Exploitation Nation

Here’s the kind of news I love to hear around these parts. Underground filmmaker, historian, and film program curator Noel Lawrence (who also hosts the JX Williams film Archives a fascinating project unto itself) has started a new DVD label devoted to Avant Garde and Underground Cinema. Having formerly worked with the awesome and outstanding label The Other Cinema with filmmaker Craig Baldwin (director of such important works as Tribulation 99 Sonic OutlawsSpectors of the Spectrum and among others) Lawrence has spread his wings to his own label now. The company is called Provocateur Pictures and he aims to bring you the best and the brightest that Hollywood is afraid to offer. Here is whatwas said about it in the official press releas.

“(Los Angeles, CA)  2008 saw the launch of Provocateur Pictures, an independent DVD label for alternative cinema.  Founded by curator and co-founder of Other Cinema Digital, Noel Lawrence, Provocateur aims to create a space for challenging and offbeat works to thrive within an increasingly competitive media marketplace.

“When Hollywood rejects your work, I’ll screen it,” says Lawrence. “When your film is called weird or subversive, I’ll embrace it. I am interested in taking chances on the films that other distributors appreciate but decide against releasing because they are too deemed too risky. It is my belief that there is an audience for quality alternative cinema.” Providing major backbone and backup, Provocateur has enlisted Microcinema International, to distribute its film catalog both in the retail and institutional sectors. Founded in 1996, Microcinema is a leading international rights manager, exhibitor, and specialty markets distributor of the “moving image arts.”

“We are proud to be distributing Provocateur’s releases,” says Joel S. Bachar, Founder of Microcinema International. “Noel’s vision and curatorial aesthetic is in perfect sync with our distribution efforts and his acquisitions will add significant value to our repertoire of unique and diverse titles.”

They are starting off with a bang with a set of four incredibly interesting and exciting titles that sound like they should be blind buys for any underground/DIY/Indy film headcase (hey that us around here!). Covering topics as diverse as Fidel Castro, the musicianship of John Cale, experimenal horror, and finally the balls to the paint peeled walls of the New York Cinema of Transgression as curated by the legendary Jack Sargaent writer of such must read books as Deathtripping: The Cinema of Transgression, Death Cults, Suture The Arts Journal and Contra Cinema Contra. All of which should be on your book shelf RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!!!

Here’s what the press release had to say about these mouthwatering upcoming DVD…

Provocateur Pictures released its first title, Rob Nilsson’s “Words For The Dying,” in September, a revealing cinema verité portrait of the former Velvet Underground musician, John Cale, in creative collaboration with Brian Eno. Director Nilsson (“Northern Lights” – Camera d’Or, Cannes, “Heat and Sunlight” – Grand Jury Prize, Sundance) follows them to Moscow, London and Wales for the recording of a new album, “Words for the Dying”, built around four Dylan Thomas poems.

2009 will see many more releases from Provocateur Pictures including:

“Experiments in Terror 3″ – The third installment in Noel Lawrence’s collection of avant-garde works that borrow tropes and footage from the horror genre.  Pounding a stake through the heart of genre convention, this shocking program expands the cinematic language of fear, breaking the chains of narrative logic and leaving only the black void of the infinite unconscious. Includes work from Mike Kuchar, J.X. Williams, Clifton Childree, Jason Bognacki, Carey Burtt, and a collaboration with Marie Losier & Guy Maddin.

“Fidel” – Saul Landau’s controversial 1969 profile of Fidel Castro.   Fidel drives around the countryside, talks to locals, philosophizes and plays baseball in this personal profile of the leader which chronicles a unique moment in Cuban history, ten years after the revolution. “The great quality of this remarkable film is that it is educational in the best possible sense. It gives you a feeling for what revolution - any revolution - is actually about, what it means in all its implications and how it affects the lives of the people. I found it completely absorbing from the start to finish. A tapestry for history” - Ralph Gleason, Rolling Stone

“New York Nihilism“ – Curated by critic and author Jack Sargeant (“Deathtripping,” “The Naked Lens”), NYN is an anthology of works from the seminal 1980s underground film movement known as The Cinema of Transgression. A mix of sex, death, hate, and power, this DVD showcases a cross-section of works from these radical underground filmmakers, most of which have never been released on video in the US outside of hard-to-find artist’s tapes. The final program is under wraps for now but let’s just say “the usual suspects” are involved.

Well, lets just say that this news gives me hope in small indie DVD labels again. So lets make god damn sure these guys survive by getting the word out. Independent cinema is not the kind of shit you go pay ten dollars to see at your local art theater when some overpaid comedian decides to do a serious movie. Independent Cinema isn’t bought and paid for by Quinton Tarrantino (though I think he has good taste in movies that he lifts from). Independent CINEMA is these kinds of works. Movies out in the cinematic battlefied, strown with broken relationships, shredded credit cards, stolen footage and sometimes time in jail. Broken hearts, broken bones, and lots of broken laws all in the name of fucking ART! THIS REVOLUTION WILL BE TELEVISED! Because Provocateur Pictures is on the scene and making sure we are getting the stuff no one esle is gonna let us see. So giddyup friends and neighbors, exploitation and cult movie lovers and find yourselves a burrito and someone to love, because the heat is one with these guys!

ABOUT PROVOCATEUR PICTURES

Provocateur Pictures champions the practice of cinema as an art form.  We promote alternative visions from the contemporary underground as well as oddities from the archives that challenge, stimulate, inspire…provoke.

Provocateur Pictures is exclusively distributed by Microcinema International

For more info, go to: http://www.ProvocateurDVD.com

ABOUT MICROCINEMA INTERNATIONAL

Founded in 1996, Microcinema International is a leading international rights manager, exhibitor, and specialty markets distributor of the “moving image arts.” Microcinema International specializes in the acquisition, exhibition, and distribution of independently produced works of an artistic and socially-relevant nature.

Our mission is to seek out, curate, exhibit, promote, and distribute compelling works to a broad audience via existing and emerging mediums. This mission is realized through exhibition-based events, web-based platforms, educational outreach, modern marketing techniques, and digital and physical distribution.

For more info, go to: http://www.microcinema.com

We here at Exploitation Nation Welcome you all with wide Open arms. When the girls get here, we’ll have them show ya their boobs in appreciation….

2008-11-18
01:02:38

Andy Copp

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