Kaffeine Buzz
reviews independent and foreign films,
in addition to reporting the latest buzz behind
Colorado's film festivals.
DIRECTOR jON reiss releases
NEW GRAFFITI DOCUMENTARY, "BOMB iT"
More than ever, graffiti is a point of contention
in most cities. And not just here in the U.S.;
in cities across the world. It’s also a
form of art built on tenacity. Like water, if
it is displaced in one area, it just flows to
another place, and there’s not stopping
it. Ask anyone with a clue.
In dedication to the art and the people who make
it, “Bomb It” is a global documentary
that continues the efforts of graffiti feature
films and documentaries that came before it (some
factual and fantastic, others more parody than
feature film). Featuring interviews and history
lessons from graffiti elders to current day bombers,
"Bomb It" delves into the minds and
works of Cornbread, Lady Pink, KRS One, Shepard
Fairey, Brazilian bombing twin brothers Os Gemeos,
Mear One, Terrible T-KID 170, Taki 183, Zephyr,
Tribe, Tats Cru, Chaz Bojorquez, Robbie Conal,
Ron English, Cope 2, Daim, Revs, Blek Le Rat,
Very One, Stay High 149, Tracy 168, KET, Chino,
Revok, Pez, Sixe, Zezao, Faith 47 and many, many
more (see http://bombit-themovie.com/artists/default.html
for full list of artists interviewed).
Director Jon Reiss also included outspoken graffiti
critic, NYC Councilman Peter Vallone Jr., in the
mix (I’m anticipating some “boo”
reactions from the audience), combining footage
of graffiti hot spots in cities across five continents,
including London, Paris, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Barcelona,
Berlin, Cape Town, São Paulo, Tokyo, New
York and Los Angeles.
The film also addresses the social and political
issues involved in graffiti, asking: Who has the
right to express themselves? What is a canvas?
Where should art take place? If public space is
a forum for discussion, which voices will be heard?
Tapping into his musical connections, which started
“back in the day” with his San Francisco
performance group Survival Research Laboratories,
the film’s soundtrack features Immortal
Technique, Big Syphe, Disco D, Donald Byrd, Spank
Rock, Virgin Tears vs Dave The Hustler, and Mathematics.
Some may know Reiss from his debut feature-length
documentary, "Better Living Through Circuitry,"
which focused on San Francisco’s rave culture,
but his resume also includes a number of music
videos, including the 1992 Nine Inch Nail video
for “Happiness in Slavery,” plus a
feature film, “Cleopatra’s Second
Husband.”
With U.S. theatrical release dates starting in
the spring of 2008 and the worldwide premier at
this year’s 2007 Tribeca Film Festival,
"Bomb It" continues its film festival
journey in cities around the globe, from Helsinki,
Calgary, Berlin and Ireland, to Sao Paulo, Lisbon,
Leeds, London, Oslo and the Olympia Film Festival
earlier this month.
Stay tuned for more information on the Denver
screening of “Bomb It,” which comes
into town in April of 2008.
