DIY OR DIE: BURN THIS DVD; DVD (2006) Art/Music/Independent DVD It’s a strange thing to say in the title, ‘burn this dvd,’ but it does plug in to the anti establishment ethos at play throughout this 55 minute doco. So fuck the establishment, don’t wait to be discovered, just get your art out there however you can and if they don’t like it, well fuck them too because someone somewhere surely will. With minimum production values filmmaker Michael W Dean armed with a video camera and a bunch of questions seeks out some of his favourite independent American artists to ponder some of the difficulties in creating art outside of the mainstream. Hooking up with counter culture heroes like Lydia Lunch, bassist Mike Watt (Pornos For Pyros/ Minutemen), Ian MacKaye (Fugazi), producer and musician Steve Albini (Shellac), nudie art photographer Richard Kern, Ron Ashton (Stooges) and even Jim Rose (Of Jim Rose Circus Sideshow), Dean not only discusses their motivations for staying outside the mainstream, but some of the nuts and bolts that drive their financial (in) security. As a self help motivational tool for budding artists this film really serves as reality check as many of the artists presented here are working incredibly hard just to keep their heads above water. The message seems to be that if you want cocaine and blowjobs sign to a major label. Just understand that you’ll be made to pick up the soap on repeated occasions, your art will be diluted and you’ll wind up hating yourself in the morning. The artists presented here are incredibly driven though they believe their toils are more than compensated by the fact that they can focus on creating their art and not have to in the most part bother with crappy 9-5 jobs to make ends meet.

PADRE PADRONE (1977); DVD DVD 'Arrow Flims', New Padre Pardone is simply a masterpiece film, by the Taviani brothers.  It tells the story of the coming of age of a young illiterate shepherd who is confronted by the tyranny of his father and the inevitable rebellion that happens when the child becomes a man. This movie which tells the true story of the writer Gavino Ledda has a somewhat universal vibe. The relation between father and son is based on love, authority and violence. More then just a family portrait, Padre Padrone is about society. A story about changes and conflict between generations and mentalities. The movie has some incredibly powerful scenes. The score is composed mainly of traditional Sardinian music, and the Sardinian score is heartbreaking, just like the movie....

REPO MAN (1984); DVD DVD, Rated R, New Repo Man is one of those essential films in the catalogue of must see punk movies. It's essentially a punk science fiction movie and also a completely warped movie.  If you like punk culture movies, this is definitely one to try out. Plus, you get a slamming soundtrack with songs performed by the Stooges, Black Flag, Suicidal Tendencies and the Circle Jerks. The Circle Jerks also appear as the lounge act in the bar.  "Repo Man" may be known as a cult movie, but it deserves more recognition than that. Aside from being a window into the early-'80s punk culture, it shows the disintegration of American society. Alex Cox created a real gem here. Estevez is perfect in his role, as are Harry Dean Stanton as a detective, and Tracey Walter as the strange car's driver.

WINDOWLICKER (2014); DVD DVD, Independent release (2014) WiNdOw LiCkEr focuses on the journey of Ben Wild, into a new form of insanity, that no man has ever experienced before. Through addiction to prescription drugs, reality television, video games, & cam girls, can Ben Wild get to the root of himself?  Ever watched a film so bizarre that you thought you might have been on drugs while watching it? That’s how you feel when watching Brian McGuire’s latest WINDOW LICKER, but don’t worry, if you do not feel like that by the end then you really did not get the film at all.