Uppity-Negro.com

I leave town, cool stuff comes to town.

Playing this Saturday at Oak Street Cinema, 5:30 PM:

Lifetime Guarantee: Phranc's Adventures in Plastic

Phranc may be an unusual name for a woman, but Phranc is no ordinary androgynously handsome Jewish ex-punk-rocking lesbian. Oh no... she is also one of America's best Tupperware salesladies. Not an altogether obvious career move, but it makes more sense when you've experienced this documentary, which is simply fantastically Tupper-tastic!

Opening with clips of the original, hilarious recruitment ads for Tupperware, intercut with our own unconventional heroine, we instantly get into the chirpy swing of things, with Phranc soon emerging a star, as she kicks Tupper-ass at some very entertaining parties - women, or gay men, only please. Straight men are too impatient. "They want everything explained before the demonstrations."

Phranc got into plastic when she decided to settle down in LA with her family, as it allowed her to sing - you'll know the words to "Tupperware Lady" by the end. What's more, she really, REALLY believes in the products she eulogises.

Yeah yeah yeah, mentioned in Bitch. This is also typical.

Noticed the listing in City Pages, which I never read this early in the week. Normally I'd be here for the film and just not be aware of it until several days after the screening. Not sure if that's better or worse. . .

They also have an article on Borders Skirmishes:

At the Uptown Borders bookstore, employee relations suddenly count for a lot. The day after workers there announced they were seeking union representation, a box of candy and three cases of pop materialized in the break room. Within a week, the company's regional manager appeared in Minneapolis to chat up employees about their jobs and offer assistance with any workplace problems. Holly Krig, a two-year employee of the store and union supporter, wonders what will be next. "Maybe a pony?" she speculates. "Steaks?"

And they include a helpful link to BordersUnion.com, "The Borders Books Employee Web Site." In case you wanted to know more.

The film is part of Sound Unseen, a film and music festival that I always manage to forget about. They've also got the World Premiere of

Stan Ridgway: Holiday in Dirt

Stan Ridgway is a musician, storyteller and New Wave Icon; but mostly he is a songwriter, his songs often read like movie plots. His characters are deep and developed; of course, not all of them are people you would want to have dinner with. He holds a flashlight to the shadowy side of human existence — our flaws, secrets, and obsessions — all with a sardonic edge that skirts morbidity. His is a balladeer style that recalls the great traditions of folk and old time country music. Even if the instrumentation is electronic.

This is a filmed version of his most recent record "Holiday in Dirt". A compilation of 14 short films by 14 different filmmakers. The directors get total artistic freedom, but a budget of only $500 dollars. Each film uses a song from the record as its basis. The filmmakers are a who’s who of MTV video makers and art film provocateurs: Phil Harder, Rick Fuller, Steve Hanft, Carlos Grasso, Jim Ludke, Chuck Statler, Katherine Gordon, Simon Blake, Dan Brown, Hernan Barangan, David Roth, Heidi Frier & Charles Bowe, and Dave Moe.

Yep. I should leave here more often.