By Producer Alan Rogers in London
Sometimes I feel caught in a incongruity.
I am acutely aware of the absurdity of trying to explain how considerate I am, as a male living in the Information Age; Sensitive to the tide of sexist bullshit that flows over the waterfall of modern media. Tik-tok-ing its abstract behavioural expectations into the impressionable minds of the young.
In the same instant I unzip my flies to the seedy underbelly of the internet. Hypocritical? Moi?
I clearly find your films enhanced by your nudity. But it is a guilty pleasure. I am not sure I should. Does that sound fucked up? Are you an influencer? (Who would have thought that term could become a career choice).
I think you are, but personally speaking; I am not influenced by you just because of your nudity. I know that it is your well crafted commentaries that stop all my blood from flooding south on its natural journey, and divert it to cognitive resources.
A distraction trick I have always found intriguing. The levels of blood flooding to the different areas depend on the film. And I have followed your project long enough to know this is intentional. It is like a hard on (or lady wood, if you will) for the frontal cortex.
Eroticism, Masturbation and Fantasy are perfect companions. They require little more than privacy, and not even that to some.. they relieve stress and allow endorphins to flood the brain and let us forget about life for a while.
Sound familiar?
Not that I am trying to compare salaciousness with the effect of alcohol on the brain. In some ways one is an anathema to the other. But there are some similarities, perhaps.
I have been listening to the superb ‘radio lab’ podcasts (https://www.radiolab.org ) and recently they released an episode discussing the ‘secret to a long life’. I won’t spoil it by giving away the (slightly morbid) salient points but making memories feature strongly, and this obvious strategy flies in the face of the desire to switch off reality for a while.
So there is the conundrum. What is a better use of our time on this spinning water covered rock?
Spending it in a temporary enjoyable stupor lost in our own heads. Or spending it in the now, creating real memories?
I think the answer depends on your ability to do one or the other. Sometimes you do not get a choice. Sometimes Morpheous holds out his hands and both are empty. I think in those times we reach for the glass.
Roll film
“Cmon man”
“I don’t mean to be insulting, but…having been around a bit…
NOBODY EVER GOT RICH BY WEARING THEIR HEART ON THEIR SLEEVE
…my hunch…is that you are going to get fucked…
(Cut to Missy lying naked with sunglasses on) eyes closed. Hand on breast.
…because I have seen you get fucked…a lot…and Ive never seen Logan get fucked once”
(Fade to piano keyboard: Jonathon Roy starts playing ‘keeping me alive’. A spotlighted male dancer interprets the music into movement under a single spotlight)
TITLES
(Cut to man saying in a weird voice: “Talk about the Big Shit”)
“The greedy heartless scum with daddy issues are the worst personification of people that capitalist America creates”
TITLE (with the subtitle: The Mistaken Belief That Your Time In Space is Stable)
(Cut to courtroom)
“Do you know what is special about the hours between 3am and 5am?”
“Ah, No Sir”
(Cut to office with American Flags behind a large important looking desk.. Man walks in to take a seat behind the desk)
OVER A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS
(Man sits at computer and clicks mouse…One of Missy’s Films starts playing…the man wryly smiles)
A GROUP OF 4 PEOPLE TRIED TO HAVE ALL MY FILMS ERASED FROM THE INTERNET
(Close up of the man eating some kind of potato chip. He leans back with his tie askew staring at naked missy on the screen)
THEY ATTEMPTED THIS THROUGH THE COURTS IN AUSTRALIA
(Man starts typing. Speaking out his words as he types…)
”Stupid….Regressive…Whores….”
IN EVERY INSTANCE THEY FAILED
“Should have their mouths washed out with holy water….Good Job Senator”
(Man sits back with a satisfied look on his face)
ONE OF THOSE FOUR PEOPLE WAS MY MOTHER
(Man reaches for his belt buckle and starts to undo his trousers)
(Cut back to missy with slightly different colour palette, now more purple)
(Cut to Eminem dressed as Max Headroom on a TV screen. ‘Rap God’ starts play)
IF THOSE THREE YEARS REPRESENTED AS A SUPERCUT OF THE TV SERIES ‘SUCCESSION’ – IT WOULD LOOK SOMETHING LIKE THIS
(Cut to actress saying the line:)
“Well if you can’t handle it…then fuck off”
(Cut to actor in response)
“Who are you?”
(Cut to actor in repose)
“We do hate speech and roller coasters”
(Cut to TV Screen showing the news)
“There were some…unstable personalities involved”
(Cut to actor talking to another actor)
“…like mention those to you now?”
“Are you asking if you can blackmail me?”
“Im not…I would…I would hate that…I like you…It’s just….you know….Context”
“Very well. I accept your blackmail”
“No. Im not blackmailing”
“But you are though…you piece of shit”
(Cut to man coming through door talking to another man seated at a desk holding a phone up to his face)
“Where’s the link?…why did no-one send me the link”
“Just…fucking google it”
(Cut to man being interviewed)
“Are you aware of any document destruction that might hinder our inquiries?”
“I…I think…Ah…Uhhh”
(Cut to two men in the back of a car that is travelling talking to each other)
“Slippery Cunt”
(Cut to man with sunglasses)
“I will come to you…”
(Over) “it does not work”
“…with a fucking razor blade… “
(Over) “for us”
“….and I will cut your…”
(Cut to bearded man facing him also talking)
(Over) “yeah”
(Both) “fucking dick off”
“And then push it up your cunt”
(Cut to man opening a bottle)
“He can do whatever the fuck he likes, he’s like a human Saudi Arabia”
(Cut to animated older gentleman)
“No one goes sniffing around my fucking panties”
(Cut to man talking to a woman)
“…The fuck is his obsession with Milk?…You know who drinks milk?,..Kittens and Perverts”
(Cut to another man talking to another woman on a boat)
“Just ignore the headline OK? Disregard that because…”
(Woman throws her phone overboard shouting the word:)
“Waaa”
(Cut to Missy talking on Portuguese TV)
“I’m Missy Jubilee…I’m an Artist…Im a film-maker…”
(Cut to naked missy in a bedroom discarding her clothes)
PLEASE STAND BY
“….I’m a remixer of music….”
(Cut to Missy in blue and orange tones, then cut back to Missy’s interview)
“…I’m a sculptor of sound….I’m an experimental writer…and any wanky arty term you want to call me”
AND I WROTE THIS FILM FOR THOSE 4 PEOPLE
(Cut to Missy smoking naked outside a building. ‘Like a River’ by Ocie Elliott starts playing)
YOU TRIED TO HOLD ME DOWN
SO I BECAME A SOLDIER
YOU BUILT UP ALL THOSE WALLS
AND I CLIMBED OVER EVERY ONE OF THEM
YOU TOOK ME FOR A FOOL
BUT THAT DOESN’T MAKE ME FOOLISH
YOU TOLD ME I WAS WRONG
AND PASSION MADE YOU RUTHLESS
YOU LIED AND MANIPULATED
BUT IT WAS ALL TOO LATE
BECAUSE I WAS ALWAYS TWO STEPS AHEAD OF YOU
YOUR FUELING OF THE FLAMES
MADE ME SHOW WHAT IM MADE OF
I BROKE EVERY CHAIN
THAT YOU PUT ON ME
YOU TRIED TO MAKE ME BELIEVE
THAT I COULDNT DO WITHOUT YOU
IT WASNT THAT HARD TO LEAVE YOU
BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS THOUGHT
IT WAS ALL ABOUT YOU
YOU WERE TRAPPED
I NYOU ROWN CHONOSTATIC DELUSION
AND NOW I HAVE ONLY ONE THING
TO SAY TO YOU
(Cut to man putting on a jacket)
“You’re needy love sponges…and Im a plant that grows on a rock and lives off insects that die inside of me”
(Cut to Brett and Jermain talking to Dave)
Jermain: “What is the bird”
(Dave holds up his middle finger)
Brett: “What’s that?”
Dave: “That’s the bird”
Brett (unconvinced): “Well that bird doesn’t have any wings…its only got one leg”
Jermain: “Have you seen this one Dave?” (Starts flapping his hands together)
Dave: “no…no…thats not the bird…this is the bird (showing his middle finger to Jermain)
Brett: “No..that’s the bird”
Jermain: “its more like a bird”
Brett: “That’s the bird” (pointing to Jermains hands flapping)
Dave: “Thats not the bird…This is the bird Brett” (holding his middle finger up to Brett)
Brett: “Thats not…That’s a little bird”
Jermain: “What about this?” (Starts flapping both hands)
Dave: “No. That looks stupid….looks like you are waving to two people on either side of you”
Jermain looks around and agrees; “Aww. It does too”
(Cut to scene from the Good the Bad and the Ugly where Eli Wallach’s character is trying to dig up the buried gold in the cemetery. Lee Van Cleef’s character throws him a shovel. Clint Eastwoods character looks on with interest)
EPILOGUE: IN THIS WORLD, THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF PEOPLE. THOSE WITH LOADED GUNS. AND THOSE WHO DIG.
Lee Van Cleef (to Clint Eastwood): “Two can dig quicker than one…….dig”
(Clint Eastwood reaches for a cigar)
Lee Van Cleef: “You’re not digging?”
IN THE MIDDLE AGES, WHEN THE ARISTOCRATS WERE DISPLEASED WITH THE ARTISTS
Clint Eastwood lights his Cigar. Lee Van Cleef cocks his gun. Eli Wallach stares at them ruefully.
THEY WOULD TIE THEM TO A RACK AND CUT OUT THEIR TONGUES
Clint Eastwood: “If you shoot me, you won’t see a cent of that money”
Lee Van Cleef: “Why?”
Clint Eastwood: “I’ll tell you why (kicks open coffin lid to expose skeleton lying within)….because there’s nothing in there”
THIS DID NOT PROVE THAT THE ARTISTS WERE UNWORTHY
(Eli Wallach crosses himself, then realising he had been duped pics up the shovel to swing at Clint Eastwood): “you son of a….”
Clint Eastwood: “Do you think I would trust you?”
IT JUST PROVED THEY WERE SCARED OF WHAT THE ARTIST HAD TO SAY
Clint Eastwood: “Two hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money….we’re gonna have to earn it“
Lee Van Cleef: “how?”
(Clint Eastwood walks away to form a triangle between the three men)
NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED
(Cut to missy naked on a beach. Dopamine by Steve Angello starts to play. Missy removes her sunglasses)
CREDITS ROLL
(Cut to Lee Van Cleef staring with his snake eyes)
(Cut to Missy staring at the camera, dragging on a cigarette)
(Cut to Eli Wallach staring at Clint Eastwood)
(Cut to Missy staring at the camera)
(Cut to long shot of Clint Eastwood throwing his cape away from his drawing arm, exposing his holstered pistol he backs away)
(Cut to Lee Van Cleef, realising the game is afoot he suddenly looks wary, he turns to look at Eli Wallach)
(Cut to Missy wearing sunglasses turning her head the same way)
(Cut to Clint Eastwood shifting his stance)
(Cut to Eli Wallah staring at Lee Van Cleef)
(Cut to Lee Van Cleef staring at Eli Wallah)
(Cut to Eli Wallah staring at Lee Van Cleef)
(Cut to Missy staring at the camera, shifting her stance)
(Cut to long shot of all three of the Good the Bad and the Ugly all shifting to get into position for a gunfight)
(Cut to Missy staring at the camera)
(Cut to long shot of all the men backing up around the cemetery circle)
(Cut to Missy looking right then left, then straight back at the camera)
(Cut to long shot of the three gunmen)
(Cut to Eli Wallach staring straight ahead to the right of the camera)
(Cut to Lee Van Cleef staring straight ahead to the left of the camera)
(Cut to Clint Eastwood staring straight ahead to the left of the camera)
(Cut to Lee Van Cleef turning his head to the left)
(Cut to close up of holstered pistol of each man)
(Cut to close up of Eli Wallach staring at Clint Eastwood then Lee Van Cleef)
(Cut to close up of Clint Eastwood looking at Lee Van Cleef then Eli Wallach)
(Cut to close up of Lee Van Cleef looking at Eli Wallach)
(Cut to Missy Jubilee looking at the camera)
(Cut to close up of Eli Wallach’s eyes darting from one to the other)
(Cut to hand hovering over pistol)
(Cut to Lee Van Cleef’s eyes darting from one to the other)
(Cut to hand hovering over pistol)
(Cut to Missy Jubilee looking at the camera)
(Cut to close up of Eli Wallach’s eyes darting from one to the other)
(Cut to close up of Clint Eastwoods eyes staring at Lee Van Cleef)
(Cut to close up of Eli Wallach’s eyes darting from one to the other)
(Cut to hand hovering over pistol)
(Cut to Lee Van Cleef’s eyes darting from one to the other)
(Cut to Missy Jubilee looking at the camera)
(Cut to hand hovering over pistol)
(Cut to Clint Eastwood staring at Eli Wallach)
(Cut to hand hovering over pistol)
(Cut to Lee Van Cleef staring at Eli Wallach)
(Cut to Clint Eastwood staring at Eli Wallach)
(Cut to close up of Eli Wallach’s eyes darting from one to the other)
Cut to Missy Jubilee looking at the camera)
(Cut to Lee Van Cleef’s eyes darting from one to the other)
(Cut to hand hovering over pistol)
(Cut to Lee Van Cleef staring at Eli Wallach)
(Cut to Clint Eastwood staring at Eli Wallach)
(Cut to pistol being drawn and fired)
(Cut to long shot of Clint Eastwood drawing and shooting)
(Cut to long shot of Lee Van Cleef falling and trying to get back up again)
(Cut to Eli Wallach desperately checking his pistol for bullets, then staring at Clint Eastwood)
(Cut to Clint Eastwood, Gun drawn, he cocks it again)
(Cut to Eli Wallach visibly shrinking from the impending shot that does not come his way)
(Cut to Lee Van Cleef laying in the dirt looking at Clint Eastwood with dread, he tries to reach for his gun again)
(Cut to Clint Eastwood firing his gun)
(Cut to a killed Lee Van Cleef falling into the open grave)
(Cut to Eli Wallach turning to Clint Eastwood)
(Cut to Clint Eastwood remaining impassive)
Cut to END
Clint Eastwood: “You see in this world there’s two kinds of people my friend; those with loaded guns, and those who dig”
……………
This film addresses your feelings towards those who have opposed your project.
The use of cutting scenes to emphasise your points is a trademark of your work, and you utilise it superbly as usual.
The reason they opposed your project is not mentioned. Nor are the players (other than your mother).
The inference is that they opposed the project due to its lasciviousness, but perhaps the tongue was attempted to be cut for other reasons; I remember at one stage you referring to membership of a cult that you escaped from and that the cult continued to try and silence previous members?
Anything could be true here
The difference between fictional narrative explanations and factual documentary evidence can be blurred when we are throwing popcorn into our mouths while staring at the screen.
But that does not detract from the message of the film.
There is a sense of ‘you step on my foot… and I will stamp all over yours’ in the message you are sending, but I think the greater testimony is in the success you continue to enjoy by carrying on with the project.
Not many films left now. The end goal is in sight.
Have you ever considered piracy?
You’d make a wonderful Dread Pirate Roberts.