It’s hard to believe it, but the time has come. Summer is winding down, and with the end of summer comes closing night of the Rooftop Films Summer series. This year, they’ve saved some of the best for last, with razor sharp short films all about endings. Closing night will be this Friday, August 20^th at the Old American Can Factory in Gowanus/Park Slope. Details below.

Friday, August 20^th

ROOFTOP SHOTS

The official Closing Night of Rooftop Films 2010 Summer Series includes short films all about endings. Films so sharp we call them shots, fired from the roof one last time this year.

There’s nothing sadder than saying goodbye to something you cherish. Nothing more painful than the loss of something personal, or the death of a loved one. Rooftop Films isn’t dying (or even leaving for long; thanks to donations from our audience we will have special new shows in September), but on the official Closing Night of our 14th Annual Summer Series, we finish an amazing summer of cinema with a powerful, poignant program of films about transitions, departures and disappearances.

This year Rooftop has hosted 44 screenings in 13 different outdoor locations, showing 22 feature-length films and over 120 short films. But we’ve saved some of the best for last, as the spectacular films in our grand finale remind us that sometimes you don’t know a great thing till it’s gone. Come out to Rooftop and come celebrate the conclusion with us.

Where:

On the roof of The Old American Can Factory

232 3^rd St. (Gowanus/Park Slope, Brooklyn)

When:

Friday, August 20^th

8:00 Doors open

8:30 Live music

9:00 Films begin

11:00 After Party in the courtyard with free open bar

Tickets are $10, online or at the door. Tickets and more information at:

http://www.rooftopfilms.com/2010/schedule/34-rooftop-shots

The Films:

Friday, August 13^th

LAST TRAIN HOME

Every New Year, 130 million people leave China’s industrial cities to return to their rural homelands–the largest human migration in the world. This overwhelming yet intimate documentary follows one family through their chaotic, desperate, agonizing journey. Presented in partnership with Hot Docs and Zeitgeist Films.

“Stunningly photographed and expertly constructed, Last Train Home features the work of a filmmaker who has immersed himself in the lives of his subjects . . . to explore the story of their fractured family. Many moments in this intimate movie are incredibly striking and ultimately symbolic of a much broader situation.”
- IndieWire

Tickets are $10 online or at the door. Tickets and more info at:

http://www.rooftopfilms.com/2010/schedule/39-last-train-home

Where:

On the roof of the Old American Can Factory

232 3rd St. at 3rd Ave (Gowanus/Park Slope, Brooklyn)

Take the R to Union or the F or G to Caroll St.

When:

8:00 Doors Open

8:30 Live Music by Mountain Man

9:00 Film Begins

11:00 Filmmaker Q & A

11:30 After-party in the courtyard courtesy of Radeberger Pilsner

Saturday, August 14

WASTE LAND

Brazilian artist Vik Muniz has valuable pieces in museums worldwide (including El Museo del Barrio), but his most inspiring work might be made by garbage pickers who illustrate the value of every last thing, because 99 is not 100. Brazilian artist Vik Muniz has valuable pieces in museums worldwide (including El Museo del Barrio), but his most inspiring work might be made by garbage pickers who illustrate the value of every last thing, because 99 is not 100. Presented in partnership with Hot Docs, Arthouse Films and Museo Del Barrio.

Tickets are $10 online or at the door. Tickets and more info at:

http://www.rooftopfilms.com/2010/schedule/45-waste-land

Where:

On the roof of El Museo Del Barrio

1230 5^th Ave at 104^th St. (East Harlem)

6 to 103rd St. or 2/3 to 110th St.

When:

8:00 Doors open

8:30 Live music

9:00 Film begins

10:30 After party on the roof courtesy of Radeberger Pilsner

Chris Fonesca began filming Revoked 2, his fixed freestyle film, while the crew was in New York for the Bicycle Film Festival a couple months ago. As it turns out there was more partying that went on than riding, so he decided to use the footage for a 15 minute online edit.

You can check out some of the footage below, starring: Ed Wonka, Mike Schmitt, Justin Mitchell, DJ Mull, Gus Molina, Jakob Santos, Chris Fonseca, Shea Hardacre, Kareem Shehab, Antonyo Wothe, Matt Spencer, Tom Mosher, Jeph Howard, Mike Gnarlinghouse, Billy O’Neil, Chris Farmer, Franco Cammayo, Torey Thorton, Zack Zlog Hoffner, Joe Kelly, Ines Burns, John Prolly.

Music:
Nine Inch Nails – The Frail
Frou Frou – Old Piano
Daedelus – Fair Weather Friends
Metric – Empty
Nu Shooz – I Can’t Wait

DOOMED LOVE AND THE DEVILLES

Spectacularly failing romances, including an alcoholic comedy, some stunning facts about the sexuality of one of the founding fathers, and a luscious documentary about a stripper / punk rocker husband and wife duo.

When:

Friday, August 6^th

8:00 Doors Open

8:30 Live Music by Solanin

9:00 Films Begin

11:30 After-party at Matchless (557 Manhattan Ave) courtesy of Radeberger Pilsner and Sailor Jerry Rum

Where:

On the lawn of Automotive High School

50 Bedford Ave. at North 13^th St. (Williamsburg, Brooklyn)

L to Bedford Ave. or G to Nassau Ave.

Tickets are $10 online or at the door:

http://www.rooftopfilms.com/2010/schedule/36-doomed-love-and-the-devilles

HORI SMOKU SAILOR JERRY

Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry is a feature length documentary exploring the roots of American tattooing through the life of its most iconoclastic figure, Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins. Considered by many the foremost tattoo artist of all time, Collins is the father of modern day tattooing, whose uncompromising lifestyle and larger than life persona made him an American legend.

This show is free! Just email sjrsvp@rooftopfilms.com to reserve a spot on the guest list.

When:

Saturday, August 7^th

8:00 Doors Open

8:30 Live Music

9:00 Film Begins

10:30 After Party in the courtyard, courtesy of Sailor Jerry Rum

Where:

On the roof of the Old American Can Factory

232 3^rd St. at 3^rd Ave (Gowanus/Park Slope, Brooklyn)

Take the R to Union or the F or G to Caroll St.

This show is 21 and over. More information at:

http://www.rooftopfilms.com/2010/schedule/46-hori-smoku-sailor-jerry

It seems to be a trend now that the early pillars of indie rock are picking up the axes and making things happen once again. That holds true for Versus – who after about 10 years of silence will release their latest album On the One’s and Threes. We’ll let you be the judge who decides if they’ve still got it.

Download the first track off the album, Invincible Hero, or you can stream the album for a limited time. The album will be released on August 3rd, 2010.

On the Ones and Threes is something of a return to form, featuring the reappearances of original member Edward Baluyut, and engineer Nicolas Vernhes (Animal Collective, Deerhunter, Cat Power, Spoon) who worked on Secret Swingers and Two Cents Plus Tax.

-Merge Records

And you can pre-order the album from Merge Records here.

If you are in the Northeast you can check them out on tour as well:

Versus on tour:

8/12 Brooklyn, NY Rock Shop CD release show w/ True Love Always
8/13 Toronto, ON Lee’s Palace w/ Polvo
8/14 Montreal, QC Cabaret Juste Pour Rire w/ Polvo
9/21 Boston, MA Royale w/ Superchunk
9/22 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero Theatre w/ Superchunk & Jenny and Johnny

On the One’s and Threes Track Listing (CD):

1. Invincible Hero
2. Nu Skin
3. Into Blue
4. Gone to Earth
5. Cicada
6. Erstwhile
7. Pink Valhalla
8. Saturday Saints
9. Scientists
10. The Ones and Threes

On the One’s and Threes Track Listing (deluxe-edition double-LP):

1. Death Ray
2. Invincible Hero
3. Erstwhile
4. Gone To Earth
5. Cicada
6. Into Blue
7. Saturday Saints
8. Scientists
9. Neither Nor
10. The Ones and Threes
11. Pink Valhalla
12. Nu Skin

STACKED #9 is taking on THE WHITE RABBIT w/ DJ Epidemic (AZ)!!!

This week, the scallywags behind Stacked #1-8 will be jumping ship and setting sail for the White Rabbit on East Houston. You have no doubt walked by it a million times and apparently they have a freshly tuned sound system as well, which is begging for something nasty.  Enter Stacked, bringing out Arizona’s Best DJ, Epidemic, for a special NYC appearance!!!

THE DETAILS:

- $5 vodka drinks 10pm-1am and 2 for 1 beer 10pm-12am*****

- Guest DJ Epidemic (Arizona’s Best) *****

- The party’s hosted by (Pretty) Girls & Lasers, Slouch and Chris Alker

- It’s at White Rabbit, 145 East Houston (btwn Forsyth & Eldridge)

- The party starts at 10pm and goes la

Rooftop has an event coming up this week that you dont want to miss: for one night only Professor Nieto will perform one of his infamous experiments live at this Thursday’s Rooftop Films show!

During his illustrious career as the world’s first mad scientist filmmaker, the Professor has documented the education of filmmaking monkeys, taught Brazilian bugs to play soccer, and created mice that multiply like earth worms when cut in half. Though his ambitious experiments don’t always go as planned, they never fail to amaze and flabbergast.

Now, at Thursday’s Rooftop show, the Professor will attempt to reanimate a chicken… Will it work? Don’t you want to be there to find out?

Following the Professor’s experiment, we will screen Capucine, his fascinating look at the life of a genuine filmmaking monkey.

Learn more about Professor Nieto’s mad experiments here:
http://rooftopfilms.com/blog/2010/07/mad-scientist-filmmaker-professor-nieto-live-at-rooftop.html
CAPUCINE: FILMMAKING MONKEYS AND OTHER RENEGADES
Crazy characters who make their own rules, as cake-addicted cranks, Rambo-revering detectives, and an actual filmmaking monkey. Plus a live experiment by mad scientist filmmaker Luis Nieto. In this program of short films, as Sean Sharpstone says, “rules to take a backseat to justice, and justice rides shotgun, ‘cuz that bitch is blind.”
http://www.rooftopfilms.com/2010/schedule/31-capucine-filmmaking-monkeys-and-other-renegades

When:
Thursday, July 29th
8:00 p.m. Doors Open
8:30 p.m. Live music by Family Portrait
9:00 Films Begin

Where:
On the Roof of Brooklyn Technical High School
29 Fort Greene Place (Fort Greene, Brooklyn)
G to Fulton, C to Lafayette, 2,3,4,5 to Nevins or B,M,Q, R to Dekalb

Last year, Future Cinema in association with Warp Films presented a documentary film called All Tomorrow’s Parties, directed by All Tomorrow’s People and Jonathan Caouette. The film documents the history of the long running All Tomorrow’s Parties Music Festival, which is often described as a “post-punk DIY bricolage.” The film was created by both fans and musicians who attended the festivals, with  Super8, camcorders and even mobile phones.  There are some great performances from Grizzly Bear, Sonic Youth, Battles, Belle and Sebastian, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Les Savy Fav, Fuck Buttons, Iggy Pop, and the list goes on and on. Check out some trailers and don’t miss the next ATP festival this September in Monticello, NY. Details below:

All Tomorrows Parties are presenting an upcoming ATP festival in New York On Labor Day Weekend: September 3,4 and 5. The Festival takes place at Kutsher’s Country Club in Monticello, NY. Three days of unbelievable bands performing, with Sunday’s acts selected by indie director Jim Jarmusch.

Here are the details so far:

Friday- Dont Look Back day: a day of bands playing beloved albums (Iggy and the Stooges do Raw Power, Sleep do Holy Mountain, Mudhoney do Superfuzz Bigmuff + early singles, the Scientists do Blood Red River)

Saturday- Sonic Youth, Explosions in the Sky, the Breeders, Fuck Buttons, the Books, Papa M, and Apse.

Sunday (Jim Jarmusch’s picks)-  Raekwon, Girls, Fucked Up, Vivian Girls, the Brian Jonestown Massacre, Wooden Shjips, and the Black Angels.

All three days will also feature DJs and Cinema presented by Criterion.

Full 3 day Festival Tickets are priced at $250 + booking fee for the weekend.

Friday day tickets are priced at $110 + booking fee.

Saturday day tickets are priced at $120 + booking fee.

Sunday day tickets will be available in March.

need a way to get there? Weekend and day Bus travel is available between Brooklyn or Manhattan. Just click here to buy!

No plans for tomorrow night? July 24th, at 8 pm, why not head over to the MOMA to check out a film screening of  the 9 minute Short The Island from Brazillian director Alê Camargo, followed by the full length picture The Tenants(Don’t Like it, Leave) from edgey Brazilian director Sergio Bianchi, starring Fernando Alves Pinto, Zezeh Barbosa and Caio Blat.

Bianchi’s richly detailed excavation of society’s fear of and fascination with violence—from television’s constant stream of near pornographic mayhem to venomous suspicion between neighbors, petty feuds within married couples, and quarreling among children—is an indictment of the lowest human impulses. In Portuguese; English subtitles. 103 min. (moma)

Click HERE for tickets.

It seems as if there’s a grandiose game of hide n’ seek being played in NYC and no, I’m not talking about the kind played by grade school children in summer camp (although that’s fun too). Since July 2^nd 2010, pedestrians and subway riders have been pleasantly surprised to find limited edition “Bobby Hill Multiple Original Art Prints” during their commute throughout the city. Each of these unique works of art is conservatively valued at $50 apiece (not considering prices increasing over time), which means Bobby Hill is dropping over a cool $50,000 in total on the unsuspecting folks of the 5 boroughs.

Internationally known visual artist Bobby Hill has created 1000 limited edition Multiple Original art prints to celebrate his one-man show, “BHILLBOARDS” (pronounced: billboards), which opens this upcoming 9/11, for two nights only in NYC during Fashion Week. The exact location will be announced August 31^st via Resetuniverse.com and to those who RSVP. The original prints, which currently features images of Bob Dylan, Bob The Builder, and a special one of Muhammad Ali, were individually handcrafted by Mr. Hill on found corrugated cardboard. These pieces will continue to be strategically placed throughout NYC until September 10^th, 2010.

The lucky few that find one, will have a unique work of art that lasts a lifetime and the opportunity to bring it to the Bhillboards Artshow to get it signed. In addition, the first 250 guests to the arrive at the show will receive a NYC 9/11 inspired “Bobby Hill Multiple Original Art Print.” For more info, visit www.resetuniverse.com or www.youtube.com/resetuniverse.

BHILLBOARDS is never resting on your laurels, never living off yesterday’s victories never taking anything for granted and always pushing the envelope by putting your best on display for the world to see. Bhillboards is determination multiplied by vision.  Bobby Hill, Resetuniverse.com, NYC… Bhillboards.