1982: Greatest Geek Year Ever!

MVD Rewind Collection is proud to present 1982: GREATEST GEEK YEAR EVER! in its original, unedited feature length form for the first time! 

1982: GREATEST GEEK YEAR EVER! is an epic documentary about the greatest geek year in films,1982, featuring stars, directors, writers, producers and pop culture historians sharing their insights about such legendary movies as E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Blade Runner, John Carpenter's The Thing, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Poltergeist, Creepshow, Night Shift, The Dark Crystal, 48 Hours, First Blood, Tron, Conan The Barbarian, Cat People, Fast Times At Ridgemont High, The Road Warrior, and much, much more.

Filled with exclusive interviews, rare behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive never-before-seen clips (including Henry Winkler's home movies from the set of Night Shift) in a fun, lively, no-holds-barred celebration of the legendary movie-going year of 1982. 

1982: Greatest Geek Year Ever! takes viewers behind- the-scenes to a time when fandom was in its infancy, featuring eye-opening interviews with Ron Howard, Paul Schrader, John Sayles, Amy Heckerling, Henry Winkler, William Shatner, Sean Young, Joanna Cassidy, Keith David, Cameron Crowe, Michael Deeley, Lisa Henson, Dean Devlin, Bruce Campbell, Dee Wallace, Felicia Day, Susan Seidelman, Roger Corman, Barry Bostwick, Marc Singer, Bryan Fuller, Leonard Maltin, Mike Medavoy and more, in front of and behind the camera, from some of the biggest and most influential movies ever made!

 

“A remarkable array of talking heads wax lyrical about what they loved about the releases that year and make an impressive argument to the doc’s raison d’etre.” – Martin Unswroth, Starburst  

  

“It’s a love letter to the films that shaped a generation, but it will work for for viewers of all ages.” – Jonathan Hickman, The Newman Times-Herald 

  

“1982 captures the feeling of being a kid excited about summer movies, but tempers that nostalgia with insight, an amazing amount of research, and wonderful interviews. If you’re missing your own childhood just a little bit, and want to remind yourself that yes, 1982 was great, this documentary is unmissable.” – Ryan Britt, Fatherly 

  

“A time capsule, capturing a synchronic cross-section of movie history, while also mapping out the formative filmography of Generation X.” – Anton Bitel, Projected Figures 

  

“This remarkable epic documentary spotlights the pop culture milestones of 1982 including notable motion pictures, TV, music and video games of that seminal year.” – Joseph Perry, The Good, The Bad & The Verdict 

  

“Five Stars. This documentary is full of nostalgia and amazing stories regarding the year of 1982. This documentary is fantastic and brought me back to my childhood.” – Dan Skip Allen, From The Fourth Row  

Watch the trailer here: https://mvd.cloud/video/trailers/760137156864_1982GreatestGeekYearEver_trailer.mp4

Pre-order on Blu-ray on Amazon: https://a.co/d/7BdLpGT

Pre-order the DVD on Amazon: https://a.co/d/bv1Y4Kn

It Came From Aquarius Records

MVD Entertainment is proud to announce the August 13 digital release of the award-winning, third music documentary in Kenneth Thomas' trilogy about indie music culture, It Came from Aquarius Records, which explores the San Francisco-based independent record shop that helped shape the tastes of Bay Area residents and beyond for nearly a half a century. 

If you are a fan of any independently released music - indie rock, psychedelic, folk, krautrock, weirdo Finnish prog rock, Japanese noise, glitchy black metal, or anything that makes you feel like you've discovered a musical diamond in the rough - there's a chance you directly or indirectly found out about it through Aquarius Records. Walking into the store on any given day would guarantee an exciting music discovery for a lucky patron. The store influenced and enriched countless peoples' musical tastes with their curated selections - but this film also shows the realities of an indie record store trying to survive in an increasingly difficult market of brick-and-mortar music shops, especially in the ever-changing and price-gouging Mission District of San Francisco. 

The store closed in 2016 after 47 years of championing underground and experimental sounds and turning the world onto sound and music of limitless varieties, some of which ended up exploding in popularity out of multiple independent music scenes. 

Over 60 interviews were conducted for this film: all of the store owners dating back to 1970, other record store owners from around the world, musicians, label heads, music journalists, and INTENSE music collectors. A few of these folks include Matt Groening (The Simpsons), Wayne Coyne (Flaming Lips), John Darnielle (The Mountain Goats), Marissa Nadler, Emil Amos (Grails, Om, Holy Sons), Ty Segall, and Howie Klein. Six years in the making, the film has a very personal angle, with lots of behind-the-scenes footage (and drama) that shows both the joy and excruciating stress that comes with running - and closing - a store like this.

The film will be available on Amazon, Google Play, TUBI, Fandango at Home/VUDU, NightFlight Plus, and more. 

Watch the trailer here.

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The Book Of Harth

For 20 years, conceptual artist David Greg Harth carried a Bible with him every single day, seeking signatures from the most culturally significant people in the world. In The Book of Harth, filmmaker Pierre Guillet follows the artist during the final year of his absurd quest, trailing him to scenes of frenetic celebrity worship. As Harth secures signatures behind stage doors, in city streets, and on the fringes of red carpets, Guillet cops spontaneous interviews with previous signees, from Noam Chomsky to Kevin Smith. As the last hours of his magnum opus draw to a close, Harth struggles to reconcile the project's meaning with its personal cost.

Media

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Bonus Materials

• Audio Commentary featuring Director Pierre Guillet and Subject David Greg Harth
• Deleted Scenes with Bruce Springsteen, John Williams, O.J. Simpson, Andrew Cuomo, Stevie Wonder, Michael J. Fox, Julian Assange

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https://mvdb2b.com/b2b/s/MVD14116D

Mondo New York

 “Home to Outcasts, Misfits, Losers, Perverts, Lunatics, Gangsters, Pranksters, Outlaws, Neurotics, Psychotics, Maniacs, Brainiacs, Hippies, Yippes, Yuppies, Junkies, Flunkies, Monkeys, All trying to claw their way to the top of trash heap, all screaming me, me,

I want my fame my fortune, my lousy 15 minutes, my what the fuck whatever it is –

You want it, We Got it! It’s Mondo New York.” - Lydia Lunch, Mondo New York (Opening 1988)

Night Flight and MVD Rewind Collection are thrilled to announce the release of the Mondo New York Collector's Edition Blu-ray DVD, a must-have addition to any film enthusiast's collection. This special edition, produced from the original negative with remastered sound, is the first time the film has ever been released on DVD. It offers an immersive experience, taking fans deep into the iconic underground scene of 1980s New York City. Mondo New York, created and produced by Stuart S. Shapiro and directed by Harvey Keith and Nelson Sullivan, is a captivating documentary that explores the eccentric and avant-garde culture of the city that never sleeps. From the eccentric nightlife to the quirky artists who defined an era, this film has become a cult classic, and now, fans can experience it like never before. John Sex The Mondo New York Collector's Edition Blu-ray DVD includes a treasure trove of exclusive bonus features, including in-depth interviews with key figures who were instrumental in shaping the New York underground scene. These interviews shed new light on the film's creation and the vibrant personalities involved: Stuart Shapiro, Producer and Creator: Get behind-the-scenes insights from Stuart Shapiro, the mastermind behind Mondo New York. Discover the creative process, challenges, and inspirations that brought this groundbreaking documentary to life. Joey Arias: Join the incomparable Joey Arias, a legendary performer known for their unique style and contributions to the NYC underground scene. Explore the evolution of Arias's career and their role in Mondo New York. Joe Coleman: Delve into the mind of the enigmatic artist Joe Coleman, whose dark and captivating works are featured in the film. Learn about his artistic journey and how he became a central figure in the documentary. Shannah Laumeister: Gain insight into the making of Mondo New York from Shannah Laumeister, an accomplished filmmaker in her own right. Discover her perspective on capturing the city's eccentricities and creative spirit. The Mondo New York Collector's Edition Blu-ray DVD is a time capsule that promises an unforgettable journey through the performances of New York’s Underground Stars such as Joey Arias, Karen Finley, Ann Magnuson, John Sex, Joe Coleman, and Dean Johnson and many others. With pristine remastered visuals and exclusive interviews, this edition is a must-have for fans and collectors alike. Also available is the Mondo New York: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack on vinyl featuring songs from John Sex, Manitoba's Wild Kingdom, Dean and the Weenies, Phoebe Legere, Luis Perico Ortiz and Johnny Pachecho and more. Distributed by MVD Rewind Collection, Mondo New York will also be released in theaters by Night Flight Pictures and America Genre Film Archive. Pre-order Collector's Edition Blu-ray + CD: https://rb.gy/0i5606 DVD: https://rb.gy/cx7bra Pre-order Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Vinyl: https://rb.gy/md1yse

Hump Day & Chill

Hola Minions, do I have the perfect Hump Day & Chill recommend. Yesterday I watched the Netflix documentary Pamela, A Love Story about icon Pamela Anderson. 

The tagline sums the it all up perfectly: She defined a decade. Now she will define herself.

I have interviewed and hung out with Pamela and this is my takeaway from it:

"This documentary is so Pam, she is a lovely person with no pretense. Really nice."

Seriously you should watch it, you will come away with my take on her. I remember telling people how great she was and them giving me a perplexed look. Then one day I was at a party and an acquaintance of mine had guest starred on her sitcom Stacked and mentioned how awesome she is. We swapped Pam stories and he said everyone always looks at him puzzled as well when he speaks fondly of her as well. It was nice to meet someone who knows and understands.

Well, what are you waiting for?! You have a documentary to Hump Day & Chill too!!!

Pamela, A Love Story on Rotten Tomatoes -

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pamela_a_love_story   

Old Friends: A Dogumentary

Filmmaker Gorman Bechard has long expressed his love for man’s best friend in documentaries like A Dog Named Gucci and Seniors A Dogumentary, and for his third venture into the world of animal welfare he has trained his lens on one of the most beloved animal sanctuaries on the planet: the Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary of Mount Juliet, Tennessee. 

Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary was started in 2011 as Zina and Michael Goodin recognized that elder dogs were often abandoned and those in shelters rarely adopted. Much like their human counterparts, seniors often need extra care, extra patience, and extra love. So, the couple set out to save just one dog, and that profound experience quickly led to another. Soon it became their mission.

Old Friends, A Dogumentary follows their story from humble beginnings as a small home-based shelter to the Facebook phenomenon they’ve become, and their move into a brand new 20,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility.

“The film was born at the world premiere of Seniors A Dogumentary in Nashville,” explains director Bechard, whose film A Dog Named Gucci earned the 2015 ASPCA Media Excellence Award. “Zina told me about their new facility, and how they were going to shut down the road, and have a senior dog parade marching the geezers, as the folks at Old Friends call them, from their old home to the new building. As a filmmaker who loves dogs, how could I not film a senior dog parade?” 

Part of what sets the sanctuary apart from other shelters is their extraordinary veterinary staff. The film documents the arrival of dogs Hugh and Sweat Pea, both seniors with severe medical issues. For these two dogs, Old Friends was their last chance. Over the course of six months, we see their progress, their challenges, and ultimately their triumph as their tails begin to wag once again…all because of a group of dedicated doctors, technicians, and volunteers determined to give these dogs a second chance at life. As Zina likes to say, Old Friends is “a place where love never grows old.” 

The feature documentary will be released as a deluxe BluRay/DVD combo and on pay-per-view platforms on December 13th. The physical copy features several extras, including the complete Geezer Parade, opening day ribbon-cutting festivities at the new facility, and the Q&A session with Bechard and several of the film’s participants from the world premiere at the historic Franklin Theatre in April. 

Order Here -

https://mvd.cloud/share/sales/20221117021050.html

Can't Be Stopped

Hollywood's own "Can't Be Stopped" crew is one of the most influential and recognizable graffiti crews to emerge out of the U.S. is Since its inception in the early 1980's, the initials C.B.S. have been at the forefront of evolving graffiti art into a true, authentic art form. The kinship forged by father figure "Skate" creates a bond of brotherhood, a surrogate family protecting these artists from the temptations of the Hollywood streets, imprinting upon them an unrivaled standard of morality, respect and integrity in graffiti. Skate's tutelage becomes their lore and mantra, the driving force as these boys come of age, many from broken homes, into their ultimate success and prosperity. Unbeknownst to these young artists, they were shaping the medium and ultimately became pioneers. Their notoriety and acclaim was a transcending factor that evolved this contemporary art form, transcending the stigmas attached to this subculture.

Through interviews, the story of Hollywood's "Can't Be Stopped" crew is told. Father figure "Skate" mentors a group of boys, raising them from broken homes and forming a surrogate family. Under his tutelage, these boys come of age as he protects them from the Hollywood streets, mentoring them in standards of morality, respect and integrity in their art. The CBS crew grow in notoriety and acclaim, transcending this contemporary art form, breaking the stigma and stereotypes associated with graffiti.

Media

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https://mvdb2b.com/b2b/s/MVD10983D

The Beatles And India

Rare archival footage, recordings and photographs, eye-witness accounts and expert comments along with location shoots across India, bring alive the fascinating journey of George, John, Paul and Ringo from their high octane celebrity lives in the West to a remote Himalayan ashram in search of spiritual bliss that inspires an unprecedented burst of creative songwriting. It is the first serious exploration of how India shaped the development of the greatest ever rock band and their own pioneering role bridging two vastly different cultures.

Director Ajoy Bose was a teenage rebel in Calcutta in love with the Beatles when they came to India. His long mop and the psychedelic flowers painted on his shirt imitating the Fab Four led to fierce fights with his bureaucrat father. In an interesting quirk of fate half a century later as an established journalist and author, Bose was writing a book, Across the Universe to mark the 50th anniversary of The Beatles historic trip to Rishikesh for the world's largest publishing house Penguin Random House.

Inspired by Ajoy Bose's book, British Indian music entrepreneur Reynold D'Silva has now taken the amazing saga of The Beatles and India further by producing Bose's directorial debut. Bose and cultural researcher, co-director, Pete Compton, have created an audio-visual presentation that stands apart from the many documentaries on the band, delving deep into the most crucial period of their evolution from the world's most famous pop stars into multi-faceted pioneering musical artists.

Film Highlights:
- Interviewed for the first time, ace test pilot Rustom Captain. He flew the helicopter on the legendary flight over the Ganges seated between Maharishi and John Lennon where the latter was convinced the Holy Man would, "Slip me the answer".
- For the very first time the story is revealed, "Rishikesh - the hotbed of espionage" as the CIA is accused in the Indian Parliament of infiltrating the Maharishi's inner circle while the Beatles are there, provoking the KGB to rush its top spy in Delhi to the ashram.
- An eye-witness account from the host of the historic dinner party that brought George Harrison and Ravi Shankar together, forging a relationship that would last over four decades.
- India's most pre-eminent photographer Raghu Rai reveals how he was smuggled inside the ashram to capture the very first image of the Beatles there, a photograph that went across the world.
- Extensive footage of the Maharishi ashram as it is today skillfully blended with images of the same locations while the Beatles were there over half-a-century ago to create a stunning walk through time.
- A widespread range of interviews with people who met the group on their trips to India, most with their stories unheard. From journalists to musicians to teenage girls, each has a unique tale to tell.
- Filmed across India at all the sites of the Beatles visits, Mumbai, New Delhi, Rishikesh and Dehradun.
- An array of unseen photographs, footage and interviews uncovered in India during research on the project including unseen 35MM footage from a film shot at the ashram but never released and an interview with George Harrison recorded with All India Radio in 1966 and unheard since then.

Media

 Watch trailer »

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https://mvdb2b.com/b2b/s/MVD8570BR

Where Are You, Jay Bennett?

Wilco’s Jay Bennett rocks his own documentary from 

directors Gorman Bechard & Fred Uhter

WHERE ARE YOU, JAY BENNETT?, a feature-length documentary on the renown multi-instrumentalist and recording studio savant, will have its BluRay and pay-per-view release on April 19th, 2022 from MVD Entertainment, and four days later a very special Record Store Day release featuring the film on DVD along with Bennett’s last two albums Kicking at the Perfumed Air & Whatever Happened I Apologize available for the first time on vinyl.

As a member of Wilco, Bennett was a large part of the genius behind their three seminal albums. He joined the band prior to the recording of their second album, Being There, and subsequently co-wrote most of Summerteeth and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot with Jeff Tweedy (and has been called the sonic architect of both albums). Bennett was also instrumental in the recording of the Mermaid Avenue/Woody Guthrie sessions with Billy Bragg, and went on to a critically acclaimed solo career before dying tragically at the age of 45.

WHERE ARE YOU, JAY BENNETT? is one of the most intimate portraits of a musician ever filmed. Using a mixture of audio interviews with Jay, never-before-seen performance footage, animation, and extensive interviews with those who knew him best, directors Gorman Bechard and Fred Uhter give an extraordinary account of this fascinating artist’s life. We get a no-holds-barred history of how Jay Bennett helped create one of the greatest rock trilogies of all time, and an honest look at the other side of the narrative that had been created in the media once Bennett had been asked to leave the band.

“At the time of his firing, Jay’s behavior was cast in a negative light. But there are always two sides to every story.” Bechard explains. “In this film, we show just how instrumental Jay was to Wilco’s brilliance. How Bennett and Tweedy together truly were one of the greatest collaborative teams in rock history, but also how they were both perfectionists who needed to push boundaries. Ultimately, that was simply not sustainable in a band setting.”

The 104-minute film, funded completely through KickStarter, is an insight into a piece of American musical history exploring Bennett’s life, his influences, his art, his obsessions, his vices, music, recording, and, of course, Wilco and their unfortunate split.

“The animation by Ed Gendron brings to life these amazing interviews with Jay,” Uhter says. “To be able to hear his voice, to have Jay himself tell his side of the story, talk about how records were made, and what role he played… it’s a priceless piece of music history.”

Bechard is the filmmaker behind 2011’s COLOR ME OBSESSED, A FILM ABOUT THE REPLACEMENTS, which The Village Voice called the “rock version of Rashomon,” and Rolling Stone dubbed one of “The Seven Best New Music Documentaries of the Year.”

For more information please visit:

www.WhatWereWeThinkingFilms.com 

www.JayBennettDocumentary.com 

Renaldo & The Loaf - 23rd Century Giants

 MVD ENTERTAINMENT GROUP ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF 23rd CENTURY GIANTS’, A NEW DOCUMENTARY TELLING THE FASCINATING STORY OF THE UNIQUE RENALDO & THE LOAF. COMING IN MARCH ON BLU-RAY THROUGH WELL DANG! PRODUCTIONS. 

MVD ENTERTAINMENT GROUP IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE RELEASE OF THE MUSIC DOCUMENTARY 23rd CENTURY GIANTS - THE STORY OF RENALDO & THE LOAF’ ON BLU-RAY COMING MARCH 2022.

A decades-long friendship drives an architect and a bio-medical scientist to make the weirdest music you've ever heard in your life. And thanks to the Internet, they're more popular than ever. The documentary 23rd Century Giants follows the musical careers of mild-mannered Brits Brian Poole and David Janssen, aka Renaldo & the Loaf, whose sonic experimentation with tape loops, household objects and repurposed musical instruments alike gave them a unique electronic sound that would inspire generations of adventurous music lovers for decades. From childhood friendship, to landing a deal with the record company of their wildest dreams (Ralph Records, home of the like minded Residents), then not speaking for 20 years only to reunite to world-wide cult status, this definitive history of the band features interviews with the avant-garde duo themselves, and virtually every key figure in their musical lives.

Not many bands can boast that one of their albums, “Songs for Swinging Larvae,” was voted 14^th weirdest of all time by Mojo magazine! The documentary includes the 1981 promo film made by Ralph Records for that very album, remastered in HD from the original 16mm source. There is also a plethora of unseen photos, unheard music and comedic cutout animations that do an incredible job of visually representing the strangeness. The band made their long anticipated live debut in Vienna in 2018 before an adoring crowd, footage of which is also included. This touching story of the power of friendship and creativity will have even reluctant listeners eager to hear what Renaldo & the Loaf come up with next, and send them down the rabbit hole of exploring their singular catalog. Essential for any curious fan of eccentric and unconventional music.  

 

Bonus Materials

·        25 minutes of extended interviews and deleted scenes

·        1981 Ralph Records 'Songs for Swinging Larvae' promo film, remastered in HD from the original 16mm source.

·        Renaldo & The Loaf's 'Backwards Film Study #1' 8mm film

·        Music videos for 'A Convivial Ode' and 'Optimism'

23rd Century Giants | Official Trailer

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Punk The Capital

Punk the Capital: Building a Sound Movement

A documentary tracing the birth of punk rock in Washington D.C. (1976-1983)

Featuring Bad Brains, Minor Threat, Void, Rites of Spring, and more, with interviews

from Henry Rollins, Ian MacKaye, H.R., Jello Biafra, Joe Keithley, and many others

Premiering exclusively in Theaters and on Virtual Cinema nationwide beginning May 14th

DVD / Blu-ray to be released for National Record Store Day on June 8th via Passion River 

When punk rock erupted in Washington DC, it was a mighty convergence of powerful music, friendships, and clear minds. This film is the first to explore the incredible challenges that this subculture faced when it took root in the Nation’s Capital in the late 1970’s. Punk the Capital situates DC punk within the larger narratives of rock n' roll, working as a powerful multi-layered story for both fans and non-fans of punk rock. Featuring musicians such as Bad Brains, Henry Rollins, Ian MacKaye, and Jello Biafra, this film dives deep into the ideas and sounds from this transformative music scene which continues to be influential culturally and politically around the world. Created by James June Schneider (Co-Director, Editor), Paul Bishow (Co-Director), and Sam Lavine (Associate Producer, Co-Editor), Punk the Capital is Punk the Capital has been on the road since its World Premiere weekend in Washington D.C. held simultaneously at the American Film Institute and the Hirshhorn Museum (Sound Scene festival). The filmmakers took the film around the USA and Europe to festivals, cinematheques, cinemas, galleries and community spaces. It has been selected for festivals including In-Edit (Barcelona and Brazil) BAFICI, Leeds International Film Festival, and Sound Unseen. Each screening has been an event, with at least one of the filmmakers present and for the majority of dates, there has been a special guest (Henry Rollins, Ian MacKaye, Cynthia Connolly, HR of Bad Brains and many others.) The goal of the team was to reach 100 consecutive in-person events. They made it to 50 before the pandemic began. "We were touring the film like a band would until the pandemic hit. Now as things open back up, we're glad to kick off the theatrical release for a variety of reasons. Some of the cinemas where Punk the Capital will be showing, I screened my films back in 1997 when filmmaker Martha Colburn and I hit the road together. I've been thinking about them as we piece this together. Before we release the film on DVD/Blu-ray we wanted to undertake a big push with a theatrical release, part virtual, part in person, that I hope will do its part in getting some of these struggling indie cinemas some much-needed support. And we also are looking forward to sharing the film in these times since it's an optimistic film essentially about building something new and constructive despite the odds. The final version of our film that we're releasing now is just the intense tip of the iceberg - our first cut was 7 hours long. In the end, we wound up focusing on the untold and improbable story of punk rock's beginnings in Washington DC, that happened concurrently with cities across the western world. We took a lot of our extra material that otherwise might never have been seen and edited it together to make short films that will be in the bonus section on the DVD (and Blu-ray). One of the shorts focuses on the band Scream and their family connections to DC's 1960's legendary garage band scene. As we roll the film out, we've been blown away by the positive response not just from fans of punk and DC punk who see and hear a lot of unseen material. We've also heard from a lot of people even up to 90 years old who don't really like punk but who nonetheless love the film. We're glad to see that Punk the Capital works on a lot of levels and are hoping that it will reach a broad audience since the DIY ideas highlighted in the film about the DC punk scene go well beyond the music." Website: www.punkthecapital.info Passion River: http://www.passionriver.com/

MEAN MAN: The Story of Chris Holmes

MEAN MAN: The Story of Chris Holmes

Coming to Blu-ray, DVD and VOD on January 15th

 

PRE-ORDER HERE

Iconic W.A.S.P. guitar player Chris Holmes has lived a life of highs and lows. This musical journey draws parallel stories of his rise, fall, and rebirth with live performance, interview, behind-the-scenes, and archival footage.

Written and directed by French filmmakers Antoine de Montremy and Laurent Hart (whose Music production career includes televised interviews with Scorpions, Deep Purple, Slayer, Guns N' Roses and more), MEAN MAN: The Story of Chris Holmes was a project that was born in 2014 after they had an opportunity to meet and direct Holmes in a music video for the Holmes-penned song "Let It Roar" in Cannes, France. At that time, the former W.A.S.P. guitarist had more or less disappeared from the music scene, leaving his home in the U.S. to seek a new beginning with his wife Sarah in France. Not content with merely directing a music video for the re-born Holmes, de Montremy pursued his bigger dream of writing and directing a documentary film about this iconic metal guitar legend and for the next several years shadowed him throughout Europe while filming everything from band rehearsals, to recording sessions to live performances.

 

By creatively combining archival footage, interviews with past and present band members and musical peers, family members and childhood friends - interspersed with beautifully filmed concert performances of Holmes' current solo band - Director de Montremy skillfully portrays the story of an iconic guitar player who has lived a life of extreme highs and lows. After losing the publishing rights of his own songs and combating dangerous addictions, the legendary W.A.S.P. guitarist is shown starting over from scratch while living at his mother-in-law's in Cannes, France as he puts together with his wife a brand new band and a brand new musical role as not only the main guitarist, but now as the actual lead singer of this newly-born musical project aptly named MEAN MAN.  

 

Montremy said "Over the last five years, I've had the privilege to establish a true relationship with Chris Holmes and to follow him throughout Europe. I was impressed by his charisma, his approach towards life, his multiple experiences and taste for simplicity which have actually altered my own vision of existence. In fact, he has almost become a spiritual father to me, in the way that he inspired me in many of my own decisions."

The DVD and Blu-ray are full of extras not available on the VOD version, which will follow the physical release. A west coast theatrical premiere is being discussed as well, pending the revision and/or relaxation of the current local State Government's restrictions on movie theaters operating during the Covid pandemic. 

Pizza, A Love Story

 PIZZA, A LOVE STORY

Coming to DVD and VOD on September 29th

 

PRE-ORDER HERE

"The film is not entirely about pizza; one can watch it and see Bechard laying out the history of his city, a cycle of immigration, assimilation, and gentrification that extends well beyond New Haven."    - E Film Critic

NEW HAVEN, CT: Pizza, A Love Story, filmmaker Gorman Bechard's 11 years-in-the-making homage to the world famous pizzerias Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana, Sally's Apizza, and Modern Apizza, is set for release on DVD and Video-On-Demand on September 29, 2020.

Called "An important film of staggering genius that needed to be made," Pizza, A Love Story has been selling out film festival screenings from Washington State to Alabama. Work on the film began in 2008, when Bechard and longtime friend Dean Falcone, both self-acknowledged pizza snobs, decided it was time to turn the camera on the only pizza that matters.

The film sets out to prove its tag line: "Pizza wasn't invented in New Haven. It was perfected there," by combining history, comedy, and some of the most mouth-watering footage you will ever see, into a film that also features cameos from actor Henry Winkler, musicians Lyle Lovett and Michael Bolton, Senator Chris Murphy, legendary concert promoter Jim Koplik, and dozens more. The film also includes the last known interview with Flora Consiglio of Sally's, filmed shortly before her passing in 2012.

"I learned long ago the best films are driven by passion," Bechard says, "and if there's one thing I truly believe it's that New Haven has the best pizza on this planet." And for the prolific filmmaker, it was nice to know, in interviewing so many food celebrities including Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports, that he was not alone in this belief.

Rounding out the pizza-loving duo is local historian Colin M. Caplan, who came on as a co-producer mid-way into the project, and has since written the acclaimed book Pizza in New Haven. "Colin was able to find a lot of the historical images that seemed to be out of our reach," explains Falcone. "He has a great knowledge of the early history of pizza."

The DVD, coming from the MVD Entertainment Group, features numerous extras, including the Q&A from opening night in New Haven with Bechard and his two producers.

On the same day, the prolific Bechard's newest animal documentary Seniors, A Dogumentary will also be released on DVD and VOD platforms. The documentary is a passionate portrayal of the vitality of senior dogs, and the people who cherish and protect them. Featuring the beloved Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary of Mount Juliet, Tennesse and Chaser the Border Collie, known as "The Smartest Dog In the World." Their stories

converge through the keen lens of famed photographer Jane Sobel Klonsky, author of the book Unconditional: Older Dogs, Deeper Love.

Gorman Bechard has directed 18 feature films including rock documentaries on The Replacements, Grant Hart, Archers of Loaf, Lydia Loveless, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, and soon Wilco's Jay Bennett. He has also directed the animal-rights film A Dog Named Gucci, which won the prestigious and rarely awarded ASPCA Media Excellence Award in 2015. He is the author of 5 novels, including the religious satire, The

Second Greatest Story Ever Told. He is the executive director/programmer of NHdocs: the New Haven Documentary Film Festival. He lives in New Haven, CT with his wife Kristine and their two dogs, Springsteen and Dylan.

For more information please visit: www.PizzaALoveStory.com