Q&A: Blank City

The Q&A after Saturday night's world premiere of Blank City turned into a veritable roll call of artists and icons from the No Wave and Cinema of Transgression film movements that began in late-'70s New York. Director Celine Danhier was joined by producer Aviva Wishnow and executive producers Dan Braun and Josh Braun at the front of the theater as they introduced many of the documentary's interview subjects who were in the crowd, among them Nick Zedd, Amos Poe, Richard Kern, Sara Driver, Charlie Ahearn, Patti Astor, and Pat Place.

Once we finished craning our necks to see all the cult celebs in the crowd, the big question on everyone's mind was, "Where can we watch all the films talked about in Blank City?" 

"Good question. Next question," joked Dan Braun. "We hope that [Blank City] will generate interest for a lot of these films in some form. I think a lot of these films deserve to be re-seen. So we shall see."

Others wanted to know how Danhier, a first-time director from France, discovered all the little-seen cult films her documentary explores. "When I came to New York, I was very into the music scene," she said. And as the film attests, the downtown music and film scenes were closely intertwined. Blank City, she said, is a collaboration between all the artists and musicians who gave their time—and contacts—to the project. Danhier didn't have much more to say, which was understandable considering she had only finished the film the previous night. "Celine, Aviva, and [editor] Vanessa [Roworth] basically haven't slept for about 14 days," said Braun. But judging by the crowd's applause, their efforts were well worth it.  




 

Rush Tickets are available for the final screening of Blank City on Friday, May 1, at 6:00 p.m.