©Marie Losier and Bernard Yenelouis 

Genesis Breyer P-Orridge has been one of the most innovative and influential figures in music and fine art for the last 30 years. Celebrated by critics and art historians as the progenitor of industrial music, he founded the legendary groups COUM Transmissions (1969-1976), Throbbing Gristle (1975-1981) and Psychic TV (1981 to present), all of which merged avant garde performance art, provocative imagery with dark and often explorations of punk music.

©Helen Robert 

In 2000 Genesis re-defined his art as a challenge to the limits of biology, beginning a series of surgeries in order to more closely resemble Lady Jaye, his lover and artistic partner for nearly 15 years. It was the ultimate act of devotion. ‘He’ became a ‘she’ in a triumphant act of artistic expression. It is a project they called ‘Creating the Pandrogyne’; an attempt to deconstruct two individual identities through the creation of an indivisible third. The ultimate union.

Filming with an experimental flair that plays to the performative nature of her subject, director Marie Losier has created an intimate, affecting portrait of a ground-breaking artist. The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye documents a truly new brand of romantic consciousness, one that conveys beauty, dignity and devotion from an entirely new perspective.

Stuart Grant (Primitive Calculators) will hold an extended Q&A with Genesis P-Orridge following the screening. This will be her only appearance in Melbourne after performing with Psychic TV for The Adelaide Festival on Sat 3rd March.

More info at Speakeasy Cinema

Strictly limited season – Only in cinemas Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 February
For participating cinemas and tickets visit LeonardoLiveHD.com

Experience the U.K. National Gallery’s sold-out, once-in-a-lifetime exhibition ‘Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan’ captured live in high definition only at your local cinema in limited screenings on Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 February, 2012.

In a first for movie audiences, the big-screen presentation of ‘Leonardo Live’ gives art lovers the world over the opportunity to share in the excitement of viewing the unprecedented and historic exhibition, in the comfort of their local cinema. The exhibition brings together the largest ever number of da Vinci’s paintings, including a new, never-before-seen Leonardo painting.  

‘Leonardo Live’ is presented by art historian Tim Marlow and Mariella Frostrup, who will explore the exhibition and feature detailed examinations of the paintings and interviews with special guests and experts.

See the paintings revealed in astonishing detail through close-up footage on the big screen.

More info at Sharmill Films and here

]]> http://www.dgdesignnetwork.com.au/dgdn/briefingroom/leonardo-live/feed/ 0 http://www.dgdesignnetwork.com.au/dgdn/briefingroom/arietty/ http://www.dgdesignnetwork.com.au/dgdn/briefingroom/arietty/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:20:46 +0000 admin http://www.dgdesignnetwork.com.au/dgdn/?p=3207

Studio Ghibli presents
ARIETTY
A film by Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Based on Mary Norton’s ‘The Borrowers’

Discover a secret world within our own

This is a story of a family of little people. Beneath the floorboards of a sprawling mansion set in a magical, overgrown garden in the suburbs of Tokyo, tiny 14-year-old Arrietty lives with her equally tiny parents. The house is occupied by two old ladies, who are absolutely unaware of the existence of their miniature tenants. Arrietty and her family live by borrowing. Everything they have, they borrow or make from the things they have borrowed. Essentials like gas, water and food. Tables, chairs, cooking utensils. And treats – a sugar cube here, a scrap of material there. But only a little each time, so the ladies do not notice. A 12-year-old boy, Sho, moves into the mansion while he waits for urgent medical treatment in the city. Arrietty’s parents have always warned her: “Never let humans see you.” Once seen, little people always have to move on. But the adventurous Arrietty doesn’t listen, and Sho discovers her. The two begin to confide in each other and, before long, a friendship begins to blossom…

In cinemas 12 January 2012
See the trailer here

More info at Madman

Sagittarius/Domain + Prelude, 2011
Synchronized dual channel HD video
16:9, Sound
Performers: Shaun Gladwell and Lee Wilson
Cinematography: Gotaro Uematsu and Joshua Heath
Photography: Josh Raymond
Sound: Oren Ambarchi
Courtesy the artist and Anna Schwartz Gallery

Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) presents Shaun Gladwell: Stereo Sequences, a major new commission of works by the London-based Australian artist, Shaun Gladwell, on until 14 August, 2011.

“Shaun Gladwell has an enviable international reputation as one of Australia’s leading video artists and we are thrilled to be presenting his latest stunning series of works,” said ACMI Director, Tony Sweeney. “This significant new commission reflects our strong commitment to supporting Australian artists, both established and emerging, and the ongoing development of contemporary moving image art practice in this country.”

Shaun Gladwell: Stereo Sequences was conceived and created for ACMI’s unique subterranean gallery and features a series of multi-screen video works that explore concepts of duality, parallels and mirroring.

Using filmic devices such as long pans and slow-motion, Gladwell captures tightly choreographed, repetitive performances by classical ballerinas, helicopters, motorcycles, muscle cars, trials bike-riders and skateboarders. Gladwell’s latest offerings radiate a distinct Australian sensibility, inspired by our unique landscape and local film culture, including Ozploitation era films.

More info here

After a fantastic year of cinema events, the Underground Cinema have left a memorable impression on Melbourne – since their first premiere preview screening of Bunny & The Bull with special guest Richard Fulcher in April, to a backstage pass to DIG and Kingswood rocking the Meat Market in June, through to a WW2 Good German tribute to film noir in August. Plus, The Wackness in March and The Crow for Halloween.

Sign-up to receive Underground Cinema’s newsletter for news of events happening in the new year.

Images from Underground Cinema’s Speakeasy Prohibition Party
Photos by Dan Murphy

“It can’t rain all the time…”

During a weekend where Melbourne experienced a significant amount of rain, it seemed somewhat appropriate to attend the spooky Underground Cinema event for Halloween. Especially as the mystery film was revealed to be the 90s goth/crime cult classic: The Crow.

2010, Australia, Halloween, Melbourne, UGC, Photography – Dan Murphy

Approaching the secret location characters from the film came to life to interact with you. Whilst waiting in line, small excerpts from the film were re-enacted by the characters standing by: skatebaording past or clutching to a faux grave stone. With so much happening around you, it cannot be helped but to become swept up in the energy and excitement. The Underground Cinema creates an environment where guests are encouraged to be invloved in the scene they create: rather than just a viewer.

2010, Australia, Halloween, Melbourne, UGC, Photography – Dan Murphy

Be quick to get tickets to the Underground Cinema’s final event for 2010 – tickets can be purchased here

Just a couple of our favourite acts were…

Tomorrow, In A Year

Tomorrow, In a Year, Photography by Claudi Thyrrestrup

The beauty of Hotel Pro Forma’s striking visuals accompanied by Scandinavian electro-pop masters The Knife’s extravagent soundtrack provided a modern exploration of what opera can be pushed to be. The use of lasers, smoke machines and video all added to the exciting and unique atmosphere of which consumed the audience throughout the performance.
Directed by Ralf Richardt Strøbech and Kirsten Dehlholm, the performance creates an experience of Charles Darwin’s travels, inspired by his perception of nature and time. We are shown “our image of the world as a place of incredible variation, similarity and unity is re-discovered in this revolutionary electronic feast for the senses”.

John Cale – Noises in My Head

To spend an evening with John Cale to hear him speak about his musical career in a youth orchestra in Wales; writing his first composition in primary school; developing a penchant for avantgarde at a London art college; being guided to New York by the hand of Aaron Copland and John Cage; honing in his signature drone palate at the feet of LaMonte Young and then begin his underground noise bending attack on rock and roll from The Velvet Underground to his current genre-bending music: we felt more than privileged. Of course, by the end we wished there was much more time sit and listen to the man who has created some of the most beautiful chaos in music.

Boredoms – BOARDRUM

Boredoms (Japan), have become known for their “noice, chaos, tribal experimentation, remixing, trance-inducing feats of rythmic intensity, line-up changes, collaborations, and doing whatever they want regardless of trends and fashion”. Since 2007, Boredoms have performed their BOARDRUM set annualy. On the 7/7/2007 they had 77 drummers play together, on the 8/8/2008 it was 88 and last year on the 9/9/2009 it was 9. Boredoms featured 10 drummers for the 10/10/10 show, plus a guitarist and Bordeoms’ ringleader EYE playing two seven-necked guitar mutations.

More information on the Melbourne International Arts Festival 2010 here

Sharmill Films and Jump Street Films are releasing a new Australian film
SUMMER CODA starring Rachael Taylor (Transformers, Cedar Boys, Shutter) and Alex Dimitriades (Head On, ‘Underbelly’) nationally from October 21.

We have ten (10) 2-for-1 passes to give away to advance screenings.
These passes are valid for Friday 15 – Sunday 17 October in participating cinemas in VIC, NSW, ACT, QLD and SA.

To enter, simply follow us on twitter: twitter.com/dgdesignnetwork, and retweet when prompted later this afternoon. Winners will be notified via Twitter.

This romantic drama set in the sun-baked orange groves of Mildura, Victoria by Australian writer and director Richard Gray (who came runner up in Project Greenlight Australia in 2007 for this screenplay) features a well-known ensemble cast including Angus Sampson, Nathan Phillips, Cassandra Magrath, Susie Porter and Jacki Weaver.

Rachael Taylor has described Summer Coda as ‘the most important movie I think I have ever made…it’s made me excited about acting again’. Rachael and Alex have wonderful on-screen chemistry in this highly-anticipated Australian release.

You can view the trailer which features the brilliant Australian music-filled soundtrack – including original score by Alies Sluiter – here

Follow Sharmill Films on Twitter here

The Australian Centre for the Moving Image, in association with the Goethe-Institut, presents - Berlin on Film
Thursday 4 November – Monday 8 November 2010

To coincide with the Berlin Dayz cultural festival and the twentieth anniversary of the reunification of Germany, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) presents a program of films devoted to the country’s capital in Berlin on Film this November.

Berlin has a unique rhythm which infuses its architecture, its culture and its citizens. This filmic celebration of the historical city brings together six documentaries; from the challenges of a country divided, to the process of reunification and the infinite possibilities of a Berlin without borders.

ACMI Film Programmer Kristy Matheson, with the assistance of the Goethe-Institut, has composed a program which reminds us of the challenges Berliners overcame and the sense of euphoria of reunification. “With a remarkable and catastrophic history, Berlin has played many roles throughout the 20th century, emerging in the new millennium as one of the world’s most fascinating and enduring cities,” she said.

The program opens with Rhythm Is It (2004), directed by Thomas Grube and Enrique Sánchez Lansch, which intertwines music and contemporary dance in an ambitious project by Conductor Sir Simon Rattle, the Berlin Philharmonic, choreographer Royston Maldoom and 250 young Berliners from disparate ages and backgrounds. Their performance of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring is a joyous and inspired tale of triumph over adversity. The screening precedes the Berlin Philharmonic’s visit to Australia this November.

Rhythm Is It (2004), ACMI: Berlin on Film 2010

Former East German model turned director Marco Wilms presents an exciting portrait of youth in revolt and subversive creativity in East Berlin in Comrade Couture (2009). Inspired by new wave and punk fashions from the West, East Berliners took to crafting their own fashions – turning their limited materials to an advantage and parading avant-garde creations made from plastic, bed sheets and disused medical supplies. As one of East Germany’s most daring stylists, Frank Schäfer, puts it in the film; “A tiger in a cage is much wilder than a tiger that is free to roam.” Drawing on personal memories, interviews and extensive archival research, Wilms offers a unique view of this heady artistic outpouring under ever watchful Stasi eyes.

Wilms’ earlier Berlin Vortex (2003) taps into the wave of euphoria among youth in the Eastern block prompted by the reunification of Germany in 1989. With the wall down and capitalism still at bay, young Berliners occupied empty residences and began preparing for their futures bringing change through art and social programs. Featuring celebrated choreographer Sasha Waltz, Jochen Sandig, Christian Lorenz of ‘Rammstein’ fame, social workers and still struggling artists, Wilms’ discovery of what became of five citizens and their utopian dreams for the new Berlin is as fascinating and diverse as the city itself.

The director of Comrade Couture and Berlin Vortex, Wilms will be in Melbourne for the season.

Scored by Einstürzende Neubauten and featuring internationally acclaimed architects, Rem Koolhaas, Renzo Piano and I.M. Pei, Berlin Babylon (2001) offers a rare glimpse into an international city, under construction. In a post-wall era, Berlin found itself as a metropolis in great need of physical change to fully realise the promise of reunification and to repair the destruction the 20th century had wreaked upon it. With its astonishing aerial photography and subtle verite style, Hubertus Siegert’s film has a dreamlike quality that allows the viewer to float above and wander through of one of the world’s great cities as it transitions into the future.

A heartfelt declaration of love to a city and its people, In Berlin (2009) traces the changes that have taken place in the twenty years since the demolition of the Berlin Wall. Featuring a vast array of Berliners including, actor Angela Winkler, Alex Hacke of Einstürzende Neubauten, architects, fashion designers, performers and store owners, long term Scorsese cinematographer Michael Ballhaus and co-director Ciro Cappellari have crafted a visually stunning and engaging portrait of one of the world’s most lively and creative hubs.

In Berlin, Rhythm Is It, Berlin Babylon and special guest director Wilms’ films Comrade Couture and Berlin Vortex, will all be introduced by Berlin-based film critic and radio journalist, Carsten Beyer.

The bustling streets of 1920’s Berlin are writ-large in the entrancing Berlin: Symphony of a Great City (Berlin: Die Sinfonie der Grosstadt) (1927). Like other famous ‘city films’ such as Man With the Movie Camera, director Walter Ruttmann’s portrait of Berlin is a dynamic mix of man and machine, social norms and daily life, a captivating vision of Berlin between the wars. This black and white silent treasure will enjoy a free screening on the big screen in Melbourne’s Federation Square.

Berlin: Symphony of a Great City (Berlin: Die Sinfonie der Grosstadt) (1927), ACMI: Berlin on Film 2010

Berlin on Film is programmed as part of Berlin Dayz, the German-Australian Festival coordinated by the Goethe-Insitut in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Germany’s reunification. Berlin Dayz events will be held across Australia throughout October and November to coincide with the official Day of German Unity (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) on 3 October, this year being hosted by Bremen in the country’s North West. Operating from its Melbourne base, Berlin Dayz events are designed as a dialogue between two cultural capitals: Berlin and Melbourne.

Berlin on Film will screen at ACMI from Thursday 4 to Monday 8 November, 2010
More here