyn’s living rooms to migrating its way onto L.A. video store shelves where it ended up on Nirvana’s tour bus,...
Tell us what your favorite heavy metal bits are!
(With us, we mutter “Yo, Priest is the best man!” for hours after viewing every time, so we love that guy.)
From initial showings in Krulik’s and Heyn’s living rooms to migrating its way onto L.A. video store shelves where it ended up on Nirvana’s tour bus,...
- 5/31/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 18th annual Chicago Underground Film Festival is ready to have another monumental year at the Gene Siskel Film Center on June 2-9, featuring a killer lineup with new films from some true underground legends.
First, Usama Alshaibi will screen his latest, most visually stunning and conceptually innovative feature Profane, about a spiritually confused Muslim sex worker trying to recapture her lost jinn — a demon of smokeless fire — on streets of the Windy City.
Then, documentary filmmakers Jeff Krulik and John Heyn return to their hard rockin’ roots with Heavy Metal Picnic, which relives one of the most notorious ’80s weekend parties in the history of Maryland and the world — the Full Moon Jamboree, which if you can remember it means you weren’t there. Plus, Hmp will be screened with Heyn and Krulik’s underground classic Heavy Metal Parking Lot.
Also in the documentary vein, are Marie Losier‘s...
First, Usama Alshaibi will screen his latest, most visually stunning and conceptually innovative feature Profane, about a spiritually confused Muslim sex worker trying to recapture her lost jinn — a demon of smokeless fire — on streets of the Windy City.
Then, documentary filmmakers Jeff Krulik and John Heyn return to their hard rockin’ roots with Heavy Metal Picnic, which relives one of the most notorious ’80s weekend parties in the history of Maryland and the world — the Full Moon Jamboree, which if you can remember it means you weren’t there. Plus, Hmp will be screened with Heyn and Krulik’s underground classic Heavy Metal Parking Lot.
Also in the documentary vein, are Marie Losier‘s...
- 5/13/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Update: See the full 2011 Cuff lineup here.
The Chicago Underground Film Festival, the longest-running underground film fest in the world, has announced the Opening and Closing Night films for their 18th annual edition, which will run this year June 2-9 at the Gene Siskel Film Center.
Opening the prestigious festival is the debut feature film by Chicago-based filmmaker Jerzy Rose, Some Girls Never Learn. The film is an absurdist comedy about the discovery of several bizarre scientific happenings, including the unearthing of Amelia Earhart’s leg bone, animals spontaneously gathering into concentric circles and helium escaping into the luminiferous aether. Meanwhile, a high school science teacher has to journey into the underworld to retrieve his girlfriend.
Rose has previously directed several short experimental videos, including a trailer for last year’s Cuff. He is also a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Watch the Some Girls Never Learn trailer:
Then,...
The Chicago Underground Film Festival, the longest-running underground film fest in the world, has announced the Opening and Closing Night films for their 18th annual edition, which will run this year June 2-9 at the Gene Siskel Film Center.
Opening the prestigious festival is the debut feature film by Chicago-based filmmaker Jerzy Rose, Some Girls Never Learn. The film is an absurdist comedy about the discovery of several bizarre scientific happenings, including the unearthing of Amelia Earhart’s leg bone, animals spontaneously gathering into concentric circles and helium escaping into the luminiferous aether. Meanwhile, a high school science teacher has to journey into the underworld to retrieve his girlfriend.
Rose has previously directed several short experimental videos, including a trailer for last year’s Cuff. He is also a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Watch the Some Girls Never Learn trailer:
Then,...
- 5/6/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Well, it's February, the groundhog saw his shadow, which means spring is coming soon, but unfortunately, there's no groundhog to show us the light at the end of the crap, horrible films tunnel, so we'll just have to keep humping those Oscar screeners. Not much in theaters to tempt one from the warmth of home, where there's cable, DVDs, Netflix Instant and Hulu (important PSA: this writer just discovered that the short documentary "Heavy Metal Parking Lot" is on Hulu, so Run don't walk over there right now to watch it, then come back and read the rest of this…...
- 2/4/2011
- The Playlist
The 25th anniversary of the underground classic Heavy Metal Parking Lot kicked off one month early when the late night show Last Call With Carson Daly hosted a special tribute to the film and the filmmakers on their Dec. 7 episode. Embedded above, you can watch the entire segment, plus a promo and a teaser for it. The Last Call staff really did a bang-up job with the segment, too. It’s funny, informative, properly reverential and shows off why it’s such a beloved masterpiece.
I’m not sure the details of how this whole thing was put together, but I was mighty surprised when Jeff Krulik and John Heyn, the two brilliant talents behind the Hmpl phenomenon, literally showed up at my workplace doorstep in November to tell me they had taped this segment. (That was also actually the first time I had ever met John, although we’ve...
I’m not sure the details of how this whole thing was put together, but I was mighty surprised when Jeff Krulik and John Heyn, the two brilliant talents behind the Hmpl phenomenon, literally showed up at my workplace doorstep in November to tell me they had taped this segment. (That was also actually the first time I had ever met John, although we’ve...
- 12/16/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Now is about the time of month I actually start to try and figure out what I'm going to be buying people for Christmas which I realizes is probably not the best plan. Part of the problem is that, since I grew up around the mid-East Coast I have a hard time accepting the idea that Christmas is around the corner when the weather here is still (mostly) mild and sunny. The other problem is that I'm a very list oriented person, so I put all the more immediate things (finals, papers, work, bills, eating, etc.) on my mental list before Christmas shopping so by the time I get down to it I'm usually out of money and running the risk of all the good gifts being sold out. So, if I'm supposed to be buying you a present for Christmas this year, my sincere apologies and here's your Tuesday...
- 12/8/2010
- by Intern Rusty
Was there ever a more awesomely jammin’ place and time than the state of Maryland in the 1980s?
Well, the answer is probably yes, but thanks to the documentary evidence produced by filmmakers Jeff Krulik and John Heyn, it’ll be awfully hard to prove.
The pair immortalized ’80s Maryland party atmosphere in their now legendary underground documentary Heavy Metal Parking Lot (Hmpl), in which they chronicled the shenanigans going on outside of a Judas Priest concert. That film is probably one of the most iconic artifacts of ’80s culture ever created during that decade.
A little older, a little wiser and a little grayer, the boys are back with a new documentary, Heavy Metal Picnic, that, while not directly linked, is at to least joined in spirit with their earlier hit. (For this film, Krulik is credited as a director and producer; and Heyn just as a producer.)
The...
Well, the answer is probably yes, but thanks to the documentary evidence produced by filmmakers Jeff Krulik and John Heyn, it’ll be awfully hard to prove.
The pair immortalized ’80s Maryland party atmosphere in their now legendary underground documentary Heavy Metal Parking Lot (Hmpl), in which they chronicled the shenanigans going on outside of a Judas Priest concert. That film is probably one of the most iconic artifacts of ’80s culture ever created during that decade.
A little older, a little wiser and a little grayer, the boys are back with a new documentary, Heavy Metal Picnic, that, while not directly linked, is at to least joined in spirit with their earlier hit. (For this film, Krulik is credited as a director and producer; and Heyn just as a producer.)
The...
- 11/30/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Forget all of the negative buzz from Sundance, Hesher is one of the best indies of the year and destined for cult status when it gets released sometime next spring. This slick and exceptionally polished piece of film anarchy left an ear to ear shit eating grin plastered across my face that's still there two days later.
Who is Hesher? Hesher is a head banging, cunt punching, car bombing, nihilistic Marry Poppins for the Heavy Metal Parking Lot set and also one of the most captivating and memorable characters of recent memory.
I can already see the Hesher T-shirts flying off of the shelves at Hot Topic next year and expect to see plenty of Heshers at future Halloween parties. But don't let that assertion persuade you.
The debut feature film of Spencer Susser of I Love You Sarah Jane fame, Hesher is a wholly unique and original film that...
Who is Hesher? Hesher is a head banging, cunt punching, car bombing, nihilistic Marry Poppins for the Heavy Metal Parking Lot set and also one of the most captivating and memorable characters of recent memory.
I can already see the Hesher T-shirts flying off of the shelves at Hot Topic next year and expect to see plenty of Heshers at future Halloween parties. But don't let that assertion persuade you.
The debut feature film of Spencer Susser of I Love You Sarah Jane fame, Hesher is a wholly unique and original film that...
- 10/18/2010
- Screen Anarchy
The uniformity of today's digitally colour-graded films can never match the spontaneous look of deteriorating celluloid
The other week I was at the BFI Southbank to see Brian Clemens's sole directorial feature, the hugely enjoyable and inventive Hammer film Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter, a favoured movie of mine that I'd never before had the chance to see in its natural environment: the big screen. Before the screening started, a representative from the BFI informed the audience that the print had arrived fairly last minute and the quality wasn't all that great; it was an old print, from the original 1974 release and not only had a lot of surface damage and patched together breaks but had also started to rot away, giving much of it a pinkish hue. Well, I wasn't going to get another chance to see this so I "bravely" decided to stick with it and was quite...
The other week I was at the BFI Southbank to see Brian Clemens's sole directorial feature, the hugely enjoyable and inventive Hammer film Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter, a favoured movie of mine that I'd never before had the chance to see in its natural environment: the big screen. Before the screening started, a representative from the BFI informed the audience that the print had arrived fairly last minute and the quality wasn't all that great; it was an old print, from the original 1974 release and not only had a lot of surface damage and patched together breaks but had also started to rot away, giving much of it a pinkish hue. Well, I wasn't going to get another chance to see this so I "bravely" decided to stick with it and was quite...
- 8/18/2010
- by Phelim O'Neill
- The Guardian - Film News
Aug. 6
9:30 p.m.
AFI Silver Theater and Cultural Center
8633 Colesville Road
Silver Spring, MD 20910
The year: 1985. The place: “The Farm,” MD. The party: The Full Moon Jamboree, one hell-raisin’, balls-out, long-weekend bacchanal that was so raucous it made the evening news — and not for any reason that was good. Revisit the good ol’ time to end all good ol’ times by the mighty masters of ’80s rock ‘n’ roll debauchery: Jeff Krulik and John Heyn.
Heavy Metal Picnic is a first-hand account of one massive, outrageous farm party that terrified the neighbors and local officials. Krulik and Heyn, of Heavy Metal Parking Lot fame, have assembled the long unseen hand-recorded VHS footage that was captured by the Full Moon Jamboree’s attendees and combined it with modern-day interviews with those who organized it, lived it and have fond memories of it.
While the original Heavy Metal Parking Lot inspired several sequels,...
9:30 p.m.
AFI Silver Theater and Cultural Center
8633 Colesville Road
Silver Spring, MD 20910
The year: 1985. The place: “The Farm,” MD. The party: The Full Moon Jamboree, one hell-raisin’, balls-out, long-weekend bacchanal that was so raucous it made the evening news — and not for any reason that was good. Revisit the good ol’ time to end all good ol’ times by the mighty masters of ’80s rock ‘n’ roll debauchery: Jeff Krulik and John Heyn.
Heavy Metal Picnic is a first-hand account of one massive, outrageous farm party that terrified the neighbors and local officials. Krulik and Heyn, of Heavy Metal Parking Lot fame, have assembled the long unseen hand-recorded VHS footage that was captured by the Full Moon Jamboree’s attendees and combined it with modern-day interviews with those who organized it, lived it and have fond memories of it.
While the original Heavy Metal Parking Lot inspired several sequels,...
- 8/3/2010
- by screenings
- Underground Film Journal
From out of the parking lot and onto the farm, Jeff Krulik and John Heyn revisit their badass roots with their new documentary Heavy Metal Picnic, which revisits the backyard party to end all backyard parties. The year is 1985 and the place is the Full Moon Jamboree, a thirty-six hour non-stop heavy metal jam in the backwoods of Maryland. Metalheads, stoners and other degenerates all came together for a blow-out event that made it onto the evening news — and not for one of those “feel good” stories. (Although the partiers sure were feelin’ good.) Relive the good ol’ days in the above embedded trailer for the raucous new documentary that’s coming soon.
Krulik and Heyn are, of course, the two geniuses behind one of the greatest underground films of all time: Heavy Metal Parking Lot, which chronicled first-hand the shenanigans going on in the parking lot outside of a Judas Priest concert.
Krulik and Heyn are, of course, the two geniuses behind one of the greatest underground films of all time: Heavy Metal Parking Lot, which chronicled first-hand the shenanigans going on in the parking lot outside of a Judas Priest concert.
- 7/21/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
*%$#Loads Of Videos with Jeff Krulik Live!
Sun at Ritz
Pop And Not-so-pop Clips with Chuck Statler Live!
Mon at Ritz
This Sunday and Monday, we’ll be showcasing the work of two of the secretly perfect men of American entertainment!
About Jeff Krulik: Many consider Heavy Metal Parking Lot to be one of the defining works of the ’80s. And it is. Hilarious, unbelievable and 100% Real, it’s persevered as a truly classic mini doc. But creator Krulik has never stopped chronicling amazing, gut-busting and truly unusual people across the globe. From raging pro wrestlers to Jew-obsessed shut-ins to all-chimpanzee rock bands, Krulik has fearlessly delved into the strangest chasms of the world.
On Sunday, he joins us in person to present selections from his skull-rattling filmography, including monkey manifesto I Created Lancelot Link, oddball celebrity travelogue Ernest Borgnine On The Bus, the unstoppable, aforementioned Heavy Metal Parking Lot and many more.
Sun at Ritz
Pop And Not-so-pop Clips with Chuck Statler Live!
Mon at Ritz
This Sunday and Monday, we’ll be showcasing the work of two of the secretly perfect men of American entertainment!
About Jeff Krulik: Many consider Heavy Metal Parking Lot to be one of the defining works of the ’80s. And it is. Hilarious, unbelievable and 100% Real, it’s persevered as a truly classic mini doc. But creator Krulik has never stopped chronicling amazing, gut-busting and truly unusual people across the globe. From raging pro wrestlers to Jew-obsessed shut-ins to all-chimpanzee rock bands, Krulik has fearlessly delved into the strangest chasms of the world.
On Sunday, he joins us in person to present selections from his skull-rattling filmography, including monkey manifesto I Created Lancelot Link, oddball celebrity travelogue Ernest Borgnine On The Bus, the unstoppable, aforementioned Heavy Metal Parking Lot and many more.
- 7/16/2010
- by Zack Carlson
- OriginalAlamo.com
Revisit the good ol’ days when local TV stations actually employed local talent beyond the nightly news in Every Other Day Is Halloween, C.W. Prather’s wonderful profile of Washington, D.C.’s legendary late night horror host Count Gore De Vol. This wickedly entertaining documentary is now available on DVD at Amazon and other retailer/rental outlets.
Underneath the cape, fangs and pancake makeup, the good Count is actually performer Dick Dyszel, who appeared as several different characters on Wdca-tv Channel 20 in the nation’s capital throughout the 1970s. During the day, he entertained the kiddies as Bozo the Clown and hosted cartoon shows as the sci-fi themed Captain 20. But, at night, he transformed himself into Count Gore De Vol for the adults — and the naughty children who dared to stay up late watching old horror movies.
But, all good things must come to an end — or not!
Underneath the cape, fangs and pancake makeup, the good Count is actually performer Dick Dyszel, who appeared as several different characters on Wdca-tv Channel 20 in the nation’s capital throughout the 1970s. During the day, he entertained the kiddies as Bozo the Clown and hosted cartoon shows as the sci-fi themed Captain 20. But, at night, he transformed himself into Count Gore De Vol for the adults — and the naughty children who dared to stay up late watching old horror movies.
But, all good things must come to an end — or not!
- 4/20/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This is the 7th post in a series covering the most outrageous moments in underground film history. You can follow the entire series here.
Film: Military Takeover of NYC
Director: Mike Z
Year: 1999
Remember the panic of Y2K? When it was thought that reality might implode upon itself because the internet couldn’t compute 00? Or, some kind of nonsense like that.
Well, it was, strangely enough, a very real fear at the time, so smarter con men at the time took full advantage of the populace’s gullibility. This was especially true for cinema’s greatest con man, Mike Z, master of the “hoax” film.
In late 1999, Z anonymously produced and directed an untitled video that purported to be an actual military official walking around Times Square and describing the official government plan to start a race riot on New Year’s Eve that would force the full military occupation of all of Manhattan.
Film: Military Takeover of NYC
Director: Mike Z
Year: 1999
Remember the panic of Y2K? When it was thought that reality might implode upon itself because the internet couldn’t compute 00? Or, some kind of nonsense like that.
Well, it was, strangely enough, a very real fear at the time, so smarter con men at the time took full advantage of the populace’s gullibility. This was especially true for cinema’s greatest con man, Mike Z, master of the “hoax” film.
In late 1999, Z anonymously produced and directed an untitled video that purported to be an actual military official walking around Times Square and describing the official government plan to start a race riot on New Year’s Eve that would force the full military occupation of all of Manhattan.
- 2/21/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
After a decade defined by reality TV, the sweet kids caught on video tailgating for the Judas Priest show in 1986's Heavy Metal Parking Lot seem quaint in comparison. There's an innocence and naïvete to these kids, a lack of hunger for fame and validation, even if they are part of a drunken, silly subculture. They just love drinking, metal, girls, and getting their faces rocked off by Judas Priest and (opening act) Dokken. It is a simple anthropological study of people in their natural habitat; in this case, heavy metal fans in a parking lot. A 15-minute documentary by Jeff Krulik and John Heyn, this short became a cult classic, passed around on bootleg VHS and with high-profile admirers from the band Nirvana to director John Waters, who said it "creeped him out." It's been culturally influential, as well: one example includes the movie Dazed and Confused, which takes...
- 2/10/2010
- TribecaFilm.com
Here it is! The original bootlegged underground classic is now officially available for viewing online: The one, the only, the head-bangingly awesome Heavy Metal Parking Lot by John Heyn and Jeff Krulik. Available only as a 100th generation bootleg for years, the entire film — which only runs about 17 minutes — can now be watched on Hulu. Or, embedded right above! For the first time or the thousandth, witness the glory and wonder that was 1986.
For the uninitiated, (there’s still some of you out there, right?) here’s the set-up: On May 31, 1986 Heyn and Krulik appropriated a public access TV camera and headed to the Capital Centre stadium in Landover, Maryland to interview the metalheads waiting in the parking lot for a Judas Priest concert to start. The filmmakers totally didn’t know what to expect, but what they captured is pure cinematic gold: Acres of chemically altered and imbalanced teenagers...
For the uninitiated, (there’s still some of you out there, right?) here’s the set-up: On May 31, 1986 Heyn and Krulik appropriated a public access TV camera and headed to the Capital Centre stadium in Landover, Maryland to interview the metalheads waiting in the parking lot for a Judas Priest concert to start. The filmmakers totally didn’t know what to expect, but what they captured is pure cinematic gold: Acres of chemically altered and imbalanced teenagers...
- 2/7/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This is the 3rd post in a series covering the most outrageous moments in underground film history. You can follow the entire series here.
Film: Heavy Metal Parking Lot
Director: John Heyn and Jeff Krulik
Year: 1986
On May 31, 1986, filmmaker John Heyn and public access station manager Jeff Krulik grabbed a video camera and drove to the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland to interview fans of the heavy metal rock group Judas Priest tailgating in the parking lot before a concert. The result became the beloved cult classic Heavy Metal Parking Lot, aka Hmpl.
What Heyn and Krulik managed to capture was all sorts of inebriated and otherwise chemically imbalanced carousing and partying. While the documentary is filled with all sorts of memorable characters and stories — from Zebraman to the friends of Timmy — the most outrageous action caught on video is when 20-year-old Air Force recruit Dave Helvey starts making out with a 13-year-old girl,...
Film: Heavy Metal Parking Lot
Director: John Heyn and Jeff Krulik
Year: 1986
On May 31, 1986, filmmaker John Heyn and public access station manager Jeff Krulik grabbed a video camera and drove to the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland to interview fans of the heavy metal rock group Judas Priest tailgating in the parking lot before a concert. The result became the beloved cult classic Heavy Metal Parking Lot, aka Hmpl.
What Heyn and Krulik managed to capture was all sorts of inebriated and otherwise chemically imbalanced carousing and partying. While the documentary is filled with all sorts of memorable characters and stories — from Zebraman to the friends of Timmy — the most outrageous action caught on video is when 20-year-old Air Force recruit Dave Helvey starts making out with a 13-year-old girl,...
- 1/7/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Animator Nina Paley has placed her entire feature film Sita Sings the Blues online for viewing. That’s it embedded above in really good quality on YouTube, which sounds like an oxymoron, but it’s not. It’s extremely crisp looking so that the incredibly eye-catching animation really grabs you.
Paley’s situation with her film has been a big story in 2009, particularly in the past month or so. Here’s the deal: Paley crafted the film — which combines her own personal story of her painful divorce with the ancient Indian story of Sita and Rama, two gods who try to exist as human beings — around songs sung by Annette Hanshaw, a jazz singer who was popular in the ’20s.
However, in trying to clear the copyrights to the composition of those songs, Paley ran into a big problem: Namely that the copyright holders wanted Paley to pay $50,000 to include them in the film.
Paley’s situation with her film has been a big story in 2009, particularly in the past month or so. Here’s the deal: Paley crafted the film — which combines her own personal story of her painful divorce with the ancient Indian story of Sita and Rama, two gods who try to exist as human beings — around songs sung by Annette Hanshaw, a jazz singer who was popular in the ’20s.
However, in trying to clear the copyrights to the composition of those songs, Paley ran into a big problem: Namely that the copyright holders wanted Paley to pay $50,000 to include them in the film.
- 1/3/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Remember Heavy Metal Parking Lot? Harry Potter Parking Lot? Well, someone made Sarah Palin Parking Lot: People have no idea why they like Sarah Palin. People have no idea what policies they support and which policies they don’t, and they don’t even seem to realize it. And some of them just make shit up. And it’s all good! (via Americablog and my brother Ken)...
- 11/24/2009
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Last weekend while passing through Winchester, Virginia on Interstate 81, I passed a strange structure just south of the city limits that looked strangely familiar. The large concrete walls surrounding an empty raked rectangle showed the unmistakable outline of a movie theatre. Needing gas, a bathroom, and an IV of coffee, I pulled off of I81 and into the small truck stop community of Stephens City, Virginia. There I saw a sign that confirmed my suspicions, not only was this town getting a new movie theatre, but they were getting the first Alamo Drafthouse to be built outside of the franchise’s Texas home. I would like to welcome Alamo Drafthouse to the East Coast!
If you’ve ever been to a draft house, you’ll understand why this is such a momentous event. Drafthouses are a combination restaurant, bar, and movie theatre, and once you’ve been to one you...
If you’ve ever been to a draft house, you’ll understand why this is such a momentous event. Drafthouses are a combination restaurant, bar, and movie theatre, and once you’ve been to one you...
- 6/4/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (Rebekah McKendry)
- Fangoria
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