Archive: July, 2010

Listen to an audience react to M. Night Shyamalan's name

POSTED: Monday, July 19, 2010, 7:44 PM

Filed Under: Movies

Before a screening of Inception (did you read Sam Adams' review yet?), the theater screened a trailer for Devil in which M. Night Shyamalan is given a story credit. Listen to how the audience reacts when they see "From the mind of M. Night Shyamalan" around the :15 mark. UPDATE: I don't know where/when this screening was but former CP webmaster extraordinaire Marc Steel said the same thing happened at the 7:15 showing at Cherry Hill last night. Awww. Sad face. Devil is about a group of people — a suit, a slacker, a security guard, a hot chick and an older woman — who are stuck in an elevator. The catch? One of them is Lucifer himself. $20 says it's the old lady. Watch the trailer for after the jump. h/t Filmdrunk (but first Tweeted by Philly sports fan Patrick. What up, Patrick!)

Jimbob

Posted 2010-07-19 16:46:26

$20 says the world is the devil and the elevator is one his balls that goes up and down and up and down all day long..

Andrew

Posted 2010-07-20 16:19:39

same thing happened at the midnight at Lincoln Center, but I think our crowd was far better with lines such as "just stop, for the love of God STOP"! and "i see dead careers"!
but kudos to every New Yorker for their contributions.

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 7:44 PM Permalink | Post a comment

THE SHOWDOWN: Time to get your prog on

POSTED: Monday, July 19, 2010, 6:55 PM

Filed Under: Music The Showdown

A concert a day keeps the doctor away.

Monday: Hailing from the same home state of such as legendary acts as Prince, Bob Dylan and The Replacements, come St. Paul, Minn. rap duo Eyedea & Abilities. These guys — long-time friends of EL-P, Atmosphere and Aesop Rock — have been plugging away in the hip-hop underground since the early '00s, combining Eyedea's quick-witted rhymes with DJ Abilities' elaborate beatmaking. w/ Kristoff Krane, LTC & Educated Consumers, 8 p.m., $13, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 215-563-3980

Tuesday: It appears that one of the Lilith Fair's original leading ladies, Natalie Merchant, has not made the 2010 bill (or has yet to confirm). What's the deal, Sarah? Fret not, Philadelphians. You can still catch Ms. Merchant on her own when she plays the Merriam Theater tomorrow night. And if she does become a last-minute addition to the Philly Lilith roster (say that five times fast), you'll get to see her share the stage with McLachlan herself and out-there, neo-soul rising star Janelle Monáe. 8 p.m., $40-65, Merriam Theater. 250 S. Broad St. 215-893-1999.

Wednesday: Hey there, Rush fanatics! It's time to get your prog on. In preparation for the arrival of these '70s rock giants to the Camden waterfront, re-live this classic Freaks and Geeks clip when Nick Andopolis rocked out to his heroes on that 29-piece drum set — dry ice and all. 7:30 p.m., $35-150, Susquehanna Bank Center, 1 Harbor Blvd., Camden, N.J., 856-365-1300.

Thursday: If you're in the mood for some bluesy folk from a veteran musician, head on over to the Keswick Theatre to hear multi-instrumentalist Levon Helm. Helm grew to fame as drummer and vocalist in The Band — Bob Dylan's backing musicians when he went electric — and continued to have a rich career thereafter. After overcoming throat cancer, Helm has released even more albums. His most recent solo effort, Electric Dirt, won the first-ever Grammy for best Americana album. A resilient musician, indeed. w/ The Wood Brothers, 7:30 p.m., $39.50-59.50, Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave. 215-572-7650.

Friday: Get a double-dose of homage to emotive British rock geniuses. Start the evening with some sentimental lyrics, crooning and dynamic guitar courtesy of The Sons and Heirs (a Smiths/Morrissey tribute band). Later in the evening, things should get more inscrutable and moody — with some hypnotic synths thrown in for good measure — when you hear headliner and Radiohead tribute band Meeting in the Aisle. 9 p.m., $10, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888.

Saturday: Nora Whittaker and supporting act Lili AÃ±el do a bit of everything. From jazz and blues to country and pop to hip-hop, you can't quite pin down the styles of these Philly singers. Take the opportunity to see the two soulful genre-sweepers on the same night. 8:30 p.m., $10, Puck, Printers Alley, Doylestown, Pa., 215-348-9000.

Sunday: By the end of the week, it's just time to dance. Go see DeadMau5, that prolific Canadian DJ/producer who sports the semi-creepy and warped Mickey Mouse-style mask, . There'll surely be enough throbbing house beats to make you forget the workweek. Happy Sunday. w/ Dave P. (Making Time) & Pex/Playloop DJs. Electric Factory, 421 N. 7th St., 215-627-1332.

Marc Steel

Posted 2010-07-19 14:08:44

Tuesday at the Tower is Widespread Panic. Jimmy Herring = a demigod. And I had no idea Rush was coming. Looks like I'll not be seeing them again.

Posted by Julia Askenase @ 6:55 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Siren Music Fest @ Coney Island 7/17

POSTED: Monday, July 19, 2010, 5:45 PM

Filed Under: Music | Concert Review concert photos

Blood, Sweat, Piers

words by Lori Hill | photos by Dominic Mercier

The shadow of the Cyclone did nothing to quell the brutal heat bearing down on the crowds at the Siren Festival. The 10th annual event at Coney Island was a sweaty mass of humanity, whose numbers didn't seem to mind too much when the talent took the Main Stage. Here's a quick sampling — not counting trips to the boardwalk for water, water ice, water, crappy pizza, a cool breeze and more water.

photo | Dominic Mercier

Surfer Blood

Clean-cut Surfer Blood's anthemic "Swim" set the tone for surviving the day ("swim to reach the end" indeed), and the band delivered its wonky harmonics with lots of pluck. Night Marchers, featuring John Reis of Rocket from the Crypt (still rocking a mini pompadour) and Jason Kourkounis of Delta 72, killed it with their brand of driving punk.

photo | Dominic Mercier

Night Marchers

photo | Dominic Mercier

The Pains of Being Pure of Heart

photo | Dominic Mercier

The Pains of Being Pure of Heart

photo | Dominic Mercier

The Pains of Being Pure of Heart

photo | Dominic Mercier

Ted Leo

From the opening "The Mighty Sparrow," Ted Leo and the Pharmacists kept the hits coming ("Where Have all the Rude Boys Gone?", "Sons of Cain," "Where Was My Brain?") without losing pace or energy. The man hardly seemed to take a breath, cementing his reputation as one of the hardest working musicians out there.

photo | Dominic Mercier

The Pharmacists

Matt & Kim, we're sure you were awesome, but we were no match for the burning asphalt and unrelenting sun — despite those enterprising folks hawking "ice cold water, ice cold water" out of coolers on the boardwalk.

photo | Dominic Mercier

Jesse D

Posted 2010-07-19 12:57:32

Another outstanding Siren. Screaming Females knocked my socks off.
City Paper should sponsor an annual music festival on the Philly waterfront. The ball is in your court, CP.

Promotional Products

Posted 2010-07-20 00:46:53

Rock on! You can see the passion in their face when playing for the audience. The band "The Pains of Being Pure of Heart "play it like their name suggest. The other band had an amazing job also on bringing it on to fans.

Posted by lori hill @ 5:45 PM Permalink | Post a comment

ICECUBE: Chris Noth rolls the dice at Parx

POSTED: Monday, July 19, 2010, 5:01 PM

Filed Under: Ice Cubes

©Scott Weiner 2010

Chris Noth

I know y'all salivating for Icepack but here's an early treat, one that helped bring gambling trouble to river city and that's trouble with a capital "T" that rhymes with "P" and that stands for Parx. The Bensalem casino not only got live table games over the weekend — 57 of 'em in total — including craps, blackjack, three card poker, baccarat and roulette. But on Sunday, Parx got something better: Chris Noth. Fresh from Sex and the City 2 (oy)!, Noth helped launch the live table games. He cut some ribbons, blew on and threw a set of ceremonial first dice then stayed around for a few hours and dined with owner Bob Green and casino executives. Me? I lost a hundred at baccarat but made it back on roulette. See you at Icepack on Thursday where I'll tell you how cheap Herbie Hancock is.

Jennifer

Posted 2010-07-19 12:12:53

He looks great!

Les

Posted 2010-07-23 00:38:36

Yummy indeed.....looking better and better

Posted by A.D. Amorosi @ 5:01 PM Permalink | Post a comment

WHAT KNOCKERS!: The Clay Studio and Philadelphia Film Society team up for screenings

POSTED: Monday, July 19, 2010, 4:48 PM

Filed Under: Movies screening

The Philadelphia Film Society, Clay Studio and Elfreth's Alley join forces for a new screening series. Only two movies deep as of yet, the offerings include Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein (Thu., July 29) and Nick Park's Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were Rabbit (Thu., Aug. 26). Both screenings will take place a Flagpole Park on the south side of the Clay Studio (137-139 N. Second St.). All films begin at dusk. Bring snacks and chairs!

The screening series is being titled the Mind of the Artist, and is supposed to focus on artists working in different media. Seems kinda tenuous as to why the first screening is in there, but whatevs, we'll take Young Frankenstein anytime we can get it.

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 4:48 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Q&A with queer adult filmmaker Michael Lucas: "I do believe that I'm a pornographer. But in order to stay in business for over 15 years, one has to be creative."

POSTED: Saturday, July 17, 2010, 6:08 PM

Filed Under: Interview | Movies

Courtesy of Lucas Entertainment

Michael Lucas

Allow me to tell you about Michael Lucas, film maker and founder of Lucas Entertainment, who will talk about his life in porn during tonight's Lip Service lecture at QFest. After growing up Jewish in bigoted Soviet Russia, Lucas immigrated to America and opened his vid-making and distributing venture. The adult film star — who has previously voiced controversial views on Islam, including referring to the Qu'ran as "today's Mein Kampf" — has lectured at universities and film forums regarding rampantly destructive drug use and unprotected sex in the gay community, Israel and anti-Semitism and child pornography. We got him to open up about a few of these topics before heading to Philly. City Paper: Before your time in the limelight, did you feel more persecuted for being gay, an atheist or a citizen of Israel? Michael Lucas: I was born in Russia, and I lived in Russia until 1995. I went to Europe after and lived there from 1995 to '97. Then I came to New York and started my company in 1998. I became an American citizen in 2004. I became an Israeli citizen in 2009. I am a citizen of three countries: Russia, America and Israel. I am also a resident of Germany because I lived there before coming to the United States. I'm giving you this quick outline in order to be able to answer your questions. So, about being atheist. I couldn't possible have a problem with being an atheist because in the Soviet Union, where I grew up, you had no other alternative. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia became as religious as the United States is today. I'm still an atheist because I don't believe in the supernatural and I don't believe in God. I don't believe that God created us. I believe that people created God out of their weakness, being afraid to live, and most importantly, being afraid of dying. As for discrimination, I was discriminated in the Soviet Union for being a Jew. In Russia, "Jewish" was not a religion. It was considered a nationality. In my passport under the space for nationality, it was entered "Jewish," not "Russian." It's ridiculous, but that's how anti-Semitic Russia was. As for being gay, it was difficult being gay because Russia is a very homophobic country. Those are two of the reasons I left: Russia is very homophobic and anti-Semitic. It's a dark and cruel country. I would like to clarify for you that I consider myself to be a Jewish-atheist. If it sounds complicated, I'd be happy to elaborate. CP: Let the layman in on the mechanics of it all? ML: Jews you see are not just people that follow Judaism. There are many secular Jews. I don't believe in a Jewish god. I believe in my people, I believe in Israel. I am proud that for thousands years of persecutions, discriminations, pogroms and massacres that culminated in Holocaust. We survived and contributed to the world in every field. I believe in Israel, in our right to defend ourselves — to make sure not to be exterminated again. Israel is a back-up for every Jew no matter where he lives. CP: Do you think of yourself as a filmmaker who happens to work in gay pornography or decidedly a gay pornographer. I mean, I'm not gay and find your more narrative moments interesting. ML: Thank you very much for that compliment. I do believe that I'm a pornographer. But in order to stay in business for over 15 years, one has to be creative. So I think I'm creative. CP: Thinking about your ideas regarding Islam and knowing you're a proud New Yorker, how do you feel about the building of a mosque near Ground Zero? ML: I think it's a slap in the face of all Americans and, in particular, New Yorkers and the families of those who died in the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Because you see, people are not stupid. No one is buying the bullshit that Muslims are trying to rub in our faces when they call a 13 floor Islamic center a gesture of peace. This project is sponsored by Saudi Arabia, the country that provided 15 hijackers for the attacks. Muslims are incredibly stupid for being so arrogant and disrespectful. They're turning public opinion even more against themselves. As for politicians in Manhattan, they are nothing more than a bunch of liberal morons for approving this disgusting monument to terrorism. CP: You seem to have lectured around the country on a number of topics. You obtained a law degree from Russia, is that the lawyer in you? ML: No. This is independent thinking, one which is not intimidated by anyone. CP: You have a pretty great relationship with the TLA people and its QFest. How did all that start and where is it going as so much film is downloadable. ML: TLA was always great to me. They distribute lots of my films, and we have a fantastic relationship. As downloading, it's a big problem for studios that produce movies and for distributors like TLA. We're all hoping that some serious measures will be taken to prevent illegal downloading, because it hurts not only the porn business, but the music business, the show business and lots of other industries overall. People are becoming thieves without even understanding it, and I think governments of the world should interfere.

Lip Service, Sat., July 17, 9:45 p.m., Ritz East Theater, 125 S. Second St., qfest.com; Michael Lucas: Ultraporn After-Party, 10 p.m., Voyeur, 1221 St. James Pl.

Posted by A.D. Amorosi @ 6:08 PM Permalink | Post a comment

NOW HEAR THIS: Johnny Showcase and the Lefy Lucy Cabaret

POSTED: Friday, July 16, 2010, 7:00 PM

Filed Under: Comedy | Music | Now Hear This Philly Bands

Jamie Moffett

In this week's issue, Katy Bergen told you about Johnny Showcase and the Lefty Lucy Cabaret:

Johnny Showcase, the ringleader of a crew of eccentric performers known as the Lefty Lucy Cabaret, thinks he's hip. He gyrates to Prince in pale orange suits and periodically is joined by his secret lover Vicki Fastlane for slightly coarser versions of Heart's "Alone." ("You don't know how long I have waited to touch your tits and hold you tonight. ... ") David Sweeny, aka Johnny Showcase, created the breakout act that won over crowds at the 2009 Fringe Fest. This weekend the act is back for two nights of ridiculous takes on original and classic songs. We know you're achin' to experience Lefty Lucy hits such as "Sensual, But Not Sexual (Because I'm Married)" and "M. Night Shalamon."

And while Ms. Bergen's write-up was stellar, why tell when you can show? So turn up the volume as loud as you can and rock the fuck out: "Hit It from the Back" [audio:http://stream.citypaper.net/music/02%20Hit%20It%20from%20the%20Back.m4a] "M. Night Shalamon (future remix)" [audio:http://stream.citypaper.net/music/M%20Night%20Shalamon%20(future%20remix).mp3]

Johnny Showcase and the Lefty Lucy Cabaret, Fri.-Sat., July 16-17, 9 p.m., $15, Connie's Ric Rac, 1132 S. Ninth St., 215-279-7587, johnnyshowcase.com.

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 7:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

THE CRITICAL MASS WEEKEND OMNIBUS: Cry Wolf Weekend

POSTED: Friday, July 16, 2010, 6:00 PM

Filed Under: Weekend Omnibus

Don Flood

Kid Sister

Friday: Improv gets just as intense as a football game at the Comedy Sportz World Championship. The comedic competition, which started yesterday and continues till tomorrow, includes a referee, teams, fouls and audience interaction. In a more somber mood? Can't Afford the Freeway is playing behind the Phildelphia Art Hotel. The film explores an American soldier's coming home from Iraq. Kid Sister and Peter Wolf Crier also take Philly tonight. Saturday: All you Civil War buffs know you're dying to visits the Drums, Fifes, and Flags: Communication in Military Life exhibits at the Germantown Historical Society. Also check out the crazy singing antics of Johnny Showcase & The Lefty Lucy Cabaret if you're in the mood for this goofy parody of singers. Sunday: Channel your inner Marilyn Monroe at the '50s Pinup Ice Cream Parlor photo shoot. Get your make-up and hair done and milk it for the cameras in a photo sesh. Later, check out the Jean Renior screenings at the Philly Museum of Art. American Idol sweetheart Jordin Sparks performs at TLA tonight.

Posted by Katy Bergen @ 6:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Q&A with Justin Kramon: "Writing let me become a better version of myself"

POSTED: Friday, July 16, 2010, 5:00 PM

Filed Under: Interview Books

"Without memorable characters, a good story fades like sunburn. Philly resident Justin Kramon's beach-perfect debut, Finny, is full of unforgettable oddballs — from a narcoleptic pianist to a digestively challenged father who claims he's 'brushing his teeth' every time he rushes off to the bathroom — all of whom Kramon spends plenty of time with. That way, he says, 'all of that character's funny little habits and obsessions have a warmth to them, like you're coming home.'" That's what I wrote in this week's Kaleidoscope about Finny, the most refreshing summer novel I've read in a long time. In conjunction with his book's Tuesday debut, I asked Kramon a few questions about how he tore his characters down, how he built them up and why Philly plays such an important role in his work. City Paper: What strikes me most about Finny is its broad scope — 360-page books don't often span this many decades of storyline. Can you tell me about why you made the decision to tell Finny's story so epically? Justin Kramon: I got the idea for Finny from reading a bunch of coming-of-age books I love: The World According to Garp, The Adventures of Augie March and especially David Copperfield. I loved these big stories, the sense of adventure, the humor and just the feeling of wonder I got from these books. One thing I noticed, though, was that most of these raucous, epic-style adventures of young people coming into the world are about young men. So I was interested in what it would be like to tell this classic story from the point of view of a young woman coming into the contemporary world. I wanted to ask myself what would be the big adventures and meaningful moments for this kind of character. Also, there's a special way that novels can capture the movement of time, and I love when novels follow characters over a long time. You get to know everyone better, and when you return to a character, all of that character's funny little habits and obsessions have a warmth to them, like you're coming home. I wanted readers to feel like they were living in the world of the book, and experience the same sense of enchantment I had with the novels I've loved.

Random House, July 13

CP: In the book, Earl plays a supporting role to Finny's narration. Who do you relate to more, Earl (whose connections to you might be more tangible, since you're both writers — and both male) or Finny (the main character, who, despite being female, has universal qualities of spunk and brazenness)? JK: I feel connected to both Finny and Earl (and to [Finny's brother] Sylvan, too). I like to have a connection to all the main characters in a piece I'm writing, or else I feel like it's easy to short-change them, make them seem petty or small. But I do have a special feeling for Finny. The book came alive as soon as she stepped onto the stage. She made me laugh in those early quirky dinner scenes with her family, and she also has a wonderful ability to cut through people's pretensions. I think that's something I enjoy about writing from a woman's point of view in general, the way it allows me to step outside of myself. If I'm writing about a relationship or a friendship or sex, I think I can bring up some more useful observations by cutting myself out of the equation. It's easy to take your own temperature when you're writing, but I'm not sure my readers would be interested in that. I borrow aspects of different characters from my own life. I can understand some of Earl's feelings about writing, and some of Finny's feelings about being misunderstood, and some of Sylvan's feelings about wanting to do something meaningful with his life but not knowing how. But seeing the world through Finny's eyes allowed me to bring a humor and warmth to everything in the novel, and it allowed me to think about the world from a different angle, and maybe bring up some shortcomings in the male point of view. In that way, writing let me become a better version of myself. Not that Finny is noble or good all the time. But she brought some wisdom and perspective to a lot of issues and situations I've wondered about. CP: Your characters are lovably quirky: Finny's dad spends his life quoting famous men and "brushing his teeth"; her boarding-school principal chews on pencils and shouts constantly; her friend Judith is the consummate unreliable narrator; and Earl's father is a narcoleptic piano player. What's your process for developing these characters' eccentricities? Are they based on folks you know, serious people-watching sessions or something else entirely? JK: Sometimes characters are simply people I'd like to meet or who interest me — or even people I hope I'll never meet. I never write someone from my life directly into a story, which is something I'm sure my friends and family are happy about. But there are times when I'll borrow a trait or situation, and maybe shift it or amplify it a little bit to help me build a character. That's something that Dickens is famous for, and that style was a big influence in this book. You mentioned the principal of Finny's boarding school, Mrs. Barksdale. She came from an experience I had when I was working as a cater-waiter in New York, just before I started writing Finny. I was hired by a company who asked me to attend an unpaid training session in their kitchen. The whole session consisted of the owner talking about how great his company was and how much better it was than other companies, and every time he'd brag about something, he'd look at his assistant â this poor, overworked woman â and say, "Isn't that right, Edna?" And she would have to agree with everything this bozo was saying. It was annoying to be subjected to this, but later on, when I was writing Finny, I thought it would be funny to have Finny's principal have a similar relationship with her secretary, Ms. Simpkin. They both pump up each other's egos in this silly way, but in the novel, what had been annoying to me became funny in Finny's eyes. It let me say something real about powers and ego, but in a way that was entertaining and consistent with the bright tone of the book. CP: Finny is surprisingly sensual at times, which I guess makes it an even more enticing summer read. However, the book's sexier moments are more of a nice surprise than an expectation fulfilled, since the book isn't billed as steamy so much as a coming-of-age story. Was this intentional? JK: I always want to write sex scenes with the same level of detail as I write everything else. I think it's easy to be overly vague or overly detailed about sex, especially when you start thinking about it as separate from the rest of life. But I think Finny is mature enough to see it as a part of the jumbled pleasures and sadness of life. It would have been a disappointment to see so much of the world from Finny's quirky perspective, and not to take that same humor and pathos and understanding to sex, which I think is a part of most people's lives, if not everyone's. To be honest, I hadn't really thought about the sex in the book until early reviewers started mentioning it. It felt like the only honest way to write the book. CP: Finny experiences a lot of loss in her life, which brings a melancholy tone to the novel. Why is it important that Finny carries so many burdens throughout the years? Does it make her a more credible and relatable narrator? Or is it a vehicle for redemption? JK: A sad truth about writing a novel is that you're always looking for ways to make life hard for your characters. Not that you always want them to fail, or to have everyone around them dying. But you're always challenging them, always seeing how they'll act when times get a little tough. I feel like that's part of what makes a good story. There can be triumphs and joys; but I think there have to be challenges. In a way, I think that love is actually the biggest challenge for Finny — as much as the deaths and betrayals and disappointments. Finny starts out the book as such a defiant, independent young woman, and I think that it's always interesting when someone like that falls in love, because suddenly she's dependent on another person. Being true to that, while also being true to herself, is something she struggles with throughout the book. Also, I do think the hardships get a little more serious as Finny gets older. There's a whimsy and fun to the book, but that gets tempered with age and experience — deaths, illnesses, break-ups. I feel like that aspect, the way life shifts and deepens, is something that's true to my experience of the world. CP: How important was it for you to incorporate Philly into your story, since you live here? I appreciate the fact that you don't beat us over the head with local references. JK: It was very important to me to get Philly into the story, since both Finny and I have spent a good deal of time here. When I write about a place, my goal is always to get the feeling of the place into the work, as much as the details of street names and restaurants and local expressions. I don't do a huge amount of research for my writing. Factual accuracy isn't one of my great strengths as a writer (or person). I try to get feelings I've had about people I've met or places I've lived into a story that hopefully says more about the world than the truth ever would.

Justin Kramon reads from Finny Sun., Aug. 1, 3 p.m., free, Big Blue Marble Bookstore, 551 Carpenter Lane, justinkramon.com.

fran schumer

Posted 2010-08-02 13:01:39

Justin -- I especially loved this interview. Fran Schumer (McNulty), colleague at Gotham. And I'm so glad I'm connected to your website.

Posted by Carolyn Huckabay @ 5:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Q&A with Dark Fall director Alex DiPhillipo: "We surf in the snow -- it's pretty hardcore."

POSTED: Friday, July 16, 2010, 4:00 PM

Filed Under: Interview | Movies screening

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[source]

Alex DiPhillipo filming Thomas Petriken

A handful of South Jersey friends surf together each winter. The water is empty. The ocean is cold. It's a lonely scene — just a few people crazy enough to go the distance for some great waves. Alex DiPhillipo saw a story. Margate native DiPhillipo decided to document the unique experience of Jersey surfers, many of whom are his friends. Originally, DiPhillipo, who moved to Hawaii after college and shot footage for various surf companies, thought his first independent film would be small and wrap quickly. But as more people took interest, it became clear the project was growing. The film doesn't just feature Jersey local hotshots such as Zack Humphreys and Andrew Gesler. Surfing pro Kelly Slater and NJ native Dean Randazzo appear in the film. But the famous names don't mean as much as the local ones. DiPhillipo's film, Dark Fall, is about what it's like to be a New Jersey surfer, with none of the glory, but all of the guts. City Paper: What's the concept of the film? Alex DiPhillipo: It takes you through the seasons and what it's like to be a New Jersey surfer. It shows the hardships of being a surfer from New Jersey, a professional trying to make a living. There really aren't many contests here, there isn't that much recognition. We surf in the snow — it's pretty hardcore. The film also takes you to Hawaii. We meet up with a bunch of big name guys in Hawaii to show everyone we can surf pipeline, some of the world's biggest waves. We come back to New Jersey in the summer, show you how it's a crazy tourist attraction, how the Jersey Shore goes from a ghost town in the winter to a crazy party scene in the summer. Then we take another break from Jersey and go to Tahiti. It ends in the fall. That's the basis of film: coming back to Jersey to surf the fall, with nobody around but your friends.

CP: Most of the subjects were your friends. Did that make the project any easier? AD: Andrew Gesler, who takes you through the film with his voice and surfs a lot in it too — he's co-producer of the film and wrote the film with me. Basically, when I came home and said I wanted to do a film, he gathered guys I didn't know for me. That was a big help. If it weren't for him, a lot of the guys in there wouldn't be in there. I knew most of the guys. But [Gessler] wrote to the pros and said, "Hey, you gotta hop on this." It took some awhile to believe in it for a couple of months but when we started producing stuff, like little trailers, people saw what we had. CP: Obviously, there are some great surf movies out there, and you just made your own which is a huge undertaking. But what are your three favorite surfing movies of all time? AD: I don't have three but I have one. I definitely liked Endless Summer. I grew up on that film. I'm a big fan of story telling; the reason I made this film was to tell a story. There's a lot of quote on quote "surf porn" out there — which is just like surfing and techno music. Anyone can go to a beach and film the best surfers in the world doing crazy shit. But that movie was really one of the first movies I watched when I was younger and I watched it over and over again, because of the story, you know?

Dark Fall, Fri. July 16, $20 House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, 609-236-2583, darkfallthemovie.com

Posted by Katy Bergen @ 4:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

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What we're trying to do this weekend
Behind the scenes of local film A Man Full of Trouble
CONCERT REVIEW: The Postal Service @ The Mann 6/17
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: Sunny, Tony and the return of Do No Harm
NOW SEE THIS: Salinger film trailer
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: Indian fare rules, Dunder Mifflin lives on, Tom Jones is a god
REVIEW: Archer Live! @ the TLA 1/11
CITY PAPER WRITING CONTEST 2013: Send stories! Send poetry!
CONCERT PHOTOS: The National/Dirty Projectors @ The Mann Center 6/7
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: Pink. Diner en Blanc 2. Breaking Glass and Milkboy at the movies. And so on.

About this blog

Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

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