Koji Wakamatsu: Sexual politics and political sex

Red Crime (Koji Wakamatsu)

audio Behind the Pink Curtain author Jasper Sharp talks about the late Kôji Wakamatsu, one of the most radical and provocative filmmakers of post-war Japan, and explains the context of the soft porn industry and the period of social and political unrest in which his work developed.

First broadcast on Resonance FM 104.4 on Friday 21 December 2012.

Michael Apted and Cory McAbee: From cradle to…

Crazy and Thief

audio Alex Fitch talks to two directors about their projects, which capture visions of childhood and how that progresses into adulthood. In a Q&A recorded at SCI-FI-LONDON: EAST, Alex chats to Cory McAbee, creator of SF musicals The American Astronaut and Stingray Sam, about his latest film Crazy and Thief – a semi-improvised drama that documents the director’s children as they journey across New York looking for stars, again scored by his band, The Billy Nayer Show. McAbee discusses his change in direction for this project and the difficulties of directing children, and performs a song from the soundtrack. Also, Alex discusses 56Up with Michael Apted, the latest instalment of his 7Up series, which has charted the lives of 14 children from diverse socio-economic backgrounds since the age of 7. Apted also discusses his involvement with another serial that has reached its 50th anniversary as the director recalls his experience of directing the Bond movie The World Is Not Enough.

Visit www.archive.org for more info and formats.

Podcast produced by Alex Fitch.

Spencer Hickman on Death Waltz Records

Death Waltz logo

audio Spencer Hickman, founder of Death Waltz Records, specialising in cult film soundtracks on limited coloured vinyl with exclusive new artwork, talks to Virginie Sélavy about his label and plays tracks from his releases, which include Halloween II and III, Zombie Flesh Eaters, Donnie Darko and Let the Right One In, and music that has influenced him.

First broadcast on Resonance FM 104.4 on Monday 3 December 2012.

Josh Saco on Cigarette Burns

Pet Sematary

I’M READY FOR MY CLOSE-UP, Friday 16 November, 5-5:30pm, Resonance 104.4 FM

Virginie Sélavy talks to Josh Saco, the man behind Cigarette Burns, which organises screenings of cult films in various London venues. Past screenings have included Dario Argento’s Suspiria, Abel Ferrara’s revenge thriller Ms 45, Harry K&#252mel’s Euro lesbian vampire movie Daughters of Darkness, disturbing 70s Spanish chiller Who Can Kill a Child? as well as a Female Convict Scorpion all-nighter. Cigarette Burns also produced the play The Hallowe’en Sessions, which was the subject of last month’s show. Their next event is a late night screening of Mary Lambert’s Pet Sematary (1989), adapted from Stephen King, on Friday 16 November at the Rio Cinema in Dalston.

For more information please go to cigaretteburns.com or the Rio website.

Kim Newman and Sean Hogan on The Hallowe’en Sessions

The Hallowe’en Sessions poster

audio Acclaimed writer Kim Newman and director Sean Hogan (The Devil’s Business) talk to Virginie Sélavy about their exciting new project, the horror play The Hallowe’en Sessions. A group of mental patients gather for a therapy session to each recount the terrifying events that caused them to lose their minds. But is their mysterious therapist all she appears to be, and will her course of treatment prove to be kill or cure?

The Hallowe’en Sessions is presented by Cigarette Burns and an award-winning team of horror/fantasy creators. Writers Kim Newman (Anno Dracula, Moriarty: The Hound of the D’Urbervilles), Stephen Volk (The Awakening, Ghostwatch), Anne Billson (Suckers, Stiff Lips) Paul Mcauley (Fairyland, The Quiet War Trilogy) snd Maura Mchugh (Jennifer Wilde, Roisin Dubh) take you on a head trip through the darkest recesses of the human psyche, where no one – least of all the audience – escapes with their nerves or sanity intact.

The Hallowe’en Sessions play at the Leicester Square Theatre from 29 October to 3 November. Tickets available from the Leicester Square Theatre website. Join the Facebook event.

First broadcast on Resonance FM 104.4 on Friday 19 October 2012. For more info and formats to stream/download, visit www.archive.org.

Watch the trailer:

Jess Franco, King of Euro-trash

Vampyros Lesbos

I’M READY FOR MY CLOSE-UP, Friday 21 September, 5-5:30pm, Resonance 104.4 FM

Justin Harries of the FilmBar70 film club talks to Virginie Sélavy about king of Spanish exploitation Jess Franco. FilmBar70 will screen Franco’s hypnotic, stylish Vampyros Lesbos (1971), starring smouldering screen siren Soledad Miranda, as part of their Scala Beyond Eurotrash all-nighter on Saturday 22 September at the Roxy Bar and Screen.

Electric Sheep and Strange Attractor Press also celebrate Jess Franco as part of Scala Beyond with a screening of The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein (1972) accompanied by a talk with writer Stephen Thrower on Wednesday 19 September at the Horse Hospital.

Scala Beyond is a 6-week nationwide film season dedicated to all forms of cinema exhibition that runs from 8 August to 29 September 2012.

Philosophy, Murder and Forgotten TV series

Edgar Wallace Mysteries logo

audio Alex Fitch talks to film critic and historian Kim Newman about The Edgar Wallace Mysteries, a series of British B-movies made in the 1960s and subsequently rebranded as a TV series, based on novels by the co-creator of King Kong. Plus: in a Q&A recorded at the Raindance Film Festival, Alex talks to director M.A. Littler about his documentary The Kingdom of Survival, a road movie that explores the current state of scepticism and philosophy in modern America and features interviews with Noam Chomsky, Ramsey Kanaan and Joe Bageant.

The 20th Raindance Film Festival runs from 26 September to 7 October 2012.

For more info and formats to stream/download, visit www.archive.org.

Podcast produced by Alex Fitch

Sean Hogan on The Devil’s Business

The Devil's Business

I’M READY FOR MY CLOSE-UP, Friday 17 August, 5-5:30pm, Resonance 104.4 FM

Director Sean Hogan talks to Virginie Sélavy about his feature The Devil’s Business, a tense, tightly scripted character-driven drama that starts like a crime thriller and ends in occult territory. Among other things, he will explain how he has managed to deliver fully rounded character, excellent performances (Billy Clarke as the hitman delivers a particularly spellbinding monologue while Jonathan Hansler is his chillingly evil victim) and skilfully maintained dramatic tension on a limited budget.

The Devil’s Business premiered at Film4 FrightFest last year and Hogan will also talk about the role of the festival for him and for horror cinema in general.

The Devil’s Business is released in the UK on 17 August 2012 by Metrodome.

Film4 FrightFest the 13th runs from 23 to 27 August at the Empire Cinema in London.

Sean Hogan will also be directing The Hallowe’en Sessions from 29 October to 3 November at the Leicester Square Theatre. A group of mental patients gather for a therapy session to each recount the terrifying events that caused them to lose their minds. But is their mysterious therapist all she appears to be, and will her course of treatment prove to be kill or cure? Cigarette Burns and an award-winning team of horror/fantasy creators join forces to bring you a nightmarish evening filled with primal screams. Writers Kim Newman (ANNO DRACULA, MORIARTY: THE HOUND OF THE D’URBERVILLES), Stephen Volk (THE AWAKENING, GHOSTWATCH), Anne Billson (SUCKERS, STIFF LIPS) Paul McAuley (FAIRYLAND, the QUIET WAR trilogy) and Maura McHugh (JENNIFER WILDE, ROISIN DUBH) take you on a head trip through the darkest recesses of the human psyche, where no one – least of all the audience – escapes with their nerves or sanity intact… Tickets available from the Leicester Square website.

Unreliable Images

Radio Free Albemuth

audio In a pair of Q&As recorded at SCI-FI-LONDON, the London International Science Fiction and Fantastic Film Festival, Alex Fitch talks to director John Simon about his adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s Radio Free Albemuth and to director Berton Pierce and special effects expert Greg Aronowitz about the film Sense of Scale, a documentary on model making in the cinema.

For more info and formats to stream/download, visit www.archive.org.

Podcast produced by Alex Fitch

The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein + guest Stephen Thrower

The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein

The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein + talk

Date: Wednesday 19 September 2012

Doors: 7pm

Venue: Horse Hospital

Address: Colonnade, Bloomsbury, London WC1N 1JD

Price: £7 / £5 concs

Horse Hospital website

WeGotTickets

WeGotTickets concession tickets

As part of Scala Beyond, Electric Sheep and Strange Attractor present Jess Franco’s The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein (La Maldici&#243n de Frankenstein, 1972) + guest Stephen Thrower.

Bizarre even by the exotic standards of Spanish exploitation maestro Jess Franco, The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein is a lurid high point in his monumental filmography. Attempting to summarise the plot will only scramble your mind, but this rich, wild, cross-genre cocktail features a tortured, silver Frankenstein’s monster, the mesmeric Count Cagliostro and his screeching feather-covered birdwoman lover, hordes of undead sadomasochistic zombies, mind control, torture dungeons, beautiful women, beefcake men, gorgeous locations, and a storming soundtrack of free jazz, library music and synth-burble. Bring a spare brain in case yours burns out after this one.

We’re also thrilled to have Stephen Thrower in the house – the author of Beyond Terror, Eyeball and Nightmare USA will talk to Virginie Sélavy and Mark Pilkington about Jess Franco’s life and films as a taster for his new book on the filmmaker, forthcoming from FAB Press.

Scala Beyond is a 6-week nationwide film season dedicated to all forms of cinema exhibition that will run from 8 August to 29 September 2012. Check their Scala Beyond website for the full programme and Facebook and Twitter for updates.

Buy advance tickets from WeGotTickets.

Buy advance concession tickets from WeGotTickets.