Shake Ray Turbine
Towncraft the Movie
Next up for Matson Films is Towncraft, a feature film documentary about the DIY music scene in Little Rock. Interviews, archival footage, and much more can be found at the Website. Look for the double CD soundtrack and DVD in May 2006. To learn more, check out the trailer or start browsing the stories.
Matson Films
Matson Films is a distributor of American independent and foreign films. What does this mean to you? Well, as a filmgoer, it means that there are a small bunch of people that actively are trying to get the best films out to the theaters instead of the typical studio sludge. As a filmmaker, it means that the small indie shops (the days of Miramax before they became too high on themselves) are trying to look out for your best interest. As an aside, for a memoir of her days at Miramax, read Rachel Pine's hilarious roman a clefTwins of Tribeca.
Towncraft Images
The Deaf DJ
Speaking of films, "It's All Gone Pete Tong" has racked up a baddie of awards and nominations: Audience Award and Grand Jury Award - Gen Art Film Festival, Best Feature and Best Actor - US Comedy Arts Festival, Best Feature - Toronto Film Festival, Best Feature Length Drama, Best Overall Sound, and Best Sound Editing - Leo Awards, Best Production Nomination - BIFA. It was also named as one of Canada's Top 10 Films of 2004 and has filled a long list of critics' and personal 2005 year-end top 10 lists.
"It's All Gone Pete Tong" describes the rise and fall of legendary DJ Frankie Wilde who made Ibiza his personal DJ Party Playground. And if you're not from the UK, you may not recognize the phrase "it's all gone Pete Tong". Well, Pete Tong is known to the rest of the world. For us in the States, electronic music is represented by standouts Moby/Fatboy Slim/Groove Armada/Thievery Corporation/Sasha & Digweed/etc. However, there are a whole host of others out there like Tiesto, Paul Van Dyke, Carl Cox, and Paul Oakenfold that ravage the scene. Hilarious (and award-winning) Brit Paul Kaye plays the talented but fallible DJ Frankie Wilde. UK actress Kate Magowan of "24 Hour Party People" fame plays his ex-wife Sonya. Talented Canadian director Michael Dowse is behind the helm. Yes, this is the very same Michael Dowse that put the head-banging Canadian journey "nut cancer" film FUBAR together along with Paul J Spence and David Lawrence.
Buy the DVD at Amazon or look up more info on IMDb.
You've Never Seen a Prom Like This!
For something a little less four-on-the-floor and closer to the heartland, check out "The World's Best Prom", a documentary about a mega-prom in Racine, Wisconsin. The synopsis reads "Once a year, prom mania grips the entire population of Racine, Wisconsin. The city's extravagant celebration begins with a rowdy parade where students compete for the most outrageous form of transportation, driving fire engines, 18-wheelers, even riding elephant-back through the city streets. Prom-goers from seven city high schools converge on one citywide prom to make red carpet entrances bombarded by the flash of cameras and screams from bleachers filled to capacity. Across the city, residents keep their eyes glued to the live television coverage of the spectacular event. If the Academy Awards were moved to the heartland, this is what it would resemble."
Pretty cool, huh?
Look for the DVD at Amazon on April 4, 2006. Check Wikipedia for more info or look it up on IMDb.
Penguins are People Too
Baby Toga is still missing and that's a shame.
Penguin poo threatens Antarctic hut
Pressures Produced When Penguins Pooh -- Calculations on Avian Defaecation
QED
Well, that's the update for now. Until next time, have a drink of Oman Whisky for me. Neat, please.