Host of Utah's ISMN - aka "Incredibly Strange Movie Night" since 2003. (Previously known as "Tapioca Night" circa 1993 in Ogden, UT). LMA is a Utah-based collection of mondo/ kitsch/ cult/ ephemeral/ experimental/ historical/ obsolete/ forgotten/ unearthed audio-visual and textual documents. LMA is also a resource for those who cling to bygone media formats. The LMA also promotes and initiates the creation of new and unusual films, albums, performative projects, and book events. We accept donations of any media, projection, recording, and filming devices. When possible, we maintain these machines for use by recordists and filmmakers. (We now curate around 45,000 films.) For more info, donations or to join the weekly email list, please contact B.C. Sterrett at bcsterrett@gmail.com. Thank you.
It’s finally here. We’ve talked about doing this for years. At first
we tried to raise interest in a DVD release, but the biggest response
was for VHS as a replica of the original release. The first batch sold
out within one hour at VHS Misfits on Facebook. 2nd batch is now
available and is over half gone.
This is a cleaner brand NEW
transfer from the original U matic master print. Co-released with
screen writer/co-producer/lead actor Mike Brunelle, this copy also
includes 2 BONUS early and unreleased Super-8 Brunelle short films:
“UFO” (1980) and “Voodoo Demon” (1976).
Tapes are 20 each + 5 shipping. (Unless outside the USA) Send
paypal to bcsterrett@gmail.com and either email or leave your shipping
address. Half the proceeds go to Brunelle himself :)
A new article about this release went up this morning by Lunch Meat Magazine:
I haven’t updated this site since we moved to a house where we decided not to have internet. If you were lucky enough to be on my facebook invite list from my phone, our final films in our art house line up were:
For the record, a private ISMN screening of “Stealing Away” with Q&A by director Tyrone Davies took place April 4th 2014 @ 7 PM with short film “Secam Kino." Lost Media Archive is in love with this lost masterpiece and is looking at plans to re-issue it :)
This month our art film series continues with a favorite more current art house film:
“The Taste Tea” (2004)
DVD/143 Mins/Japanese with Subtitles/Unrated
This film introduced to me by my good friend Shaun Scrivner, has become one of my more recent pleasures that I feel has so much of what I love and want in a film experience: creative escapism subtle eccentrics unapologetic randomness delightfully weird humor exotic themes and ideas effective non-linear approaches to storytelling and an effective sprinkle of special effects and a use of CGI that isn’t dumb or annoying.
The Taste of Tea is refreshingly unreserved. This is the film I wanted Me and You and Everyone We Know to be—a messy, heartfelt entanglement of tangential indulgences into the wild eccentricities of human behavior. Unfolding like a series of rough sketches, the film—through its observation of a small multitude of characters, young and old, at various points of intersection in their lives—suggests that the experience of growing up is not unlike constantly traveling from one point to the next, and life itself is a constantly evolving act of creation. Too many films falsely pretend that people aren’t inherently weird; here, that quality is the one most celebrated.
…The Taste of Tea doesn’t bend over backward connecting dots as a means of legitimating its intended profundity; instead, it allows its various components to stand on their own, loosely connected within the larger tapestry, just waiting to be felt out. Contrary to those Oscar-heralded pieces of garbage, this tilt-a-whirl of a movie doesn’t structure its characters into the confines of a narrative pie chart—it understands that, like a plate full of noodles, the magic of these countless actions and reactions, causes and effects, would be lost if they were spread out into a dull schematic line. Often deviating from one pseudo-storyline to another with little indication, the film forgoes a traditional narrative structure so as to better obey its inner emotional impulses.
——————————————————— Bonus Short Film: Tomatoes Another Day (1930)
DVD/English/7 Mins
Absolutely a favorite Lost Media favorite of early experimental film. Made to be a pot shot at the new at the time “talkie” films, Tomatoes has deliberate redundant and nonsensical absurd dialog and purposely bad acting, for a delightfully confusing film that celebrates the mundane.
Everything this review on IMDB complains about, I LOVE about this film!
“James Sibley Watson made this bizarre art film and apparently thought it was a dismal failure and he tried to hide this film. Somehow, it made it to the DVD…
When you see this film, you might easily see why Watson disowned it. Like a Dadaist film, it really makes no sense and Watson deliberately directs his actors to act in a terrible fashion. The leading man and woman talk mechanically–almost zombie-like. It’s really rather stupid if you ask me, though I am sure there are folks out there that adore this sort of stuff. Why make a film with deliberately horrible acting?! To quote my youngest daughter ”…whatever". As for me, whacking myself in the head with a dead fish is certainly more enjoyable. And, I am sure, a Dadaist would love to see that!“ ————————————————————————————
Time: May 16th @ 7:30 PM Place: The Condo (This location is word of mouth only. Contact me for the address.)
The art film series continues with Kurosawa’s “Rashomon” (1950)
(Above: I love the new Criterion cover art)
I’ve only seen a small handful of Kurosawa films, I’d like to see more, but I imagine this would be the only one to fit the ISMN format, as it is the most unusual of his work and even includes slight fantasy elements.
A film that gave birth to the term “Rashomon Effect” in the courthouse, meaning several different conflicting stories to explaining the same event/crime.
IMDB Reviews:
A brilliant masterpiece from a masterful director
Author:MovieAddict2014 from UK 8 April 2006 “Rashomon” was Akira Kurosawa’s first national hit (becoming, at the time, the highest-grossing foreign film in America) and even gained an Oscar for Best Foreign Film, but almost sixty years later it still hasn’t lost any of its impact. It is widely revered as one of the most influential films of all-time, but unlike some other movies, it is not a film that feels dated. The revolutionary methods of Kurosawa are still effective and on-par with the cinema of today – this isn’t a movie where you say, “Yeah, fifty years ago it might have been different, but now it’s done in all the movies.” Kurosawa’s techniques are still superior to most of his imitators.
5.0 out of 5 starsKurasawa’s game changer., January 29, 2014
Truly the beat film I saw in film school. This is the only movie (we watched hundreds of films that I would not ask anybody to sit through twice) and this was easily the one movie that exceeded all of my expectations. Everyone had varying reviews of which Kurasawa is the best but this is my pick. This changed the potential of what I thought a film could convey. The same story from multiple points of view was one of the greatest cinematic explorations that I have been prove lived enough to see. This style was groundbreaking upon release and despite the fact that many hit tv shows have attempted the story style none of them can hold a candle to the master.
5.0 out of 5 starsA prescient masterwork about “truth” and “justice”, July 13, 2013
That word gets used a lot to describe all kinds of things. Most of the claims for masterpieces are dubious at best. In my opinion, and the opinion of thousands of people who have watched Rashomon over the years, this film is a bona fide masterpiece. But even though thousands of people agree that this film is one of the very best ever made, does that mean that my opinion and the opinions of those thousands are true? No, it doesn’t. We all are subjective humans prone to errors and biases, and “truth” is something that may be completely out of our grasp. Are we viewing truth or just a convincing illusion that everyone agrees on? This is one of the many questions that Rashomon poses.
If we try to be as objective as we can and at least form criteria to judge this film a masterpiece, we could check off some of these questions as yes or no.
Does this film really make you think? Yes. In fact, it forces you to think. After all, as the viewer, you’re trying to figure out who murdered and raped somebody.
Does this film have truly stunning cinematography and camerawork? Yes, some of the best ever. Especially for a film released in 1950.
Does this film have incredible actors in it? Yes, Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura are both in this film, two of the very best actors you’ll come across.
Is this film directed exceptionably? Yes, Akira Kurosawa. Enough said. This artist directed superb films like bees make honey.
Does this film actually have an “Effect” named after it? Yes, it does. Not many movies can say that.
Does this film continue to influence TV, movies, books, and even scientific research to this day? Yes, without a doubt. You’ve probably seen something or read something using Rashomon in some way, and you didn’t know it.
I’ll give a brief synopsis. A murder and rape occur out in the woods. Someone is accused of committing both crimes, and a trial is held. There are four “witnesses” who give their own accounts of what happened that day. The problem is that all of the accounts contradict each other in some way. Even after hearing the rape victim testify, you are not even convinced that a rape occurred because she says a lot of things that are self-serving and things already demonstrated to be false. What in the name of the Rashomon gate really happened? Which story is correct?
The unreliability of eyewitness testimony is now something firmly documented by science, but at the time Kurosawa made this film, it wasn’t. In fact, eyewitness testimony was once considered the bedrock of the justice system, something unassailable and key to proving or disproving a case. Now, of course, we know that an eyewitness account is vulnerable to all sorts of things, most of which can’t be avoided. People can view the same event happen, and not one person’s account of what happened will completely match another. And people can be made to “see” things happen that they didn’t actually witness, a fact born out by current research as well. The fallibility of human perception is now beyond dispute. So how can we know the “truth”?
As with all great art, this movie poses great questions that don’t have easy answers, if there are any answers at all.
Did you see what you think you saw? Is your memory of an event accurate? We’d like to think so, but it is itself a human bias to fool ourselves with comforting illusions to protect our own egos. At least being aware that our brains aren’t all they are made out to be can at least help us on the road to truth. ———————————————————————————– Bonus Short Film: “Romance Sentimentale” (Sergei M. Eisenstein) 1930
A 1930’s precursor to MTV music videos! See one of Eisenstein’s experimental shorts about a woman singing romantically in Russian combined with overlapping cinematography and some odd special effects, waves and falling trees. Almost cartoony
From the director of “Que Viva Mexico!” ————————————————————————————– Time: Friday March 21st @ 7:30 PM
Place: At the Condo in SLC (message me for the address)
Price: Free of course
Food and new friends welcome. No drugs, alcohol or smoking please.
It’s my last time hosting ISMN @ Brewvies people, but not to worry, I’ll be handing this film off to my friend and ISMN veteran Jesse Tucker.
Please give him a warm welcome!
You’ve probably noticed ISMN and this blog have slowed down a bit, and there’s a good explanation. 1. I moved out of “Art City Palace” and back to my home town Ogden, UT. 2. I started a new job as an early reader co-author and artist with co-author Jenni James for the series “Andy and Annie: A Ghost Story”
The hard copy should be up on Amazon anytime now but for now here’s a link to the kindle version:
3. I’m opening up a video/record store in Ogden called “Video Cave." The biggest draw being old and rare films unavailable on DVD/Netflix/or Redbox :) (It used to be an old pawn shop).
4. My dear mumsy has experienced a stroke and gave us quite a scare. I’ll be closer to home to help take care of her. She has no paralysis but this has greatly effected her memory.
5. I just need a break. After running ISMN weekly for the past decade and over 2 years at Brewvies, I’ve run out of steam and don’t have the energy at the moment to give it the attention it deserves. I will still attend and advise Jesse’s screenings in SLC, but any ISMN that I still host will probably stick to once a month privately with friends - The private art film series will continue :) (Make sure you’re on my mailing list ;)
I don’t know if I can think of a better way to end my own hosting run at Brewvies than with one of my new favorite discoveries "Game of Death." A VHS I found at a convenience store while visiting Calgary Canada.
And believe me folks, it’s so refreshing to find a new "so bad it’s good” film this solid! Simple and ridiculous, this sci-fi low budge is a breath of fresh air from the vaults of 80’s camp straight to video madness. (My guess is that this never made it to the theater, knowing most of the Rae Don VHS library.)
Some favorite reviews from Amazon.com:
5.0 out of 5 stars King of the super 8’s December 20, 2013 By lindsay norgard
Wow from the days of super 8 and no budget monster type film making. Really have to appreciate the era and low budget and kid fan filmmaker. Good primer to Spielberg and JJ’s Abrahms film Super 8. Fun stupid fun, silly and just plain 80’s chesseball fun.
(Above: An example of the fine dialog found in “Game of Survival”)
5.0 out of 5 stars Do it! March 27, 2012 By Movie Madness Format:VHS Tape|Amazon Verified Purchase
Do you think you can survive the game? I did and I’ve got 3 words for you… Apocalyptic Cheese Fest!
——– Sadly there are hardly any reviews and photos from “Game of Survival” online, hopefully this screening will help motivate an actual DVD release! Heck I might even buy a Blue Ray player for the first time, if that’s how it was re-issued!
——————————————————————————–
Bonus Short Film:
Robogo Productions is back with another “Ida” film and the sequel to last year’s “Valentine’s Date” film! Incredibly Strange Movie Night is proud to debut:
“Valentine’s Date 2: Ida’s Revenge”
I’ve seen half of the finished product and if you thought Ida was disturbing before, this blows the other shorts out of the ball park. This new one is more like a psychotic horror film! I even frightened myself seeing some of the footage!
Starring Jordan Harker and myself (as Ida) ————————————————————————————-
Time and Place: 10:45 PM @ Brevies Cinema and Pub in SLC
Price: FREE as always
————————————————————————————
Join us for my last hosting of ISMN at Brewvies before I turn it over to other capable hands :)
Thank you so much for your support over the years!!!!
See you there!
- BC Sterrett
(PS Message - For my girl friend’s parents and the people who are scared of Ida films: I’m not the person I portray on film. It’s called acting - like someone getting into character when you listen to a book on tape. It’s not real I promise. It’s only a movie and I’m acting from a script.)
It’s out! If you like the self produced music of Daniel Johnston, the recordings of coffee business owner Thompson Owen is just your type of pumpkin spice sweetness.
One of my lost media efforts has always been to expose lost, forgotten or unknown media and not just films! I’ve been in love with the bedroom recordings of musician Thompson Owen since I found his CD “Leon’s Party Music” around the year 2000.
I drew the cover art and helped produce this sample EP of Thompson’s vast library of work. Released by Davin Abegg and his online label Swoody Records. It’s free!
So, this is a little embarrassing… I’ve lost tonight’s film in the mix of moving my film archive. Which is terrible since it is out of print and near impossible to find.
However, i’ll be showing another incredibly rare bizarro foreign flick in it’s place. Here’s a couple still shots:
Ok, that last one might give it away. If you know what this is, you have my permission to marry me. PS. I’ve never shown it before…
