Author Archives: Cimaxion

Shepard Fairey – Obey to be Better!

by Cimaxion | 1 Comment

Here’s a very nice short film about artist Shepard Fairey whose Obama poster in 2008 became one of the most well-known symbols of the campaign. I started off not liking Fairey’s images even though I purchased one of the Obama posters. I saw lots of reuse and fascism. But I usually have great trouble with and distaste for things that I wind up genuinely admiring. I think Fairey makes absolutely stunning images.  I recently purchased a brand new signed print of his.  I can’t wait to hang it!  Their beauty is both easy and difficult. They are harsh and bombastic even while containing great subtlety. Fascinating artist. I think the statements he makes about copyright are generally correct. But I also think that he was rude in not crediting the original photographer behind the Obama poster image. But rudeness does not make for copyright infringement. I’m sure he’s a very nice guy and I’ve noticed that he has no problem with crediting photographers on his web site.  I also have a secret little reason for liking the T-shirt he’s wearing.

This film was made by Gestaltin TV in Germany.

Broken English: A Film by Derek Jarman Featuring Marianne Faithfull

by Cimaxion | 2 Comments

MATURE CONTENT:

This might be the most beautiful film you will see all year. It is the full version of ‘Broken English,’ starring Marianne Faithfull. It was made by Derek Jarman. It incorporates three of Faithfull’s songs. Jarman learned a great deal from American avant-garde filmmaker, Kenneth Anger. Interestingly, Marianne Faithfull also starred in an Anger film called ‘Lucifer Rising.’ The montage and superimposition going on in this film is simply stunning.  It’s full of dark pagan ritual, sex, violence, romance, adoration, and mystery. I think Jarman is one of the very few filmmakers who understood what Anger was doing in his work and tried to carry on from there.

Documentary On Alejandro Jodorowsky’s Unmade Dune Film

by Cimaxion

Twitch Film has posted a preview of a documentary that is currently in production on the unmade 1974 Alejandro Jodorowsky version of Dune. It is nice to see a man talk about making something the way Jodorowsky does in this short clip.  When I see that kind of open enthusiasm I want to be in the same room.  Quite frankly, I would much rather have the Jodorowsky film of Dune than the piece of vapid nonsense that was actually made by David Lynch.  The general rule is if you see a movie with Sting in it… run for the exits. Documentaries are wonderful, but Jodorowsky really should make his version of the book now.

In the Shadow: A Short Film Noir by Fabrice Mathieu

by Cimaxion

Written and directed by Fabrice Mathieu, ‘In the Shadow’ is a film noir about the separate lives of shadows.  It is made entirely from existing film noir shadow shots. What happens when a person’s shadow kills its ‘wearer’ and lives its own life? I love all of this film noir stuff with black and white shadows and contrast. The sense of graphic dread is missing from mainstream films today.  This short film is apparently a prequel for a feature length project.