Video: Shredder Orpheus (Full Film)

The weekend is upon us and it’s supposed to be pretty cold and snowy here in NY so why not grab some popcorn and a beverage and curl up to your computer screen and enjoy the 1990 Robert McGinley “classic” Shredder Orpheus. For the uninitiated the film centers around a skateboarder named Orpheus who travels to Hell to stop television signals that are brainwashing America with the help of a kickass super-powered guitar designed by Jimi Hendrix. The soundtrack features members of Ministry and includes a lead performance by legendary Seattle poet, Jesse Bernstein.

Thanks to my buddy Anthony for throwing this my way.

Video: Childish Gambino – “Clapping For the Wrong Reasons” Feat. Flying lotus, Chance The Rapper, Trinidad Jame$ & more.

After teasing at such a project several weeks back  we now have the director’s cut of Childish Gambino’s 24-minute short film titled “Clapping For The Wrong Reasons” The short features  Donald himself, Chance The Rapper, Flying Lotus, Trinidad Jame$, and several other Gambino collaborators and friends . The film falls someplace in-between truth and fiction it would seem with parts functioning as a preview of sorts to new Gambino music while other moments seem to focus on scripted narrative about life, relationships, dreams and more. Things get pretty strange during the last third when Gambino pulls a tooth out of his nostril in a scene that wouldn't be out of place in a horror film. Weird stuff but well worth the watch if you are a fan and another interesting chapter from Glover’s creative repertoire.

Directed by Hiro Murai.

Video: “Obey the Giant – The Story of Shepard Fairey”

You may recall a post we did a year ago about a Kickstarter campaign that made me do a double take.“Obey the Giant,” a 25-minute, lightly fictionalized film by RISD student Julian Marshall on the origin story of Shepard Fairey and his Obey campaign. Giving it some authenticity the project had the street art great's official seal of approval as well.

You can now view the film in its entirety below, and my opinion on it is still that of “this is so strange.” I will say it is well shot and at 20 minutes won’t take much effort or commitment so grab some popcorn and click play.

Listen: ∆ alt-J feat. Mountain Man – “Buffalo”

∆ alt-J unveiled a new track that’s part of the soundtrack for Silver Linings Playbook, David O. Russell's new film. It's called "Buffalo", features Mountain Man, and can be streamed below…

Listen: Highlights from The “Breaking Dawn 2” OST – Passion Pit, Feist, St. Vincent

The Twilight franchise has somehow managed to round up quality talent for their soundtracks and with the final installment due out this holiday season we get yet another first rate line up of artists providing tunes for the popular film franchise.  Check out some highlights from the likes of Passion Pit,  Feist, and St. Vincent. 

Video: Dirty Projectors - "Hi Custodian" (A Film by David Longstreth)

Dirty Projectors’ frontman David Longstreth puts on his takes writing and directing hats in the band’s latest creative project, a short film entitled Hi Custodian. The piece has been in the works for quite some time so it’s great to finally see a finished product.  Longstreth describes the themes of the film as being “made out of a dream” and it of course features tunes from the Dirty Projectors, including alternative mixes and unreleased jams from the Swing Lo Magellan sessions. The whole thing clocks in at about 20 minutes and is pretty out there but nothing unexpected to those who follow the band, check it out below…..

Written & Directed by David Longstreth
All Music by David Longstreth
Performed by Dirty Projectors

Download: Powell Peralta - "The Search For Animal Chin"

Well here is a little treat, Powell Peralta has decided to give away their 1987 film The Search For Animal Chin as a fee download!  At the time the film was the benchmark for what skate films should be  acting as one of the first skateboarding films to have a "plot". 

The Bones Brigade travels around  California,  Nevada, and Hawaii to different skate spots in search of a wisened old man, Won Ton "Animal" Chin. The movie is of the old-school nomadic, skate-everything-in-your-path genre with interludes of stopping to rip-up a big ramp, pool or kicker. After much searching and skateboarding, they locate a large ramp in the desert. They also find a Chinese character on the inside of the ramp's spine. They conclude that in searching for Mr. Chin, they may have found his spirit.”

Staring Tony Hawk, Steve Caballero, Mike McGill, Lance Mountain and Tommy Guerrero. Download it HERE in exchange for your email address.

Video: "Junkyard Jesus"

Junkyard Jesus is a nice little short film by Christoph Kuschnig.  It ran the film festival circuit becoming an official selection for the 2010 Aspen Shortsfest, 2010 NY International Latino Film Festival, 2010 Woodstock Film Festival, and 2011 New Hampshire Film Festival.

For a short film it isn't too pretentious, preachy or too long and has a nice flow to it.  The actors do a good job and kind of remind me of a Latino Mice & Men a bit with the big lumbering Lenny-like character (Jesus).  Enjoy...

Video:First Look at “Obey The Giant”(A Narrative Drama about Shepard Fairey)

Here's a Kickstarter campaign that made me do a double take. “Obey the Giant,” is a 25-minute, lightly fictionalized film by RISD student Julian Marshall that acts as an origin story for the artist known worldwide for his Obey campaign. The project has the street art great's official seal of approval as well, Shepard gave Julian the rights to make a dramatic film on the beginnings of the whole OBEY GIANT phenomenon.  The film is at a state where Kickstarter is being used to generate the remaining funds needed to complete the film.  To learn more about the project and contribute to its funding, click HERE which includes some rewards for donations from a DVD edition of the film to signed Shepard Fairey works (donated by the artist himself) and pieces of the set, including the fake Cianci billboard. Watch the video below to get preview of the project.

Video: Phil Frost On The Inspiration Of Bob Marley

I’m not really a big Bob Marley guy but I do love me some Phil Frost. What a treat to get a look at the incredibly reclusive artist’s studio space where he talks about how his work and life have been influenced by Marley. The video is in celebration of the upcoming release of MARLEY, Kevin Macdonald's epic feature length doc on the life of the singer which hits theaters and all the digital outlets (including Facebook) on 4/20 and includes never before seen footage and music.

Video: Flying Circle - The Bones Brigade Interview

Last week The Flying Circle hung out with members of the legendary Bones Brigade skate team to discuss Stacy Peralta's latest film "Bones Brigade:An Autobiography." The 35 minute interview staring the crew’s core members Lance Mountain, Mike McGill, Rodney Mullen, Steve Caballero, Tommy Guerrero, Tony Hawk and Stacy himself finds the group discussing a wide range of topics ranging from the inception of the team to fame and beyond. Rodney really comes off as a Master Yoda type figure with his insight into skateboarding, his influence on the technical aspect of the sport really is untouchable. 

I really can’t wait to see this film, Powell Peralta and the Bones Brigade really are such an important part of my youth as they were the gateway into a lifelong love of the sport for me, but even going past that, a huge cultural and professional inspiration as well.  Bottom line, I studied graphic design because of the old Vernon Courtland Johnson graphics that adorned the Bones Brigade decks, I was swept away in the imagery before I even stepped on a deck so if you are anything like me this is a must see.

Video: "Beauty is Embarrassing" trailer - The work of Wayne White

A new documentary is coming out entitled Beauty is Embarrassing which follows the life and times of cartoonist, painter, director, sculptor, puppeteer, designer, animator, musician, etc. Wayne White.  Some know White for his concept & character design work on Pee Wee's Playhouse, others would recognize his art directorial work on classic music videos such as Peter Gabriel - Big Time & Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight.

More recently he has been re purposing old landscape lithographs & paintings by enhancing them with 3D messages that blend seamlessly into the artwork such as "Star Fucker" & "I Will Smash This Painting Over Your Fucking Head".

The movie will be debuting at this years SXSW and looks to be a good peek into White's world and an interesting exploration into the drive and personal goal of what makes artists tick.

Video: “SHUT UP AND PLAY THE HITS” Trailer

“On April 2nd 2011, LCD Soundsystem played its final show at Madison Square Garden. LCD frontman James Murphy had made the conscious decision to disband one of the most celebrated and influential bands of its generation at the peak of its popularity, ensuring that the band would go out on top with the biggest and most ambitious concert of its career. The instantly sold out, near four-hour extravaganza did just that, moving the thousands in attendance to tears of joy and grief, with NEW YORK magazine calling the event "a marvel of pure craft" and TIME magazine lamenting "we may never dance again." SHUT UP AND PLAY THE HITS is both a narrative film documenting this once in a life time performance and an intimate portrait of James Murphy as he navigates the lead-up to the show, the day after, and the personal and professional ramifications of his decision.”

Directed by Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace

http://www.pulsefilms.com/
Pulse Films © 2012

Stacey Peralta talks Bones Brigade film

On Monday the Sundance Film Festival announced that Stacy Peralta's new film "Bones Brigade: An Autobiography" will be one of eight out-of-competition documentary films getting their world premiere during the 2012 festival, which will be held January 19 through 29 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Sundance, Utah. The film reunites the Powell-Peralta Bones Brigade skateboard team, who for my money are the most talented and influential team in sports history, far outreaching the world of skateboarding to influence culture as a whole.  Acting as the melting pot that brought Tony Hawk, Steve Caballero, Rodney Mullen, Lance Mountain, Tommy Guerrero, Mike McGill, Steve Rocco and many more the film looks back on a pivotal moment in skateboard history and in Peralta's own life.

Colin Bane over at ESPN interviewed Stacey recently about the film and more, check the sample question below and make sure to reads the full interview over at ESPN.

"The guys in the Bones Brigade went on to become the biggest names in skateboarding, but in the beginning it really was just a bunch of kids.

At the time it was very common when you started a new company just to steal professional skateboarders off of other teams and start a new team of riders that everybody already knew about to get your brand established. I didn't want to do that. Instead, I started going all over the state of California looking for skateboarders at all the little amateur contests, kids that were 13 or 14 who I could see that within two or three years they were going to be the next generation. I got to choose whoever I wanted for my team because at the time nobody else was there doing it."

Video: The Dark Side Of Oz

You’ve heard the stories, especially if you’re a stoner or know someone who is, now to put it to the test…. For your enjoyment that synched up Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon / Wizard of Oz mashup you’ve been looking for all your life!


The Dark Side of Oz from Bryan Pugh on Vimeo.

T-shirt Stories DVD

Last month you may recall we had a little preview for a fun looking documentary called “T-Shirt Stories.” It appears the film is now available on dvd at Colette. I’m excited to see this myself.

Listen: Aesop Rock - "Party Time Mix 3.0" (Instrumental) (From Dewana’s Bridal Score)

Aesop Rock has been to working on the score for the upcoming short film by Ace Norton called "Dewana's Bridal" starring  Jamie King, Selma Blair and Kick Gurry. Late last year we got our first taste of the score "Take A Titty Out”. Now, Aesop drops another joint from the upcoming film on his site 900Bats titled "Party Time Mix 3.0".

Aesop is also set to appear on Kimya Dawson's upcoming album Thunder Thighs this fall, as well as release a collabortive album with Dawson in the Fall and hopefully, drop a new solo album by year's end.

Aesop Rock - Take A Titty Out (final) by WE FEAR CHANGE