He would literally edit his films in the projection room while they were being shown, and his live performance pieces, often staged in his dilapidated Lower East Side apartment, were often held to little or no audiences. Jerry Tartaglia, filmmaker, archivist and co-director of the Plaster Foundation &lrquo a non-profit foundation dedicated to restoring Jack Smiths films.
He was also a perversely eccentric figure who, after his notoriety with “Creatures,” essentially refused to finish another work. (Not surprising, since a major objection of obsession for Smith when he was a young man was the Hollywood vamp Maria Montez.) Filmmaker Jack Smith also stars in this funny short film, playing the cadaverous matron Rose Courtyard (inspired by Rose Kennedy). He cultivated a stable of performers who would work for him steadily, the most notable being the drag queen Mario Montez. Those films and more are now available for rent through the Film-makers’ Coop.Smith, who died in 1989 of AIDS, was a fascinating flaming creature, living an ultra-bohemian and poverty-stricken lifestyle, at one point surviving on a daily diet of cheese and crackers. Someone in the audience at this screening also asks what Jack’s lasting influence has been where Mekas gives a great response about Smith’s contribution being his unique, fantastical vision.įor those who only know Smith’s work through Flaming Creatures, which was shot on washed out, discarded film, might be taken aback by the beautiful color footage from his other movies seen in the above video.Īccording to Laura Major, the project manager at the lab where Smith’s films were restored, the clips in the above video come from the films, in order, Scotch Tape, Hot Air Specialists, Song for Rent and the last is probably Yellow Sequence or possibly Respectable Creatures. Smith, being the artist that he was, didn’t quite have his mind on the job and was instead busy planning his shoot for Flaming Creatures. He is generally acclaimed as a founding father of. However, Mekas discusses here their early relationship when he briefly hired Smith as a ticket taker at the Charles Theater at Ave. LGBTQ Art History Jack Smith was an American filmmaker, actor, and pioneer of underground cinema. Eventually, they would have a falling out over Mekas’ distribution of Smith’s classic film Flaming Creatures. Seeing these in person must have been an incredible treat at this event.Īnd it’s worth it to listen to some important underground film history by Mekas about his early relationship with Smith. Then, the Smith footage is very brief, but absolutely gorgeous to behold. In the above video, first you’ll have to wade through two intros by Film-makers’ Cooperative director MM Serra and Coop founder Jonas Mekas who were on hand for a special celebration honoring the 50th anniversary of the Coop.
Born in Rome to a German mother and a Polish father. Italian-American poet, publisher, actor and filmmaker associated with the New American Cinema. Ensemble of glamorously dressed monsters. Hoberman, he was particularly bitter that the. This footage has been restored by Jerry Tartaglia and Daniel Feinberg, and was funded by the Barbara Gladstone Gallery. Experimental film project by American director Jack Smith. Yet, Smith refused to capitalize on the notoriety around Flaming Creatures. 11, 2012, the Microscope Gallery in Brooklyn, New York screened long lost films by iconic and hugely influential underground filmmaker Jack Smith. Jack Smith is a CAA Licensed Drone Cinematographer who operates the Inspire 2 Drone catered for high end productions including the X7 & X5S camera.
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