With two films up for immediate release, Filmmaker Courtney Fathom Sell may be retired from filmmaking forever?
The twenty-four year old lo-fi videographer responsible for such underrated films as ‘White Clover’, ‘My Dying Day’, and of course ‘Long Way Back To Paradise’ *Well, we won’t get into that*, has made many claims to close friends and family members of retiring from the field of filmmaking for good, for reasons which are best left unknown. Perhaps the king of lo-fi has become overwhelmed with new age technology, or perhaps he’s just sick of being pushed aside at every film festival or screening event he has been apart of – either way, we are hear to clarify these rumors and be the first to announce that they are FALSE!
Yes the Filmmaker has recently expressed interest in taking a break from movies to indulge in some music making, but that certainly won’t be a replacement. Actually, Sell – who we recently had the chance to catch up with via phone conversation explained how excited he was about his upcoming project (something which he refused to give any details about, yet told us that it was to be his “deepest & heaviest” project to date) Such claims seem hard to top since the filmmaker’s 2007 award winning short documentary ‘My Dying Day’ dove pretty deep as he captured the last days of his Father, who was suffering from an aggressive form of cancer. ‘My Dying Day’ is set for official release through Emphasis Entertainment, the same group responsible for releasing the Filmmaker’s debut doc. ‘No Place Like Home’ last summer, in the spring of 2009 & the DVD is said to include a never-before-seen 45 minute short entitled ‘Heaven is My Last Resort’ which features many longer and in-depth conversations between the filmmaker and his Father.
Along with the release of his short doc. – Sell’s anticipated new film entitled ‘You Can’t Hear Me’ which seems to be a mixture of music video vignettes accompanied by a live performance from indie-band Xiu Xiu, whom he previous directed a music video for, is due out later this month through MVD Entertainment. The film is somewhat of a mystery as not much has really been posted about it, but Sell, who apparently worked on the film for nearly eight months seems happy with the final cut and ready to release it upon the world.
“I gave it everything I could – and now it’s time to let it go.” claims the filmmaker, who shot the project on his beloved hi-8 video camera, the same camera which he received as a christmas present over seven years ago, and has shot every single one of his projects on to date. In regards to such a decision, Sell explained to us:
“Actually, I’m afraid of the idea of working on a project without it. It has become somewhat of a comfort tool. I can’t imagine working without it. Though the quality is deteriorating im sure, and the tapes are slowly become out-dated and no longer sold in stores, I still think i’m happy with the outcome it gives me. I talk with all these other filmmaker’s about their projects and they all seem so caught up on what their shooting on, and I just have to back up and say to myself ‘Man, who the fuck cares? If i’m shooting a documentary – the most important piece in the project is the main subject in front of the camera, not the camera itself. As long as I can capture life and moments which I feel to be special and beautiful, i’m happy. Plus, i’m broke’.
Sell, who has directed numerous intimate documentaries, most of which who he spent his time living with his main subjects, has moved on to music video directing – beginning with his controversial debut for Xiu Xiu’s single ‘Master of the Bump’ which aired on pitchforkmedia.com over July 4th weekend in 2008. The video actually featured a quick snippet, an ‘accident’ as he claims, of the filmmaker’s personal telephone number within the video. Once the video was released, Sell was busy fielding numerous text-messages and strange late-night phone calls from fans’ asking him to ‘Meet them by the rocks’ (For further explanation, see the video – however, be warned, it’s not anything to show Mom and Dad). Regarding the situation, Sell commented:
“You know, that was funny. And at first, very cute. But I’m so shy and private, and live in my own world. And that was in fact an accident – but it happened and it was interesting to see how it worked out. Some of the calls and texts were actually very funny and creative and it was a great feeling to know someone would take the time to pause their screen and dial me up, but after a while of receiving calls and texts at 6 in the morning while I was trying to sleep off a long night before – the whole thing got tiring. But still, it was amazing while it was good.”
Sell claims he plans on including his personal email within his next music video and promises to respond to everyone who takes the time to find it and write.
“I love the whole interactive thing. I just hate phones. And hate phone conversations. I’ve never been good at them. Maybe I just hate my voice on the phone. Anyways – email seems like a reasonable way to go’.
So be on the look-out!
Along with films, Sell has begun his musical side project which is currently titled ‘The Ugly Sterotypes’ and has begun recording the first demo which features various older songs which he once recorded when living in New York. The demo/album (He doesn’t like to considerate it either, simply ‘A mix-tape’) will be called ‘No Religion in Heaven’ and feature both soft instrumental tracks specifically created to score his films, as well as heavier and more aggressive tunes such as his once-released, long-time forgotten or never heard song ‘Transparent Christ’ which he released with his older project +, along side Xavier St. Valentine – the man behind the electro-experimental band WIRES!WIRES!.
Along with all of that – deep sigh – Sell has also claimed to have plans on releasing his first novel within the year – yet he refuses to go into any detail regarding such claims. The Filmmaker currently resides in Providence, RI and doesn’t go out much.
Mark R. (Scenic Drive Zine, Boston MA)
