Kristian Knutsen
Wis-Kino co-directors Sam Lawson and Josh Klessig introduce the Fall Kabaret at Westgate Art Cinemas.
The organizers of Kabaret at several locations around downtown Madison since launching in 2002, organizers of the short filmmaking salon moved this year's party to Westgate Art Cinemas.
Over a dozen films created over the course of the two-day Kabaret premiered at the west side movie theater on Saturday October, 13. This was only one of several new initiatives at the west side movie theater, which has been experimenting with live stand-up comedy and weekend screenings of cult classics to compete for viewers with Sundance Cinemas in Madison's increasingly crowded art-house market.
"Amazing, that is all I have to say," declared Wis-Kino co-director Josh Klessig after the screening. "We had a great time, and the turnout was quite good as well. Many people there were new to WisKino, so I sincerely hope that they had a good time and we'll see them again."
This gathering was the bookend to a process that started with a kickoff screening the previous Thursday at the minute-by-minute account by Emily Mills.
"It's fun to see the fruits of the efforts of everyone from veterans to first-time filmmakers,' she concluded.
"They were all entertaining," concurred Klessig. "Some (most) were funny, some were cute, some were strange and obtuse."
A list and brief descriptions of the films created for the Wis-Kino Fall 2007 Kabaret follows, several of which are available online for viewing:
- When Brothers Fight by Irene's Night Out by Jacalyn Schultz
First one, then a pair of bowlers find themselves rolling a string of gutter balls in this short. Frustrated over their mutual difficulties in knocking down pins, they get to talking and share stories about recent loses each has been facing in their lives.
- I, Butterfly by Mr. History by Craig Knitt
Mike Trude, a.k.a. the History Dude, is back in action in this latest episode of his snarkarific television program covering some of the lesser known occurrences in our past. In this episode focusing on World War II, the garrulous British host discusses 'Project Down the Gutter," an American task force challenged with taking down a seemingly unstoppable Nazi flying ace equipped with robot and zombie bombs.
- The Birthday by Tona Williams
Stop-motion animation brings to life an impromptu birthday celebration for a figurine in this film. The doll in the house receives a greetings blowing in on a breeze, followed by a present containing an oversized treasure, before disappearing into the ether. - Truce (3 times) by Alex Grant
A game of jacks, a pair of talking sock puppets, a knife-throwing circus act, and a ball rolling down a gutter comprise a quartet of scenes in this short, set to music by American Draft. - A Tribute by Saul Mandel A sequence of poetic verses reveals itself to be a mock pitch for Old Navy sweaters in this short.
- Lightweight by Heidi Johnson The titular character of this film is a restless bowling ball, which escapes from a late-nite game amidst black-lit lanes to roll around downtown Madison on its own volition. It eventually finds its way to the buzzing bar of a local tavern and partakes in a bit too much for its own good. Where does it end up?
- My Brain Down the Gutter by Toby A succession of clocks counts down to oblivion for the disembodied head in this short.
- Self-Expression No. 2 by Shahin Izadi
The expressions of the first short are reflected upon in this second of the pair, as the camera focuses upon a man discussing his experiences by the gutter. - Two Girl Minimum by play-by-play account of its making written by Emily Mills.
This film combining live action and animation drew a big round of applause from the audience with its sad tale about unwanted pets and the families they find on their own after being discarded down the gutter.
- Down The Gutter by Emilio Tozzi
A group of animated soldiers finds itself in big trouble in this film, as their boxed into their frozen bunker by an assaulting force with greater firepower and the most unexpected of snafus. - Celebrity Bric-a-Brac Theatre: The Story of Thanksgiving by
The final regular monthly Wis-Kino screening of the year will be held at the Escape Java Joint & Art Gallery on Willy Street on Sunday, November 18. The theme will be "things that don't exist," and the DVDs will start spinning at 7 p.m. in the back room of the coffeehouse. This will be followed with a special screening at the Mercury Lounge on Saturday, December 15, when Wis-Kino will present a retrospective of its member's favorite entries submitted over the course of 2007.
