Cinematheque du Blab

A Blog about A Blab. Documenting the film programming and events.

[cinemathequeblab]

[cinemathequeblab]

Cinema Night #3: ‘Til Death Do Us Part

For the third program in the Blab’s film nights we will be indulging in a night of psychological horror. Those seedy unsettling spaces inside our hearts and heads that are just as terrifying and unknown to ourselves as they are to others.

THE FILMS Lost Highway David Lynch’s usual style of elliptical surrealism brings us this tale of the dark shroud that engulfs those nether regions of our inner psyche. Late night roads and eerie men with cameras. What’s on that tape? Possession Zulawski’s high-strung romantic horror film takes a good look at the hysteria that pervades when a romance gets turned on its head and we end up devouring one another. Festering violence and resentment in that unbreakable bond of ‘love’. The black hole of obsession.

Plus surprise Shorts.

Abandon all hope, ye who enter.

[cinemathequeblab]

In Review: Lyrical Longing

The second night of films at the Blab was allowed to be more honed into a theme. The one chosen was that of love, longing, and loneliness. Those expressions of existential moments both private and universal. This was also a night that allowed us to branch out a bit, including an entire installation room filled with work that encompassed the themes and vibe of the night. The room, titled “The House of Flowers” included collages, assemblage art, sound and projections made by the trio of Jake & AJ Wright as well as myself. It was a joy to put together and to share with those in attendance.

The programming for the night was: Pas de deux, We Were Once A Fairytale, Buffalo ‘66, Daydreaming, Perfect Human, & Wings of Desire. Altered footage was also used from the 1910 nature-documentary The Birth of a Flower for the pre-show & intermission video, set to a variety of hypnotic songs (whose playlist can be found here).

It was cozy. There was a delightful air about the place. The ‘House of Flowers’ was particularly effective in helping the space feel like so much more. It wasn’t just screening films, but an actual experience. Surrounded by friends, family, and strangers. A wonderful way to spend a night.

The work:

The House of Flowers (installation room) by AJ Wright, Jake Wright, Jimmy McLaughlin

(seen in clip: Lovely Head assemblage/projection)

Lovely Hand (assemblage) by AJ Wright, Jake Wright, Jimmy McLaughlin

[cinemathequeblab]

In Review: Weird Magic

The opening night was a huge success. We had around 13 or 14 people in attendance during the entire night. The seats were all filled, the space was very cozy, and the smell of popcorn permeated. The only real concern was for future events with more people in attendance. We’re going to need room for seating. But the turn out and response of the people there was fantastic. Everyone brought their own magic to really make this thing feel like something special.

My intention was to really give people something to experience. To both shake their worlds and conceptions- of film, as well as the world around them. From the brief talks I’ve had with some of the attendees I think that was accomplished. There was a great energy, and it was exciting to hear how people were reacting to the films shown, and any discussions during the intermission about what they’d just seen. I was already reeling by the end of the night, itching to start the next program. (I think I have figured it out, which now leaves a months wait. It’s gonna be hard.)

It was a dizzying night of beauty, laughter, and melancholy. This was exactly what I was hoping for from this journey. A big thanks to everyone that showed up for this, and everyone who contributed their time and efforts to setting it up. We see you. We appreciate you. And we are excited for the many more nights like this we will be sharing.

Until the next odyssey.

With love,

Jimmy

(P.S - Film screening list can be found here, Playlist for the night can be found here.)

[cinemathequeblab]

Cinema Night #1: Weird Magic

The first film program put together for the Cinematheque du Blab is titled Weird Magic, and is meant to be a celebration of people, life and film. These three things make up a holy trinity of both the Weird and Magical parts of the universe for me. The weirder things are the more magical they tend to be. We’re all in this tumble-fuck of an existence together. I think it’s important to celebrate it in all its joy, playfulness, surrealism and melancholy.

After spending the greater part of the past fifteen years glued to a screen in some form or other, and watching anything from early silent film to modern blockbusters, cinema seems to have become a large—yet largely solitary—aspect of my life. I’ve always wanted to share this experience with others. I’ve also, like most cinephile types, always wanted to run my own little cinema. I’m now able to live out both of those desires. Even if only modestly.

The program includes three features (Brand Upon the Brain; Une femme est Une femme; It’s Such a Beautiful Day) and six shorts (Hi, Stranger; Bachelorette; LOVESTREAMS; Life on Mars?; Two Cars, One Night; Castello Cavalcanti). In this is couched both my own personal history and self-portrait, as well as that of moving pictures themselves. I’ll only be talking about the second part here. While none of the films are particularly old (Godard’s film and a Bowie music video being the exception) they do make reference to: Silent Film, Practical Effects, Animation (both hand drawn and stop-motion), Golden age Musicals, Foreign film, Nouvelle Vague, Music Videos, Video Game Cut-Scenes, B&W and Colour films. It was my express intent to have this be a solid introduction to the wide-scope of the medium in an easily digestible way for the uninitiated and hesitant. This is after all setting-up the entire Cinema’s future programming.

This programs main goal was to celebrate and project all this emotion and history, both personal and public. Ideally all of us collectively being transported to a sort of Dreamscape world where we could all explore our inner-selves and one another. At the very least, showing a bunch of people some really cool shit they might not have otherwise got the chance to experience.

And finally, a promotional poster for the night in question: