Curt McDowell was a highly original filmmaker whose distinct blend of polyamorous hedonism and campy melodrama fit comfortably alongside the films of icons such as John Waters, Andy Warhol, and Jack Smith. As a student at the San Francisco Art Institute, McDowell studied with underground luminary George Kuchar of the Kuchar Brothers fame. Often working on each other’s films, McDowell and Kuchar created a trove of low-budget, queer masterpieces of varying lengths throughout the 1970s. In the wake of McDowell’s tragic death from AIDS in 1987 at the age of 42, his films have been restored and continue to be rediscovered by new audiences. This program features newly digitized 16mm films from the collection of the Canyon Cinema Foundation.
Program 1:
Ainslie Trailer
(1972, 2 min., color)
Truth for Ruth
(1972, 3 min., b&w)
Wieners and Buns, The Musical
(1972, 15 min., b&w)
Ronnie
(1972, 7 min., b&w)
Peed Into the Wind
(1972, 60 min., b&w)
An hour-long saga of Mick Terrific, rock 'n' roll star, and the cast of 50 he encounters on his search for "Mr. Wonderful."
CONTENT NOTE: This program contains explicit sexual content meant for mature audiences only
Our goal is to ensure your visit to Lightbox is safe and comfortable. As we resume in-person events in the coming months, we will continue to follow the health and safety guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control as well as state and local officials. While preparing to attend a Lightbox program please note the following:
·Lightbox Film Center at University of the Arts is a vaccine-required community, with few exceptions.
·All guests must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and must present proof of vaccination at the box office. CDC-issued vaccination cards are preferred, though photographic proof will also be accepted.
·Masks are required at all times. Visitors are strongly encouraged to wear N95, KN95, KF94 or three-ply surgical masks while on UArts' campus. Cloth masks are still permitted. All masks should fit tight to the face and securely cover the nose and mouth.
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