Fw: ANTEBELLUM PRESENTS~ RADICAL FAERIE- feb 28th!

I promised my friend Chris I would go see this for him. Because he lives
in New York City and sadly they have no gay culture there, so who wants
to come with?

Antebellum presents 
RADICAL FAERIE
~The 30th anniversary of a gay male counterculture exploration~
Opens- February 28th-   

Antebellum, known as the only fetish art gallery in the world, continues
it's tradition of including the previously excluded cultural movements
with a group of artworks presented for and by RADICAL FAERIES.
 
In the summer of 1979, a group of gay men met somewhere in the Arizona
desert. Frustrated with the limitations of urban environments, 
gay men of all ages & backgrounds began exploration of themselves and
their sexuality in more organic forms. A post-Stonewall movement was
created. Various fractions of Radical Faeries continue to this day. 

2009 marks the 30th anniversary of this unique group. This exhibition
explores the movement's roots and perhaps where it is going in the
future. 
A HISTORY OF RADICAL FAERIES:

The Faeries trace the origin of their movement's name to a "Spiritual
Conference for Radical Faeries" called in 1979 by Harry Hay, John
Burnside, Don Kilhefner, and Mitch Walker in Benson, Arizona.
 
RADICAL FAERIE OPENS ON FERURAY,  28th- 2009.
7- 9pm

Special performance by
IAN MACKINNON
Exhibit runs through APRIL 1ST, 2009
$10 COVER-    $5 WITH COSTUME-    NUDISTS FREE!

ANTEBELLUM
1643 N LAS PALMAS AVE.  HOLLYWOOD, CA 90028
323 856-0667
antebellum@earthlink.net    
www.shazbennett.com

Lou Reed's Berlin

Just re-watched "Lou Reed's Berlin" - I know this film might not be for everyone and I actually know a few folks who didn't really like it, this always freaks me out when I am so completely moved and mesmerized by a film or piece of art and someone, I know and also love, doesn't love it too... still I find "Berlin" hypnotizing.

I just had to update a recent note I posted on my facebook - because I left out two huge influences on me - Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson - who got married in last year, the same year Jean-Pierre and I got married - coincidence? I don't think so.

That's the strange thing about influences that you don't know personally... I am aware that Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson don't really care about me but they have improved me 100% with their art. I used to listen to Lou Reed for hours and hours, sometimes the same album (mostly "Berlin" and "Transformer"- but all of them really and Laurie Anderson's "Big Science") over and over.

I used to live in NYC in the Lower East side. It wasn't an altogether happy time for me, but productive and transformative. I saw Lou Reed and John Cale's opera Songs for Drella and loved it - one song in particular "Work". I had the lyrics printed up above my computer.

So, having just watched Berlin again, I printed up the lyrics to Work and posted them above my computer. Thanks Lou and Laurie.

From Work:
He said I was lazy, I said I was young
He said, "How many songs did you write?"
I'd written zero, I'd lied and said, "Ten."
"You won't be young forever
You should have written fifteen"
It's work, the most important thing is work
It's work, the most important thing is work

Umemployment

According to Wordle.net - this is what my month of umemployment looks like.
It's nice to be part of a movement - this whole unemployment thing is really growing! Thousands of people everyday, we just need a leader to figure out what we are going to say with all this free time and no money!

Pras at the AFI Life Achievement Award to Warren Beatty

www.shazbennett.com
I just found this photo from the AFI Beatty show! Pras came out in a Warren Beaty rubber mask. What???

The best part was watching everyone "dancing" to Ghetto Superstar and one lone b-girl down on the floor (I was up in the cheap seats) raising her hand in the air like she just don't care.

Backstage! We're paid in pizza and vodka. Show is at 8pm!

www.shazbennett.com

Cue to Cue at Sit n Spin!

www.shazbennett.com

Where the magic happens! The show is at 8pm - you can still make it.

Bruce Connor!!

One of the highlights of my life was meeting Bruce Connor at Cinevegas!
Go check this out! I love love love Bruce Connor!

FILM AT REDCAT PRESENTS
Bruce Conner’s Explosive Cinema:
Mon Mar 2 | 8:30 pm
Jack H. Skirball Series $9 [students and MOCA members $7, CalArts $5]

Influential maestro of found footage Bruce Conner (1933-2008) was often described as the father of MTV-style editing. His reply: "Don't blame me!" An artist of explosive intensity and enigmatic allure, Conner displayed a legendary mastery of assemblage, drawing, collage and film. At once voluptuous and razor-edged, Conner’s compact, cinematic bombs are an inspired mix of heartfelt meditation and tragicomic political satire.
Surveying the filmmaker’s work over a 50-year span, the program includes A MOVIE, MARILYN TIMES FIVE, PERMIAN STRATA (to be confirmed), MEA CULPA, LOOKING FOR MUSHROOMS, LOOKING FOR MUSHROOMS (1996 version), REPORT, TELEVISION ASSASSINATION, TAKE THE 5:10 TO DREAMLAND, VALSE TRISTE and EASTER MORNING.
In person: Dennis Hopper, longtime Conner friend and co-conspirator, and guest of honor Jean Conner.
REDCAT is located in downtown Los Angeles at the corner of W. 2nd St. and S. Hope St., inside the Walt Disney Concert Hall complex. Tickets may be purchased by calling 213.237.2800 or at www.redcat.org< or in person at the REDCAT Box Office on the corner of 2nd and Hope Streets
(30 minutes free parking with validation). Box Office Hours: Tue-Sat |noon-6 pm and two hours prior to curtain.

Golden Dragon Parade! Cindy Bennett hostess with the mostest! Gong Hay Fat Choy!

www.shazbennett.com

I love the Golden Dragon Parade! Chinatown 2009

www.shazbennett.com

Martha Cooper show at Subliminal!

I stood in line today to buy my husband the Shepard Fairey/Martha Cooper
"Leap of Faith" - That's Love! http://tinyurl.com/ca5jj3

Go get the print and check out the rad Martha Cooper show!
www.shazbennett.com

One more gone...

Sadly, Godzilla from the Box Office was also layed off from AFI FEST.
Times are really tough. I don't know who will keep everyone in line.
Godzilla, Destoyer of Worlds really loved working at the festival and is
looking for new opportunities.

www.shazbennett.com

Battlestar and BSGLT's

We don't have cable so, after I was fully one hundred percent addicted to "Battlestar Gallactica" (I watched all 4.5 seasons and special features and webisodes in 2 months), last night I knew just where to go to watch the new episode.

I ran over to Lane and Susan's who made us delicious BSGLT's for this auspicious occasion.

What is a BSGLT you might ask? You can read about it here highlighted on Tastespotting.com

I need this toaster, the bad part about watching TV in "real time" is waiting every week!!! Oh well, it's a small price to pay for the beloved spaceship in search of a home. Lane and Susan, you know we'll be over every Friday night right?
So say we all.

Victory Tour 1984!

When I was home for Christmas, I was going through some old stuff and
found the rad shirt from the Jacksons Victory Tour 1984!! Yow!
I love that it's a muscle shirt!
So cool, I think I'll wear this today! Victory!!!
www.shazbennett.com

Change in 2009

I didn't realize how many people I communicate with only via facebook, myspace and twitter until I had to send out a "change of job" email letting all my friends and associates know... I jokingly thought I should put something up on my blog but perhaps it's not such a bad idea.

Anyway, the two gals I was hanging out with last night worked with me at Sundance and I was telling them about my problem, we were laughing about how back in the day we only had one email for the entire Sundnace Los Angles office it was: sundancela@somethingsomething.com and there was only one computer that was hooked up to "the internet", anyway, my job in the morning was to check the "email" and then print out the individual emails and put them in the staff boxes. Indiewire was just a little newsletter and I'd print it up and make copies for Geoff, Michelle, Lynn and Cooper - now look at Indiewire they're all fancy and new and apart of Snag Films.

Everyone keeps asking me, "what do you want to do?" Well, having just left my job 48 hours ago after 10 years and since I've been working in film festivals since before Al Gore invented the internet... I'm going to have to pause on answering that one...

On my website you can see I've been performing and telling stories for years and voiceovers (my dream job would be to be the voice of some sexy robot on Adult Swim).

I've developed and optioned scripts and my short films and performances have played all over the world... so that'd be cool to do more of that for sure - I would consider giving away my non-existent child to write on a TV show!

And I love film festivals, I love watching new films in the dark for the first time with the filmmakers - it's thrilling when the audience laughs in the right place and gasps at the right moments - it's truly awesome to know you programmed those films and got them up on the big screen!

I'm also obsessed with online festivals and watching films online. I just got my Roku set up. I spend hours on Criterion.com and TheAuteurs.com - Matt Dentler has my other dream job right now.

Ah the options, the opportunities abound!
Off to Sundance 2009, I wasn't planning to go this year since things were so tight at AFI but I bought the sweatshirt cuz I started there before 1985 when it was the US Film Festival but still quite an accomplishment for the old dame!

Anyway I babble... I'm unemployed I got time!

So, here is the email I would have sent you if I had your email for those of you who I know that didn't know:
As many of you know, I am no longer working for AFI FEST, due to financial constraints at AFI.

I have loved being a part of AFI FEST the past 10 years. During those years I ushered in the 22nd Anniversary of the festival and programmed some extraordinary films in Los Angeles that otherwise might not have found their audience. We (myself and others who have already left AFI) created the alternative film screening series AFI at ArcLight and the rocking Music Documentary Series and one of my favorite cultural programs AFI PROJECT: 20/20. Most importantly, I was very fortunate to have met some amazing artists, many of whom have become dear friends along the way.

These are times of great challenge and great change. Non-profits are suffering under the weight of our nation's economic turmoil and AFI FEST is no exception. I hope the festival and AFI’s exhibition programs are able to continue, as it’s never been more important in the larger film industry.

In the meantime, I am looking forward to the new opportunities and challenges ahead and plan to stay in Los Angeles (unless the perfect job appears in Barcelona). I would appreciate any information you may have or come across about positions at other film festivals, cultural institutions, or production/distribution companies.
I will no longer be checking my former sbennett@afi.com address. Please change your address books - since this is on the internet: DM me on twitter, message me on facebook or myspace and I'll update ya or you can go to my website - I'm not too hard to find.

Dovetailing on the economic situation and keeping the cinematic revolution alive I look forward to programming some gems in various venues around the city this month. Let me know if you want to know more.
xo
shaz

www.shazbennett.com



Here we are in front of the iconic Albertsons!

Mayan Calendar

Please note from now on I will only be setting meetings and schedules in Mayan time.
Please download these widgets to stay on my schedule.

Looking foward to 2012.
Thanks!

Change Chocolate Bar

Stacey brought us all Barack Obama Chocolate bars from her trip to
Washington DC.

I love chocolate but there is something so wrong about this....
www.shazbennett.com

Brigitte Cornand presents CHERE LOUISE, an intimate portrait of legendary artist Louise Bourgeois, REDCAT, Monday Jan 12

I love Louise Bourgeois' art!
Check out this film on Monday!
If you haven't made it to MOCA yet to see her work...all I can say, is do yourself a favor and GO! You can thank me later.

FILM AT REDCAT PRESENTS Brigitte Cornand Chere Louise
Los Angeles premiere
France, 1995, 50 min., b/w and color, Beta SP
Mon Jan 12 | 8:30 pm $9
Documentarian Brigitte Cornand first met Louise Bourgeois in 1994 and over the next dozen years made a trilogy of intimate videos about the iconic artist, now 97, through an idiosyncratic form of collaboration between filmmaker and subject. The first installment of the trilogy, Chere Louise traces the inspirations, autobiographical sources and everyday routines that shape Bourgeois'; powerful art.
Film at REDCAT. Presented in conjunction with the retrospective Louis Bourgeois, on view at MOCA Grand Avenue through Jan 25. Info at moca.org.

"...a slow and insistent penetration into Bourgeois's daily practice.

Environmental Graffitti

These photos are so cool! I went to the Griffith Park Observatory over the holiday - it was so relaxing and amazing...even with a million tourists... it's hard to be stressed out when you're looking at the world from space.

"Hey they forgot to wind the sundial?" What movie?

My favorite films of 2008 and can't wait for 2009

Every year Indiewire compiles a list of top favorites from the editors of indieWIRE and industry insiders. Included in these "industry insiders" are festival programmers and acquisitions folks.

I have a love/hate with "top ten" lists but I always love to read this one since Festival Programmers see so many films that don't break through and have seen so many films overall that I love to see what makes it into these lists. I can never narrow mine down to ten - that's one thing I love about my job is I actually like movies and honestly like a lot of them. If you asked me my top ten favorite films of all time, I would be more selective but in any given year, I like films for a variety of reasons... sometimes, a film stands out, because I feel like it's a new talent and someone to watch out for their next film and sometimes, the film captures the mood of that year and time. And sometimes a film stands out enough to even make it into the "of all time" list but mostly I just love films.

Here is my list with some additions that I forgot!
Also, my friend had posted sarcastically lovingly, I'm sure: "A list of films you can't see in the theatres or rent - how helpful!" Well sir, many of these are available on Netflix and others are available on that new thing called "the internet". Plus, many of them played in festivals, like AFI FEST and smaller regional festivals - once again making festivals so important!

I had a really hard time narrowing it down to 10 - there are 15 I think stood out above the rest. (Note: unranked, alphabetical order)

"The Class"
"Encounters at the End of the World"
"Frozen River"
"Happy-Go-Lucky"
"Hunger"
"Man on Wire"
"Milk"
"Momma's Man"
"The Order of Myths"
"Rachel Getting Married"
"Secrecy"
"Slumdog Millionaire"
"Synecdoche, New York"
"Waltz with Bashir"
"Wendy and Lucy"
"The Wrestler"

And films released I forgot that are awesome:
"The Pleasure of Being Robbed"
"California Dreamin' (Endless)"

Best as yet undistributed films of 2008:
"Acne"
"Afterschool"
"Anvil! The Story of Anvil"
"Goodbye Solo"
"Finally Lillian and Dan"
"Intimades de Shakespeare y Victor Hugo"
"I'm Gonna Explode (Voy a Explotar)"
"Last Days of Shishmaref"

I forgot to mention in the undistributed:
"Prodigal Sons"
"Dear Zachary"
"Of all the Things"

From my last year's best undistributed films:
"Silent Light"
"Still Life"
"Flight of the Red Balloon"

I love that Matt Dentler added these categories:
My new obsession is finding films online!

Web Series:
1. "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog"
2. "Wainy Days"
3. "The Stagg Party"

Original Viral Video:
1. "Where the Hell is Matt?"
2. "Prop 8: The Musical"
3. "JC Penney's 'Beware of the Doghouse'"

New Film Portal:
1. Hulu
2. YouTube Screening Room
3. SnagFilms

Relaunched Film Portal:
1. Amazon VOD
2. Joost
3. Babelgum

Happy Hunting

Happy New Year 2009

So long tree 2008...
www.shazbennett.com