Kuchar Brothers coming soon!!!

Don't miss this opportunity to see the latest material from these influential low-budget filmmakers...

"No art form demands as much spontaneous, imaginative improvisation as low-budget filmmaking, and no American low-budget filmmakers are as imaginative as George Kuchar and his twin brother Mike. Major figures in the American Underground film movement of the ’sixties, they are the acknowledged pioneers of the camp/pop aesthetic that would influence practically all who came after them, from Warhol and Waters to Vadim and Lynch. That influence is still being felt."

- Bright Lights Film Journal

PUFF 2008

Damn the skies...

After a few days of dreary, almost winterlike weather - the 12th started slowly, and grew into a smmmer day. Sadly, that co-incided with the opening of the Portland Underground Film Festival.

Opening night featured "Double Born", an adapted Bram Stoker story from director Tony Randel (Hellraiser 2: Hellbound). While the audience was small, they were very engaged - and the Q&A following the screening was full of good interaction.

Afterwards, everyone sped over to the Aalto Lounge for opening night party. The back deck was the place to be. Tony held court with fellow filmmakers, and the vodka/tonic flowed. Fun times. Director James Westby leaned in to dispense lessons learned from Tribeca - where his latest "The Auteur" (which features almost the entire staff from the CST) was screened. He said something about Michael Moore walking into one of the screenings by accident - and then laughing at one of the jokes.

Grindhouse after hours

Last week, I was doing a 16mm screening over at the 5th Avenue Cinemas. At the exact same time, Grindhouse maven Dan Halstead was breaking loose with a collection of trashy movie trailers at the Hollywood. Just dandy. Luckily, Dan was game for a private after-hours screening with a few friends.

After a gathering and pre-game warmup at the Aalto Lounge, we bolted over to the vacant Hollywood to take in this rarity. Hilarity ensued.

There is nothing like trashy exploitation and ultraviolence in 35mm.

QDoc 2008

QDoc was here for a fantastic second year.

Much like the debut festival, every night was well attended - and sold out for the closing night screening of "The Times of Harvey Milk", which was attended by Oscar-winning director Rob Epstein (The Celluloid Closet, Paragraph 175). I've been trying to book this at the Clinton, so it's great to finally see it screened here - and a nice print, as well. The Q&A with Rob was solid and full of stories from about the making of the feature. Additionally, there was some discussion about Gus Van Sant's dramatic adaptation "Milk", which is slated for release in December. Van Sant was supposed to participate in the Q&A, but test screenings in New York prevented him from attending.

Also in attendance was our new mayor-elect Sam Adams.

Filmed By Bike crushes

Like the finely tuned machine that it is, "Filmed By Bike" - the bicycle cult festival roared back to the the CST - and completely took over. I stopped by for a couple moments on opening night, and the line bike freaks wrapped around the block.

The Return of Crispin...

Four nights he came. With his independent features "What is It?" and "It is Fine, Everything is Fine", Crispin Glover brought his brand of cinema back to our screens. The crowds were a little lighter, but the overall attendance was strong. Once again, CP delivered a rambling read prose with his Slide Show - followed by a film.

Chances are he'll be back with the third installment of his evolving trilogy - which is slated for production some time in the next couple years.

Poet Walt and Jackass Ehren

More "celebrity" stardust fell on the CST recently...

With the newly restored 35mm print of Gus Van Sants' "Mala Noche" came the book's author - and longtime underground Portland poet, Walt Curtis. Uncle Walt dropped in for a screening - and signed a few books for the teeming masses.

Another surprise visit came during the one night screening of the extreme biking film "New World Disorder - Smackdown" -- as "Jackass" star Ehren McGhehey showed up a with a few pals - to help spread the gospel of head injuries and broken spokes.

World famous CST owner - Seth Sonstein - found time for both....