Bren O'Callaghan » cinema

Nick Broomfield Q&A

bren — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:46:20 +0000

Last night I was fortunate to host a Q&A with filmmaker Nick Broomfield following a screening of his latest doc-venture, Sarah Palin: You Betcha! The night was a sell-out and it was amusing to see that this former L'enfent terrible, once jeered and challenged for his highly personalised style (whereby he appears on screen in his films just as much as the subjects he's pursuing), now treated with the veneration of an elder statesman by the many young documentary makers in the audience. One question from an attendee stuck with me: "Do you think Sarah Palin is mad, bad or dangerous to know?" Nick replied, "All three!"

The most chilling moment in the film for me is when Palin takes to the stage at a women's evangelical rally after another speaker has denounced gay and lesbian rights with the poisonous epithet, "We're judging you". That Palin should share the room, the bill and endeavour to pander to the same audience speaks volumes about her moral coda. In a recent interview with the G2 supplement of The Guardian, Nick Broomfield talks of his films as being 'portraits by omission'. Often it's what is not said, not done, not admitted (and indeed those who remain unspoken to, in the case of Palin, Thatcher, Courtney Love etc.), that can colour an impression. From this distance, Palin's heart appears to be a greenish-brown, sludgy shade of toxic.

Goon on Goon action

bren — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 13:54:53 +0000

image: Neil Shearer

An account of Cornerhouse's 25th birthday celebrations featuring Scratch 'n Sniff Cinema presents The Goonies, is now online. The retro colour-drenched photos are provided by local photographer Neil Shearer. Memories of the night include Debbie Chan as mostly hopeless inventor Data from the movie, who gets my vote as the costume-I-most-want-to-copy using plastic pound store finds, while smells including choc-mint ice cream and pepperoni pizza were perhaps the most effective yet!

The Final Curtain

bren — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 14:56:53 +0000

Elsa Manchester / image: WeAreTape

Anyone still reading this blog will be sick of my Midnight Mass updates by now, but this really is it - until some new video clips come though at least! My review of the evening, detailing the horror that ensued and a picture of the now-infamous pool of upchuck that appeared once the film began is now live. Read it and weep.

Midnight Mass: TAPE

bren — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 20:15:04 +0000

All images in this post by TAPE / www.WeAreTAPE.com

It ain't over until the TAPE ladies sing (Jan & Emily Dixon to be precise), or rather submit their final round-up photo documentation from Midnight Mass - we're talking prime grade sirloin snaps! That's me sandwiched between Adrian (Zsa Zsa Noir) and Peaches Christ with a selection from the night below... I'll start work on a Flickr gallery soon and if you are in any of the pics, do give me a nudge (although I'm one step ahead of you and will be providing CDs for all the participants). How much do I love these pictures? A LOT. One or two can never be released for fear of moral corruption charges. Joe, I'm talking about you. A legend in your own lifetime.

Rule Britannia

bren — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:56:49 +0000

Jordan in Derek Jarman's JUBILEE (1977)

I am in no way a flag-waving patriot and the type of national hysteria in evidence at The Last Night of the Proms makes me shudder, but the closest I've ever come to a sense of national pride is my long-standing adoration of Derek Jarman's 1977 punk opus JUBILEE. Of course, the attachment I feel is not to Queen & Country but to alt-muse Jordan, Toyah, Adam Ant and Jarman's brilliant art direction in this tale of a dystopian Britain to which Queen Elizabeth I, aided by elemental spirit guide Ariel and court physician Dr John Dee (Rocky Horror Show creator Richard O'Brien), pay an eye-opening visit. Wasp waisted killer vixens run amok, while a twin-set and pearls paired with warpaint never seemed so subversive. I've always wanted to respond somehow, and flushed with adrenaline on the back of Peaches Christ decided it was time to have another pop at the Umbro Industries Creative Grants. Third time lucky? Who can tell.

Midnight Mass: Kris Krug 2

bren — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 16:24:31 +0000

Some more great shots from Kris Krüg of our Gore Couture costume competition entrants. Above is our ultimate winner tapping into a Tim Burton wet dream (congratulations Pascale!), with Sebastian and Tony close runners-up. Everyone looked incredible so thank you to all for taking part, including those not brave enough to step up to the stage - there were plenty more in the audience who feared some form of public humilation! As if. Instead, prizes were distributed, courtesy of Penguin Books, including copies of Hammer Glamour from Titan Books and exclusive merchandise from Peaches Christ Productions. Evil can give, as well as take away. And those miniature coffin hampers, that held the aforementioned goodies? I made those. My early art teachers would be so proud to know I was putting my imagination to good use.

Midnight Mass: Kris Krug 1

bren — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 23:09:21 +0000

Monsieur, with these photographs you are really spoilink us (a comment wasted on anyone outside of the UK of a certain age who didn't grow up with the Ferrero Rocher advert, apologies). We were fortunate enough to count fashion, music and portraits photographer Kris Krüg in the audience for Midnight Mass who captured us in all our glory, including my dramatic Wagnerian posing (above right, clutching at our mistress in terror). More snaps from Kris are available on his Flickr stream, with further posts of our wondrous cast and crew to come. It's like Christmas come early!

Hey you guys!

bren — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 15:21:38 +0000

Available from next weekend at Cornerhouse in honour of the 25th birthday celebrations and to mark my Scratch 'n Sniff Cinema presents The Goonies activity in Screen 1... Simon Misra's latest limited edition print is only £10! Previous signed editions of The Company of Wolves and My Beautiful Laundrette are still available (the latter also signed by actor Gordon Warnecke), so be sure to dig down the back of the sofa and support local creative mentalists who are saving the NHS ££'s by funneling our child selves into harmless fun-fuelled scenarios. Hope to see you there!

Midnight Mass: Neil Shearer

bren — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 12:42:15 +0000

All images in this post courtesy of Neil Shearer Photography, who was in attendance at Midnight Mass in Manchester for Peaches Christ presents All About Evil and took some fantastic shots of our librarian protestors outside the cinema. The delectable Isla Blige of the Blige sisters, joined on the night by her sibling Sheela, proves herself to be a photogenic little miss. Whoo-eee, form an orderly queue fellas!

Isla Blige, Zsa Zsa Noir as Adrian and myself as a deranged usher. Tell it to the hand, honey!

Despite falling under the wheels of a bus on her way to the cinema, this member of the audience still managed to look absolutely gore-geous.

I especially love that that this random woman-with-guitar turned up and joined in the demonstration. Every little bit of weirdness is welcomed.

Sex on Wheels

bren — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 21:46:05 +0000

image source: AND Festival

A few pictures and video clips to toast the arrival of the afterbirth now propelled in the wake of the International Premiere of Peaches Christ presents All About Evil at AND Festival, Manchester. What a night! Protestors, riot police, librarian lapdancers, walkouts and the blessing from above (or below?) that was a member of the audience ejecting their stomach contents thinking that the dixie cups distributed during the pre-show would contain the flow of vomit. It didn't. I also had to step in to the cast when we lost a monster in the process, although I'm glad that I did - I would have felt like I'd missed out on a unique opportunity otherwise. Huge thanks to everyone who made it possible. More when I've caught up on some sweet sleep...