Take 5 w/ Filmmaker Pierre Bennu

Exittheapple has been creating award-winning and thought-provoking film and video projects since 1992. Director Pierre Bennu is a 2001 New York Foundation for the Arts film fellow, and earlier this year, the trailer for Red Bone Guerillas won 2nd place in the ABTV mini-doc contest at adbusters.org.


Meet Jamyla and Pierre Bennu, and see Red Bone Guerillas Sat Aug 9 @ 8pm @ Creative Alliance!

1. What’s the last movie you loved and what was the last movie you hated?

Loved GREAT WORLD OF SOUND. Hated? Well, recently Gus Van Sant did a movie called GERRY. When I meet him there is going to be a problem.

2. What’s your guilty pleasure movie or TV show?

Actually I love the The Little Rascals. I hate the depiction of their black characters but I stated watching them at such a young age that I didn’t quite get why it was offensive. Now it's in my brain.

3. How’d you get into filmmaking?

My mother bought me and my brother a roll of 8mm film and said “go for it.” We made an action adventure movie called "The Revenge Of Captain Space Man" and the rest, as they say... etc.

4. What’s your fave piece of gear?

Gaffers tape. You can make cool t-shirts out of it.

5. What’s the one thing you’d warn a new filmmaker NOT to do on their first film?

I wouldn’t. What messed me up just might work out great for somebody else. I would actually encourage them to take risks. Mistakes or failure are great teachers and help you find and improve upon your personal weaknesses.

Here's a an animated short created by Pierre Bennu, produced by Exittheapple!



Visit Exittheapple!
Youtube Channel!

Screening info:
Red Bone Guerillas (Bennu, 2003)
Sat Aug 9 8pm
$8, $6 mbrs.

A documentary filmmaker chronicles the rise of a street theater group called the Red Bone Guerillas, who confront the mainstream media machine with in-your-face tactics designed to shock a complacent public. Shot by then-NYC-now-Baltimore-based African-American husband-and-wife team Jamyla and Pierre Bennu, this faux documentary uses found TV footage and improvisational dialog to explore civil disobedience, group dynamics, and performance art.

Take 5! w/ Chris LaMartina

Chris LaMartina is an award-winning writer/director from Baltimore, MD. His last film, "Book of Lore" was recently picked up by international distribution company, Phoenix Entertainment Group, and he is currently finishing up his new horror anthology, "Grave Mistakes", slated for release in October 2008. Come down to The Patterson Friday night for Book of Lore and a preview of Grave Mistakes!! (Full event info and trailer below interview.)

1. What’s the last movie you loved and what was the last movie you hated?

The last movie that I "loved" would probably be "Deadwood Park", an atmospheric dv horror flick shot by some very talented filmmakers out in Missouri. The film has a very haunting quality and the scope of production is grander than any dv horror I've seen before.

The last movie I "hated"? That's tougher. I really didn't enjoy "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly". I thought the material there was too gimmicky and could have better translated into a shorter film. I know its a true story so I can't be too critical of plot points or anything, but I thought it could have been much better. It just wasn't engaging enough for me.

2. What’s your guilty pleasure movie or TV show?
I'm a political junkie. When I get a television with cable in front of me, it's all about C-Span. It drives people nuts. Sometimes, I watch the static shots of the Senate session about to begin. No one's talking. Just classical music and shuffling Senators. There's something bizarrely comforting about it.


3. How’d you get into filmmaking?
Nothing new here. I was one of those lonely kids who stumbled across the family camcorder and begin screwing around. As I grew older, the stories became more elaborate and I refined my technique.


4. What’s your fave piece of gear?
That I currently own? Hmmm... it's all pretty beat-up and bruised by now. I guess my G5. As for things I don't own any more, it would have to be my old Videonics MX-1. That thing ruled. It was my best friend for years and years before Final Cut. Once, I edited a whole 55 minute slasher film all in-camera, with the exception of 3 VCR edits and MX1's fade function. (Wow. I sound like a total nerd).


5. What’s the one thing you’d warn a new filmmaker NOT to do on their first film?
Feeding your crew is important. Feeding your crew expensive food is stupid. Jimmy and I made a big mistake by catering to our every food whim on "Book of Lore". We bought fast food and took actors out to dinner constantly instead of being smart and ordering pizza or cooking. Half our budget, I assure you, went to craft services. Be smart! Don't spend money you don't have to.



Fri Jul 11
Book of Lore (LaMartina, 2007)
w/ preview of Grave Mistakes
& short Soundwave: The Touch (Uhr, 2007)

When Rick’s girlfriend turns up dead, he and his friends stumble onto a chilling encyclopedia of local murders called the Book of Lore. Baltimore native LaMartina’s film is a tribute to 1980s horror flicks like Fright Night. Winner of Shocker Fest’s Best Horror Feature, shot for under $8K and featuring the voice of “Godfather of Gore” Herschell Gordon Lewis, it is a frightening tour-de-force of low-budget ingenuity. Plus preview shorts from LaMartina’s upcoming feature and Gabe Uhr’s viral hit Soundwave: The Touch, viewed over one million times online, featured on VH1 and in USA Today. $2 Bloodies on sale at the bar! 8pm. $8, $6 mbrs.

Creative Alliance at The Patterson
3134 Eastern Ave
Baltimore, MD 21224
Info and tix: www.creativealliance.org, 410-627-5008

CAmm July Specials!

For the month of July, any CAmm rental is rent one get the second rental 1/2 off! This means you can rent a camera and lights, and get the light kit for 1/2 price...or you can rent something from us now, and use the 1/2 off next time you come in (it doesn't have to be in July!).

The Shambara Boyz!