Blank City, Celine Danhier’s documentary on the downtown independent cinema scene in the 1970s and 1980s, begins its run at the IFC Center Wednesday after Tuesday night’s premiere. (You can read more about the film’s opening in the next edition of the Eight-Day Week on Wednesday.) Fab Five Freddy, the so-called “hip-hop historian” and sometime actor (Wild Style, Downtown 81) on the downtown scene will be in attendance Tuesday night–and plays a role in the film’s documentation of cult classics.
“Back in those times, there was no cable, no DVD, VHS hadn’t started,” said Freddy. “If you missed the few screenings–that was it. Her movie provides you glimpses of a lot.” Ms. Danhier excavated some little-seen films for the viewer’s delectation, though only in short clips; Freddy noted that Eric Mitchell (the Underground U.S.A. director) had chosen not to participate but recanted once he saw how exhaustive Ms. Danhier’s research had grown. For members of the scene, though, these films were as big as blockbusters: “Glenn O’Brien’s film Downtown 81–that was the big mega feature… When those things would come out, everybody would gather and see each other.”
Who will go see Blank City–besides the premiere crowd? (Celeb-spotters can see 1980s enfants terribles John Waters and Jim Jarmusch as well as Freddy himself Tuesday night.) Freddy hopes young folks, who can make films themselves easily, will get inspired: “It’s just great, really young heads, under 30, under 25 come up to me [after his appearance in a 2010 documentary on Jean-Michel Basquiat]… When they see these things and get a more indepth look, it piques their curiosity. Hopefully the kids will watch it and go make better stuff.”
ddaddario@observer.com :: @DPD_
