MUSIC WORKS DONE FOR HIRE:
Short film, “SPIRIT,” for PATTI SMITH’S cover version of
NIRVANA’S “SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT” (2007, Super 8, 7:30)
(Before 1997, Jem did some commissioned collaborations with music groups, which can be considered “music videos.” Some were done with friends, and most were done without the input or interference of record labels.
Please note: Jem did not and does not consider himself a “music video director.”
YOU’RE THE ONE, LEE Miracle Legion (1989, Super 8, 4 min.)
SNACKS AND CANDY Miracle Legion (1992, Super 8, 4:15 min.)
FLAT DUO JETS DOCUMENT (1989, Super 8, 6:30 min.)
E-BOW, THE LETTER, R.E.M. with Patti Smith (1996, 16mm, 5:22)
NIGHTSWIMMING (short form), R.E.M., (1993, Super 8, 16mm, 4:20)
COUNTRY FEEDBACK , R.E.M., (1992, Super 8, 4:40)
BELONG, R.E.M., (1992, Super 8, 5 min.)
TALK ABOUT THE PASSION, R.E.M., (1988, Super 8, 3:50)
I WAS DANCING IN THE LESBIAN BAR, Jonathan Richman
(1996, 16mm, 3 min.)
THE FOUR SEASONS/WINTER (LONGFORM) Antonio Vivaldi
Orpheus Orchestra with Gil Shaham, (1994, 16mm, Super 8, 6:40)
CONCERT À QUATRE, VOCALISE, Olivier Messiaen
Myung-Whun Chung, Bastille Opera Orchestra (1996, Super 8, 5:20)
The above works, with the exception of SNACKS AND CANDY and
FLAT DUO JETS, are collected on a MUSIC WORKS compilation.
It is not available for purchase, but can be rented through Video Data Bank and the Lux.
It also includes LUCKY THREE and the ‘Away’ PSA.
INDEPENDENT MUSIC FILMS:
LUCKY THREE, (Elliott Smith Portrait)
(1997, 16mm, 11 min.) Elliott Smith portrait
The following three films are included as extras on the
BENJAMIN SMOKE dvd:
FROM FUR CITY - Cat Power live at Warsaw (Brooklyn)
(2002, 16mm, 4:30) Shot with Pete Sillen
THE FOXX AND LITTLE VIC Vic Chesnutt with T.Griffin and Catherine McRae (2001, 16mm, 6:30 min.) Shot with Pete Sillen
GEORGIA THIEF
Smoke at the Clermont Lounge, Atlanta (2002, Super 8, 5:15 min.)
LIVE FILM/MUSIC COLLABORATIONS (partial list):
EVENING’S CIVIL TWILIGHT IN EMPIRES OF TIN.
Jem Cohen’s films with live music, at the Kino Gartenbau Theatre, Vienna, commissioned by the Viennale Film Festival. An exploration of Empire, inspired by Joseph Roth’s 1930’s novel, The Radetzky March.
With VIC CHESNUTT, MEMBERS OF SILVER MT. ZION, GUY PICCIOTTO, DAVE PAYANT, T.GRIFFIN, AND CATHERINE MCRAE Nov. 1, 2007
With TERRY RILEY:
Rotterdam Film Festival/Sound Check Live
BLESSINGS, OMENS, SPELLS AND MOJOS
Feb. 4, 2005 and Cinematexas Film Festival/Eye + Ear
Sept. 9, 2004
Two Films were made for:
STORIES, MAPS, AND NOTES FROM THE HALF-LIGHT:
Improvised Music Performance and Film Screenings with
BOXHEAD ENSEMBLE
NEW YORK WATERS (NUMBERS 1 AND 2) (2004, 16mm, 6 min.)
IN CAPE BRETON (2001, 16mm. 6 MIN.)
With GODSPEED YOU BLACK EMPEROR!
An extensive series of films were made for the band’s live performances from late 2000 through 2003
Live film/music improvisations for the Ex 25th Anniversary Celebration and convoy tour. Amsterdam, France, and Brussels, Nov. 2004
With:
Andy Moor and Ian MacKaye
Andy Moor and Yannis Kyriakides
The Evens
John Butcher
Katherina (Ex), Amy Farina, Wilf Plum
With Patti Smith:
FOOTAGE OF WORLD TRADE CENTER RUINS
used in live performances, inc.
Pittsburgh, PA.
Sept. 2002
With T.Griffin:
8-BALL CORNER POCKET
Live show at Collective Unconscious
March 6, 2001
With MARY MARGARET O’HARA a 16mm film was projected with an improvised song at The Stone, Jan. 5, 2008
With BLONDE REDHEAD:
Live show at a movie theater in Milan
1997
With R.E.M.:
An extensive series of films were made for the band’s
1989 and 1995 world tours. Some are documented on the R.E.M. Tourfilm documentary, others are included on the R.E.M. Parallel compilation.
With STEPHEN VITIELLO and guests:
Music for Film/Film for Music
BROOKLYN MUSEUM
1996
with HOUSE SLEEPS FIRE
(Stephen Vitiello, Gabriel Cohen, Knox Chandler, Shin Shimokawa)
Misc. live New York shows at
The Kitchen, Dia Foundation, Segue