Classic alternative rock albums meet silent movies in new series

As I delve into the captivating world of “Silents Synced,” I find myself utterly enthralled by this innovative approach to music and cinema. Having grown up in the era of VHS tapes and cassette players, the concept of syncing movies with contemporary music resonates deeply with my own nostalgic experiences.

As a dedicated cinephile, I must say there’s something eerily captivating about that count who has an unusual fondness for sipping on the red stuff. Just like many iconic horror antagonists that came after him, he seems to have mastered the art of defying death.

The classic vampire movie “Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror,” directed by F.W. Murnau, is being revitalized for the 21st century – it’s coming back to cinemas this fall with Radiohead’s atmospheric albums “Kid A” and “Amnesiac” replacing its original orchestral classical score. Due to loss, most people are unfamiliar with Hans Erdmann’s original composition; subsequent screenings either expanded upon the surviving parts or created new orchestral scores instead.

The classic, unofficial 1922 adaptation of “Dracula,” now free for public use, has served as a creative spark for filmmakers for over a century. Notable adaptations include Werner Herzog’s “Nosferatu the Vampyre” from 1979, E. Elias Merhige’s 2000 film “Shadow of the Vampire” starring Willem Dafoe, and Robert Eggers’ forthcoming take on “Nosferatu.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that my new venture, “Silents Synced,” is here! This unique series blends the timeless charm of silent films with the pulsating energy of alternative rock. First up, we’ve got the iconic “Nosferatu” reimagined with a Radiohead twist. Following this, we have Buster Keaton’s masterpiece, “Sherlock Jr.,” synced to REM’s “Monster” and “New Adventures in Hi Fi.” We also have other films that will groove to the tunes of Pearl Jam, They Might Be Giants, the Pixies, and Amon Tobin. And before you ask, yes, we’ve got a Charlie Chaplin short to kick things off, backed by music from Girls Against Boys! Get ready for a cinematic experience like never before!

As a dedicated cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that “Silents Synced” is making its grand debut this coming Saturday at the American Cinematheque’s Los Feliz Theatre. Furthermore, the classic film “Nosferatu” will be screened at the Gardena Cinema on September 25th, with two additional showings scheduled in October. The nationwide release of this series is set to hit over 200 theaters on October 4th!

The project was conceived by Josh Frank, a creative soul who has penned plays, books on music, managed, and programmed independent cinemas in Austin, Texas. He describes it as the embodiment of all his creative endeavors. The underlying concept revolves around exploring different ways to present beloved tunes. It’s about the artistry of staging a performance for an audience, drawing upon his passions – music and innovating storytelling.

Frank came up with this concept about two decades ago, as he listened to Nine Inch Nails’ album “The Fragile” and watched Fritz Lang’s 1927 silent film “Metropolis.” (The intriguing link between rock music and old films can be traced back to the 1990s when fans of Pink Floyd discovered a strange correlation when “Dark Side of the Moon” was synced with “The Wizard of Oz.”).

Reflecting back, their chemistry was undeniably flawless, yet as I penned my initial literary endeavor – a tale about the Pixies – I found myself woefully inexperienced in translating that harmony onto the page. Over the years, I’ve continued to craft stories, but 2009 marked a significant shift when I opened Blue Starlite, a quaint drive-in nestled in an Austin alleyway. In time, I expanded with another location and played a role in revitalizing an independent cinema on the city’s eastern side.

At the start of the pandemic, when his drive-in was the sole movie theater in Austin, Frank struggled to relax at night and often stayed awake until sunrise as his family slept. He revisited his old daydreams, now equipped with fresh insights.

He shares, “At this point, I had an audience and knew how to manage a cinema, but I also recognized what independent cinemas were missing. Furthermore, I was familiar with the music industry to such an extent that I could propose an unconventional approach to the bands, their management, and record labels, explaining why my idea was unique.

Initially, Frank would embark on his day by watching multiple silent films in succession, followed by listening to his preferred albums the next day. He pondered which songs could complement specific movies. Afterward, he’d experiment with his ideas. “There were many instances where it worked until the second or third song and then stopped, but once a month, it would just click, and it was incredibly thrilling,” he reminisces.

Frank felt it would be “sacrilege” to cut into the film itself but that the subtitles were left on screen for way too long — “people read pretty fast these days and you don’t need 30 seconds of the word ‘Help!’” — so he made nips and tucks to fit movie and music together. And eventually, he decided he didn’t have to find entire albums that fit perfectly, and could mix and match songs from each artist’s catalog. “Each movie is synced differently and that’s exciting,” Frank says.

Frank, who equates the experience to him seeing the Pink Floyd Laser Light Show as a teen, loves the movies but is driven at least equally by his passion for music. “When I find the right album that pairs with the movie, something magical [happens] that creates a whole new context for the music and for the movie,” he says. “This music you’ve been listening to for 20 years, you suddenly have the same excitement the first time you heard it. When I put Radiohead up against ‘Nosferatu,’ there were many moments throughout where I got goosebumps.”

Initially, the creator intends for his debut series to feature music that resonates with his generation, such as David Bowie or Pink Floyd. However, he traces his roots back to Generation X and grew up immersed in this particular music scene. Interestingly, even though these bands might not typically appeal to older listeners like his parents or in-laws, they’ve expressed appreciation for the songs when incorporated into the movie context.

It turned out unexpectedly simple for him to convince most bands and their managers to join his cause. He mentioned that he had never received a response so promptly, even though The Cure and Nine Inch Nails were not immediately available due to prior commitments. However, he was pleasantly surprised when the bands he admired since he was 16, said they understood his vision and approved of it. This was quite exciting for him.

The most challenging aspect turned out to be negotiating music licensing agreements. Notably, this was difficult as some record labels lack creativity and were only focused on setting exorbitant prices. He recalls a particularly beautiful collaboration with the Smashing Pumpkins on ‘Sunrise.’ A few labels demanded amounts that equaled the cost of producing a full-length Hollywood film, merely because his request for two albums was unusual, rather than just one song.

In an email, R.E.M.’s manager Bertis Downs mentioned that the band members were avid Buster Keaton fans long before this unusual idea arose. He further added that everyone in the group appreciates the peculiar harmony between their music and the movies.

Music plays a significant role in Frank’s business strategy too. In his own words, “I aim to attract music enthusiasts since I believe that film aficionados are naturally drawn to us. Let’s broaden our customer base and encourage others to explore the world of cinema,” he explains.

It’s significant because Frank is equally enthusiastic about assisting his fellow workers nationwide who are striving to maintain independent cinemas amid the streaming era and shrinking theatrical windows. As he states, “Since the pandemic, these theaters have been battling, and I wanted to offer something exclusive for them.” His project, “Silents Synced,” is licensed to theaters for a year without streaming prior to that. He envisions that if a theater experiences success with a specific film, it will then schedule it as a late-night movie to boost its earnings and attract repeat viewers.

We’re intentionally simplifying it so that it might become something fun and routine for children to engage in during the night, similar to my experiences with ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show.’

The reaction has been highly energetic and enthusiastic. As stated by American Cinematheque programmer Imani Davis, this excitement will motivate audiences to return to movie theaters. Furthermore, since the theater is located in a vibrant, music-oriented neighborhood, she anticipates a large turnout of music enthusiasts.

As a cinephile with a passionate fanbase for all things horrifying, I’m thrilled to kick off our new venture with the classic “Nosferatu.” Being part of a family that has long been associated with Gardena, I see this as an opportunity to tap into my extensive horror audience.

1) Frank’s enthusiasm lies in backing theater owners, but he’s equally elated about his own project. “I admire those who work hard and strive to innovate,” Kim mentions. “I intend to watch all the movies by Josh.

Read More

• USD ISK PREDICTION
• GBP MYR PREDICTION
• UNIBOT PREDICTION. UNIBOT cryptocurrency
• PSP PREDICTION. PSP cryptocurrency
• JPY VND PREDICTION
• GENE PREDICTION. GENE cryptocurrency
• NFAI PREDICTION. NFAI cryptocurrency
• EUR HUF PREDICTION
• CWAR PREDICTION. CWAR cryptocurrency
• EUR RUB PREDICTION

2024-09-19 13:32