Monday, March 30, 2009

Coming to DVD: GOTHKILL… “It's Open Season on Goth Kids”

An indie horror fest featuring FUSE's Mistress Juliya and a willing cast of New York underground and avant guard music and fetish performers, including Flambeaux, Eve Blackwater, and more.

Available on DVD
May 12, 2009
Through MVD Visual

MVD Visual and Wild Eye Releasing are pleased to announce the home viewing release of GOTHKILL for worldwide distribution on DVD.

This tongue-in-cheek, JJ Connelly horror fest features a willing cast of New York underground and avant guard music and fetish performers, including Flambeaux, Eve Blackwater, and FUSE’s Mistress Juliya.

When Catholic Priest and Inquisitor Nicholas Dread finds out that innocents are being burned as witches he decides to do something about it. Unfortunately for him, his superiors don’t agree and he’s burned at the stake alongside two women he forced confessions from. While dying, Nick curses god and makes a pact with Satan to reign over his own kingdom someday at any cost.

Now, in 21st century New York City, Dread has returned to finish the deal. His end of the bargain with Satan must be fulfilled, and many will die so Dread can take the throne in his kingdom of over one hundred thousand corrupt souls. He just has to find the right bunch of victims…and it just so happens the best Goth Club in the city is ripe for this bloodthirsty butcher bent on revenge!

Can a group of Goths and wanna-be vampires hold their own when the real thing arrives?

“Grown men shouldn't wear shiny black lipstick, and GOTHKILL is bloody good fun.”
– B Through Z

“Deals with the Devil may not be new to horror films, but Connelly’s spin on the premise is fresh.”
– Soho Journal

Official Selections: Coney Island Film Festival (2008) and Evil City Film Festival (2009)

Featuring music by Hate In The Box, HUNG, and The Tombstone Brawlers, plus score by Lyris Hung.

Most Evil Extras
• Audio/video commentary by Connelly, Falmbeaux and Blackwater
• Q&A with Connelly from a New York City screening
• GOTHKILL live performance chronicle
• Production and publicity still galleries
• Original trailers

Website, Trailer, and more info: http://wildeyereleasing.com/gothsite.html

Selection #: WE13529
UPC: 804879135296
Prebook: April 7, 2009
Street Date: May 12, 2009
Retail: $19.95
Run Time: 75 minutes

Friday, March 13, 2009

POINTS ON A SPACE AGE - The Sun Ra Arkestra

This film offers rare insight of the Arkestra and examines their current work (in the physical absence of Sun Ra) under the direction of Marshall Allen (now age 86).

Available on DVD
May 19, 2009
Through MVD Visual

MVD Visual and Ephraim Asili are pleased to announce the home viewing release of POINTS ON A SPACE AGE for worldwide distribution on DVD. POINTS ON A SPACE AGE, filmed between Spring’06 and Spring ’07, explores the recent activity of the remaining members of the influential Sun Ra Arkestra.

The film examines the work the Arkestra in the physical absence of Sun Ra. After Sun Ra "left the planet" direction of the band was left to his most faithful musician and companion Marshall Allen (a member of the band since to mid 1950's). Since the passing of Ra, the band under the direction of Allen (now age 86) continues to maintain an active touring schedule and continues to recruit younger members into the Sun Ra lifestyle. A lifestyle committed to human development through the disciples of Music and Spirituality.

For director and producer Ephraim Asili, the fascination with the Arkestra began one day during the summer of ‘98 in Philadelphia:

It was a warm, clear, and sunny summer day. The Arkestra was giving a free concert in a park near their collective home/rehearsal space. Then it happened... Clear skies turned grey and a thunderstorm broke out. The audience evaporated. In the midst of all of this I stood in the rain as band members began jumping off of the bandstand, instruments in hand. I thought to myself “That’s it… Time to go”. Just as I began to leave I realized that the band was not running from the rain, they were starting some sort of procession through the park. The members began weaving through the storm and remaining spectators while at the same time playing some of the most beautiful and bizarre music that I had ever heard…
Complete transcript: http://files.dvdnote.com/press/mvdv4774/EphraimAsili.doc

POINTS ON A SPACE AGE uses an approach as experimental as the band and functions to give those who have already seen the Arkestra an opportunity to experience them yet again, and for those that have not seen them it offers some insight into one of the most influential bands of the 20th Century.

The Arkestra, is an experimental big band formed in the mid 1950's around the teachings of, musician, philosopher, and spiritualist Sun Ra. Sun Ra, according to himself and his disciples believed that he was sent to this planet to prepare human beings for the world for the future, a future centered around space travel, and the human capacity to evolve with ever changing demands of a highly technological world. The members of Ra's band were not only band mates they were also disciples, students, and companions to their Guru bandleader. All band members where required to learn the philosophy of Ra, and many members lived with him as well. It was common for the band to practice of eight hours, only breaking for teachings, and then go out and play gigs. The band continued in this manner for approximately thirty years until Sun Ra "left the planet" in 1993.

Hi Res Cover Art: http://files.dvdnote.com/images/300dpi/MVDV4774.jpg

Sales Sheet: http://files.dvdnote.com/pdfs/MVDV4774.pdf

Selection #: MVDV4774
UPC: 760137477495
Prebook: April 14, 2009
Street Date: May 19, 2009
Retail: $19.95
Run Time: 60 minutes