Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Convulsion Expulsion


Warning this film has graphic content.
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/solaranuscinema

I had the idea of this film when I was in Amsterdam on my honeymoon with my wife (March 2003) and we visited the sex museum. It was the photography section that really inspired me. All the porn from about the late 1800's to early 1920's was the most fascinating stuff. The awkward naked performance felt so rich and distant. I knew they also had to keep those poses for an extended period because of the ancient technology of film and exposure. And for some reason an idea, the image of the red from the anus, lips with teeth, head in white and bandage, sparked in my head.

The way 'Convulsion Expulsion' happened was sort of accidental. An instructor at an art college here in Chicago had a very old 35mm DeVry film camera and wanted me to shoot something with it. He gave me 400 feet of 35mm film and said do whatever you want. He only asked to be given a fake name as producer since he did not want his real name on the credits. This weird, ancient and amazing DeVry camera only took 100 feet spools of film so I had to go sit in the dark and separate the film into 4 rolls. My buddy Andrew Dryer shot it in this huge white loft near Chinatown. My wife Kristie, practiced getting her ass ready (several enemas...)
Many things were done in secret and under the table from people who helped on this film that I can't name but I do thank you.

The make-up was incredible by Camilla Ha and the musical was from noise maker Andy Ortmann. It is my only 35mm film so far.