'Cinema Ann Arbor' + Book Signing with Author Frank Uhle

Conversation with author Frank Uhle (Cinema Ann Arbor) and a curated program of rare experimental films from the 1960s and ’70s with Ann Arbor connections.

60 min film program includes: works by George Manupelli (founder of the Ann Arbor Film Festival); Pat Oleszko (beloved festival performance artist); Mary Cybulski and John Tintori (she a script supervisor for Ang Lee; he the editor of Eight Men Out); Danny Plotnik’s (Skate Witches and author of Super 8, an illustrated history); and Andrew Lugg (filmmaker/philosophy professor).

The experimental shorts will be intercut with oddities and extras including snippets of film used to promote campus screenings, audience-created work from the Ann Arbor Film Festival, and pre-show informational reels. These works have been digitally transferred from original 16mm prints, many for the first time, for Uhle’s book tour film program.

Discussion + book signing with author Frank Uhle to follow the film program.

Program:

Once Kittyhawk (Doug Rideout) – 1972 (36 minutes) A profile of Ann Arbor’s legendary avant-garde music/theater troupe which includes a recreation of one of their signature pieces. Starring Robert and Mary Ashley, Joe and Anne Wehrer, Nick Bertoni, Milton Cohen, George Manupelli, Cynthia Liddell, and others.

Gerard Malanga as the Baron von Richthofen (George Manupelli) – 1967 (4 minutes) A musical sendup of the WWI flying ace starring poet/Warhol associate Gerard Malanga, then in town as a film festival juror

Footsi (Pat Oleszko – with soundtrack by “Blue” Gene Tyranny) – 1978 (5 minutes) A comical exploration of the world by a tiny pair of fingers, made by the film festival’s longtime performance artist

No Smoke (Mary Cybulski/John Tintori) – ca 1975 (2 minutes) An experimental short made by Cinema Guild members to inform audiences about smoking rules in campus auditoriums.

Gemini Fire Extension (Andrew Lugg) – 1972 (5 minutes) Experimental short featuring performance artist John Orentlicher

Skate Witches (Danny Plotnick) – 1986 (2 minutes) An 8mm short about some punky female skateboarders. Shot in the heart of U-M campus, and an award winner at the Ann Arbor 8mm Film Festival.

23rd Ann Arbor Film Festival Clear Leader Film – 1986 (3 minutes) Animation drawn by audience members on a strip of film in the festival lobby.

All are HD transfers from 16mm, except Skate Witches, which was shot on Super 8

For more information visit: digitalgym.org

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