Athens, GA: Inside/Out
| Athens, GA: Inside/Out | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Tony Gayton |
| Written by | Tony Gayton |
| Produced by | Bill Cody |
| Cinematography | James Herbert |
| Edited by | Adam Wolfe |
| Distributed by | ASA Communications |
Release date |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Athens, GA: Inside/Out is a 1986 documentary film about the mid-1980s music scene in Athens, Georgia.[1][2] The film has been described as "the definitive portrait of the city's world-renowned music scene."[3]
Synopsis
[edit]Athens, GA: Inside/Out was the creation of Tony Gayton, a first-time director who recently graduated from the University of Southern California.[2] He was director, writer, and shot the documentary on the film.[1][3] The film was produced by Bill Cody.[4]
The film features interviews and concert footage of bands who were a part of the Athens music scene at the time, including R.E.M., Pylon, and The B-52s.[2] Other featured bands are the Bar–B–Q Killers, Dreams So Real, Flat Duo Jets, Kilkenny Cats, Limbo District, Love Tractor, The Squalls, and Time Toy.[1][5][6]
The documentary also features interviews with folk artists Howard Finster and Rev. John D. Ruth, whose wife plays the pump organ.[2][1][7] Athens poet John Seawright reads his work "I Broke My Saw" in the film. William "Ort" Carlton is featured as one of the film's narrators.[8][9][6][10] Another local personality in the film is Walter Rittenberg, owner of Walter's BBQ.[7][11]
Production
[edit]University of Georgia art professor James Herbert, the film's cinematographer, says he selected the film's locations with director Gayton.[10] Herbert says "I pushed for the most interesting visually. Some were appropriate as factual locations the bands played in."[10]
R.E.M. was filmed performing "Swan Song H" and Boudleaux Bryant's "All I Have to Do Is Dream" (mis-titled "Dream (All I Have to Do)" by R.E.M.) at the Seney–Stovall Chapel in Athens.[5][8][12] R.E.M. were also filmed performing in the Morton Building at 195 West Washington Street in Athens.[13] The Bar–B–Q Killers, Kilkenny Cats, and Time Toy were filmed performing at the Uptown Lounge on February 4, 1986.[11] Flat Duo Jets were filmed playing on the porch on a fraternity house at the University of Georgia.[14]
Mike Mills of R.E.M. and Mark Cline of Love Tractor were interviewed at Lay Park in Athens.[10] The Bar–B–Q Killers and Walter Rittenberg were interviewed at Walter's BBQ on 1660 West Broad Street in Athens.[10][15] ORT was filmed at his former house at 274 Trilby Street in Athens.[10]
Release
[edit]Athens, GA: Inside/Out premiered at Buckhead Cinema and Drafthouse in Atlanta on November 30, 1986.[11] This was an invitation-only showing for the participants in the film.[11] MTV's The Cutting Edge showed the documentary the same night. It had a limited theatrical run in 1987, mostly playing in major cities.[11]
Reception and legacy
[edit]The New York Times called Athens, GA: Inside/Out a "bright, scrappy new documentary" that had "a refreshingly homemade feeling; it's as likably odd and unpretentious as Athens itself."[1] The Washington Post wrote "Gayton's film reflects the energy and the self-made spirit of Athens," and also noted that, "Interviews and performances are skillfully interwoven."[7]
Athens, GA: Inside/Out was named pick of the week video by People magazine in 1988.[citation needed] It was named one of the Top Ten Films about Georgia by the New Georgia Encyclopedia.[2]
Rolling Stone wrote "Athens, GA: Inside/Out…helped bring the town’s music scene to national attention."[14] James Herbert, the film's cinematographer, went on to direct 14 music videos for R.E.M., as well as videos for other Athens bands, including The B-52s.[10][6]
The film was featured on the first six episodes of MTV's 120 Minutes, which held a contest "Win a Weekend in Athens, GA."[11]
Athens, GA. Inside/Out: Original Soundtrack was released by I.R.S. Records on vinyl and cassette.[5] A single from the soundtrack—The Squalls' "Na Na Na Na" and Flat Duo Jets' "Crazy, Hazy Kisses"—reached number two on the college radio charts.[11] The soundtrack was re-released in 2012.[12] A 21st-century critic noted "The soundtrack to Athens, GA: Inside/Out is a testament to how much of an impact bands from a certain era can have on a particular scene."[12]
On June 18, 2008, AthFest kicked off with a showing of Athens, GA: Inside/Out at Ciné, followed by a panel discussion and question and answer session with ORT, Vanessa Briscoe-Hay and Michael Lachowski of Pylon, Bob Hay of The Squalls, and other cast members.[16] Dexter Romweber of Flat Duo Jets performed a solo set following the session.[16]
In November 2021, the sequel Athens, GA Inside/Out 2: Red Turns Blue, produced by Bill Cody and Tony Brazier was released to streaming.[4][3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 Maslin, Janet (May 29, 1987). "Film: 'Athens, Ga.,' on Rock Bands". The New York Times. pp. C14. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Neupert, Richard (June 7, 2011). "Top Ten Films about Georgia". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- 1 2 3 Shearer, Andrew. "Sequel to influential Athens music documentary gets streaming release date". Online Athens. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- 1 2 Bergen, Colin. "Athens documentary Inside/Out gets a sequel after 30 years". The Red and Black. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- 1 2 3 Ankeny, Jason. Original Soundtrack - Athens, GA. Inside/Out Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved July 9, 2022
- 1 2 3 "Athens, Ga.- Inside Out". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- 1 2 3 Harrington, Richard (October 24, 1987). "'Athens, Ga.: Inside/Out'". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- 1 2 "Athens, Ga. - Inside/Out at Cine". Athens Cine. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ↑ Sanchez, Corina. "James Herbert". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Phillips, Julie (January 18, 2008). "Athens, GA - Inside/Out: Additional perspectives from those who participated in the movie". Athens Magazine. Archived from the original on January 18, 2008. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hale, Grace Elizabeth (February 13, 2020). Cool Town: How Athens, Georgia, Launched Alternative Music and Changed American Culture. UNC Press Books. pp. 212–213. ISBN 978-1-4696-5488-1 – via Google Books.
- 1 2 3 Mistich, Dan (October 18, 2012). "Various Artists: Athens, GA: Inside/Out Soundtrack, PopMatters". Pop Matters. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ↑ "Athens Music History Self-Guided Tour". Historic Athens Welcome Center. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- 1 2 Sullivan, James (November 22, 2011). "Rockabilly Hero Dexter Romweber Honored by Jack White, Exene Cervenka in New Doc". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ↑ Soriano, Ashley (April 10, 2019). "Formerly R.E.M.'s favorite barbecue spot, Broad Street location hasn't been able to hold a name". The Red and Black. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- 1 2 "Upcoming Events @ CINE". Cine. June 18, 2008. Archived from the original on June 18, 2008. Retrieved July 9, 2022.