Category Archives: Film & Video
Yosuke Yamashita
Yosuke Yamashita is a Japanese musician and artist from Tokyo. He has performed extensively worldwide, and has composed music scores for various films, from the late 60s until the present; most notably for Shohei Imamura‘s 1998 Dr. Akagi. He has also recieved various awards, including Japan‘s Award for Fine Arts in 1999 and the Medal With Purple Ribbon in 2003. Currently, he is a visiting professor at both the Kunitachi College of Music and the Nagoya University of Arts. The ten minute video featured below has its‘ origins in one of Yosuke‘s most intruiging works. This 2008 piece, titled Burning Piano is exactly that; albeit with Yosuke playing an improvised jazz piece on the piano throughout its‘ inflammation. However, this was not the first time Yasuke had played a burning piano. That was some 35 years earlier, when he was approached by filmmaker Kiyoshi Awazu to play a burning piano for his short film of the same name. The 2008 version was filmed after Yosuke had revisited the original work, and thus he felt it needed a revival. The 1973 film can be found on Awazu‘s website: www.kiyoshiawazu.com
Martha Marcy May Marlene
Charles Manson once said that ”If you‘re going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy“. In the case of this engrossing but tiresome film,there is a witchiness but it unfortunately falls short of a production ‘done well‘. I say this because I was irked by its‘ many mediocrities. The parallels established betweeen our protagonist, Martha, and her dual realities of the communal dystopia and the corporate-citizen mundane left me in disbelief. I felt that these comparisons were highly unrealistic in an otherwise believable scenario: the characters of Ted and Lucy were far too stereotypical and I was glad actors Sarah Paulson and Hugh Dancy had salvaged the most they could from the roles. Equally, Martha was played very well by Elizabeth Olsen; her performance increasingly compelling following Martha‘s egress from the clutches of Patrick. This Manson-like figure was also played adeptedly by John Hawkes (Winter‘s Bone) but none so convincing as to warrant accolades. The film‘s climactic drive was equally powerful to the acting, but unfortunately lacked the production values to let this film accomplish.
At the end of the day, Martha is director Sean Durkin‘s smugly crafted amalgamation of his previous projects (such as the short Mary Last Seen) into what I believe is a failed attempt at understanding the mindset of someone shell-shocked by indoctrination.
Vectrex
Vectrex? Yes, the name is both confounding and mesmerising. It sounds like some sort of cross between Electronics, Geography, and Chemical Warfare coloured with Prog Rock. And it is all these things & more: Vectrex was an early 80s video game console that was manufactured using surplus military electronics, was the first vector-based system (similar to an Oscilloscope), and could bust out glitch-metal anthems at the drop of a hat. Amped with an unencumbered 1.5 MHz of processing power, and smashing the gameplay with a whole 1 KB of RAM, this baby was born out of the rapid development of video game systems prior to the market meltdown of 1984. The system (created by John Ross) was the ultimate in technology: new Vectrex games came with a plastic sheet; inscribed with coloured designs to affix to your monitor. It also had a Laser Pen and 3D Imager glasses that featured colours on a disc that spun past your eyes while playing the game; developed by the unstoppable John Ross nearly a decade before any other 3D system. Alas, these innovations were not enough to save the system from widespread disdain by the masses. Following a 9-month shelf life, and the introduction of the Atari 5200 was the unfortunate death of the Vectrex. Thankfully, though, during the 90s the entire system, games, and components were released into the Public Domain.
Klara
Klara is quite lovely: easy going with a can-do attitude. And do she does -you will witness Klara‘s paste-ups all over town: often without realising it is her handiwork. But there is no missing the quality of her exploits, and this West Australian native‘s quest to make her art happen here in Melbourne. Klara was happy to meet me in the studio last week to interview herself with the aid of some super-maxxed up technology bonuses. Check it out:
All Through The Night (Cyndi Lauper)
Ethereal electro-pop is a fairly loose term being bandied about at the moment. The resurgence of this reincarnation of early 80s synthesiser music has arguably been spear-headed by the Winding Refn film Drive. On this soundtrack, Refn invited Cliff Martinez to revisit the score he produced for the 1989 Steven Soderburgh film Sex, Lies, and Videotape. However, the sound emanating from Martinez‘ work goes back almost another decade: which brings us to All Through The Night. This song was written by Jules Shear -a modest 80s music producer that is also credited with the creation of the MTV Unplugged series. He wrote All Through The Night for The Cars and although they recorded the folk ballad, they did not release it on their Heartbeat City album, nor as a B-side on their Drive single. Shear, however, did his own recording and released the song on his 1983 solo album Watch Dog. The next year, following a failed collaborative effort between Lauper and Shear, Lauper decided she would record an unrevised cover of the song. During the recording sessions at NYC‘s Record Plant the track began to take on a new form and was completed in a style that epitomises the early 80s synth ballads which, as mentioned, seem to be experiencing a revival of late. Have a listen to this live version from 1984:
Brendan Lee
Brendan Lee is an Australian Photographer and Video Artist from Victoria. His works are mainly centred around Australian identity and the colloquialisms associated with the urban ‘bogan‘. Brendan has recently achieved success in his 2011 show Australian Days at the CCP (Centre of Contemporary Photography), and with the release of his book Bogan Proof Fences. The book is a complement to his next show (of the same title) running from the 1st March until 25th march at The Substation 1 Market St. Newport.
INFX caught up with Brendan in this interview (of sorts) yesterday:
brendanlee.com
Two Women (Sophia Loren)
What better way to start off the new year than with a full-length, classic feature film?
Sophia Loren stars in this 1960 cinematic gem by one of Italy‘s most successful and prolific film-makers. Vittorio De Silva (Bicycle Thieves, Generale della Rovere) wrote the screenplay and directed this film during the height of his career. It again visits his common thematics: namely in the tragic framing of love, sex, and courage amidst a setting of adversity. The film was highly contentious at the time of its release as it contained imagery considered highly graphic at the time. Loren recieved a Best Actress Oscar for her role; the first time a foreign film had recieved the honour. The 25 year-old had until this point been a sucessful model, but had acted only in minor roles. The film marked a turing point in her career; as she shot to International stardom after Two Women and its‘ Hollywood acclaim. Enjoy.
Best of… 2011
And so the festive season has become. Which means booze, fine food, party and hedonistic tendencies will form en masse. And on that note, INFX shall close until the new year has blossomed. Next year we‘ll be upping the ante and drawing focus on specific topics; in pursuit of more underground artists and personalities. Keep watching our Global Profiles series as it too blooms into a somewhat incongrous portrait of life on this Earth of ours.
So that‘s it from us; below are the Top 5 posts that drew the most attention in the past year. And also an Autobox DJ mix recorded live by yours truly, with a host of breakbeat tracks over the ages, to revel in on those sweaty summer afternoons by the pool. May your news be good news, Good luck and goodnight.
CARL SCRASE: http://infx.com.au/2011/03/04/carl-scrase/
NEXT T-SHIRTS: http://infx.com.au/2011/11/11/next-the-future-of-t-shirt-graphics/
MONK EY: http://infx.com.au/2011/10/28/monk-ey/
BARBARION: http://infx.com.au/2011/04/14/barbarion/
VEIN ONE: http://infx.com.au/2011/08/05/veinone/
Other Cinema
Hailing from San Franciso‘s Mission District Other Cinema (or ‘OC‘) is an alternative film & video production, performance, and distribution network that brings a voice to the Media Arts community. This counter-cultural outfit has been operating for nigh on 30 years, and it continues to spearhead Fine Arts film-making. Craig Baldwin established this vanguard of ‘underground cinema‘ under a range of names from 1978, because he “didn’t see anything coming up from the ground that ended up on the screens”. Since then, OC has developed into an artistic collective led by a dedicated team of curators and artists. Other Cinema continues to enhance Film & Media Arts projects in the Bay Area; which of course flourishes elsewhere due to the renowned esteem of OC.
Currently, Other Cinema is in the midst of a Benefit initiative, to raise money for their operations. As part of the fund-raising effort, they have compiled the video below, to engage with the public in what the OC has going on:
Land of Instant Forget
These are now the final days of the 2011 RMIT Media Arts Graduate Show.
Visit the upper confines of Curtin House, in the heart of the City on Swanston Street to view an excess of works from the graduate class of 2011. These emerging Media Arts artists offer works disseminated across video, audio and sculpture. The show is billed as a space that has been ”transformed to create a world where you can leave your memories behind“ as you immerse yourself in these parallel lands. Below, you can sample one of the works on show. This piece is projected onto a giant, free hanging t-shirt and is titled Trashface by Rob Graham.
The Land of Instant Forget
Running until 30th November, 12pm until 6pm.
Curtin House, Level 6 252 Swanston St. City
Circle Jerk
Do you consider 5.1 surround the real sound? No way that you would in comparing it to the Circle Jerk audio-visual bonanza that‘s coming your way.
This gig involves 100 speakers; all calibrated to immerse the spectator in an epic aural assault that will mesmerise & seduce, offend & embellish: with 5 huges rooms spanning the most of Revolt, a tailored warehouse venue in Kensington, get ready for the Circle Jerk (presented by the What Is Music? Festival). Featuring a cavacade of Sound and Media Art works, Live digital art, and Performance pieces; it is truly an event for the senses. At once you will find yourself surrounded by sounds and visuals -venture to any of the performance areas: there‘s the chilled Screening Room with Media Art installations conversing with Short Film and Video Art, the Ballroom with Live ensembles that will thrash through and manipulate sound as you‘ve never experienced. Dash into the Side Room to check a live performance piece, or make your way down to The Dock where gigs by the likes of Wrong Room will be splitting sound into the 4th dimension. Tickets just $12 (Con.) and $15 Full -totally worth it! Saturday, 10th December at Revolt, 12 Elizabeth St. Kensington (Metro Station is Macauley).
Restless (Gus Van Sant)
You will know Gus Van Sant by a spate of films dealing with emotive angst. His film-making style is often focussed upon dramatic themes that are purposely subdued. This is executed using curious soundscapes mixed with popular music tracks and rattling cinematography. Favourites among these are the enigmatic Elephant and Paranoid Park.
His latest offering continues in this fashion. In Restless, the coming-of-age film recieves a dose of sublte sublimity. Van Sant visits a foray into a whimsical, dreamy, and ultimately cute exploration of youth dealings with death. Although buoyed by such clichés as the dual parental car crash fatality; we contrarily find the double leads Mia Wasikowska and Henry Hopper charming in their fine performances. There are also a handful of nods to favourite adolescent films including Empire of the Sun and Stand By Me. If you can stomach the endless melancholy of the soundtrack then you‘ll most likely relish this as such a sweet film.
Restless opens at Cinema Nova on December 1st.
Writers Bench
Oriel Guthrie directs this documentary film tracing the development of the graffiti scene in Melbourne. Following on from her 2004 short Skip Hop, this film explores the stories and perspectives of those who grew up with the movement, and also those that are engrossed in its contemporary incarnation. It traces the Street Art scene in Melbourne from 1980 until the present day. The film explores its roots in political slogans, through to the development of styles that are uniquely Australian.
The film screens at ACMI weekly, on Saturdays 12th, 19th, 26th of November at 4pm.
The Long March
Below I have included a video display that documents an A2-sized glossy poster I published a couple of weeks back.
The poster itself is a depiction of the historical circumstances surrounding Mao Zedong‘s The Long March -an event that consolidated the strength of the Chinese Communist Party in the face of its‘ complete annihilation. After the march, Mao consolidated and strengthened the party. He then went on to stage a successful revolution that defined the socio-political structures of modern China.
Communist: Chinese
Nationalist: Chinese (now Taiwan)
Imperialist: Japanese
Michael Shannon
Take the best acting qualities ever displayed by Philip Seymour Hoffman and marry them with Joaquin Phoenix. Then mash both together with a mallet, and you will have some semblence of Michael Shannon‘s acting dynamic.
Shannon grew up in Kentucky and performed in stage productions in Chicago. He then left the U.S. to live in London; working in various West End productions. Arriving back in the U.S., he began to perform generic roles in both Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay blockbuster films (somewhat perverting his talents). However, he soon moved toward semi-indie productions in Vanilla Sky and Tigerland (albeit in minor roles). It wasn‘t until he embarked upon a supporting role in Sam Mendes‘ Revolutionary Road that he began to mark his filmic maturity. Earlier this year, Shannon steeled himself for the starring role in the crudely ominous and infatuating Werner Herzog film My Son What Have Ye Done? Following this amazing onscreen performance, Cinema Nova has this week released the spellbinding film Take Shelter. Shannon again plays the lead, in which he grips you by his performance; the audience bracing for his every facial expression and emotion. This is an excellent film and another best for Michael Shannon so be sure to see it on the big screen!
King Of The Gypsies (Shane Meadows)
Shane Meadows follows in the tradition of film-makers Ken Loach and Mike Leigh in his exposé of England‘s working class humility. He is renowned for such films as the 1999 tale that is inspired by his childhood; A Room For Romeo Brass, the stunning 2006 This Is England, and its‘ 5-part television series follow-up This Is England ’86. Paddy Considine features in a lot of his film work; the pair have been close friends since they met at Art School in the Midlands. In Meadow‘s most recent film Considine is again in the starring role, as the manic Arctic Monkeys roadie in Le Donk & Scor-Zay-Zee; a parody of documentary that he filmed in just 5 days. The film was made in the vein of This Is Spinal Tap and harks back to the quasi-guerilla film-making style of his collegiate years. King Of The Gypsies is the epitome of this early documentary-style work, and it also lends a lot of understanding into Meadow‘s creative and formulaic perspective. Enjoy.
Intolerance (Austen Tayshus)
Born in New York as Alexander Jacob Gutman, Austen Tayshus is a comedian from New South Wales. Well known for his dry, black humour riddled with local colloquialisms; he achieved success in 1983 with his Australiana video/music single/sketch piece. Although an advocate for the Jewish religion (his family are Hasidic Jews), and the state of Israel throughout his youth, his comedic career satirises this culture and often includes bizarre, anti-semitic tirades. He ran for the House of Representatives in Sydney during the 2010 Federal Election as a candidate for The Sex Party, and also in the 2011 NSW State Election with the Outdoor Recreation Party.
Intolerance is an engrossing, witty, and ultimately brilliant comedy short film. It was the winner of Tropfest in 1998 and I‘d still classify it as Austen Tayshus‘ best work (even compared with Australiana). The short was directed by Paul Fenech (creator of Fat Pizza) under the pseudonym Laura Fienstein, and was edited by David Rudd. Austen Tayshus also appears in the films Holy Smoke and Strange Planet.
