HHF/B&B Newsletter - PUNK EIGA, BEVERLY HILLS WITCHES, INDIE CINEMAS and more
Feb 23, 2024 7:00 pm
PUNK EIGA, BEVERLY HILLS WITCHES, INDIE CINEMAS and more
Hi ,
Here we are with our 3rd fun and action-packed NEWSLETTER. So thanks for sticking with us so far. We have some awesome festival venue news in the coming months, but for now let's get on with the latest genre news...
PUNK EIGA WOMEN - ADVENTURES IN TOKYO
From our TOKYO correspondent, AYUMU ODA.
I'm standing in a small apartment, deep in a suburb of Tokyo. Two actresses disrobe in front of a small film crew. But this isn't pornography. The actresses have an important, dialogue heavy scene to finish. The scene is over in one perfect take. The director nods approval. And immediately this well-oiled machine moves to the next set-up. The director is female. And this is the world of Japanese PINK EIGA - PINK FILM.
YUMI YOSHIYUKI (B&B Film Festival 2010 Honoree & Award Winner) is the last remaining female PINK director in this male-dominated business. But the times are changing and PINK EIGA wants to attract a younger, female audience. It's definitely her time to shine.
We're on location for the latest film written and directed by PINK industry veteran YOSHIYUKI and starring NOZOMI HAZUKI & AYAKO KANO. YUMI is also the producer, but in the PINK world you never credit yourself as such on screen. There's a punk ethic to most PINK productions, and ego's are left at home. This is NOT Hollywood.
So what is PINK EIGA? It's not porn. It's erotic entertainment. Made exclusively for the Japanese market since the 1960s and independently produced & distributed to their own chain of theaters. Each film can be any genre - such as the AWARD WINNING PINK horror classic TWILIGHT DINNER starring YOSHIYUKI - the only unifying trait is that they all have to feature a series of erotic scenes. Porn's raison d'être is the sex scene, PINK'S is the drama. Big difference.
The budgets are low, very low and the crews are lean and talented. "Every PINK film I do is shot in 3 days. Post production, editing and scoring, is completed in 3 weeks" explains YOSHIYUKI. “And until very recently all were made on 35mm. Pretty cool.”
"I'm the scriptwriter, line producer and director. The rest of the crew is made up of 2 assistant directors, 1 DP, 2 camera assistants and 1 sound recordist. That's it." But don't let that fool you. The cinematic end results often outshine even big budget Hollywood - such is the efficiency and expertise of these dedicated and talented individuals.
YOSHIYUKI, a former PINK actress herself of over 100 films, has done the impossible, and made a career for herself in this, the most unlikely of female-friendly industries. This film was made not only for the regular PINK film audience (mostly male) but also for a female audience. “I realized what I should do is not only make movies but also help women who have sex or gender problems in this country."
To date she's directed over 40 PINK films since 1996. So how does she see the future for women working both in front of and behind the cameras in the PINK industry? "I hope more actresses become PINK directors like me. Actresses understand naturalistic acting and can communicate their ideas better and clearer. They would make wonderful directors." She pauses, “I’m definitely confident about the future.”
LA'S HIDDEN GEM - THE WITCH'S HOUSE
Here's the 2nd of what promises to be a series showcasing some of LA's hidden cultural and artistic gems. On the corner of Walden Drive and Carmelita Avenue, in the heart of Beverly Hills, is something that looks decidedly like a TIM BURTON wet dream come to life. A building that's at odds with it's surroundings for sure. It's a picture perfect fairytale house, known officially as the SPADENA HOUSE, but to Angelenos simply as THE WITCH'S HOUSE.
Originally built in 1921 by legendary art directer HARRY OLIVER (who was a major force in the Hollywood STORYBOOK style). Then 5 years later it was moved from its original home at IRVIN WILLAT'S Culver City film studio to its present location.
After the move the building was converted from an office into a home. For a while it fell into disrepair. But in recent years, the new owner, MICHAEL LIBOW, has restored it to it's original glory - possibly even better! Just take a look at the photos - it's a true gem! And if it looks familiar you may have seen it in one of many films that showcased its gorgeous storybook curves - incl. CLUELESS (1995). Although many people think it was also featured in HOCUS POCUS (1993) it wasn't - the Sanderson Sisters’ cottage was filmed entirely on a soundstage. I've also heard it's featured in both ROGER CORMAN'S THE UNDEAD (1957), and TONY RICHARDSON'S THE LOVED ONE (1965), but I've yet to have this confirmed. Love to hear if you've seen it in any others.
FUN AROUND TOWN
If you missed our last newsletter, singing the praises of family-run independent theater THE GARDENA CINEMA, do check it out. They have so many great film events and movies screenings.
Including the Los Angeles premiere of SPIRIT RISER (2024) (NR) (Fri. 4/26) 7:00 pm (Advanced $12/At Door $15), directed by DYLAN MARS GREENBERG. Don't know a great deal about this production but it's described as "A genre-bending fantasy with elements of horror, comedy, action, surrealism, and martial arts." So it sounds right up our street.
Sunday March 24 - THE GREAT FILM PANEL - Monthly Screening & Panel Discussion By Great Filmmakers and Community
Friday April 26 - SPIRIT RISER
AND FINALLY …
B&B MAGAZINE - BACK ISSUES
Don’t forget there are back issues of our beautiful, coffee table art & culture B&B magazine available online.
Check then out here:
https://www.magcloud.com/browse/magazine/1652452
FESTIVAL 'EARLY BIRD' PRICING ENDS SOON!
We're still accepting discounted EARLY BIRD submissions for both our 2024 festivals through FILMFREEWAY. HHF "Early Bird" pricing till Feb. 29, and B&B "Early Bird" till March 31st.
https://filmfreeway.com/BoobsandBlood
https://filmfreeway.com/HollywoodHorrorfest
So spread the word and get your friends to subscribe to this essential and always fun newsletter.
That's it for now. I'm still busy working on the score and foley work for my feature film THE WHISPERERS. Hope to have some words for you on that in a couple of weeks. We'll also be looking at the fabulous world of Super 8mm feature film collecting, and taking a glimpse at our very own SUPER 8 CINE SOCIETY. But more on all that in our next Newsletter. If you have any feedback or questions, just reach out.
Cheers,
Miles
Festival Founder/Director
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