Beautiful Losers
Speakeasy Cinema launches with Aaron Rose's documentary Beautiful Losers, a portrait of the former nerds, freaks and outsiders who coalesced around New York’s Alleged Gallery in the ’90s, and became accidental art-stars. Rooted in the DIY worlds of skate, surf, punk, hip hop and graffiti, they made art that reflected the lifestyles they led, and in doing so created one of the most influential cultural moments of a generation.
Featuring Shepard Fairey (creator of the Obey Giant series), Stephen ‘ESPO’ Powers, the graphic design and advertising skews made by Mike Mills and Geoff McFetridge, Harmony Korine’s wacko filmography, and the arresting naivety in Chris Johanson, Margaret Kilgallen and Barry McGee’s bodies of work, Beautiful Losers looks at what happened when the outsiders became ‘in’, and celebrates the creative ethos that continues to inspire them. 90 mins. Rated R.
‘More than an instance of instant nostalgia, the film is a low-key celebration of people and community, what can happen when like-minded individuals really get it together.’
~ The Los Angeles Times
Featuring Shepard Fairey (creator of the Obey Giant series), Stephen ‘ESPO’ Powers, the graphic design and advertising skews made by Mike Mills and Geoff McFetridge, Harmony Korine’s wacko filmography, and the arresting naivety in Chris Johanson, Margaret Kilgallen and Barry McGee’s bodies of work, Beautiful Losers looks at what happened when the outsiders became ‘in’, and celebrates the creative ethos that continues to inspire them. 90 mins. Rated R.
‘More than an instance of instant nostalgia, the film is a low-key celebration of people and community, what can happen when like-minded individuals really get it together.’
~ The Los Angeles Times
Speakeasy talks to Aaron Rose.
Earlier this year I interviewed the director of Beautiful Losers, Aaron Rose, about Alleged Gallery, making art, growing up and what it really meant for artistic freedom when the 'outside' became 'in'. Here's a snapshot. ~ Ghita
GL: Was there a sense amongst the artists whose careers were taking off at that time back in the '90s that they maybe weren't 'outsiders' anymore but had actually started to become 'in' - and did that realisation change the way you all operated and the mood amongst everyone?
AR: Yeah, it's a very interesting thing to go through when you define your self as an outsider and build a whole life around saying 'I am against' - I am not society, I am against society - and all of a sudden the New YorkTimes is calling you. It's a total identity crisis! I should be saying 'Fuck You New York Times!' If I'm real... but then at the same time you're an artist and want your work to reach as many people as possible and in some ways it's really an honour that the New York Times is calling you. So there's definitely this 'check your head' moment of 'What? How do you manage this? How do you stay true to your values?' You've also sold your values to legions of young people who believe in this, who are making art themselves because they believe in what this is about. So you have a responsibility to be that and keep that part of you.
I personally always try to make sure I'm doing things that aren't for money - just making zines and giving them away to my friends, or doing weird projects or keeping myself tied to the street no matter how big the projects I'm tied to are. Barry McGee does the same, although he's relaxed on tagging now because he has a daughter. But for a long time, the bigger the show, the more money he was making, the more graffiti he felt he'd have to do. He had to balance it out - do more illegal stuff to balance out the success. It's a unique place to be in, especially in this world which is so success oriented. I call it punk-rock-ville.
Aaron is honest, funny and totally charming and this interview was part of the inspiration behind Speakeasy Cinema! Read the full transcript.
Speakeasy Shorts
Melbourne-based animator Isobel Knowles has curated a killer shorts program to run before each Speakeasy screening. These little gems will screen before Beautiful Losers (and no, she didn't put her own film in this program. I insisted).
Melbourne-based animator Isobel Knowles has curated a killer shorts program to run before each Speakeasy screening. These little gems will screen before Beautiful Losers (and no, she didn't put her own film in this program. I insisted).
Tickets
Melbourne
1000 £ Bend
361 Lt Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Friday 30.10.09 | 6pm (+ Speakeasy & Anode Opening Party!)
Friday 06.11.09 | 8pm
Tickets, 'roo burgers, etc. available through Moshtix, 1300 GET TIX (438 849) on your mobile www.moshtix.mobi and all Moshtix outlets.
Sydney
Paddington Town Hall
Saturday 21.11.09 | 6pm (+ Anode Opening Party!)
Tickets
Melbourne
1000 £ Bend
361 Lt Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Friday 30.10.09 | 6pm (+ Speakeasy & Anode Opening Party!)
Friday 06.11.09 | 8pm
Tickets, 'roo burgers, etc. available through Moshtix, 1300 GET TIX (438 849) on your mobile www.moshtix.mobi and all Moshtix outlets.
Sydney
Paddington Town Hall
Saturday 21.11.09 | 6pm (+ Anode Opening Party!)
Tickets