Synopsis:
The Kingdom of Survival explores modern skepticism in America, challenges the status quo and uncovers provocative links between survivalist philosophy, ecumenical spirituality, radical political theory, and outlaw culture. The audience is invited into a thoughtful conversation with the likes of Prof. Noam Chomsky, Dr. Mark Mirabello, Mike Oehler, and the riveting final interview with beloved author, Joe Bageant. These unique thought leaders cast a rare shadow of doubt over our most blindly accepted American traditions.

Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFPLQw2w4zA

By framing this journey in a cross-country travelogue, writer/director M.A. Littler connects art, religion, academia, alternative media, utopianism, anarchism, globalized capitalism and radical fringe philosophy in an elegant American tapestry.  By remaining impartial to the subjects, the film is able to honestly investigate the physical and psychological practices of diverse individuals in a conflict-ridden and confused post-modern world. In a time of brainwashing corporate and political propaganda, “The Kingdom of Survival” reunites us with the life-changing spirit of the outlaw highway.

Director M.A. Littler: Raised in the old world and the new world, at airports, on junkyards, in motels and restaurants Littler found employment as a bouncer, barkeeper, cab driver, translator, and journalist–even as an ambulance driver. Inevitably all of these jobs were short-lived.  In his films and writing he has displayed an unhidden affinity for outsiders of all sorts–radical intellectuals, outlaw historians, marginalized artists, obscure musicians and holy con men. When asked about this, Littler says: “I’m interested in people who dance to their own beat, prototypes who fix their radio with a blow torch.”  The documentary KINGDOM OF SURVIVAL is a reflection of Littler’s life experience.

Press for KOS:
Film Threat : “Few could make this film.  Scratch that.  Nobody else could make this film.  It’s too personal.  This is the director’s wake-up call to the sleeping, and rallying point for those who are already on this path of consigning the current political and social culture to the trash heap.” (http://www.filmthreat.com/interviews/39374)

Kick Him, Honey: “I come across a work like this one I’m incredibly thankful. It’s the kind of thing you almost think can’t exist until you see it: a rich and beautiful movie that leaves you satisfied, without ever trying to give cheap answers to the unanswerable.” (http://benjaminwhitmer.com/index.php/2011/05/kingdom-of-survival)

KOS Producer Alexander Hebert: Raised from childhood all over the globe, from first to third world countries; such diverse locales of the Philippines, Nepal, Colorado, Switzerland and the UK. He’s seen revolutions first hand,  played drums with blues legends, and once catered a dinner party for the Ambassadors of Turkey and Israel. His working life has included stints as a pizza delivery boy, waiter, and Community Development Consultant in war-torn Serbia.

http://www.billdaniel.net/new

promo flyer for the show

Film Tramp Bill Daniel is back in the van on tour with a new program of recently unearthed16mm footage.
 
SONIC ORPHANS is a compilation reel of lost and found clips projected on 16mm; some silent, some that rock.
They are all rare and strange celluloid gems, many have been seen by almost no one and have never seen the light of youtube. Most of this footage is truly orphaned film— abandoned, lost, found, and now presented raw without editing.

Various youtube clips relating to our content:
Boy Problems

The Huns

The presentation includes a discussion of “orphan films” as they are called by archivists, and at some venues on tour, a one-night photo exhibit.
  
Featuring performances by: The Beatles, Avengers, Huns, Boy Problems, Sonic Youth, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Butthole Surfers, and Johnny Cash
 
Here is an unlikely collection of film that exists in an impossibly strange space between entertainment— (music films); and the stupefying bewilderment of “Useless Cinema”— (which is what I call the clips of silent outtakes, un-contextualized news, lab mistakes, abandoned student films…)
 
There is a flavor of goofy nostalgia to much of the footage, but the images are also haunting— rock and roll ghosts, still singing, pogoing, sneaking hits on cigarettes, making direct eye contact from 20, 40 years ago.
 
Each of the films has it’s own story, like if a stray dog at the pound could tell you how he got there. Part of the evening’s presentation is a telling of some of these stories, and a discussion on the relationship between underground music and film cultures.
 
***1965, Beatles in San Francisco— raw silent news footage I rescued from a closing film lab features eerie silent mop-top photo op, teenagers convulsing with Beatlemania, etc.

***A haunting early Johnny Cash kinoscope, and several other bizarre and unseen curios.

***Sonic Youth at an outdoor concert in Houston in 1986.
 
***1977, Silent performance footage of the Avengers, and lost takes from a student drama staring Penelope Houston. Shot by poet/punk portraitist Pamela Mosher (www.pamelamosher.com).
 
***Butthole Surfers performance shot while touring in ‘87. This footage was confiscated by the club for on-stage nudity, then inexplicably returned to me months later.
 
***1980, Two legendary punk/new wave Austin bands The Huns and Boy Problems filmed live at Rauls Club. Evidence of the fertile crossover between the Film dept at UT and the music scene at Raul’s club. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raul%27s_%28night_club%29)

Part of the thesis of this show is to present the kind of intimate cinema experience that is based on being there. None of this material is available on video or the internet.  One of my motivations is a reaction against the kind of ‘remote viewing’ that has become our primary way of viewing motion picture— on little computers, alone, while multi-tasking…This show is a communal, participatory experience… feeling the responses of the people sitting near you… the smell of dust burning on the projector bulb, like caveman story time around the fire.
 
This event will also feature a one-night photo exhibit—Images from the Austin scene ’80-’84 (www.texaspunkpioneers.com).
 
Filmmaker Bill Daniel has been documenting American subcultures starting with the Texas skate/punk scene in the early 1980s. His film on the history of hobo graffiti, “Who is Bozo Texino?” has screened in over 350 venues world wide. A confirmed tramp, Daniel tours continually, setting up screenings and one-night art shows across the US. He blames Black Flag for his van-based nomadicism.

Additional Info:

http://www.sisterspit.com/

SISTER SPIT

Here’s the lineup:
http://www.myspace.com/sisterspitnextgen

Michelle Tea: Founder of the Sister Spit tour, and well known writer/performer.

http://www.myspace.com/michelletea

Ben McCoy–transgender performance artist
Beth Lisick:

http://www.myspace.com/bethlisick

Kirya Traber:

http://www.myspace.com/kiryatraber

Sara Seinberg:

http://www.myspace.com/nicebroad

Rhiannon Argo:

http://www.myspace.com/rhiannonargo

Ariel Schrag:

http://www.myspace.com/arielschrag

URFEST:

http://urfest.com/

Its focus is on urban renewal and community involvement.

“The goal of URFest (y??r f?st) is to show films that start community dialogues about urban revitalization. The films that make up the core of the Fest this year examine increasingly significant urban issues, including sustainable housing, community building projects, cooperative ownership models, and community food sharing.

The films—Buffalo ReUSE: Building Community by Carl Lee (run time 19 mins 30 secs),
We Need Food Not Bombs by Ron Douglas (run time: 28 mins 30 secs)
We Own It by Loren Sonnenberg (run time: 31 mins), and
PUSHing People Power: Rebuilding Buffalo’s West Side by Ruth Goldman (run time: 18 mins).”

START TIME: 6PM
COST: $6.