Author Archives: marketing.intern

1. Who is Longmont Potion Castle? Find out this Wednesday, Aug 14 at the AFS Cinema

   August 12, 2019 8:18 pm Leave a Comment

   WHERE IN THE HELL IS THE LAVENDER HOUSE?: THE LONGMONT POTION CASTLE STORY screens this Wednesday, August 14 at 8:30 PM at the AFS Cinema. Purchase tickets. After the film we will be joined via Skype by Longmont Potion Castle himself for some live prank calls.

   You might have seen a post or two from AFS about the upcoming screening of WHERE IN THE HELL IS THE LAVENDER HOUSE?: THE LONGMONT POTION CASTLE STORY, and you might be thinking to yourself: “who/what the hell is Longmont Potion Castle, and why should I be interested?” Well, we’re here to explain! At the bottom of everything, it’s easy to summarize Longmont Potion Castle as just a prank caller, but if we ended our explanation there you would kind of be missing the point of his whole schtick and the cult following that surrounds him. 

   Growing up in Texas, LPC always “excelled the most in language arts” (VICE). With this talent in his pocket and his love for all things about prank calls, the persona of LPC was born. 

   

   Starting at the age of 16, LPC infused his compilation albums of prank calls with his own musical talents and interests, often in the form of sound collages that feature thrash metal or punk. His setup includes a “Neumann KMS105 vocal mic with a Universal Audio 2-610 tube mic preamp…that goes into [his] favorite digital delay pedal, the Digitech 8 Second Time Machine” – a vocal rig that totals out to around $3,000 (VICE). This love and appreciation for music bleeds through his compilation albums, which is probably why he has garnered fans like Sublime, Jimmy Eat World, and The Dirty Projectors throughout the years. 

   A large part of LPC’s appeal is that his comedy on the prank calls is oftentimes completely improvised (he only recently began jotting down notes/ideas to use in his calls). Longtime fan and executive producer of the film, Rainn Wilson, describes LPC’s calls as having a “surreal aspect, as if Salvador Dali were doing prank phone calls.” There’s genius in asking for non-existent products like “helium ointment” or “coaxial rimrod” while slowly driving unassuming store clerks closer to the brink of insanity. 

   

    

   Overall, the draw of LPC just comes down to the fact that you can tell he loves what he’s doing and he knows how to do it well. He doesn’t simply string together a bunch of random prank phone calls for listeners to dredge through. Instead, his compilations are thoughtfully pieced together with absurdist wit and a knack for pushing buttons. 

   Check out what we’re talking about below with a selection of a few of our favorite LPC calls. There’s nothing quite like listening to people completely lose their heads over nonsense.

   KIEFER SUTHERLAND

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U40vd_U_rbo

   CLOWN MOTEL

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QBJaTtF7XI&list=PL9_6hnvwF_JcXNvY75Lagp_lJ5UKnK3ZN

   NASH

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igWd3xjFkAE

2. The Many Roles of Sonny Carl Davis – Catch his Live, One-Man show this weekend at AFS Cinema

   August 7, 2019 10:48 pm Leave a Comment

   Sonny Carl Davis Live: First to Be Eaten: Ramblings of a Bit Player takes place at the AFS Cinema on Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 11. Purchase tickets. 

   You probably know him as the “diner guy” in those anti-Ted Cruz commercials, but we’re here to tell you that Sonny Carl Davis has a lot more work that you need to check out. We’ve compiled a short list of some of our favorite SCD roles throughout the years in anticipation of his live performance at the AFS Cinema, FIRST TO BE EATEN: RAMBLINGS OF A BIT PLAYER. Trust us when we tell you they’re worth watching. 

   THE WHOLE SHOOTIN’ MATCH

   Davis plays one half of the friendship duo in this film about two guys trying to find success through a get-rich-quick scheme. It’s hard not to be charmed by the comedic rapport “lovefest” between Lou Perryman (the other half of the duo) and Sonny Carl Davis (The Austin Chronicle).

   LAST NIGHT AT THE ALAMO

   A follow-up to THE WHOLE SHOOTIN’ MATCH, this film follows a group of regulars coming together at their favorite bar, The Alamo, before it officially closes. An Austin cult classic. 

   FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH

   The hilarious staple ’80s movie all about sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll, Davis is featured in one of his many “small roles in [a] big movie.” Although not a lead actor, Davis’ captivating personality still manages to bleed through. 

   BERNIE

   The role that inspired the anti-Ted Cruz commercials, Davis plays the town gossip that’s not afraid to give you his opinions on things, like the state of Texas: “You got your Gulf Coast, and it’s the Carcinogenic Coast. And then you’ve got your Austin…with your hairy-legged women and your liberal fruitcakes,” (The Austin American Statesman). 

   EVIL BONG 

   If the name doesn’t draw you in then maybe some Sonny Carl Davis will. A film about a group of stoners who order an old giant bong that proves to have bizarre magical powers, Davis sneaks into the feature as a delivery guy. And if you loved this one, then make sure to pick up the second one, EVIL BONG II, where Davis gets captured and “‘rolled up into a doobie with [his] little bald head sticking out of [a] CGI joint,’” (FW Weekly).

   If you want to hear Davis talk about all of these roles and everything that happened in between, don’t miss his live stage monologue at the AFS Cinema on Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 11. In between laughs you’ll find yourself learning a thing or two about life, the movies, and everything else worth a damn.

3. WHY WE LOVE JEAN ARTHUR

   July 29, 2019 6:03 pm Leave a Comment

   The AFS Essential Cinema series Half Angel: The Essential Cinema of Jean Arthur runs from August 1- 31 at the AFS Cinema. 

   In preparation for our upcoming Essential Cinema series at the AFS Cinema, Half Angel: The Essential Cinema of Jean Arthur, we’ve compiled a list of a few things we love about Jean Arthur so that you can fall in love with her as well. An incredibly charming presence despite her notorious stage fright, Jean Arthur was a complex Hollywood star whose acting still resonates with us today.

   FROM GLADYS TO JOAN

   

    

   Originally named Gladys Greene, Jean Arthur was pressed by Hollywood to choose a stage name. She drew inspiration from two idols: Joan of Arc (Jeanne d’Arc) and King Arthur (The New York Times).

   SHE NEVER GAVE UP

   

    

   Landing fresh on the scene with a one-year contract from Fox Film Studios, Jean Arthur was remodeled and advertised as a flapper to interest the new Jazz Age audiences. However, her early performances in silent films fell flat. She states that she “was acting like a mechanical doll personality” in order to fit a mold. She was left feeling disheartened and wanting to leave the film industry altogether, but stayed due to her contract. She ended up taking roles in comedy shorts for the remaining time, where she developed the comedic timing that would later serve her screwball comedy career.

   20 WESTERNS IN 2 YEARS

   

    

   After her disappointing performances with Fox Film Studios, Arthur ended up impressing the owner of the B-western studio Action Pictures, Lester F. Scott Jr. He decided to take a chance on her, so she was cast in over twenty westerns in a two-year period, only receiving a measly $25 per picture. To top it all off, the westerns were shot on location in the hot California desert.

   HALF ANGEL, HALF HORSE

   

    

   Highly self-conscious, Jean knew exactly which camera angles would flatter her the best, and she worked hard to make sure they were featured. At one point, “director Frank Capra recalled producer Harry Cohn’s description of Jean Arthur’s imbalanced profile: ‘half of it’s angel, and the other half horse.’”

   SHE KNEW HER WORTH

   

    

   Well-known for her anxious yet steadfast personality, Arthur went against the typical Hollywood grain once she began landing lead roles. Due to this, she was often suspended by Columbia Pictures for rejecting roles because, according to her, she “just couldn’t act in a bad picture” (The New York Times). Talk about headstrong.

   A NEW TYPE OF LEADING LADY

   

    

   Arthur’s strong personality brought her more than just studio troubles – it also attracted roles that reflected a new type of character—a more independent, modern woman. In the “man’s world” of the 1930s, she could hold her own and then some. This would prove to be one of her greatest assets.

   PAYING IT FORWARD

   

    

   Once retired from her acting career, she began teaching at a few different universities. While at Vassar, she had a promising young pupil  named Meryl Streep, whom she predicted would go far. Many thanks, Jean.

    

   These are just a few of the countless things to love about Jean Arthur. She was a powerful actress, all the more impressive considering she was effortlessly masking her anxiety, stress and self-consciousness. In this sense, she was just downright relatable and in a lot of cases that is what made her acting all the more genuine. 

   Her distaste for the limelight and commitment to a private life may account for why Jean Arthur lacks the notoriety of some of her contemporaries, but her performances will endure long after her fame has faded. Trust us when we say you don’t want to miss this powerhouse of a woman in some of her most endearing roles at our upcoming series, Half Angel: The Essential Cinema of Jean Arthur.

4. Listen to This: Madlib Mines the Blue Note Records Archive

   July 17, 2019 9:47 pm Leave a Comment

   BLUE NOTE RECORDS: BEYOND THE NOTES runs July 19 – 24 at the AFS Cinema. Join us for a Blue Note Records DJ set by Violet Sound following the Friday, July 19, 7 PM screening, and a post-movie discussion with jazz trumpeter Jeff Lofton on Saturday, July 20 after the 4:30 screening. Purchase tickets. 

   Known under many different aliases—most notably Quasimoto and one half of the duo Madvillian—DJ, producer and MC Madlib is an artist that isn’t afraid to march to his own beat. Working with names as big as Kanye West, J Dilla and Erykah Badu, Madlib’s influence runs deep throughout today’s hip-hop scene. 

   Wanting to reach a wider audience and reframe its revolutionary music, in 2003 Blue Note Records tasked the unpredictable and eclectic Madlib with creating a “remix” project out of their vast master tapes archive. Home to groundbreaking artists such as Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane, Madlib had free range to sample some of the most influential music ever produced. Innovative and refreshing, Madlib’s creation is an album that highlights a wide range of the label’s rebellious impulses—an excellent way to “sample” one of the heaviest catalogues of the 20th century. Listen here.

5. Meet the Programmer: Jazmyne Moreno of Lates Previews the New Summer Line-up

   July 3, 2019 7:18 pm Leave a Comment

   Another month of Lates kicks off Friday, July 5 with THE REFLECTING SKIN at AFS Cinema. Purchase tickets. 

   Our monthly Lates series returns this Friday, showcasing the new cult film canon guest programmed by Jazmyne Moreno. On the new line-up Moreno says, “From Philip Ridley’s gothy Idaho wheat fields to Tsukamoto’s buzzy thrills—the cult canon gets some trashy (literally) new additions. Oh yeah, and did I mention the talking penis? There’s a talking penis.” With that, Lates keeps it hot all summer long. AFS sits down with Moreno to find out more about the series and upcoming films:

   Where and how did you begin doing film programming?
   I got my start doing screening series at a number of bars and coffeeshops—Hole in the Wall, Indian Roller, Cherrywood Coffeehouse, and Joe’s. From there I moved on to guest programming, and later co-programming, for Weird Wednesday at the Alamo Drafthouse. Later, I was asked to conceive a series for AFS, that series, the monthly Deep End, later merged with the pre-existing weekly series, Lates, which I eventually took over.

   What advice would you give to budding programmers?
   Curation is about speaking with someone else’s work—know what you want to say.

   How would you define the Lates series? What are your goals with the series?
   The tagline says it all: “the new cult canon”. From the fringes of the arthouse and beyond—it’s a little of what you know, some you don’t, and a whole hell of a lot of weird. The goal? To introduce the audience to something they’d otherwise not seek out. Broadening horizons, that’s what it’s all about.

   How did this series come together?
   After the demise of Deep End – it seems surprisingly very few people were into the bestiality romance of WILD – I was asked to bring my tastes to Lates.

   What’s been your most memorable experience with Lates thus far?
   The ‘most memorable experience’? It’s always memorable. Sold out screenings for the unfinished Polish sci-fi epic ON THE SILVER GLOBE. Assyas’ DEMONLOVER on 35mm. Confused theatergoers after JE T’AIME MOI NON PLUS. Watching as everyone collectively decided not to move during THE BEAST (LA BETE). Whether it’s hearing people say, “I waited 30 years to see that” or “I never thought I’d see that in a theater” or even “I hate it”—it’s always memorable.

   Do you have any particular filmmakers you hope to explore in your future programs?
   Sure, but if I told you then it wouldn’t be a surprise.

   What can you say about this summer’s upcoming LATES?
   On THE REFLECTING SKIN: Philip Ridley proves no one does disturbing like children’s authors when the new restoration of THE REFLECTING SKIN hits the screen in July. Truly an unappreciated classic of the ’90s. Also, a young Viggo Mortensen.

   On A SNAKE OF JUNE: Takashi Miike once said of Shinya Tsukamoto, “I will never be able to beat this guy”—he’s right, no one can.

   On TRASH HUMPERS: Gotta respect that Harmony Korine basically said, “I’m not fooling anyone.” It’s a VHS-shot film about people who hump trash, of course it’s in 35mm. Selena Gomez once called this her favorite Harmony Korine film.

   On ERASERHEAD: New cult canon meet the old cult canon. Lates hits a classic with one of the original midnight movies.

   On HOLY MOTORS: Leos Carax + Denis Lavant = Perfection.

   On MARQUIS: This is what Lates is all about. The Marquis de Sade as a cocker spaniel. A talking penis. Yes, a talking penis. From Henri Henri Xhonneux and Roland Topor, the surrealist who worked on everything from FANTASTIC PLANET to Fellini’s CASANOVA, comes a film that leaves me at a loss for words. An absolute highlight of, not just the summer, but the series thus far!

   What can we look forward to in the future?
   Musicals. Screaming in the desert. Murder. Basically, what can’t you look forward to?

6. Strike a Pose: The Enduring Influence of PARIS IS BURNING—Opening June 28 at AFS Cinema

   June 24, 2019 7:49 pm Leave a Comment

   PARIS IS BURNING opens June 28 at AFS Cinema. Purchase tickets. 

   Twenty nine years after its release, the iconic film PARIS IS BURNING continues to have a lasting impact on pop culture through music, TV, and language. From Madonna’s influential song “Vogue” to FX’s new hit show Pose, the cultural reach of the film is profound. Here are just a few of the many works rooted in the iconography featured in PARIS IS BURNING: 

   Malcolm McLaren—“Deep in Vogue” 

   

    

   Featuring voguing icon Willi Ninja, this song and music video were directly inspired by the 1980s ball culture shown in PARIS IS BURNING only one year later. Ninja, who also appears in the film, was a fixture on the scene and a key figure in bringing wider attention to the dance style. The song was a surprise hit, spending nine weeks on the Billboard charts.

   Madonna—”Vogue”

   

    

   Next up—who else but Madonna? This “cultural phenomenon” of a video features voguers José Gutierez Xtravaganza and Luis Camacho Xtravaganza, highlighting key artists in the ball scene of the time (SLANT). Not lacking in controversy, this song sparked a huge debate on whether or not Madonna was appropriating ball culture for her own gain while leaving the queer people of color who were the originators of the style in the dust.

   RuPaul’s Drag Race

   

    

   A reality TV show that has steadily gained mainstream praise, RuPaul’s Drag Race takes the format of the traditional ball and translates it for the small screen. Consistently using the distinctive language found in PARIS IS BURNING—“fierce, werk, yaaas queen, spilling tea, gagging, shade”—Drag Race has had a large role in incorporating the phrases of ballroom culture into everyday mainstream language (THEM).

   KIKI

   

    

   Somewhat of a spiritual sequel to PARIS IS BURNING, KIKI is a 2016 documentary based in an evolved New York City ballroom scene. Confronting similar issues of prejudice, poverty and illness, the film follows a group of LGBTQ youth as they try to make the ranks of the Kiki Scene.

   Pose

   

    

   A fictional adaptation based in the same era of ball culture as PARIS IS BURNING, Pose exposes the hardships and complexity of LGBTQ+ life in late 1980s New York City. Many scenes directly reflect moments in the documentary, bringing a modern audience back to the same issues brought to attention in PARIS IS BURNING.

7. “Heart-wrenching yet absolutely beautiful” FUNAN Opens June 21 at AFS Cinema

   June 17, 2019 9:29 pm Leave a Comment

   FUNAN opens Friday, June 21 at the AFS Cinema. Purchase tickets.

   Cambodia, April 1975. Chou is a young woman whose everyday world is suddenly upended by the arrival of the Khmer Rouge regime. During the chaos of the forced exile from their home, Chou and her husband are separated from their 4-year-old son, who has been sent to an unknown location. As she navigates her new reality, working in the fields day and night under the careful watch of soldiers, and surviving the small indignities and harrowing realities of the increasingly grim work camps, Chou remains steadfast in her determination to reunite her family – even if it means risking everything. A NY Times Critic’s Pick and winner of the top prizes at the Annecy Animation Festival and the Animation is Film Festival, FUNAN is a searing and remarkable debut from filmmaker Denis Do, who uses his own family history as inspiration for a thrilling story of love, loss and enduring hope in the most trying of times. Featuring the voices of Bérénice Bejo (The Artist) and Louis Garrel (The Dreamers).

   REVIEWS

   “A realistic and moving account of a major 20th century atrocity.” – Jordan Mintzer, Hollywood Reporter

   “By embracing hand-drawn animation as a tool for tactful re-creation, “Funan” director Denis Do provides audiences a unique window into this relatively under-represented 20th-century horror, one that serves as an act of witnessing even as it avoids directly showing the violence on-screen.” – Peter Debruge, Variety

   “Heart-wrenching yet absolutely beautiful, this anime film movingly illustrates a tumultuous period of Cambodian history that’s relatively unknown to Western viewers.” – Joyce Slayton, Common Sense Media 

   “Do demonstrates a masterful amount of restraint, and his narrative minimalism maximizes the emotional and intellectual power of the story.” – William Bibbiani, TheWrap

8. “A roller coaster of fabulousness and folly” Halston opens June 14

   June 10, 2019 10:11 pm Leave a Comment

   HALSTON opens this Friday, June 14 at the AFS Cinema. Purchase tickets.

   Fashion designer Halston combined talent, notoriety, and sheer fabulousness to become a legend. From humble beginnings in Des Moines, Iowa, his first brush with fame came when he designed Jackie Onassis’s famous pink pillbox hat. Whether he was popularizing hot pants, creating elegant but comfortable women’s wear, launching a perfume line, traveling with a gaggle of models to China, or having hedonistic fun with Liza Minnelli at Studio 54, Halston built a reputation and an empire—and was responsible for many iconic moments in American fashion and culture in the ’70s and ’80s.

   This new film tells the story of a complicated man—in both his craft and his business decisions—from the mouths of those who knew the man best. Frédéric Tcheng, a great documentarian of fashion luminaries like Valentino, Diana Vreeland, and Raf Simons, takes an unconventional approach to the bio-doc by creating a narrative (starring Tavi Gevinson, a fashion icon of a different generation) through which to frame the story of this enigmatic designer, which allows Tcheng to delve deeper into this comprehensive exploration of the designer’s rise, fall, and enduring influence.

   REVIEWS

   “When it reverts to conventional documentary storytelling… HALSTON is thrilling stuff for fashion nerds, as well as a poignant character study of a misfit ultimately undone by his excessive hunger to prove himself.” – Guy Lodge, Variety

   “A roller coaster of fabulousness and folly.” – David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

   “It’s a quintessential cautionary tale, supported by reams of glamorous archival footage and the recollections of longtime friends” – Leah Greenblatt, Entertainment Weekly

9. Jewels in the Wasteland – Intern Edition: AFS Interns Pick Their Favorite Films of the ’80s

   May 17, 2019 8:25 pm Leave a Comment

   AFS is proud of our internship program, which recruits only the best and the brightest, eager to learn about the behind-the-scenes of Austin Film Society. Our interns work hard each week to help fuel the machine that is AFS. Each intern brings a new perspective and we enjoy learning from them as much as they learn from us.

   In the spirit of Richard Linklater’s Jewels in the Wasteland, a series that spotlights some of the best films made during the 1980s, we thought it was a great opportunity to ask some of the AFS interns their favorite films from the ’80s.

   Be sure to join us for Jewels in the Wasteland at AFS Cinema, and you might bump into an intern hard at work and/or enjoying a new found favorite film from the 1980s.

   Here are some of their favorites from the ’80s:

   Zephyr Gunter, Office Intern

   POSSESSION (1981) dir. Andrzej Zulawski

   “This film is really bonkers. What is it about, really? I don’t know! But I love it and respect it and worship it. Pure insanity, that’s all I can say.”

   

   KOYAANISQATSI (1982) dir. Godfrey Reggio

   “Ethereal, out of body, psychedelic, meditative, contemplative. Scored by Philip Glass. Zero dialogue. A moving masterpiece.”

   

   POLYESTER (1981) dir. John Waters

   “A mockery of the domestic, American lifestyle. Hilarious, genius, and ridiculous. It’s John Waters, what else could you want?”

   

   Annissa Calvillo, Office Intern

   SIXTEEN CANDLES (1984) dir. John Hughes

   “It’s a timeless comedy with the always moody, yet stylish Molly Ringwald. Even watching it now, it’s like a breath of fresh air. Every person can relate to the key characters in some way. For me, it was Molly Ringwald’s best friend telling her to “stop feeling sorry for [herself].” I mean let’s be honest, Samantha was kinda melodramatic about the whole, “my family forgot my birthday” thing. I could go on, but it will always be my favorite 80s film!”

   

   Jack McLain, Senior Intern for the Video & Special Media Department

   HOME OF THE BRAVE: A FILM BY LAURIE ANDERSON (1986) dir. Laurie Anderson

   “This is Laurie Anderson’s world and we’re all just living in it.”

   

   Seve Canales, Senior Intern for the Video & Special Media Department

   NATIONAL LAMPOON’S VACATION (1983) dir. Harold Ramis

   “A classic.”

   

   DAS BOOT (1981) dir. Wolfgang Peterson

   “Das good.”

   

   Glenn Fraser, Senior Intern for the Marketing Department

   PROJECT A-KO (1986) dir. Katsuhiko Nishijima

   “The end result of a series of enthusiastic ‘sure, why not?’ decisions, PROJECT A-KO goes beyond being a zany, over-the-top parody of 80’s anime and becomes something wholly enjoyable on its own.”

   

   ROBOCOP (1987) dir. Paul Verhoeven

   “In the whole collective of 80’s films it’s hard not to bring up something like ROBOCOP. It’s the kind of movie that has all the trappings one would expect: The memorable one-liners, the over-the-top violence, copious amounts of cocaine, etc. What sets this film apart is a soulful performance by Peter Weller, who puts his all into what is a very physically demanding performance, and an undercurrent of wit and intelligence supplied by Paul Verhoeven. Thank goodness Martine Tours retrieved the script from the trashcan that fateful day.”

   

   Sara Tynan, Senior Intern for the Marketing Department

   AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON (1981) dir. John Landis

   “What can I say that hasn’t already been said about this film? Nothing. It’s perfect.”

   

   Bonus favorite film from our wonderful Office Coordinator, Lily Angelle

   THE FLY (1986) dir. David Cronenberg

   “Jeff Goldblum embraces a monkey and turns into a fly… need I say more? It has a scene involving acid vomit that you just cannot unsee, in the best way possible. It might just be the greatest/saddest love story of all time.”

   

   • Contributed by Senior Marketing Intern Sara Tynan

10. WATCH THIS: Richard Linklater on ’80s Jewels including DRUGSTORE COWBOY, THEY LIVE, WINGS OF DESIRE, and more

    May 3, 2019 3:11 pm Leave a Comment

    For the past few years, we’ve been fortunate to have AFS Founder & Artistic Director Richard Linklater curate his “Jewels in the Wasteland” series at AFS Cinema. Encompassing the entire 1980s, the series focuses on highlighting the best of the decade, from veterans like Godard to newcomers like Gus Van Sant. These are not just film screenings—Jewels in the Wasteland also includes an introduction and post-film discussion by Linklater. In anticipation of our next chapter of the Jewels series (beginning May 8 with LOCAL HERO), we’ve now published the videos from the 2017 chapter of the series, including DRUGSTORE COWBOY, THEY LIVE, ISHTAR, among others. Enjoy these and don’t miss out on the upcoming lineup.

    For an archive of all of our Jewels in the Wasteland recordings, visit our Youtube page.

    DRUGSTORE COWBOY

    ANOTHER WOMAN

    BARFLY

    BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY

    BOYFRIENDS AND GIRLFRIENDS

    COLORS

    ISHTAR

    THE DEAD

    THEY LIVE

    WINGS OF DESIRE

     

11. Read This: Interview with Dead Souls Director Wang Bing

    May 1, 2019 7:25 pm Leave a Comment

    DEAD SOULS screens this month at AFS Cinema. Buy Tickets.

    Wang Bing discusses his masterwork DEAD SOULS, the definitive documentary about Maoist purges in mid-century China 

    Among the biggest highlights at AFS this month are several films by Wang Bing, a global visionary whose timely work carries deep insights into the politics and social realities of China. DEAD SOULS, which begins showing at AFS this Thursday, recalls the scale, artistry and historic scope of the Claude Lanzmann Holocaust masterpiece, SHOAH. Read on for more about Wang Bing’s approach to this incredible work, and see it at AFS this Thursday (with part 2 showing next Thursday).

     

    https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/this-grey-zone-wang-bing-discusses-dead-souls 

12. Interview: Directors of new Trans-Pecos oil line doc A TEXAS MYTH, Screening May 11 at AFS Cinema

    April 30, 2019 10:55 pm Leave a Comment

    AFS is excited to present A TEXAS MYTH, a documentary that tells the story of a West Texas family that invites a Native American activist group onto their land to protest the Trans-Pecos oil pipeline together. Join us at the AFS Cinema on Saturday, May 11 at 3:00 p.m. with filmmakers, David Fenster and Joe Cashiola, in attendance.

    We had the opportunity to speak with the filmmakers about their challenges, memorable experiences, and what they hope audiences will take away from the film.

    HOW DID THE FILM DEVELOP?

    As residents of the Big Bend area for the last 10 years, we were concerned about the expansion of oil and gas infrastructure into this remote and pristine area of Texas, and we were inspired by the response of citizens from affected communities to organize and confront these developments.

    WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO MAKE THIS FILM?

    We wanted to make a record of the cultural and environmental destruction happening out here. We also wanted to show people that this part of Texas wasn’t some kind of wasteland, but rich in history, culture, and natural beauty.

    WHAT WERE SOME OF THE DISCOVERIES YOU HAD WHILE FILMING?

    Making this film helped us better understand the indigenous history of the Big Bend region where we live.

    WERE THERE ANY CHALLENGES YOU FACED WHILE FILMING?

    It is such a large region, and there is so much oil and gas development happening here, it was difficult to stay on top of all the new developments, and make it to locations where events were unfolding in time to film them.

    WHAT WAS THE MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE YOU HAD WHILE FILMING?

    Filming the destruction of an archeological site by Energy Transfer Partners, the company building the Trans-Pecos Pipeline, on the equinox won’t soon be forgotten.

    WHAT MAKES THE BIG BEND REGION SO UNIQUE?

    There are so many aspects of the Big Bend that are unique. It is incredibly diverse geologically and ecologically. It has some of the darkest skies in the country and a world class observatory with one of the largest telescopes on the planet. There is also beautiful and profound indigenous rock art all over the region.

    WHAT DO YOU HOPE AUDIENCES WILL TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR FILM?

    We hope people will begin to converse publicly about the long term gains and long term losses of the fossil fuel industry. Local communities all over the globe are being faced with hard decisions about the future. For us, indigenous voices in the conversation offer the clearest path forward: protect the sacred resources of the planet. Water is life.

    • Contributed by Sara Tynan