The great thing about underground films these days is that they are the last and final place where cinema can still be mysterious. They are the antidote to today’s mainstream movies that, on all technical fronts — from the scriptwriting to the CGI effects — craft nitpickishly logical worlds down to the nano pixel, allowing audiences to leave the magic of their own imagination at home when they go to the theater.
For the past 22 years, the Chicago Underground Film Festival has been programming films — both shorts and features — that miraculously asks audiences to bring their own imaginations with them to interact with the imagery conjured up by cinematic magicians. At the fest’s most recent edition on May 13-17, 2015, two extremely different short films perfectly typify the kind of enigmatic cinematic experience that make the viewing of underground movies so invigorating.
Echoes, by Winnipeg-based filmmaker Jaimz Asmundson, is the stunningly...
For the past 22 years, the Chicago Underground Film Festival has been programming films — both shorts and features — that miraculously asks audiences to bring their own imaginations with them to interact with the imagery conjured up by cinematic magicians. At the fest’s most recent edition on May 13-17, 2015, two extremely different short films perfectly typify the kind of enigmatic cinematic experience that make the viewing of underground movies so invigorating.
Echoes, by Winnipeg-based filmmaker Jaimz Asmundson, is the stunningly...
- 5/18/2015
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
So, I was on vacation last week and ill this week, so our links are kinda spotty…
This week’s Must Read: Jaimz Asmundson goes into great detail on the making of his amazing film The Magus, which he made in collaboration with his father, artist C. Graham Asmundson. Even if you haven’t seen the film — and you can here — the making of article is a fantastic insight into artistic process and choices one must make as a filmmaker.Electric Sheep reports on the Trent Harris retrospective at the 20th annual Raindance Film Festival, describing how his films “all easily engage the audience.”Jon Jost continues to up the ante in his efforts to get Ray Carney to return the films of Mark Rappaport to the filmmaker, saying he’ll start an online petition if Carney doesn’t step up.Donna k., like us, has been under the weather,...
This week’s Must Read: Jaimz Asmundson goes into great detail on the making of his amazing film The Magus, which he made in collaboration with his father, artist C. Graham Asmundson. Even if you haven’t seen the film — and you can here — the making of article is a fantastic insight into artistic process and choices one must make as a filmmaker.Electric Sheep reports on the Trent Harris retrospective at the 20th annual Raindance Film Festival, describing how his films “all easily engage the audience.”Jon Jost continues to up the ante in his efforts to get Ray Carney to return the films of Mark Rappaport to the filmmaker, saying he’ll start an online petition if Carney doesn’t step up.Donna k., like us, has been under the weather,...
- 10/14/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The Magus, directed by Winnipeg filmmaker Jaimz Asmundson and starring his father C. Graham Asmundson, is one of the most original, imaginative and visually innovative short films of the last several years.
In it, the elder Asmundson, an artist in real life, descends into his hidden studio that is located under an impossible amount of levels beneath the city streets. Safely ensconced in his brightly light lair, he becomes a blur of motion striking paint across his immense canvases. Eventually the frenzy created by his artwork opens up doorways to other wondrous dimensions made of color and dark fantasy.
The Magus is a thoroughly modern film that carries on the transgressive tradition of illuminating Satanic ritual on film, such as those found in the films of Kenneth Anger.
Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film originally reviewed The Magus way back in January 2011 describing it as “a vision that is extraordinarily startling,...
In it, the elder Asmundson, an artist in real life, descends into his hidden studio that is located under an impossible amount of levels beneath the city streets. Safely ensconced in his brightly light lair, he becomes a blur of motion striking paint across his immense canvases. Eventually the frenzy created by his artwork opens up doorways to other wondrous dimensions made of color and dark fantasy.
The Magus is a thoroughly modern film that carries on the transgressive tradition of illuminating Satanic ritual on film, such as those found in the films of Kenneth Anger.
Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film originally reviewed The Magus way back in January 2011 describing it as “a vision that is extraordinarily startling,...
- 7/10/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
View clips from many of the beautiful short films that will be screening at the 3rd annual Strange Beauty Film Festival, which will be held at the Man Bites Dog Theater in Durham, Nc on Feb. 16-18. To see the full list of the films playing at the fest, please check out the lineup on Bad Lit.
Some of the clips pulled for the preview trailer look absolutely gorgeous, making us wonder exactly which films they were pulled from. The only one we can positively identify is artist C. Graham Asmundson doing his thing in the fantastic short film The Magus, directed by Jaimz Asmundson.
Looks like it’s going to be a fun festival!
Some of the clips pulled for the preview trailer look absolutely gorgeous, making us wonder exactly which films they were pulled from. The only one we can positively identify is artist C. Graham Asmundson doing his thing in the fantastic short film The Magus, directed by Jaimz Asmundson.
Looks like it’s going to be a fun festival!
- 2/8/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 3rd annual Strange Beauty Film Festival unspools on Feb. 16-18 with three nights, and one afternoon, of great underground short films from all over the world. The fest screens at the Man Bites Dog Theater in Durham, Nc.
First, Strange Beauty’s home state of North Carolina is properly represented with several short films, such as Jim Kellough’s Red Rocks, Josh Gibson’s Kudzu Vine, Heather D. Freeman’s Pennipotens, Charlotte Taylor’s The Edge of Summer and several more.
Plus, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada is heavily represented by Leslie Supnet‘s Spectroscopy, Kevin Kelly’s 367 Years in Montreal, Aaron Zegher has two films in the fest: I See a Light and The Story of Thomas Edison; and Winnipeg expat Clint Enns will screen Connecting With Nature. However, most exciting on the Winnipeg front is a screening of Jaimz Asmundson‘s thoroughly amazing The Magus, which was the 2nd...
First, Strange Beauty’s home state of North Carolina is properly represented with several short films, such as Jim Kellough’s Red Rocks, Josh Gibson’s Kudzu Vine, Heather D. Freeman’s Pennipotens, Charlotte Taylor’s The Edge of Summer and several more.
Plus, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada is heavily represented by Leslie Supnet‘s Spectroscopy, Kevin Kelly’s 367 Years in Montreal, Aaron Zegher has two films in the fest: I See a Light and The Story of Thomas Edison; and Winnipeg expat Clint Enns will screen Connecting With Nature. However, most exciting on the Winnipeg front is a screening of Jaimz Asmundson‘s thoroughly amazing The Magus, which was the 2nd...
- 1/24/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Choosing Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film’s 2011 Movie of the Year came down to a near dead heat. There were two movies that came out this year filled with such grand ambition, artistry and skill that the decision almost came down to a tie before ultimately settling on the singular Movie of the Year tradition.
That movie this year is Usama Alshaibi‘s Profane, a spectacular triumph of uncompromising vision, extreme daring and intimate personal expression. There was simply no other film like it this year — underground or otherwise — and its only rival of sheer audacity of the past several years was last year’s Movie of the Year pick, Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then.
And yes, I did say there was almost a tie this year. The first runner-up is a film that achieved greatness for several different reasons than Profane‘s accomplishments.
But, before I get to that close runner-up,...
That movie this year is Usama Alshaibi‘s Profane, a spectacular triumph of uncompromising vision, extreme daring and intimate personal expression. There was simply no other film like it this year — underground or otherwise — and its only rival of sheer audacity of the past several years was last year’s Movie of the Year pick, Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then.
And yes, I did say there was almost a tie this year. The first runner-up is a film that achieved greatness for several different reasons than Profane‘s accomplishments.
But, before I get to that close runner-up,...
- 12/20/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Rescued from the jaws of limbo, the Denver Underground Film Festival comes roaring back to life for three days of short films and one intense feature-length documentary. The fest runs Nov. 11-13 at the Unitarian Society of Denver.
The feature doc screening on the fest’s last night is Iconoclast, Larry Wessel’s epic profile of musician and artistic rabble-rouser Boyd Rice.
The rest of the fest is an eclectic mix of short films, including programs devoted to contemporary Spanish and Canadian cinema, plus a look back at profiles of Andy Warhol caught on film by Jonas Mekas and Stephen Dwoskin.
Some mind-blowing short films to look out for are Jaimz Asmundson’s stunning portrait of his artist father, C. Graham Asmundson, The Magus and Greg Hanson & Casey Regan’s ass-kicking nunsploitation flick, Thy Kill Be Done.
The full lineup of films at the Denver Underground Film Festival is below.
The feature doc screening on the fest’s last night is Iconoclast, Larry Wessel’s epic profile of musician and artistic rabble-rouser Boyd Rice.
The rest of the fest is an eclectic mix of short films, including programs devoted to contemporary Spanish and Canadian cinema, plus a look back at profiles of Andy Warhol caught on film by Jonas Mekas and Stephen Dwoskin.
Some mind-blowing short films to look out for are Jaimz Asmundson’s stunning portrait of his artist father, C. Graham Asmundson, The Magus and Greg Hanson & Casey Regan’s ass-kicking nunsploitation flick, Thy Kill Be Done.
The full lineup of films at the Denver Underground Film Festival is below.
- 11/11/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Incite is the best publication about experimental media in the world and, for issue #3, publisher Brett Kashmere is promising to pull out all the stops. This latest edition will contain over 160 pages of articles and art, including 20 full color images, all of which has been created and contributed by over 25 leading media artists, filmmakers, writers, curators and scholars in North America.
To bring all this awesomeness to fruition, Incite is raising funds via Kickstarter to cover publication costs. Each issue of Incite is simply more incredible than the last, so this is a really exciting opportunity to help create what promises to be a significant piece of experimental media history.
The Incite Kickstarter campaign is offering tons of great incentives, too, including a poster by Michael Betancourt, DVDs of experimental video and a silkscreened portrait of late filmmaker George Kuchar by artist Leslie Supnet. So, in addition to Incite #3, you...
To bring all this awesomeness to fruition, Incite is raising funds via Kickstarter to cover publication costs. Each issue of Incite is simply more incredible than the last, so this is a really exciting opportunity to help create what promises to be a significant piece of experimental media history.
The Incite Kickstarter campaign is offering tons of great incentives, too, including a poster by Michael Betancourt, DVDs of experimental video and a silkscreened portrait of late filmmaker George Kuchar by artist Leslie Supnet. So, in addition to Incite #3, you...
- 10/29/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 14th annual Antimatter Film Festival in Vancouver, BC, Canada is an epic 9-day event of expanded cinema performances, feature-length documentaries an a ton of experimental short films and festivals.
There are seven feature documentaries screening including Marie Losier‘s hit The Ballad of Genesis & Lady Jaye, a profile of the pandrogenous entity, Breyer P-Orridge; and Chris Metzler & Lev Kalman’s popular Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone, about the legendary ska punk band. Plus, there’s Adele Horne’s And Again and more.
On the expanded cinema front, Antimatter welcomes retrospectives of Kerry Laitala, who will be presenting a selection of her 3D light and motion experiments; and Roger Beebe will screen a series of multi-projector performances.
As for the short films, the real highlight of the fest is a screening of Jaimz Asmundson‘s trippy and powerful The Magus, a fictional/documentary hybrid of his father’s Satanic painting process.
There are seven feature documentaries screening including Marie Losier‘s hit The Ballad of Genesis & Lady Jaye, a profile of the pandrogenous entity, Breyer P-Orridge; and Chris Metzler & Lev Kalman’s popular Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone, about the legendary ska punk band. Plus, there’s Adele Horne’s And Again and more.
On the expanded cinema front, Antimatter welcomes retrospectives of Kerry Laitala, who will be presenting a selection of her 3D light and motion experiments; and Roger Beebe will screen a series of multi-projector performances.
As for the short films, the real highlight of the fest is a screening of Jaimz Asmundson‘s trippy and powerful The Magus, a fictional/documentary hybrid of his father’s Satanic painting process.
- 10/12/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Winnipeg filmmaker Jaimz Asmundson‘s quasi-documentary portrait of his artist father C. Graham Asmundson, The Magus, has won an Artistic Contribution award for International Short Film at the I Festival Lume de Cinema, which was held on July 15-23 in Sao Luis, Brazil.
The 12-minute film ostensibly documents the artistic process of the elder Asmundson, as he descends far underneath the city streets into a hidden studio. Safely ensconced in his private retreat, the artist begins dramatically painting abstract images onto enormous canvases while the audiences slowly begins to understand that they are watching a magic ritual.
As the film’s pace begins to race furiously, the paintings explode across the screen, revealing hidden worlds in their midst.
Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film reviewed the movie earlier this year, saying:
Film as Satanic ritual has never really evolved into a full-fledged subgenre even with the still continuing interest...
The 12-minute film ostensibly documents the artistic process of the elder Asmundson, as he descends far underneath the city streets into a hidden studio. Safely ensconced in his private retreat, the artist begins dramatically painting abstract images onto enormous canvases while the audiences slowly begins to understand that they are watching a magic ritual.
As the film’s pace begins to race furiously, the paintings explode across the screen, revealing hidden worlds in their midst.
Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film reviewed the movie earlier this year, saying:
Film as Satanic ritual has never really evolved into a full-fledged subgenre even with the still continuing interest...
- 7/28/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Kind of a short list this week. Not sure why that is, but what I can say is that there are some really great articles linked to below.
Underground figures invaded mainstream newspapers this week. First, the Alexandria Gazette Packet has a very lovely profile of the legendary Mink Stole.Then, the Vancouver son profiled bad boy pornographer and avant-garde troublemaker Bruce Labruce.Now you can download the amazing soundtrack to Jaimz Asmundson’s trippy short film The Magus.Mark Savage has tons of great photos from his latest naughty production, the awesomely titled Pond Scum, which looks very classic transgression-ish just from the pictures of star Renae Boult.I always really enjoy reading Bill Plympton’s reviews of classic animated films. They’re usually very brief, but direct and insightful. Most recently, he checked out and loathed The Great Mouse Detective.Jack Sargeant has a nice, short write-up of...
Underground figures invaded mainstream newspapers this week. First, the Alexandria Gazette Packet has a very lovely profile of the legendary Mink Stole.Then, the Vancouver son profiled bad boy pornographer and avant-garde troublemaker Bruce Labruce.Now you can download the amazing soundtrack to Jaimz Asmundson’s trippy short film The Magus.Mark Savage has tons of great photos from his latest naughty production, the awesomely titled Pond Scum, which looks very classic transgression-ish just from the pictures of star Renae Boult.I always really enjoy reading Bill Plympton’s reviews of classic animated films. They’re usually very brief, but direct and insightful. Most recently, he checked out and loathed The Great Mouse Detective.Jack Sargeant has a nice, short write-up of...
- 7/24/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This week’s Absolute Must Read is a letter Hollis Frampton wrote to MoMA regarding a planned retrospective of his work in 1973. The hitch: The museum wanted Frampton to give them his films for free. Too bad he’s not still alive because we need more letters like this written, especially in today’s “free” internet culture. My favorite line: “I leave it to your surmise whether [Maya Deren's] life might have been prolonged by a few bucks.”In case you missed it on Bad Lit, Jonas Mekas reprinted the very informative and insightful comment he left here on his own website. Good stuff on the demise of his Movie Journal column.If you can name the three dudes and know where they’re sitting in this photograph, then you are a 100% underground film nerd. (And, yes, I canChris Hansen continues his production diary for his film An Affair. Day Three found...
- 6/12/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Usama Alshaibi’s Profane debuted in Berlin last week and the film already garnered a review by Ceven Knowles. To be honest, I haven’t read it yet because I’m waiting to see the film first without preconceptions. But, I think it’s a positive write-up.Actually, there are lots of write-ups coming from the Berlinale. On Electric Sheep, Pamela Jahn and Alison Frank review films Road to Nowhere, The Devil’s Double, Tomboy and Dance Town.Robert Koehler has several write-ups. First, he says Miranda July’s The Future isn’t good, but Marie Losier’s The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye is excellent. Then, this round-up of several films makes the fest sound pretty dismal overall.Kinemastik reviews some Berlinale short films.Clint Enns has a completely excellent review of Jaimz Asmundson’s phenomenal short film The Magus, cluing us in on many of the fine...
- 2/20/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Film as Satanic ritual has never really evolved into a full-fledged subgenre even with the still continuing interest in the work of Kenneth Anger. But, every once in awhile, one will come across a great underground movie that treads heavily in the dark arts.
Jaimz Asmundson‘s The Magus is one of those films.
The film documents an actual ritual: The artistic process of the filmmaker’s father, C. Graham Asmundson. Graham awakens, drags on a cigarette, fixes some coffee, applies a few strokes to a painting in his kitchen, showers, then heads out for a day of serious work.
The opening is quite banal. It’s straight vérité, unilluminating, dingy documentary footage. No voiceover. No talking to the camera. We only know Graham is an abstract artist of some kind thanks to that painting he fiddles with and various little paintings and art books strewn about his messy apartment.
Jaimz Asmundson‘s The Magus is one of those films.
The film documents an actual ritual: The artistic process of the filmmaker’s father, C. Graham Asmundson. Graham awakens, drags on a cigarette, fixes some coffee, applies a few strokes to a painting in his kitchen, showers, then heads out for a day of serious work.
The opening is quite banal. It’s straight vérité, unilluminating, dingy documentary footage. No voiceover. No talking to the camera. We only know Graham is an abstract artist of some kind thanks to that painting he fiddles with and various little paintings and art books strewn about his messy apartment.
- 1/11/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
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