THE ART THEATER

I would say having a good time is at the forefront of the New Film Underground shows, but community is like right behind that. It’s really a special kind of screening where those of us who have that itch for something weird and new can come together and meet filmmakers who are creating work that is weird and new. That's something I don't see at a lot of film festivals and screenings here. Usually you only get a couple far-out shorts here and there,  and the rest is super conventional. But at The NFU it's curated so everything is visionary, and/or experimental and/or weird. And there’s no barrier between the filmmakers and audience, so everyone can talk and encourage each other and even potentially collaborate with each other. It's really cool 'cause there are regulars who we get to see over and over, and there's a nice communal vibe to it all. It's a very welcoming event.

I think the Marx Brothers and those random interludes on Sesame Street were my first whiff of surrealism, but later on Jan Svankmejer, Maya Deren, Terry Gilliam and David Lynch really inspired me. Actually, I think it was 2001: A Space Odyssey that really got me into experimental stuff. I had never seen anything that abstract before, and it gave me a hunger for films that were like a concentrated version of that transcendental ending. Then Troma films and Peter Jackson’s early work got me into cult horror in middle school, and then I got really into Ingmar Bergman which opened me up to European art cinema. And since then Don Hertzfeldt, Shirley Clarke, Hollis Frampton and Harmony Korine have added further dimensions to my love of fringe cinema. This list could get very long, but you can check out my Short Film Sunday series of videos to see all the amazing films that inspire me.

Well, to understand the power of shorts you first have to realize how limiting feature films are. In features you have to have a story or idea that can be stretched to 90 minutes and remain engaging that entire time. In Television it's even worse 'cause you have to have ideas that can go on infinitely. Lots of things are interesting for five minutes, but only a few things can be interesting for 90 minutes or six seasons. So a lot of interesting, distinctive ideas get discarded because they just naturally make their point way too quickly. Add to that the financial risks that come with longer works, and you realize why a lot of cool ideas won't pass inspection. Now think about how that limits the number of people who get to make films and how that limits the number of view points we get to see and how the narrow spectrum of viewpoints might effect the way we see each other and see ourselves. I really believe the size of these films is like a giant boulder blocking our view of each other. It's no coincidence that the media that's having the biggest impact right now is TikTok, YouTube videos and commercials. Short media. That's because we watch shorter media more often, more people can make shorter media, and the audience is more open to exploration when less of their time is at risk. So all manner of new perspectives are discovered. Now, imagine combining that with greater emotional depth and visionary aesthetics and you start to see the potential to really enrich our world view.

I think there’s a lot of decorative diversity in Hollywood. There’s a lot of people who look different or have different lifestyles, but the viewpoints and styles of the films they make are nothing new. It's a kind of diversity that does nothing to change how we see things. You’ll also notice that at the top of the food chain, the people who have the final say are mostly the same sort of white guys it’s always been. Somehow progress has been made but nothing is really different. I'm glad more people are getting the chance to be in the industry, but I'd like to see the films themselves actually become diverse. Even indie cinema feels a bit stagnant to me, but it's a little better. Like, I Saw the TV Glow felt pretty fresh.

I personally think AI is really dangerous and dehumanizing. That human touch and the flaws that go with it are what make DIY art so impactful. The temptation of AI threatens to destroy all of that. I don't judge people who use it, but I kinda think it should be banned. Or at least I wouldn’t feel bad if it was.

Yeah, totally. Ryan Betschart is a SoCal filmmaker who's making mesmerizing abstract work. Alexandra Banhazl has done beautiful abstract and surrealist work I've screened. Karissa Hahn is a really cool local experimental filmmaker who's work I've screened a couple times. Charlie Capp is making really imaginative narrative stuff. The Dorfman Brothers' comedies are really embodying the DIY spirit. Wes Weisbaum has a great grungy aesthetic. And there's plenty more. I already regret the ones I'm leaving out.

A clear visual style helps a lot. Adopt A Short is really about helping the kinds of films we show at The New Film Underground get made in the first place. The mass of crowdfunding projects can be overwhelming so, I think it's cool to be able to pick some really special short films out of that crowd and shine a light on them, and I think it helps bring attention to shorts overall. To me, the making of a short is an event we should anticipate the way we do for features. Why not get people hyped early on? The discoveries will be appearing monthly at https://www.takeyourmedicineandsmile.com/adoptashort.

Yeah, I'd love to have someone who can do promo graphics and/or video editing because I'm getting busier. It would be volunteer work of course, but it wouldn't take much time. And we always need volunteers to take tickets at The New Film Underground. All inquiries can be sent to takeyourmedicineandsmile@gmail.com. That's also where you can request to get the newsletter coincidentally.

Events

Next Adopt A Short deadline - April 19th

New Film Underground Volume 13 - Coming soon!