You have five more opportunities to see "Make Me Famous" in the neighborhood where the well-regarded documentary is set.
The film about 1980s-era East Village-based painter Edward Brezinski will be playing these five dates at Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue at 12th Street:
• Aug. 16, 7 p.m. Post-screening guests: artist James Romberger and director Brian Vincent
• Aug. 17, 7 p.m. No post-screening guests
• Aug. 18, 4 p.m. Post-screening guests: photographer Allen Frame and Vincent
• Aug. 19, 7 p.m. Post-screening guests: writer, muse Claudia Summers and Vincent
• Aug. 21, 7 p.m. Post-screening guests: archival cinematographer Jim C. and Vincent
The encore comes after a successful three-night run (July 27, 31 and Aug. 1) at the Village East.
The documentary, featuring some never-before-seen 1980s footage of the East Village, explores Brezinski's colorful career and mysterious disappearance.
On Saturday, EVG's Stacie Joy spotted Vincent and producer Heather Spore handing out business cards in Tompkins Square Park for "Make Me Famous" ...
After screenings in NYC and elsewhere over the past year, "Make Me Famous" is finally playing in the neighborhood where the documentary is set — the East Village.
Starting on Saturday, Village East by Angelika will screen the film three times at the theater on Second Avenue and 12th Street.
"Make Me Famous" is:
... a madcap romp through the 1980s NYC art scene amid the colorful career of painter, Edward Brezinski, hell-bent on making it. What begins as an investigation into Brezinski's legacy and mysterious disappearance becomes a sharp, witty portrait of NYC’s 1980s downtown art scene resulting in an irresistible snapshot of an unknown artist who captures the spirit of an iconic era.
Director Brian Vincent and Producer Heather Spore will be at the following screenings with these special guests:
• July 27, 5 p.m.
Photographer Marcia Resnick, photographer Josef Astor, archival cinematographer Jim C
• July 31, 7 p.m.
Filmmaker and photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders and curator and archivist Sur Rodney (Sur)
• Aug. 1, 7 p.m.
Artist Peter McGough and Basquiat's first gallerist Annina Nosei
Brezinski and CLICK models for NY TALK Magazine, 1984, photo by Jonathan Postal
From 543 E. Sixth St.: B-Side Gallery Opening, 1984, photo by Gary Azon
In the past year, I've been in touch with Spore and Vincent (past posts here). I asked them both to comment on the film's EV premiere.
Heather
Our dream was to open in the neighborhood, but when you do your own theatrical run with no help from a distributor, you have to roll with the punches. Our indie documentary has had an incredible yet unprecedented run in theaters going now for over a year.
Back in the 1980s, indie cinemas were more likely to take chances on local filmmakers, and films often had long runs. Does anybody remember "Basket Case"? First-time director Frank Henenlotter shot it locally in 1982 and ran for several years at the Waverly Cinema (now IFC).
"Make Me Famous" has defied the odds in this current film landscape and maintained a presence in New York City for over a year. We might very well be the most successful film you have never heard of! I can't believe it took us a whole year to screen in the neighborhood we dreamed of starting at!
The major New York press turned their backs on us because we had an unconventional run. This was surprising to us, considering this really is a love letter to the creativity that burst out of the Lower East Side in the 1980s. Although it would have been nice to be in The New York Times — we made it without them.
I feel like our journey of DIY distribution has been very apropos, considering the artists of 1980s East Village followed the same path, really. They did it themselves, and look at what they accomplished!
Brian
I am a Juilliard-trained actor who was too young to experience the 1980s scene. I discovered it through books like Cynthia Carr's "Fire in the Belly" about David Wojnarowicz. So, I looked for a story that explores this era, when young people made their own scene after being rejected by the mainstream.
In the 1980s, NYC was broke, rent was dirt cheap, and anyone could act out their bohemian fantasies — and they did by the hundreds! As actor Eric Bogosian recalls, "The premium was on who could do the most creative things."
In "Make Me Famous," thanks to the artists and gallerists who lived it, we return to "the scene of the crime," as the artists like to call it. And thanks to their fantastic video/artwork and photographs, the audience is immersed in the gritty action. Only we take an unusual path. Instead of documenting the famous artists for the millionth time, our story revolves around an obscure, mysterious, and charismatic painter from the scene, Edward Brezinski, whose career, in many ways, parallels the rise and fall of the scene.
The doc is not intended to be a promo but rather an opportunity to experience what it was like to be a striving artist back then. It was a NYC moment that captured the world's attention, produced some of its biggest stars, and then exploded into history like a supernova.
Updated July 6: See below for more screening dates.
We've mentioned "Make Me Famous" several times (like here and here) ... the documentary tells the story of the 1980s downtown art scene through the lens of painter Edward Brezinski.
There are a few more screenings in NYC (and it is well worth your time and the effort to go to one of these theaters...)
• July 2, 8 p.m., at Roxy Cinema, 2 Avenue of the Americas, Cellar Level
• July 2, 2:45 p.m., and July 3, 7 p.m., at New Plaza Cinema, 35 W. 67th St.
"Make Me Famous," a documentary that will be of particular interest to East Village/LES residents, is making its theatrical debut.
The official recap:
A madcap romp through the 1980's NYC art scene amid the colorful career of painter, Edward Brezinski, hell-bent on making it. What begins as an investigation into Brezinski’s legacy and mysterious disappearance becomes a sharp, witty portrait of NYC’s 1980s downtown art scene resulting in an irresistible snapshot of an unknown artist that captures the spirit of an iconic era.
Here are some NYC screenings dates-times (Updated 6/23: The Roxy has more dates now through the weekend of June 30-July 2.)
• June 22, 23 and 24 at Roxy Cinema, 2 Avenue of the Americas, Cellar Level
"Make Me Famous," a documentary on 1980s-era East Village-based painter Edward Brezinski, premiered last weekend in London... garnering some feature stories (The Guardian ... AnotherMag) in the process.
Here's a description of the film:
Edward Brezinski worked alongside Keith Haring, David Wojnarowicz, and Jean-Michel Basquiat in the Lower East Side art scene, but never reached the same level of success as his contemporaries. "Make Me Famous" uncovers why such a well-connected yet peculiar painter never made it, despite being so maniacally focused in his quest for fame.
What begins as an investigation into Brezinski's legacy and mysterious disappearance becomes a sharp, witty portrait of NYC's 1980s downtown art scene. Gallery owners and fellow artists dish on insider gossip, name drop, and contradict each other in telling the story, resulting in an irresistible snapshot of an unknown artist that captures the spirit of an iconic era.
Check out the trailer...
You can catch a screening at the Museum of the City of New York on April 18. (Details here.)
A documentary of possible interest: "Make Me Famous" is making its world premiere on Sunday evening at the NewFest.
Here's a description:
Edward Brezinski worked alongside Keith Haring, David Wojnarowicz, and Jean-Michel Basquiat in the Lower East Side art scene, but never reached the same level of success as his contemporaries. "Make Me Faous" uncovers why such a well-connected yet peculiar painter never made it, despite being so maniacally focused in his quest for fame.
What begins as an investigation into Brezinski’s legacy and mysterious disappearance becomes a sharp, witty portrait of NYC's 1980s downtown art scene. Gallery owners and fellow artists dish on insider gossip, name drop, and contradict each other in telling the story, resulting in an irresistible snapshot of an unknown artist that captures the spirit of an iconic era.
The film screens at the SVA Theater on 23rd Street Sunday evening at 7. "Make Me Famous" is also available to stream today through Oct. 26.
Details on the in-person screening and home-viewing options are at this link.
Previously on EV Grieve: 
