What was the starting point or the initial idea for this film?
It all started from an accident. Several years ago, I was thinking about how violent street gangs documented themselves using video. Through my research, I accidentally stumbled across a video link on YouTube which had been tagged as a link to gangs. But the footage to the link had nothing to do gang culture. The link had somehow been mislabeled and I stumbled upon the subjects of my film by opening the wrong the door. But I immediately became transfixed and obsessed with this unique ritualistic practice created by this group of young men in Alabama.
I saw a very personal form of physical expression like a private vaudeville show which had a lot to with the outside world, but at the same time was completely cut off from the real world. Then suddenly a door opened, and I crossed through the barrier of this virtual world and my film Massage The History was born.
Why did you choose for the single screen format in this case?
I was thinking of a pure cinematic experience when I made Massage The History. It's the first film that I've made where I didn't think about a live performance situation with sound to accompany the film with musicians. It exists purely as 35mm short subject documentary film meant to be seen in a movie theater setting.
Can you share an important/funny/moving/surprising anecdote of the making-of this film with us?
Insular worlds always interest me. I can tell you that visiting Alabama is not like anywhere else in America because what I witnessed and what you'll see in my film is a side of American culture that one can only imagine in hallucinations. I still remember the feeling of the intense southern humidity with the non-stop rain which fell every day. My body felt an intense fiery pressure all over and I felt as if I was being microwaved by the heat.
What do you do when not making films?
My brain is always moving and thinking about creating. I do love working in my studio making my drawings. I get very tense and I have horrible nightmares if I can't draw. The drawings somehow stabilize me mentally and generate ideas into my films and sculptural works. New universes are always opening up and expanded for me when I make them. Outside of work, I'm happiest when I'm at home listening to my music library and spending time with my girlfriend Eugenie. Simple things...
What would you like to say to your audience before seeing your film?
If you're pregnant or have weak heart conditions, or other illnesses, it's best to leave the theater.
What project(s) are you working on this year? Could you please tell us something about your future projects?
I'm currently working on several hand-made xerox zines from material extracted from my sketchbooks. There's a couple of sound/audio projects that are also in the works. I'm also back in the studio making new drawings related to Massage The History. In May 2010, I'll have an exhibition opening in New York City which I'm very excited about. And of course, I have several film projects hibernating in my head that I'm hoping to shoot later this year. Stay tuned...