Episode #178 - SF IndieFest 2023 Interviews
January 29, 2023 2:00pm
Interview with Mirissa Neff
Director of This is National Wake
This is National Wake recounts the revelatory story of young musicians who dared, in 1970s South Africa, to launch a multiracial band against the backdrop of apartheid. National Wake was formed by two black brothers from Soweto and a white guitarist from Johannesburg whose collaboration broke all of apartheid's laws. The band filmed their rebellious performances on brilliant Super 8 before the government shut them down, and director Mirissa Neff uses this archival footage, along with audio interviews, to create a grainy plunge into the past. The result is an energetic feature debut that tells the immersive story of a short-lived yet remarkable countercultural attempt to fight entrenched oppression with music.
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Interview with Jesus Cruz
Director of Souleros
Soulero is a slang term used to describe soul record collectors primarily from the Mexican American (Chicano) community. This short documentary focuses on a group of record collectors in Northern California who are committed to keeping the legacy alive of so many underground soul artists alive.
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Interview with Chicory Wees
Director of Circus of the Scars - The Insider Odyssey of the Jim Rose Circus Sideshow
Also joined by Jim Rose Circus Sideshow Marvels: Zamora the Torture King, The Enigma, Matt the Tube Crowley, and The Amazing Mr. Lifto
A scrappy sensational sideshow revival act playing Seattle dive bars is suddenly propelled into the big time, riding the same wave that brought grunge rock crashing into mainstream culture. Circus of the Scars follows the Jim Rose Circus Sideshow on a relentless and controversial world tour as they rise from obscurity to international infamy. Sold out audiences gape in horror and howl with laughter, but behind-the-scenes, inner struggles and battles with their maniacal ring leader push the troupe ever closer to an early implosion.
Director of This is National Wake
This is National Wake recounts the revelatory story of young musicians who dared, in 1970s South Africa, to launch a multiracial band against the backdrop of apartheid. National Wake was formed by two black brothers from Soweto and a white guitarist from Johannesburg whose collaboration broke all of apartheid's laws. The band filmed their rebellious performances on brilliant Super 8 before the government shut them down, and director Mirissa Neff uses this archival footage, along with audio interviews, to create a grainy plunge into the past. The result is an energetic feature debut that tells the immersive story of a short-lived yet remarkable countercultural attempt to fight entrenched oppression with music.
________________________________________________________________________________
Interview with Jesus Cruz
Director of Souleros
Soulero is a slang term used to describe soul record collectors primarily from the Mexican American (Chicano) community. This short documentary focuses on a group of record collectors in Northern California who are committed to keeping the legacy alive of so many underground soul artists alive.
________________________________________________________________________________
Interview with Chicory Wees
Director of Circus of the Scars - The Insider Odyssey of the Jim Rose Circus Sideshow
Also joined by Jim Rose Circus Sideshow Marvels: Zamora the Torture King, The Enigma, Matt the Tube Crowley, and The Amazing Mr. Lifto
A scrappy sensational sideshow revival act playing Seattle dive bars is suddenly propelled into the big time, riding the same wave that brought grunge rock crashing into mainstream culture. Circus of the Scars follows the Jim Rose Circus Sideshow on a relentless and controversial world tour as they rise from obscurity to international infamy. Sold out audiences gape in horror and howl with laughter, but behind-the-scenes, inner struggles and battles with their maniacal ring leader push the troupe ever closer to an early implosion.
