I was one of about 100 people who got to see the free preview of a new independent film “Billy Bates” at the Loft Cinema on Sunday, prior to its release nationwide tomorrow. From the Loft’s website:
From director Jennifer DeLia and producer Julie Pacino comes a fascinating and absorbing portrait of a troubled artist, Billy Bates, walking the tight rope between brilliance and madness. Billy seeks solace in his beautiful lover, Kaia, an angelic singer he meets at an art show. As the two together attempt to navigate his mind-bending reality, the film becomes a cacophony of voices, music, and memories that take us through Billy’s kaleidoscopic world of underground parties, a psychotic break, and on the rise as an artist. All throughout this journey, Billy creates his newest body of work and is coined ‘the Warhol of his generation.’ Billy Bates stars James Wirt and Savannah Welch and features Margherita Missoni, Josephine de La Baume, Zoe Twitt, and Sally Golan. Music by Moby’s band The Little Death, the Trishas, the late Arthur Russell, and more. Original artwork by Burton Machen and featuring works from Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Jean-Michel Basquiat. (Dir. by Jennifer DeLia, 2013, USA, 80 mins., Not Rated) Digital
I enjoyed the preview as this is a powerful film of resiliency due to abandonment issues, mental health and anger struggles, the search for love and a soul mate, and ultimately the belief in one’s artistry and passion in life. The individual quest for “unlimited freedom” is explored by the actors, but I think the ultimate resolution is more about being true to your own self. The movie is also edited well with shots of Billy’s childhood past interwoven into his present reality of pain and transformation.
Actor Jimmy Wirt who was present at the Tucson showing portrayed all of these stages very well, as a budding photographer/artist in NYC. We got to meet him, director Jennifer Delia, and producer Julie Pacino at the after party celebration at the Roadhouse Cinema, with lots of beer courtesy of Nimbus Brewery.
The production crew is on a 10 city USA tour and Tucson was the 2nd to the last stop prior to Los Angeles. Prior to Arizona they were in D.C., Nashville Tennessee, Raleigh NC, Savannah Georgia, Kansas City Missouri, Houston and Austin TX.
More info at the film’s website, http://billybatesproject.com/. The film is being released tomorrow November 18 and you can download the film via itunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/billy-bates/id816713829.