Anger in L.A.

[Guy Bennett]

Just wanted to pass along the following info re a screening at the UCLA Film and Television Archive of restored films by Kenneth Anger that will take place this coming Saturday in the presence of the filmmaker and the film preservationist. L.A. area people may wish to check it out:

The UCLA Film & Television Archive announces the restoration premiere of works of
Kenneth Anger, projected in pristine 35mm prints, on Saturday, August 5, 2006, at the
James Bridges Theater.
http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/public/calen ... dar_f.html


The evening will feature the world premiere of UCLA's new version of RABBIT'S MOON,
reconstructed from the original 35mm camera negative, presenting the cinematography's
original image orientation for the first time. Also included will be the rare Anger voiceover
prologue to FIREWORKS (shown here at its full original release length), and as a special
treat, Kenneth's recent video MOUSE HEAVEN - which does for Mickey Mouse
what SCORPIO RISING did for neo-Nazi biker gangs. Kenneth Anger in person.

Saturday August 5 2006, 7:30PM

KENNETH ANGER

Kenneth Anger is one of the giants of American underground and experimental
filmmaking. His films draw on pop iconography, from commedia dell'arte to Hollywood
and a wide variety of 20th century subcultures: the worlds of bikers, occultists, and
queers. This iconography is presented in a variety of ways, from documentary footage to
elaborate mise en scene to Eisensteinian montage, but always the result is an eruption of
the primal into the modern. Music videos and queer cinema would not be what they are
without his influence, which has also touched filmmakers from Martin Scorsese to Olivier
Assayas. The Archive is proud to present new 35mm prints of four of Anger's most famous
films.

Preservation funded by The Film Foundation
FIREWORKS
1947 35mm, 15 min.

Preserved through the Avant-Garde Masters program funded by The Film Foundation and
administered by the National Film Preservation Foundation
RABBIT'S MOON
1971 35mm, 16 min.

Preservation funded by The Film Foundation
SCORPIO RISING
1963 35mm, 29 min.

Preservation funded by The Film Foundation
KUSTOM KAR KOMMANDOS
1965 35mm, 3 min.

And an added treat, Anger's new film MOUSE HEAVEN.

In person: Kenneth Anger and film preservationist Ross Lipman

[Nigel]

Anger is cool for sure...The 50s and 60s had some really great underground films being made.

However, they are 40+ years old at this point. If I were a student I would hope that UCLA not only hosts Anger but some current filmmakers that are pushing the limits of film/video.

Good Luck

[CHAS]

Anger is cool for sure...The 50s and 60s had some really great underground films being made.

However, they are 40+ years old at this point. If I were a student I would hope that UCLA not only hosts Anger but some current filmmakers that are pushing the limits of film/video.

Good Luck

Nigel, you are one funny dude...that's just not going to happen. UCLA might do that once a year and they are good about showing their student's work 2x a year, but showcasing "current filmmakers that are pushing the limits of film/video" ... well, unless they have been making films for at least ten years and went to good art schools (AND HAVE AN MFA) that's not going to happen. Right now they are big on showcasing unsung filmmakers from 30 years ago or more. So I guess if you are a dead or barely alive filmmaker you can have your work shown.

Guy, thanks for the tip on Anger though -- I'm going to try to make it.

[Nigel]

Well, that seems kinda lame.

Either way Anger made some awesome films and I watched a few of them on prints I got from Canyon in San Francisco about 8 years ago. They looked pretty good but could have used a refresh for sure.

If I were in Smell-A I would be there for sure.

Good Luck

[Guy Bennett]

If you want to see "current filmmakers that are pushing the limits of film/video" come to Paris. There is infinitely more going on here in terms of contemporary experimental cinema (frankly, in terms of every kind of cinema with the exception of hypercommercial cinema) than in Los Angeles. If you'd like links to the websites of some of the many orgs working in and promoting experimental filmmaking in Paris, PM me and I'll send them along. You'll be astonished at how much is happening here (and how little is happening in L.A. by comparison).

Unfortunately, I won't be back in time to see the Anger show at UCLA, though I would really love to see those restored prints and hear him speak about the films. Maybe next time.

[CHAS]

Did anyone go to this??? I really wanted to go but had some family stuff I could not pass up. I'm curious what Ken had to say for himself.

Unfortunately, I won't be back in time to see the Anger show at UCLA, though I would really love to see those restored prints and hear him speak about the films. Maybe next time.

[kentbulza]

I tried, but it sold out.