From: Tony Conrad (email suppressed)
Date: Fri May 09 2008 - 08:25:01 PDT
Hi Jerry------
Thanks for your clarifications. As you know, all of us are concerned with the durability of the Smith legacy, and this has led to differing
views, various levels of contestation, and (as well) to much individual commitment. For instance, I just spent much of the day
yesterday polishing a great 8-minute segment of an hour-long audio rant that Jack extemporized about 45 years ago, to play at Other
Music next Wednesday.
It's been difficult to stay friendly with everyone who has participated in Jack Smith's artistic orbit. But maybe that's a heritage of his
own sometimes personally trying character.
Best,
-----t0ny
On Thu May 8 14:24 , Jerry Tartaglia <email suppressed> sent:
>Hi Tony,
>
>Nice to hear from you... er.. read your text -and, BTW, looking forward to Branden's book; he did an insightful presentation in
Antwerp last year.
>
>I wouldn't worry too much about Jack's work suffering the same fate at Montez' filmic wonders: she didn't have Frameworks.
>
>Plaster Foundation had a few sets of prints in circulation in Europe and the U.S. but there were several events that led to the decision
to remove them.
>
>First, Surrogate's Court ruled that Jack's Sister owns the material and she is in the process of selling it. I'm sure the new owners are
going to be so very concerned with the ideals of underground film as we understood it back when and will do everything possible to
make his work available on celluloid. AND, I'll bet that they would never dream of selling his photographs and art in the secondary art
market, either.
>
>Second, we're being sued for a quarter of million bucks by a production company that (was making??) (made??) a film about Jack and
claimed that we prevented them from completing the film and a "book."
>
>Third, I did my best to keep Jack's work out of the hands of what I consider to be art capitalists. I believe that is what he would have
wanted. I certainly don't mean any of us, who basically have no money or power - I mean the real fame-hungry pigs of the world who
lie with their straight faces, betray their friends, invest millions of dollars in art in order to make back millions more, while most of the
artist-laborers live on meager means - I had to chuckle when some frameworkers accused me of making a fortune off of the
restoration - amazing actually, what people will say and do for a few minutes of fame in some crappy documentary film that no one
even sees anymore. I hope that they can live with the fact that they helped to encourage the real culprits in this story: a few roaches
from the sewers of Atlantis who have ensured the Destruction of Jack Smith. A lot of money is about to be made.
>
>
>I should stop - I'm ranting...sorry I can't elaborate any further - this is what happens when attornies become involved.
>
>I hope Brooklyn is treating you well. See you around one of these years.
>
>Jerry T.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Tony Conrad email suppressed>
>>Sent: May 8, 2008 10:13 AM
>>To: email suppressed
>>Subject: Re: Flaming Creatures
>>
>>Hi Jerry--------
>>
>>Greetings from Brooklyn!
>>
>>I am wondering why Jack's work should not be somewhat more widely available at this point. For instance, we know that Flaming
>>Creatures is online for viewing at UBU; Jack would shit if he knew that his work has suffered the fate of Montez's flix. There ought
to
>>be options for renting it in 16.
>>
>>In addition to the rental income, I know there were benefit screenings to produce prints. Is there a shortage of prints, or of funds
for
>>prints?
>>
>>Best wishes!
>>
>>-------t0ny
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>On Thu May 8 7:33 , Jerry Tartaglia email suppressed> sent:
>>
>>>
>>>Re: Flaming Creatures
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>The films of Jack Smith are not available for
>>>rental in Europe. The prints that are at the FDK are not for rent. They are
>>>study prints. The NY Filmmakers Co-op and Canyon Cinema are the only sources for
>>>16mm rental.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Jerry Tartaglia
>>> "avarus non
>>>implebitur"
>>>Covetousness is never satisfied.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Tony Conrad 716-400-8738
>>
>>Department of Media Study, Center for the Arts 231, University at Buffalo 14260
>>
>>190 Bedford Av, Ste 126
>>Brklyn NY 11211
>>
>>
>>__________________________________________________________________
>>For info on FrameWorks, contact Pip Chodorov at email suppressed>.
>
>
>__________________________________________________________________
>For info on FrameWorks, contact Pip Chodorov at email suppressed>.
>
>
Tony Conrad 716-400-8738
Department of Media Study, Center for the Arts 231, University at Buffalo 14260
190 Bedford Av, Ste 126
Brklyn NY 11211
__________________________________________________________________
For info on FrameWorks, contact Pip Chodorov at <email suppressed>.