Phoenix Cinema says right up front (right under the quote from Rainer Werner Fassbinder) that: "Phoenix Cinema is not meant to be a comprehensive site, so don’t expect to find reviews of the latest releases. Instead, you will find archived reviews of films, and I hope the categories feature proves useful to you. The categories reflect my tastes and interests, so my favourite directors, actors, actresses are listed here."
The primary author and film reviewer, who goes by the name "Tribe," indeed has iconoclastic and eclectic tastes. Films reviewed here include many that are new to me, and categories range from "Barbara Stanwyck" to "Documentary" to "militarism" to "Mae West," and, of course, "Fassbinder." There's also a category for "Favourite Film Lists," featuring suggestions from the likes of John Waters, Pedro Almodovar, Peter Greenaway and Cineaste. And -- although I quail at the thought of sitting next to (even if only electronically) such luminaries -- there is also a list from me of my favorite documentaries. Tribe did me the honor of asking me for a list of my favorite ten documentaries. I couldn't limit my choices to just ten, so I sent 12 instead, along with comments on each film.
While you're at the Phoenix Cinema site, be sure to check out the nice review for Here Kitty, Kitty, too. Thanks to Tribe and the other contributors to Phoenix Cinema for the opportunity to be part of such a fine resource.
More information about Pip and his untimely passing is available at Sydney's Indymedia website. Our deepest condolences to Pip's friends, colleagues and family. Pip left behind a powerful legacy of inspirational work.
Our friends at Archipelago Media recently announced the DVD release of "A Thing of Wonder," a fascinating look at octagenarian magician and philosopher Jerry Andrus.
Kristian Knutsen of the Isthmus Daily Page interviewed director Andy Beversdorf and videographer/editor Brian Standing at length on 2/26/08. (See Here, Kitty Kitty Claws into Cat Killing in Wisconsin for the entire interview.) Meanwhile, the paper edition of the Isthmus called Here, Kitty Kitty "...impressive... nuanced and well-researched."
92.1FM The Mic's Lee Rayburn interviewed Beversdorf and Standing about "Here, Kitty Kitty" on his Wednesday morning show on 2/27/08. (Go here for a downloadable or streaming podcast.)
WORT 89.9FM's Tony Castaneda also interviewed Andy Beversdorf on this morning's 8 'O' Clock Buzz. (Go here for a streaming audio version, and here for a downloadable mp3 file of Tony's show.)
Thanks to all for the interest in Here, Kitty Kitty! We hope to see you all at tonight's premiere at the Majestic.
UPDATE: 3/14/08
And the accolades are still rolling in. Tribe from Phoenix Cinema just posted a very favorable review of Here, Kitty Kitty, calling it "...lively and thought-provoking... all fascinating stuff."
The Twin Cities' Har Mar Superstar takes the stage after the screening, along with another special musical guest (to be announced). Music Critic.com says, "They broke the mould when they made Har Mar Superstar. There’s been nothing like him before and his blend of rock, soul, kitsch and love is unlikely to be matched."
Best of all, if you come to see Here, Kitty Kitty, you can stick around for the Har Mar Superstar concert for no extra charge. So, come for the movie, meet the filmmakers, and bring your dancing shoes.
UPDATE 2/25/2008: The Majestic has confirmed that Madison's own hip hop outfit Dumate will open for Har Mar Superstar. So, it's the world premiere of Here, Kitty Kitty at 7:30, questions and answers with the film-makers at 8:30, reception at 9:00, Dumate, then Har Mar Superstar. If that ain't a night out on the town, we don't know what is!
On February 28, 2008, Prolefeed Studios unveils its latest feature documentary, Here, Kitty, Kitty to the public at Madison's historic Majestic Theater.
The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and admission is $5.00. Come for the film, meet the filmmakers, then stick around and party afterwards with live music (TBA) at the beautiful Majestic theater. The Majestic recently celebrated its 101st birthday and recent management have lovingly renovated the old vaudeville hall into one of Madison's hottest nightspots.
Shooting cats: over-the-top act of cruelty, or necessity for containing a nuisance? The subject matter alone—a failed 2005 effort to deal with feral cats in Wisconsin by making it legal to shoot them—ensures that Andy Beversdorf's new film, Here, Kitty, Kitty, will be more entertaining than your average homegrown political documentary. But it's not so provincial as that might imply. The film spends just a little time on the silly spectacle that followed the proposal. It's more concerned with digging up deeper threads. It's just an hour long, but Beversdorf energetically researches the science and work behind the feral-cat issue, turning up plenty that's unexpected (and we don't just mean the brief look at a spaying).
- Scott Gordon, The Onion 12/13/2007 (reprinted with permission)
Not yet released, Here, Kitty, Kitty is already creating a buzz among the alternative press.
In case you missed it, the Madison edition of the Onion's AV Club recently published a very favorable review of Prolefeed Studios' latest work, Here, Kitty, Kitty (see sidebar).
Scott Gordon, the review's author, also spoke favorably of Here, Kitty, Kitty in an article about the state of documentary film, saying: "Here, Kitty, Kitty casts a sharper and funnier eye on public life... the film reveals that civics can make us small and ugly as well as elevate us."
Earlier, Here, Kitty, Kitty caught the attention of Dane 101, Madison's community collaborative blog (see "Prolefeed Studios Resurrects the Cat Killers" 11/18/07), prompting Jesse Russell to reminisce about the blogosphere outcry prompted by Wisconsin's 2005 attempt to legalize the shooting of cats.
And finally, Madison community radio station WORT 89.9FM featured an interview with Here, Kitty, Kitty director Andy Beversdorf on the December 14th edition of Jonathan Zarov's Eight O'Clock Buzz program. You can stream Andy's interview on WORT's online Audio Archive here. If you prefer, a downloadable podcast-ready version is available here.
We at Prolefeed Studios were saddened to learn of the recent and untimely death of Hillary Michael Milko, former candidate for the President of the United States. Mr. Milko died on November 5th, 2007. You can read his obituary in the Las Vegas Review Journal. Mr. Milko was featured prominently in Jim Taylor's 1997 documentary Subdue the Universe, about fringe candidates in the 1996 New Hampshire Presidential Primary. In memoriam, here is a clip from Subdue the Universe featuring Mr. Milko's first appearance.
Thanks to ETS Pictures for bringing this to our attention.
Nicole Gruter is a Madison-based performance artist, musician and bartender, and Master of Fine Arts candidate from the University of Wisconsin. Nicole and her alter-ego, Wilhelmina Baker, have graced the Madison area with challenging, entertaining, slightly off-kilter works. Nicole recently commissioned Prolefeed Studios to document some of her recent work, which we are pleased to share with you.
Nicole performed "Happy Taxday 2007" on April 17, 2007, the deadline for filing federal tax income returns. Watch as Nicole hands out receipts for the amount the average Madison taxpayer has paid for the Iraq War.
"Can I Get You Anything Else?" was Nicole's entry into the 2007 University of Wisconsin's First Year M.F.A. show. A woman tethered to a table cheerfully serves pies to puzzled art gallery patrons. Perhaps there's some hidden meaning here, or perhaps, as Nicole says, it's just that, "some days it's really hard to serve pie."
