Martin Lewis is the Co-Founder/Producer/Host of the "Mods & Rockers Film Festival" which is presenting its 8th annual festival in Hollywood this month. In addition to his nightly producing and hosting chores - he has promised to try and chronicle some of the festival activities with occasional blog entries...
First night of the festival drawing to a close... Not used to instant writing. Prefer polishing my words - but no time for polish!
Amazing scenes at the Egyptian Theatre tonight. Place jam-packed. All 620 seats sold - huge crowd in courtyard standing on line waiting for no-shows. I guess the Beatles and Stones are still popular... Introduced evening by asking audience who self-identified as "Mods" and who as "Rockers". Much bigger cheers for Rockers. But loudest noise for "Mockers". Beatles fans out-cheered Stones fans two to one.
Huge roars of laughter for the trailer we showed of the 1968 acid-movie "Skidoo" with Timothy Leary pumping the film as a way to turn on mom and dad. The film plays Saturday night - its first L.A. screening in over 25 years. Should get a good crowd. We have just received two blog entries about the film which we'll be posting soon. Satirist Paul Krassner - a regular HuffPoster - has written a fascinating piece about it. And a "Skidoo-ologist" has some insights too!
The Beatles film played beautifully. So much more interesting and skillfully edited than the compilation made by Apple in the early 90s. That was an enjoyable hodge-podge of scenes - but it lacks the graceful fluidity and wit of the Maysles Brothers' film. The audience was spell-bound. Lots of laughter for the clowning and natural wit of the Beatles. And refreshing to see the situations and people surrounding the Beatles play out without endless quick cuts and edits for the ADD generation.
Before "Gimme Shelter" we had a surprise guest. I'd received a phone call this afternoon from someone who introduced himself as the producer of the film. Ron Schneider. The name didn't ring an immediate bell. I always associate the film with Albert & David Maysles. Quick check on IMDB and Google reveals that he WAS the producer. Not only that - but he is Allan Klein's nephew! "How did you get into the business?" I asked him... "Nepotism" he responded. I immediately knew I had to invite him to speak about the film!
The audience lapped up his stories. He revealed that D.A. Pennebaker was the first choice to direct the filming that became "Gimme Shelter" - but that Pennebaker was busy on another project - and recommended the Maysles Brothers. Must ask Pennebaker about that when he is with us for three nights next week.
Then into "Gimme Shelter'" Love the film - but too tired to stay and watch it again. Also have to work on next set of Mods & Rockers blogs! Just received wonderful appreciations of the late Harry Nilsson by his pals Paul Williams and Danny Hutton of Three Dog Night which we'll be posting tomorrow. We're showing the Harry Nilsson documentary tomorrow night - so their timing was perfect!
One night down. Nineteen to go!
THE "MODS & ROCKERS FESTIVAL" BLOGS
• GREGORY WEINKAUF - Picking Up Every Stitch...• D.A. PENNEBAKER - Inside Pennebaker's Soul• STEVE HOCHMAN -Memo To Al Gore• BRAD SCHREIBER - Monterey Pop Goes Pow!• MICHELLE PHILLIPS - California Dreaming Becoming a Reality• JERRY MILLER - Grapeful for Monterey• HARVEY KUBERNIK - UP In Monterey...• GREGORY WEINKAUF - Skidoo Does Hollywood...• STANLEY DORFMAN - Zeppelin Takes Flight• BRAD SCHREIBER - Tripping Back to 1960s London...• D.A. PENNEBAKER - Pennebaker on "Pop"• MARTIN LEWIS - ROCK Like An Egyptian!• DAVID HABER - Really With The Beatles• PAUL WILLIAMS - Nilsson Is My Cup Of Tea• BRAD SCHREIBER - Festival Opens & Explains "What's Happening!"• PAUL KRASSNER - Skidoo• MARTIN LEWIS - First Night Report!• STEPHEN BISHOP - The Beatles Were My True Parents• ANDREW LOOG OLDHAM - Mocking The Rockers• BRUCE SPIZER -The Beatles Were Coming!• MARTIN LEWIS - Movies For Nothing And Kicks For Free..
MORE "MODS & ROCKERS FESTIVAL" BLOGS COMING SOON FROM
• ERIC BURDON