The Attic
Once Upon A Time In Nashville
In “ONCE UPON A TIME IN NASHVILLE: THE DEATH OF HANK WILLIAMS” musician Don Helms recounts the death of Hank Williams. It is a short clip of a longer experimental documentary project that Frank Anderson is directing.
Everyone’s Summer Of ’95
(Music Video, IRON & WINE, 2015)
Celebrated singer-songwriter Iron & Wine has just released a new music video for “Everyone’s Summer Of ’95”, co-directed by September Clubber Erin Elders and featuring our friend David Dastmalchian (“Animals”). It’s an exclusive today on IndieWire.
For over a decade, the prolific Sam Beam has been releasing albums to great acclaim under the moniker Iron & Wine. Carving out a distinct niche, his music falls between indie and folk, but is not contained by the boxes of either genre. And fans of the musician have a lot to look forward to in 2015. In July, he’ll release his next full length, Sing Into Your Mouth, but on store shelves now is Archive Series Volume No. 1. As the title suggests, it’s a crate-digging affair by Beam, who has gone through unreleased home recordings and demos and made them available for the first time. And today we have the exclusive video premiere for “Everyone’s Summer Of ’95”.
Featuring David Dastmalchian, and directed by Erin Elders and Jeff Tomcho, the video is a moody piece set across one night, with a wrestling match at the centre. It pairs nicely with the more sombre shades of Iron & Wine’s song.
Directed by Erin Elders & Jeff Tomcho
Starring David Dastmalchian (“Animals”)
For other music videos and odds and ends, explore the Attic.
Mondo Lucha!
(Documentary Short, 2014)
Before You
(Short Documentary, 2013)
A spirit of Malickian wonder permeates this poignant and lyrical tribute to the stories that parents pass onto their children. This is a very personal, poetic documentary.
Directed and edited by Michael Vollmann.
Before You from Michael T. Vollmann on Vimeo.
Paraphernalia
(Music Video, MARITIME, 2011)
We braved the worst snow storm in recorded history to film this music video for our fearless leader of post-production Dan Didier’s band, Maritime. The result — the official music video for “Paraphernalia” from Maritime’s fourth album “Human Hearts.”
A September Club Project
Directed & Edited by Barry Poltermann
Filmed by Ryan Dembroski, Rob Schoonover & Barry Poltermann
For other music videos and odds and ends, explore the Attic.
You Don’t Know Her Name
(Music Video, MAPS, 2007)
A lonely garage inventor builds a seven-foot, banruku style puppet, and then takes it to a town dance competition, in this music video for the UK based band, Maps.
Shot in Wisconsin at the Historic Mill in Cedarburg, an art studio in Milwaukee’s Riverwest, and the Chandelier Ballroom in Hartford, the video and stars Didier Leplae (composer on The Pool) as the inventor who single-handedly builds a masterpiece.
Production Company: Purple Onion
Directed by Toben Seymore
Executive Producer: Andy Gorzalski
Producer: Justin Benoliel
The video also features Ryan Dembroski as the rather creepy, tuxedo clad Master of Ceremonies and Milwaukee Dancing Sensations Myke and Debbi.
For other music videos and odds and ends, explore the Attic.
BONUS TRACK: For more Myke and Debbi, see this video we did several years ago, filmed by Frank Anderson and David Dahlman.
Making “The Life of Reilly”
(“Making of” Featurette, 2005)
In the fall of 2004 we spent one incredible week with the iconic television and stage star, Charles Nelson Reilly, shooting his stage show (which would later be released as “The Life of Reilly”. This series of short documentaries, shot by the September Club’s David Dahlman, and edited by our team, would capture that week. These pieces were later released on the DVD of The Life of Reilly in 2008.
Enemy of the Stars
(Short Film, 2004)
Mock trailer for a non-existent french new wave film. Directed by Wrye Martin, filmed by Mike Welckle, edited by Barry Poltermann. Circa 2002-ish. We never did anything with this except use it for the reel. It’s stuck in our memory though!
For other music videos and odds and ends, explore the Attic.
The Making of ASWANG
(“Making of” Featurette, 2003)
Our friends at Mondo Macabro made this half hour documentary for the DVD release of Aswang.
It seemed like the perfect solution to an unwanted pregnancy. Marry the heir to a wealthy estate, deceive his dying mother, give them the baby when it’s born. Things are never as easy as they seem . . . when your new family has a taste for the blood of the unborn. The Filipino legend of the Aswang is transplanted to the north woods of America in this stylish horror film. “A dedicated, chilling, horror film” – Sundance Film Festival “My kinda flick . . . Three Stars . . . Check it out” – Joe Bob Briggs “Conveys terror through nuance and detail as well as selective splatter moments. If you only see one mutant baby movie this year, we strongly suggest you opt for Aswang” – New York Daily News
Sunflower Cable
(Documentary Short, 1996, Premiere IFC Channel)
Sunflower Cablevision was profiled in this piece from John Pierson’s Split Screen which debuted as part of episode #2, first broadcast in 1996.
The Real Fargo
(Documentary Short, 1996, Premiere IFC Channel)
In 1996 we made our first short documentary, when we were asked by John Pierson to do a piece for the pilot episode of IFC’s SPLIT SCREEN. First broadcast on the fledgling network in 1997, Minnesotan Wrye Martin directs this investigation of Brainerd, Minnesota, home of Paul Bunyan and immortalized by the Coen Brothers. Edited by Barry Poltermann.
This is the first piece we did for Split Screen, but it wasn’t the last.
A Purple Onion / Wilson Griak Production
Produced by Wrye Martin & Barry Poltermann
Directed by Wrye Martin
Edited by Barry Poltermann
What’s In Those Eyes
(Music Video, SPANIC BOYS, 1994)
This one goes way back to ’94 from the “Spanic Family Album”. All of the old footage is from original home movies.You can see Tom Spanic at 10 years old with his first electric guitar – a 1956 Blonde Stratocaster that he got for his birthday that year.
Director: Frank Anderson
For other music videos and odds and ends, explore the Attic.
21st Century Digital Boy
(Music Video, BAD RELIGION, 1991)
Shot by Wrye Martin on the 1991 European world tour of Bad Religion by Wrye Martin on an SVHS camera and a Bolex.
Edited by Barry Poltermann
For other music videos and odds and ends, explore the Attic.
Strange World
(Music Video, THE SPANIC BOYS, 1991)
The first Spanic Boys video was done by Purple Onion in 1991, and made it to MTV and CMT. Matching ’59 Caddies, houses and dogs. Featuring Lori Minetti who later went on to become the Wisconsin Lottery Hostess and her twin sister Lisa. What can I say, it was the early 90’s!
Spanic Boys | Strange World from Purple Onion Inc. on Vimeo.
For other music videos and odds and ends, explore the Attic.
Carolina
(Music Video, THE MIDWESTERNERS, 1991)
Steve “Buck” Farr directed this music vid for our friends The Midwesterners. Chris Barry shot it. 16mm film. Bad flicker but it kind of adds to it. No Budget!!!
And here’s some “Behind-The-Scenes” footage.
For other music videos and odds and ends, explore the Attic.
When I Belong To You
(Music Video, SIGRID, 1991)
Wow. Just Wow. John Biesack directed this piece we did for our friend Butch Vig (of GARBAGE and NIRVANA fame). The guys from GARBAGE produced it. John Waters has nothing on this one. Wrye Martin shot. Featuring the notorious Mr. Nude America, the late great Dick Bacon. Seriously.
For other music videos and odds and ends, explore the Attic.
Dead Roo
(Music Video, COSMIC PSYCHOS, 1991)
Some say that Kurt Cobain’s favorite band was the Cosmic Psychos (he was often spotted wearing one of their tour shirts). Butch Vig produced this one and we shot it one drunken day. The guys from Mudhoney were hanging out on set. A fun, amazing day making an awesomely stupid video for an awesomely stupid song. 1991.
Cosmic Psychos | Dead Roo from Purple Onion Inc. on Vimeo.
And here’s some “Behind the Scenes” footage from the shoot:
For other music videos and odds and ends, explore the Attic.
Viva Las Vegas
(Music Video, CALL ME BWANA, 1991)
The first music video we ever did. May, 1991.
For other music videos and odds and ends, explore the Attic.