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An EVG reader passed along this screening info ... sounds interesting to us...
UNESSENTIAL CINEMA PRESENTS: THE RECKONING OF PAC LAB
Anthology Film Archives
Thursday, March 12 @ 7:30pm
The echoing conversation about the death of film is endless and depressing, as is the recent demise of our longtime neighbor on E. 1st St., the esteemed and notorious Pac Lab. Like them or hate them, and there was no in-between, Pac Lab was a true NYC staple, as well as the last local resource we had for same-day processing of Super-8mm and 16mm film. Over the years Pac Lab proved itself to be a company that possessed as much character and quirkiness as its clients.
They catered to artists, students, and even everyday folks looking to transfer their parents’ home movies to video. Being a Pac Lab client often involved an element of risk, with anxious patrons left to wonder: Will my film come back scratched? Will there be any image? Will it come back at all?
In any case, they were a key component and longtime enabler of our regional filmmaking community. Without them, we are forced to face the end of celluloid film much sooner than most of us ever expected.
This unique event will offer up a baker’s dozen of film reels and tapes culled from the remnants of Pac Lab’s significant detritus. Anthology has inherited boxes and bags of films that were submitted for processing, but abandoned by clients who never paid or picked up their footage.
Uncatalogued and entirely unseen by us, our educated guess is that these reels contain copious examples of student film shenanigans, home movies, stoned experiments, attempted art projects, and probably a naked girlfriend or two. For this special show we guarantee that no films will be previewed beforehand and that all selections shall be made blindly and without prejudice. Soundtracks and other alterations may be added to enhance entertainment potential. If you think that one of these reels might be yours, then please join us for your world premiere screening!
FREE for Anthology members
The Anthology Film Archives is at 32 Second Ave. at East Second Street.
This sounds fantastic, way more intriguing than any of the predictable crap made by Hollywood.
ReplyDeleteI had a friend who ran a business called the Doubling Cube in the space next door, but I always wondered what Pac Lab was.
ReplyDeleteSince the Doubling Cube has long since been replaced by a nail salon, at least we know Pac Lab won't become a nail salon; maybe it'll become a fitness center.
Stiffing Pac Lab as transmission vector for fame seems iffy but I'd guess the odds are what was left is more interesting than most of what didn't.
ReplyDeleteTwo questions: 1) is this ethical to show other people's personal stuff even though it was abandoned? 2) What, no naked BOYfriends?
ReplyDeleteNote: this, earlier, was the location of the very first Dixon Place in the eighties; a hugely important venue.
ReplyDelete@Simon1961: This was Ellie Covan's living room? I was They Might Be Giants there!
ReplyDeleteRather, I saw TMBG. Damn autocorrect!
ReplyDelete@Scuba Diva, yes it was.
ReplyDelete