The Guerrilla Drive-in: Hollywood, 3/30/02
Written: Mar 31 '02 (Updated Mar 31 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: It's a film projected on a freaking building! Underground cinema at it's finest.
Cons: Only one film for now. Maybe they'll open this up to other filmmakers soon.
The Bottom Line: This isn't pirate radio... This isn't a fucking rave... This is GUERRILLA DRIVE-IN!
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| Officer's Full Review: Los Angeles |
In 1994, my good friend Mason projected 16 MM film of a penile operation from his Minneapolis apartment onto a neighboring white-walled building. That was cool.
This was cooler.
I just got back from my first screening of Lawrence Bridges' "12" at LA's Guerrilla Drive-In. I'm going to explain this in 2 parts.
The Guerrilla Drive-In.
Basically, an indy filmmaker has started screening a 2 hour version of his gutsy 3 hour, LA-based epic "12"... on the borrowed facades of Los Angeles buildings. Audience members hear the film through a pirated radio station they tune into from their cars! Interested parties check into a website every week to find out where this weeks location will be. (http://www.12.org) It's underground cinema meets pirate radio meets rave, and I for one love it.
I first discovered Guerrilla Drive-In a few weeks ago. My friend and coworker "Cello" heard about it and filled me in. I was immediately intrigued.
So tonight, joined by my buddy Sean, (NOHO denizen imported from Michigan with a penchant for everything absurd) we risked Cello's erratic driving and rickety vehicle and headed to Hollywood.
We pulled into the location: a tiny lot south of Sunset Blvd., right next to the Hollywood police station near Ameoba Records. We found a spot facing the "screen", and parked amongst the 2 or 3 other vehicles already waiting for the show. It was about 10 minutes to showtime, and tonights projectionist Gary was testing the equipment and setting up. Within a few minutes, he came up to our car, welcomed us to the screening, and handed us each a mini press packet which consisted of a few articles about the film and the experience of Guerrilla Drive-In.
At this point, Sean decided to check out the local shrub and drain his (self professed) tiny bladder before showtime. Seems the Guerrilla Drive-In is sorely lacking for urinals, so bring your own porta potty or risk the public urination fine that comes with being caught pissing Kramer style. (A relevant side note: Sean is serious about launching a website devoted to great places to pee publicly in LA... I will certainly keep you posted.)
By now, about 5 cars had arrived (at most) and the show was about to start. Sean broke out the "poor mans spritzer" (a bottle of cheap wine and ginger ale) and we settled in for the film.
Lawrence Bridges's "12"
In a sentence... I liked it. A lot actually. This is a pretty ambitious film with an ever evolving structure. It took the filmmaker 10 years to film, 12 to complete (hence the title) and it weaves major Los Angeles events (such as the Northridge earthquake and the 1994 riots) into it's chaotic narrative. The actors age, gain weight, lose weight, lose hair, etc. while the film progresses.
The story is difficult to follow, but basically concerns itself with two demigod's wandering Los Angeles in search of a play they must perform for their father Zues. Zues presents them with an "act or die" threat, and much time is spent with our characters struggling to justify why they should really participate at all. A host of other Greek gods show up as modern day LA characters and run amok while the city expands and contracts in realistic documentary fashion.
Eventually, the two main characters figure out the play they must perform in order to entertain this madcap assembly: "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde.
There are a few recognizable faces in this film, but Allison Elliott was the only one I knew by name. (You've seen her in The Spitfire Grill and The Wings of the Dove.) All of the lead actors do an excellent job with the material.
Despite enjoying this film immensely, I can't fully recommend it to everyone. The story telling style is so disjointed and confusing, that I suspect most people leave more bewildered than entertained. More than a few cars took off early, but then I sometimes gauge a films value by how many people walk out (The more the better: It means the film isn't pandering to a mass audience), so maybe that's a selling point to you!
The film reminded me of Schizopolis meets Koyaanisquatsi with a little frenetic editing ala Natural Born Killers (only without the killing) just to keep you on your toes. Throw in a little bit of Time Code, the riot footage from Medium Cool and change the settings to Los Angeles and you've got an idea of what 12 feels like.
Sean called it Slacker-LA.
Part of the fun with watching a film like this in a setting such as Guerrilla Drive-In, is that the film is so rooted in LA culture, it only seems appropriate to watch it splashed across a dirty Los Angeles white-wall. The occasional confused derelict passerby or wandering Ameoba Record store shoppers only enhances the experience.
At one point, we found ourselves torn between watching the film on the wall, and the real life drug deal happening at the other end of the parking lot! (Note to any drug dealers reading this: Never do your shady business in the middle of a crowded art show, let alone behind the Hollywood police station!)
Perhaps the most fascinating thing about tonights show, was the amazingly small attendance. In a city of 10 million, there couldn't have been more than 10 people here.
Cello, Sean and I discussed this and we decided that it just illustrates how "inside-the-box" most people live their lives. People simply shy away from anything that seems risky or original. A friend of mine canceled hours before she was to meet us, because the girl she was planning on bringing was terrified of the idea. She absolutely hated the whole concept.
Amazing. I find Guerrilla Drive-In to be the singularly most interesting thing I've heard of in months.
After the film ended, Gary came back to our vehicle and shot footage of us commenting on the film. We discussed with him the possibility of other films being shown in this fashion, and he seemed very excited to be part of a movement like that. He tells us that other filmmakers have approached him about showing their work similarly, and maybe trailers for their films could be shown before each weeks feature.
If anyone else in the LA area decides to show their film this way, please do not hesitate to contact me directly and let me know. I would be more than interested in participating in something like this again in the future.
I should mention that 12 can also be seen online. Visit http://www.12.org for more information. However, I think Guerrilla Drive-In is the only way to see this project. In the same way that Rocky Horror Picture Show can only truly be experienced at a midnight screening, so too can 12 only really be experienced at Guerrilla Drive-In. It just wouldn't be the same otherwise.
Finally, I reach out to filmmakers, artists, and creative types in the rest of the country: DO THIS YOURSELVES! There is much potential in this kind of performance. I would love nothing more than to see local indy films projected against buildings all over this country.
In the mean time, Los Angeles has Guerrilla Drive-In: 12, and that's a fabulous start.
Recommended:
Yes
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Member: Ryan Stockstad
Location: Valley Village, California
Reviews written: 77
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"True revolutionaries never bomb buildings." ~Dan Bern
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