12ozProphet

This Friday kicks off NYC’s first film festival dedicated to the graffiti writing experience. I will be hosting the opening night along with Lava 1&2 so if you can come up please do. We will be screening the classic film, Stations of the Elevated. It will be special to watch it on a large screen. More info below. Address is at the bottom of the schedule.

Kings of the City at the Maysles Cinema
May 1st - May 27th

(New York City, April 22nd, 2009) - Throughout the month of May, The Maysles Cinema presents “Kings of the City,” a selection of rare and classic documentaries that examine the emergence of graffiti as an art form and culture in New York City, and its influence on European culture and back again.  The series will include a month long Graffiti Art gallery (all sales go to the Graffiti Art education non-profit, “The Walls Belong to Us.”)

In addition to the sixteen films that will be screened throughout “Kings of the City,” many NYC graffiti pioneers, such as KET ONE, Carlos “Mare 139” Rodriguez, and the legendary Tats Cru will be on hand to present screenings and contextualize the rise of graffiti culture from a subversive act to an international movement.  On Friday, May 1st, Manfred Kircheimer, director of the cult classic Stations of the Elevated (1980),will be on hand to discuss his impressionistic study in motion of the graffiti tattooing of New York City subway trains in his legendary film that is set to the music of the jazz great, Charlie Mingus.

- The Maysles Cinema: The Best Spot for Film Geeks
“For a $7 suggested donation per screening, you can catch rarely seen documentaries, often followed by discussions and/or appearances by the filmmakers.  What it lacks in stadium seating and surround sound, it makes up in sheer character and inventive programming.”
    - New York Magazine (2009 Best of New York)

Please direct all press, requests for reservations, and series passes to (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Kings of the City:  Graffiti Film Series Schedule

Friday, May 1st
7pm
KET ONE Presents:
The Master Class with Straight Man aka Lava One and Two
Dream City
Dir. Steve Siegel, 1986, 7 min.
Excerpts from Steve Siegel’s Dream City with loads of trains from the good old days.

Stations of the Elevated:
Dir. Manfred Kirchheimer, 1980, 45 min.
Director Manfred Kirchheimer presents his cult classic art film with music by Charles Mingus.
Manfred Kirchheimer will be present for Q&A immediately following the screening.

James Top: Presentation on the People’s Wall in Harlem

Opening Cocktail Reception following Q&A.

Saturday, May 2nd
3:00 pm
Stylewars
Dir. Tony Silver, 1984, 70 min.

All City
Dir. Henry Chalfant, 1985, 16 min.

From Here to Canarsie
Dir. Henry Chalfant, 1987, 21 min.
Henry Chalfant has been one the most energetic documentarians of New York graffiti over the years. Henry will be available for book signings and will also present a slideshow with unpublished photos from the 80s. Graffiti artist Skeme’s unforgettable mom, Barbara Andalcio, from the film Stylewars and former Transit Police officer Conrad Lesnewski of Hickey & Ski fame will also be available for the q&a.

Henry Chalfant has been one the most energetic documentarians of New York graffiti over the years. Henry will be available for book signings and will also present a slideshow with unpublished photos from the 80s. Graffiti artist Skeme’s unforgettable mom, Barbara Andalcio, from the film Stylewars and former Transit Police officer Conrad Lesnewski of Hickey & Ski fame will also be available for the q&a.

7:00pm
Tats Cru Presents:
Kings of Broadway
Dir. Chris “Freedom” Pape, 1998, 22 min.
In the 80s while some NYC writers went the gallery route other writers were kinging the legendary Broadway lines. This film tells the story of the latter and features the writers Ali, Bama, Crash, Ket, Part, Stan 153, Terror 161 and Zephyr.

Bombin’
Dir. Dick Fontaine, 1987, 58 min.
Join Brim from Tats Cru as he crosses the Atlantic to get up. This rarely seen film also includes Bio from Tats Crew as well as the musician Goldie from the UK. Tats Cru, also known as “the Mural Kings,” is a Bronx based crew of prominent writers that made the transition from trains to commissioned walls.

Wednesday, May 6th
7:00pm
Presented by Carlos “Mare 139” Rodriguez
Graffiti Post Graffiti
Dir. Paul Tschinkel, 1984, 26 min.
This lesser known film deals with the initial interest from the established art scene in graffiti. The film features art dealers Sidney Janis and Tony Shafrazi and artists like Crash, Lady Pink, Fab 5 Freddie, Jean-Michel Basquiat among others.

Inside Outside
Dir. Andreas Johnson and Nis Boye Rasmussen, 2005, 57 min.
Inside Outside presents some key figures from the current graffiti inspired street art scene including Zevs from Paris, Swoon, KR and Earsnot from NYC, Ron English from Jersey City, Adam & Itso from Sweden and Denmark, and and Os Gemeos and Pigmeus from Sao Paulo.

They Come At Night
Dir. Volker Sattel and Mario Sentrup, 2008, 30 min.
In a sleepy German town some of the most renowned street artists are secretly brought together by a corporate sponsor to create illegal public installations. Featured in this film are Mare 139, Os Gemeos and Nina, JR, Blu, Zevs, Brom, Dr. Innocent, Martha Cooper, Akim One, Mr. Horse, Nixfiti, Zasd, Kami, Sasu.

Wednesday, May 13th
7:00pm
Cope 2 Presents:
Cope 2 Documentary Preview
Dir. Carl Weston & Sascha Jenkins, 2009, 15 min.
See a preview of this work in progress on Bronx legend Cope 2 from the team behind the infamous “Video Graff” series.

Writers
Dir. Resistance Films, 2004, 90 min.
This film tells the story of the Parisian graffiti scene from 1983-2003. The film includes interviews with Henry Chalfant, Futura 2000, Seen UA, Mode 2, JonOne, Bando CTK among many other legendary French writers.

Wednesday, May 20th
7:00pm
Forbidden Rebels
1983, 29 min.
A documentary on the New York scene made in 1983 featuring Dez aka DJ Kay Slay, Sharp, Delta, Spin and G-Man. With bombed trains for days.

Kroonjuwelen
Dir. Stunnedfilm, 2006, 76 min.
The Dutch documentary Kroonjuwelen tells the story of one of the oldest and most important graffiti scenes in Europe. Some of the writers featured are Quik from New York and Delta, Shoe, Zap and High.

Wednesday, May 27th
7:00pm
Tunnel Vision
Dir. Reid van Renesse, 2003, 2 min.
This short film with footage shot in 1983 shows Zephyr, Min One and Revolt painting a wall. Reid van Renesse will be present for the q&a.

Spraymasters
Dir. Manfred Kirchheimer, 2008, 85 min.
Spraymasters follows up on some legendary writers from the 70s and 80s. The film includes Lady Pink, Lee, Futura 2000 and Zephyr and lots and lots of trains.
Manfred Kirchheimer will be present for post screening discussion.

http://www.mayslesinstitute.org

Maysles Cinema | 343 Lenox Ave/ Malcolm X Blvd. | New York | NY | 12345