[Review] The Smart Studios Story
The Smart Studios Story
Director: Wendy Schneider
Rating: N/A
Release Date: March 16, 2016
The Chicago International Movies & Music Festival (CIMM Fest) opened last night with the first Midwest screening of The Smart Studios Story, at The Music Box, and it did not disappoint. The documentary revisits the legendary Madison recording studio that helped birth the indie rock and pop culture scene of the 80's and 90's. Founded by Butch Vig and Steve Marker in 1983, the studio produced bands such as Killdozer, The Smashing Pumpkins, L7, Tad, Garbage, and Nirvana. The story chronicles the humble beginnings of the studio, their rise to fame, and the end of a grand era.
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The Smart Studios Story premiered at South by Southwest this year, but this screening here in the midwest, where it rightfully belongs, was quite special. CIMM Fest even provided an exclusive Q&A after the screening where Butch Vig, Steve Marker, and Director and Co-Producer Wendy Schneider were completely open to sharing their experience in making the film, going through memories, even sharing some that didn't make the film.
Overall, this was one of the best music documentaries I've seen in a long time. The bass thumping soundtrack, along with heartfelt interviews from Butch Vig, Steve Marker, Billy Corgan, Dave Grohl, Shirley Manson, Donita Sparks, Chris Walla and tons of great bands were all completely raw and entertaining. The special impact the Midwest continually has on pop culture is eloquently demonstrated, and the story has all the footage to prove.
For more screening and event info, check out their site here.
[Review] The Road to God Knows Where
The Road to God Knows Where
Director: Uli M. Schüppel
Rating: N/A
Re-Release Date: April 19, 2015 (CIMM Fest)
Nick Cave is truly a man of many talents. He's a critically acclaimed musician, songwriter, screenwriter, novelist and actor. Most recently, he has written the new screenplay for the highly anticipated remake of the hit movie, The Crow, coming to theaters in 2016. With decades of consistent work in Hollywood, Road to God Knows Where stretches back to the beginning of his career at the 1989 American tour with Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. Having been originally released in 1990, the film is being re-released in theaters and festivals around the country, making a much bigger splash than it ever has before.
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The first thing you should know about Road to God Knows Where is that it's not a concert film, and more about the creative side of the music business as it chronicles The Bad Seeds' North American tour over February and March of 1989. Although the overall pacing is rather slow, filmmaker Uli Schueppel's student film sprinkles in a few live show moments, with long intervals back stage footage, on the tour bus, in hotels, in conflict with promoters, and behind-the-scenes of photo shoots and interviews, providing a realistic approach to what it's like on tour with a rock 'n' roll band.
The film was shot in high contrast black and white, setting the Winter's tone and reminding us of the time period when this was filmed. We often see glimpses of Cave's increased interest to remain low key as a writer and artist, than as a celebrity. By the end of the film, Cave expresses content in ending the tour, as it had flowed just as slow to the viewer as to The Bad Seeds alike.
[Review] Theory of Obscurity: a film about The Residents
Theory of Obscurity: a film about The Residents
Director: Don Hardy
Rating: N/A
Release Date: April 19, 2015 (CIMM Fest)
After receiving rave reviews at SXSW this year, Theory of Obscurity: a film about The Residents came highly recommended for it's CIMM Fest (Chicago International Movie and Music Fest) screening. So who are The Residents?, this is the question that the film tries to answer, but the answer doesn't come easy. Stemming from a group of creative misfits from Shreveport, La., drawn to and discovered in the San Francisco Bay Area around 1970, they’re a band, they're filmmakers, artists, pop culture historians, they’re a permanent exhibit at MOMA, and they have managed to stay completely anonymous until now.
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Unknown to many, Theory of Obscurity does a good job digging deep into The Residents' story as director Don Hardy managed to interview many well known industry folks as testament to their history and lasting influence. There are also former collaborators (musicians and artists), most famously including Penn Jilette, sharing their personal experiences with The Residents. Interviews also include long time band affiliates, including Primus, Devo, Ween, Simpson's creator Matt Groening, and countless fans, explaining how and why this group came to be so influential to them.
Another huge part of the film is on the The Cryptic Corporation, The Residents’ management company, formed in the early 70's to oversee and manage all of their work. Founders of the Cryptic Corporation speak quite a bit about the band’s business and their own involvement. Altogether, the film is about art. It's is a quirky and often comedic form of story telling on how a collective group of people remained anonymous for 40 years, and how they came to be part pop culture history, still touring the world today.