Well, as promised, I have some noise news for you!
Stephen Petrus of Murderous Vision and Aaron Vilk of Nyodene D have been diligently working on a documentary of the Cleveland experimental music scene all summer. Vilk, unfortunately, couldn’t be reached but I talked to Petrus about the film and here’s the lowdown…
“Quite simply, [City/Ruins] is inspired by the greatest music scene around, the Cleveland noise scene,” Petrus said. “Aaron and I feel very lucky to be a part of that scene, and want to give back by doing some much needed documentation.”
The filming and editing began at the beginning of the summer and things are looking to wrap up around the end of the year.
“We will start by screening the film wherever possible. We have some good options already,” Petrus said about the release. “After, we plan to have it released on DVD in an initial run of 1000 copies sometime in early 2011.”
This thing is on it’s way, so get pumped! Petrus described the work as “maverick in many ways.”
“[The process of working on this film has been] very much a learning experience,” he said. “I have made several short films, but never a full length feature with dialog, etc. The Cityscape B-Roll footage had to be obtained in many instances by sneaking into places that we weren’t allowed access. It really got the heart rate up!!!”
Something else these guys had to learn while working on City/Ruins was that not everyone was as eager to participate as expected. Even so, they found themselves in close company.
“We originally intended to include a wider variety of experimental music,” Petrus said. “We found little cooperation outside of the Industrial side of things, so we just focused on that. It’s all good in the end, though. We are both a couple of Industrial scumbags anyhow!”
This community has always been less concerned with money and success than the music and each other. Petrus and Vilk are merely trying to show anyone who is willing to listen what we are all about.
“[The purpose of City/Ruins is] just to basically give those interested a peak inside of a small art movement with a solid core of friendship,” Petrus said. “Showing how our surroundings and interaction with each other has built something that we can all be proud of. Plus, it is just nice to make a time stamp of a very cool moment and the people who’ve made this moment happen.”
Petrus and Vilk have been hard at work interviewing everyone from performers to radio show hosts to concert-goers trying to capture the essence of the scene. I expect this film to do huge things for the community and I, personally, can’t wait to see the final product. I’m sure you can’t either…but for those of you are feeling impatient, here’s the trailer to tickle your tastebuds until the release!
Enjoy my friends!
Sounds from the Rust Belt 