Bands vs Filmmakers: More of a mashup than a showdown in Winnipeg

Bands vs Filmmakers logo (Designed by Stew Reid)

The title might imply a show down but "Bands vs Filmmakers"  is more of a mash-up as some of Winnipeg's most creative musicians make music to the film and video art of some of Winnipeg most visionary filmmakers. It's a one-of-a-kind event at the West End Cultural Centre, Thursday, June 2.   And it's a fundraiser for the venerable Cinematheque.

On the music team: John K. Samson, Nathan, Jaxon 3, and The Shallow End. On the film team:  Heidi Phillips, Aaron Zeghers, Clint Enns and Mike Maryniuk.  SCENE asked musician John K. Samson and filmmaker Clint Enns to consider what it would be like to 'play for the other team'. 

John, if you were stranded on a desert island, what is one essential movie you
would want to have with you?
I really adore this Ingmar Bergman film Winter Light.  I might call it my favourite movie, but I would hate to have to watch it every day on a desert island. Once a year is likely more than enough.  So I guess I would have to go with Rushmore, it really has everything anyone could ever want in a movie, I think, and I could watch Bill Murray all day.

Clint, how about you?  What would your 'desert island' album be?
Can I bring a DVD player instead? If I could, I might bring along old episodes of Robert Gardner's Screening Room and a selection of Index DVDs.

John, if you could put together your dream movie, who would you cast as the
lead?
I would cast the ridiculously talented Winnipeg acting/playwriting family of Debbie and Gislina Patterson and Arne and Solmund Macpherson, in an adaptation of Deb's stirring play, Molotov Circus. We could shoot it in Mexico. Guillermo del Toro would direct.

Clint, if you could put together your dream band, who would you choose as lead singer?
Probably Larissa Loyva of Kellarissa. Dreamy and drone-y!!!

What's your all time favorite movie soundtrack?
Clint: The soundtrack to David Rimmer's Variations on a Cellophane Wrapper made by Don Druick. It is probably one of my favourite films as well.
John: Neil Young's score for Dead Man, directed by Jim Jarmusch. It made me go and buy my first electric guitar the day after I saw it.

Clint, what's one Manitoba band you would love to be in?
The Blasphenaut. Do you think they would consider a re-union show?  I wouldn't mind making a documentary about them.

John, if you could make a Manitoba film, what would it be about? What role
would you play?
I would make a film about the Tuberculosis Sanitarium in Ninette, just off Highway 23 at the top of Pelican Lake. It has a fascinating, surprising story, and is an eerily beautiful place. I guess I would write the music, as I have been working on some songs about it already, and I am a terrible actor, likely an even worse director.

John K Samson and Clint Enns will both being doing what they do best, Thursday June 2, at Bands vs Filmmakers.

Predictions are that it's gonna be a rock and rolling mind trip of sight and sound sensory overload!

Filmmaker Clint Enns (Ryan Simmons)                                   Musician  John K. Samson (Stephen Wilde)