AGFA & Something Weird Video Kickstarter

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Some of you might be interested in looking into this:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...ref=nav_search

"The American Genre Film Archive (AGFA) is located in Austin, Texas. AGFA exists to preserve the legacy of genre movies through collection, conservation, and distribution.

Formed in 2009, AGFA focuses on outlaw exploitation movies that were produced from the 1960s through the 1990s. From manic hicksploitation epics to bloodthirsty shoestring goreblasts, each title in AGFA's collection is a celebration of culture that should never be forgotten. Housing over six thousand 35mm film prints and trailers, our non-profit archive counts among its board members and advisors Alamo Drafthouse founders Tim and Karrie League, filmmakers Nicolas Winding Refn and Paul Thomas Anderson, and Austin area film programmers and movie fans.

Mike Vraney founded Something Weird Video in 1990. Sadly, he passed away in 2014 after a long, heroic battle with lung cancer. Legendary exploitation warlock David F. Friedman deemed Vraney "the forty-first thief," which was the ultimate compliment to this exploiteer. Vraney dedicated his life to unearthing and preserving the most radically insane exploitation and horror movies of all time. He introduced multiple generations to the works of Herschell Gordon Lewis, Doris Wishman, David F. Friedman, Barry Mahon, Michael and Roberta Findlay, and Fredric C. Hobbs. Vraney's contribution to preserving the world's most deranged cultural milestones can never be overstated. Something Weird Video changed the way that we understand movies.

Now it's our turn to give something back.

AGFA has started working with Something Weird's Lisa Petrucci, Mike Vraney's widow and partner, to redistribute titles from the massive 35mm film collection."

More at the link.

[bgart13 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bgart13]

Here's what Lisa also had to say, re: SWV and this deal (if anyone's wondering more about this):

"Hey Weirdos! We have some very exciting news! Something Weird has been working with AGFA (American Genre Film Archive) and Alamo Drafthouse on co-branding, releasing and preserving 10 of our most popular films from the SW archive, theatrically and in high-definition! Alamo CEO Tim League has been a longtime fan and admirer our founder, Mike Vraney, and Something Weird. They have already acquired some original film elements from SW (which will be forever preserved in their impressive archive) and plan to screen them theatrically at Alamo Drafthouse movie theatres. The next step is to transfer the films in 4K. For this they will be launching a Kickstarter to fund a film scanner so that they can do their own transfers in-house. The Kickstarter campaign is active and I hope you all participate!

Before everyone freaks out, let us say that, even before Mike got sick and died, it was fully his intention to eventually sell the company to the highest bidder. Basically, he was done after Friedman died. Mike wanted to pursue other interests (mainly collecting more stuff and publishing coffee table books of his paper archives.) He knew that being the custodian of literally hundreds of tons of film is an overwhelming responsibility. But unfortunately, Mike died before we could find the right home for SW film archive. And he left this task in his widow, Lisa Petrucci's, fully capable hands.

Something Weird will continue chugging along as it has been selling DVDs and Downloads. Eventually we hope to find just the right home(s) for our massive film archive.

So show your love, support and enthusiasm for Something Weird and exploitation cinema by contributing to AGFA's Kickstarter!"

[Alex K. Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Alex K.]

Hope it's successful. Never would have guessed that PTA a fan of this wonderful trash.

[bgart13 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bgart13]

PTA is Ghoulardi's son, so maybe he knows that stuff through him?

[Alex K. Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Alex K.]

I want to see PTA film a remake of Doris Wishman's Deadly Weapons.

[Ignatius Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ignatius]

I want to see PTA re-make Boogie Nights in the style of Doris Wishman.

[Tom Clark Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tom Clark]

The American Genre Film Archive On Why Exploitation Movies Are Worth Preserving

[Randy G Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Randy G]

Hope it's successful. Never would have guessed that PTA a fan of this wonderful trash.

His shot for shot recreation of scenes from Exhausted and The Jade Pussycat certainly suggest he knew his exploitation.

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Some welcome details on this upcoming line...

The American Genre Film Archive (AGFA) is excited to announce its initial slate of theatrical and home video releases in collaboration with Seattle's Something Weird. After a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2015, AGFA purchased a 4K film scanner to create new digital transfers of titles from the Something Weird library. AGFA will begin distributing their new transfers theatrically and on home video in the summer of 2017.


Each home video release will feature a main title, a "b-side" bonus feature, and trailers and shorts from the Something Weird archive. Select releases will include interviews and commentary tracks with Something Weird's Lisa Petrucci, filmmaker Frank Henenlotter (BASKET CASE, FRANKENHOOKER), filmmakers involved with the movies, and more surprises along the way. Mike Vraney founded Something Weird in 1990. Sadly, he passed away in 2014 after a long, heroic battle with lung cancer. Legendary exploitation warlock David F. Friedman deemed Vraney "the forty-first thief," which was the ultimate compliment to this exploiteer, who dedicated his life to unearthing and preserving the most radically insane exploitation and horror movies of all time.


AGFA has partnered with Something Weird's Lisa Petrucci, Mike Vraney's widow and partner, to redistribute titles from the massive 35mm film collection.


"Our mission hasn't changed, it has evolved," says AGFA Director Joe Ziemba, "AGFA will always be dedicated to preserving and sharing 35mm film prints. But by scanning these fragile elements and distributing them as new digital transfers, we are making the movies even more accessible than ever. At the same time, we are helping Lisa Petrucci of Something Weird ensure that Mike Vraney's legacy will continue to grow."


Read about the first wave of releases:


THE ZODIAC KILLER
Made in hopes of capturing the real-life Zodiac Killer, but the plan didn't work. Instead, we got the most outrageous and compelling "tabloid horror" vortex in the history of the universe. Paired with ANOTHER SON OF SAM, a lo-fi proto-slasher that has nothing to do with Son of Sam, let alone another Son of Sam.


THE CURIOUS DR. HUMPP
If FRANKENSTEIN was re-imagined by Kenneth Anger as a softcore body-horror epic with a monster who plays guitar, it still wouldn't be as wild as this legendary Argentinian mind-melter. Paired with ROOM OF CHAINS, a sick-o-delic black mass perversion party from the foothills of France.


POT! PARENTS! POLICE!
This is an After School Special gone bad about a teenager's slow descent into weed-fueled mania. FYI, this was the first -- and last -- movie made to play exclusively at Jerry Lewis's chain of theaters in the 1970s. Paired with THE DEVIL'S JOINT, a bizarro anti-weed documentary that was definitely made by art school drop-outs.


FLESHPOT ON 42ND STREET
A gender-bending NYC smut-opera and accidental masterpiece, and also the greatest film from infamous no-budget wildman Andy Milligan. Paired with GURU, THE MAD MONK, Milligan's unhinged, DARK SHADOWS-inspired gore opera.


SATANIS, THE DEVIL'S MASS
Unseen and unbelievable cinéma vérité expose on Anton Levay, America's favorite leader of the Church of Satan. Paired with VOODOO BLACK EXORCIST, a grunge-horror mind-blast from Spain that is as good as it sounds.


SHE MOB
The greatest girl gang sexploitation gutter-epic that John Waters never made. Filmed in Texas, where life is cheap! Paired with HOTTER AFTER DARK, a gutter-noir private eye sex-party that was filmed in Florida, where life is cheaper!


Future releases include:


AROUSED paired with FLY NOW, PAY LATER
THE ELECTRIC CHAIR paired with THE GUY FROM HARLEM
THE GODMONSTER OF INDIAN FLATS paired with THE LEGEND OF BIGFOOT
LOVE AFTER DEATH paired with SEX ON THE GROOVE TUBE
THE LOVE FEAST paired with NECROMANIA
THE MONSTER AT CAMP SUNSHINE paired with PROFESSOR LUST
SATAN'S CHILDREN paired with THINGS TO COME
TALES OF A SALESMAN paired with VOICES OF DESIRE
THE VIOLENT YEARS paired with ANATOMY OF A PSYCHO

[agent999 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close agent999]

Is that the same Electric Chair that Code Red are releasing? Could have another Pit Stop situation coming.

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Is that the same Electric Chair that Code Red are releasing? Could have another Pit Stop situation coming.

Lisa Petrucci confirmed on FB that it is.

[Marshall Crist Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Marshall Crist]

That's great about HUMPP/ROOM OF CHAINS. I wish someone would also put out the original version of HUMPP. The extra scenes shot for the US release kind of slow it down.

[Matt H. Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Matt H.]

That's great about HUMPP/ROOM OF CHAINS. I wish someone would also put out the original version of HUMPP. The extra scenes shot for the US release kind of slow it down.

Agreed about HUMPP - that extra steamy footage sucks. The worst is that endless hippie orgy that's right near the beginning - it goes on for at least 15 minutes.

[Jobla Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jobla]

I'd like to see a double-bill of WHITE SLAVES OF CHINATOWN and OLGA'S HOUSE OF SHAME.