Rarely does a new filmmaker have a built-in audience. An audience so rabid yet loyal, they would venture to a venue teeming with puffy coats, Uggs, and D-list celebrity to see a project connected to one of, as the purple-velvet-sport-coated announcer put it last night, "the hottest" bands today. Yes, I'm talking about the Sundance Film Festival.
Director Danny Perez lucked out. As a roadie for the Black Dice, an oft favorite opener for the aforementioned "hot" Animal Collective, he became friends with the Collective and together embarked on a four-year long process of collaboration to create ODDSAC. Luck seems to cut both ways: Perez pairing with Animal Collective clearly got his first film a world premiere at Sundance, but when not backed by the sometimes brilliant soundtrack created by the band, the movie comes off as a disjointed film school project.
The movie opened with a young woman pacing a room with fire dancers visibly outside the window, she is then occupied by black tar oozing out of a crack in the wall of the room. Perez should have saved this montage for the end, since it was the strongest and most beautiful of the film and it proved to be a tough act to follow.
Unfortunately, it was all down hill from there. Heavily influenced by Matthew Barney of the Cremaster Cycle, the audience was forced into a disjointed journey that included a sad vampire, marshmallows eating a family, a food fight with a glittered man (straight from the Barney playbook), and a midnight canoe ride, to mention a few. The bright points in the film were strictly auditory. The first line from Panda Bear's honeyed voice had audience members unclenching their armrests and settling back in their seats to listen to why he wishes he "wouldn't feel so drained, if he could only keep his hands away." Beautiful and pared down, this song was an oasis of calm after what seemed like an eternity of stylized TV snow and feedback.
It was clear who had filled the seats of Prospector Square Theatre. The Q and A was directed mostly at Deacon, the Geologist, and Avey Tare (Panda Bear was sadly absent), while Danny Perez nervously swayed side-to-side. Questions about the collaborative process, where the band would be playing after the screening, and favorite films dominated over technical questions regarding ODDSAC. When one audience member directed a question at Perez in regards to the editing process and what tools he used, he answered candidly that you need, "...black curtains to block out the light and your girlfriend...leaves for the day and you spend five hours on YouTube..." Bless this lucky schmuck's heart.
A part of me realizes that Danny Perez didn't expect his film to be graced by a world premiere at Sundance. This film would have fit better at Tromadance or Slamdance. Had the film been cut into shorts and peddled as music videos, it would have been easier to handle. Understanding that when this process began, Animal Collective had yet to create their more accessible albums Strawberry Jam and Merriweather Post Pavilion. This seems a better explanation for the "tweaked," less "songy" soundtrack, as explained by Avey Tare.
When questioned about the meaning or plot of the film, Perez wanted to "leave it to you" to figure out what it means. I think he may not have known, either.
1. Toro y Moi - Blessa 2. Cassowaries - Covens 3. Real Estate- Fake Blues 4. Kurt Vile - The Hunchback 5. Girls - Lust for Life 6. Inverness - Her Nectar 7. Beach House - Zebra 8. Fever Ray - Seven 9. Grizzly Bear - Ready, Able 10. Animal Collective - Daily Routine 11. Circulatory System - I, You, We 12. Ganglians - Valiant Brave 13. CAN'T - Ghosts 14. Califone - Ape-like 15. Bibio - Over the Hills and Far Away 16. Dirty Projectors - The Bride 17. Black Moth Super Rainbow - Twin of Myself 18. Atlas Sound - Sheila 19. HEALTH - Death+ 20. Bear in Heaven - Lovesick Teenagers 21. Monsters of Folk - Dear God
Guess what? Shug and I were able to get tickets to Oddsac yesterday! Better yet, it's opening night!
We waited in line with other nervous locals, flipping through the film catalog then dashing up to the calendar to see if our selected movies had sold out yet.
All of the movies we wanted to see were already sold out, except for our number one pick!
Some of the movies with hella buzz weren't even available for locals to purchase. Bummer. We really wanted to see Hesher and Blue Valentine, but I'm sure these movies will get picked up for major realease.
We might have been nerdy enough to get another set of tickets to Oddsac on Shug's birthday...
So a few months ago, Shug and I found out about this. We have been rabid for tickets ever since. Unfortunately, we are but lowly Utahns that must purchase our Sundance tickets after all of the hoity-toities from Cali have had their pick of the festival.
We get to purchase tickets TODAY!! In t-minus 7 hours and 4 minutes....
Cross your fingers for us so we can get tickets to the opening screening!
This video was one of the first collaborations between Danny Perez, the director of ODDSAC, and Animal Collective...Judging by this, we are in for a crazy ride!
I kind of think bunnies are a little freaky...but maybe that's just due to the psychological scarring that occurred when I watched Pet Cemetery in the 4th Grade at a sleepover...
Usually I'm struck by the beauty, insanity, ridiculousness, or _________ of the band and crowd when I go to a concert. I'm also usually scribbling these thoughts down on my arm, gum wrapper, paper cup, or other ill-intentioned notebook substitute...
Then along came Twitter that lets you tweet all sorts of unimportant drivel in real time...! This means no more deciphering my chicken scratch the next day! I gave tweeting a show a test run with our much anticipated Animal Collective experience in Boulder.
The carnage follows:
Waiting for Animal Collective to take the stage. Enduring the Dead and Red Hot Chili Peppers.9:23 PM Jun 2nd
