#38: "consider getting weirder"
Welcome to issue #38 of THIS NEWSLETTER CANNOT SAVE YOU, the newsletter that's not afraid to ask the hard-hitting questions, such as:
Scottovision
I saw a post on IG recently that resonated with me:
I wasn't sure this newsletter would get much weirder, actually, but two or three of the short films in this issue surprised me with their commitment to deeply weird premises. I like to balance each list of recommendations among several categories, but you might find that today's issue goes a little harder on the surreality front than usual.
I'll make up for it eventually, maybe put together a list of my ten favorite traffic cams, or my ten favorite local news opening credit sequences, and that's when you'll know my debt is paid in full. But until that happy day arrives, you've at least got these items to potentially occupy a sliver of your attention:
"PVC Feces Rig Tour (Home Made) #vanlife" (2022) - A man's effort to install a DIY campervan toilet goes haywire, leading to a desperate vision quest in the great desert of Wisconsin. Brought to you by avant-weird genius and frequent Adult Swim creator Alan Resnick.
"The Totem" (2022) - This video documents a projection art installation created by renowned visual designer GMUNK for "Psychedelics: The Experiential Exhibition," an immersive art show that ran for several months in Toronto. GMUNK was the visual designer on the classic projection art film "BOX" way back in 2013, and he hasn't lost a step since then. He describes The Totem as not simply an artifact, but an experience, a "euphoric and psychoactive" journey. Sadly GMUNK's three-minute video of the piece isn't quite so immersive, but it's impressive to imagine all the same. (The exhibition itself released a shorter video with alternate footage.)
"Your Houseplants Are Screaming" (2022) - In this Slamdance film, two sentient, semi-humanoid "houseplants" are kept by an incommunicative plant monster as decoration. Although the film might be considered a horror/fantasy tale, the plaintive cries of "why me?" from the houseplants are plenty realistic. Written & directed by Benjamin Roberds.
"Flight" (2023) - Mesmerizing music video for a track by SF-based musician Nico Gioris, shot by Erren Franklin. The filmmakers note: "Captured on location at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta and in the hills of Ojai on regular 8mm and super 8 film. 100% analog, in-camera effects using hand-cut mattes and filters. Shot with a Bolex H8REX4 and a Beaulieu MR8." The Balloon Fiesta is an unreal sight, and the music video depicting it is a trip.
"The Flute" (2023) - Director Nick Roney has contributed several excellent music videos to the canon during his career; his video for "I Wanna Prove To You" by the Lemon Twigs, for instance, is an uncomfortable masterpiece. In what appears to be his first short film, Roney goes straight for the brain stem with his tale of a broken-hearted young man who moves in with his pals, only to discover their unusual approach to modern music is more than he can take.
"Charro de Corazón" (2023) - Oh hey, here is a pleasing demonstration of the lasso by renowned international floreador Esteban Escobedo. Director Carlos Jaramillo generates major David Lynch vibes as he captures the proceedings, but the rope tricks are real and they're rather soothing to watch.
"The Shoebody Bop" (2022) - In this music video for an a cappella track by The Minute Hour, animator Drue Langois takes us to a strange baptismal ceremony, in which initiation requires a massive head butt - or "bop" - from the guy in charge. (There's a story behind the bop, if you want to maximize your exposure to these characters.) The song is also a "bop" as the kids say; you can download it from Soundcloud.
"distant spirit" (2023) - Composer/drummer Ben Sloan animates his own music video, an abstract psychedelic whirlwind in which an insomniac seemingly travels into a liminal realm on the other side of his mobile phone screen. The track is from Sloan's debut solo album, muted colors.
"Dopamine (English Version)" (2023) - Director kingcon2k11 was an early adopter of AI as a method for enhancing and extending a sense of strangeness in his music videos. His video for the new track by pop singer Madelline puts that strangeness on full display, depicting a society that is almost orgiastically consumed by addiction to mobile phones. Eerie and hilarious. (Meanwhile, according to the kids, the Version Française of the track "slaps harder" but they're both good.)
"Snow / Surface To Air / The Private Psychedelic Reel" (2023) - The Chemical Brothers recently played a show in Seattle, and someone thoughtfully captured the entire encore with his iPhone. It's a continuous wide shot that showcases the visuals in their grand scope, and it's from a good vantage point too, above the heads of the crowd on the floor, and far enough back that you can take it all in.
Exit Music
Sending you out this issue with the song "Fusion" by Sven Väth, released in 1998. It's absolutely bursting with infectious positive energy, and the simple but enjoyable music video captures the joy of an orchestra cutting loose on good material.
A YouTube playlist with this issue’s recs can be found here.
Until next time, I remain your friendly correspondent, thinking of you,
Scotto
Scotto Moore is the author of WILD MASSIVE, BATTLE OF THE LINGUIST MAGES, and YOUR FAVORITE BAND CANNOT SAVE YOU.
