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ALL
ABOUT AUTOMATIC VAUDEVILLE STUDIOS
Automatic
Vaudeville Studios is an independent movie studio based in Montreal, Quebec.
Since 1998, Automatic Vaudeville has been pushing the envelope in underground
cinema and live amusement, creating a diverse array of over 50 short films.
Relying on a talented repertory company of amateurs and professionals
alike, the studio has created an inspired catalogue of lunacy and artistic
experimentation. The AVS canon includes everything from monster movies
to musicals, from avant-garde events like the acclaimed Schandcycle
to fascinating fictional documentaries like The Recommendations
(see our Productions section for the full
skinny on all). Now expanding its repertoire to include radio projects
and feature film entertainment, Automatic Vaudeville prides itself on
creating old fashioned entertainment for the modern age.
OUR
HISTORY
To
say that Montreal’s Automatic Vaudeville Studios irrevocably changed
movies and the way we love them may be stretching it. More likely, however,
such a statement may in fact hit the nail right on the head. In a province
still haunted by the “Quiet Revolution” it seems a cinematic
revolution has been happening, quietly.
Automatic Vaudeville's earliest inception was in a rickety loft on St.
Laurent Boulevard, above breakfast institution Bagel Etc. It was there
that Seth W. Owen and Daniel Perlmutter launched this crazed enterprise,
in the company of Miss Jessica Moss and Mr. Eric Digras. Shooting on a
beat-up old video camera and editing with two VCRs, AVS sprung into action,
vowing to make a picture a week. The mandate was put into action on crisp
October eve with the seminal fright flick When
the Hippies Get Killed. More were soon to follow. Many
more. This was the age of the Tomato Boys, of our German expressionist
horror film Bluebeard,
of the western classic He
Killed for Love, the gangster pic The
Southside 5, and many other beloved gems made in an
enthusiastic display of community spirit. The Hi-Class Picture Show was
born in our very own living room, packed to the gills with curious cinephiles.
And so it began…
As the years have rolled by, Automatic Vaudeville has continued to evolve.
Mark Slutsky signed on as Head of Talent. The Old VCRs were exchanged
for a fancy shmancy on-line editing suite. The days of the old loft have
passed... though our latest studio has found us back in the heart of Montreal’s
plateau, after a stint in Park-Ex. Automatic Vaudeville has now made over
50 short films, and is continuing its mad dash for world domination.
YOUR
HI-CLASS PICTURE SHOW
The show must go on! Since AVS first opened their doors
these five words have been the guiding principle, the mantra that keeps
this studio machine rolling. And when we say show we mean SHOW. Harking
back to the days of yore, when a nickel would get you two features in
a movie palace fit for a king, Automatic Vaudeville's Hi-Class Picture
Shows offers all the glitz and glamour once associated with a night at
the movies. We're talking previews, serials, cartoons, newsreels, live
acts like tap dancers and monologuists, musicians and gorillas, the latests
in interactive technologies (Choose-O-Rama and, more recently, Solve-O-Rama)
and, of course, movies, lots of movies. Your Hi-Class Picture Show is
an evening not to be missed.
YOUR
HI-CLASS DVDs
The best of Automatic Vaudeville is currently available
on Your High Class DVDs, Vol. 1 & 2. Vol. 1 focuses
on the rough hewn yuk-fests that defined much of our early existence,
including such underseen gems as Young Cons, Spanked,
and Hot Sausage!, as well as the definitive documentary Automatic
Vaudeville presents A Perspectives Series Production: "Here's Looking
At Us" The Automatic Vaudeville Story: Chapter One: The Early Years: Automatic
Vaudeville 1998-2003: Our Story. Vol. 2 collects our latest
& best, including The Recommendations, the "award-winning" Schandfilm,
and the action-packed The Prisoner of Zenda. Both of these handsome
DVD-Rs are jam packed with invigorating extras, such as commentaries,
featurettes and original art work. To order your very own, please contact
us for more information at info (at) autovaud (dot) com.
ALL
ABOUT US
SETH W. OWEN
Head of Development
Seth W. Owen is a noted author, auteur, actor, emcee, talk show host and
celebrated curmudgeon whose films with Automatic Vaudeville include Hot
Sausage!, Apartment Complex and The Recommendations.
He recently collaborated with artist Nadia Moss on the short film What
They Ate, and serves as programming director for the Film Pop festival
in Montreal.
DANIEL PERLMUTTER
Head of Production
From his award-worthy turns in front of the camera on productions as varried
as Tomato Boys Die Young and Dancing With Myself to
his notorious behind the scenes antics on films like Sophisticated
Detectives and The Daily News, Perlmutter can be counted
on to "bring it." Along with his writing, directing and producing
work with Automatic Vaudeville, Perlmutter has also worked as a writer
and story editor on several children's shows and has had several feature
scripts optioned.
MARK SLUTSKY
Head of Talent
Noted bon vivant and adventurer Slutsky has had his turn both behind
and front of the camera, in films like The Recommendations, Approach
to the Castle, The Successor and lost epics like Obtained
Covenants Two: Son of Psychic Cat (a notorious production that was
the subject of the documentary exposé The Cat's in the Bag).
Slutsky is also a journalist, DJ, and shutterbug, in addition to his duties
as Film Editor at Montreal alt-weekly the Mirror.
For
the whole astounding story of our movie-mad history, be sure to check
out Automatic
Vaudeville presents Here’s Looking at Us: Chapter One: The First
Five Years: Automatic Vaudeville 1998-2004: Our Story,
currently available on Your
Hi-Class DVD Volume 1. |
