Friday, November 9, 7pm: Screening Tales of the American, Runtime: 1 hr. 46 min.
Q&A with Director: Stephen Seemayer and Writer & Editor: Pamela Wilson and Shaun Thyne and Alberto Miyares who appear in the movie.
SYNOPSIS
“Tales of the American” tells the story of the American Hotel, located at the heart of what has come to be called the Arts District. Built in 1905 as the city’s first hotel for African-Americans, the modest brick building at the corner of Traction and Hewitt has always been a haven for society’s outcasts, a magnet for colorful characters and a hotbed of creative energy.
From 1980-2001, it was the home of Al’s Bar, a legendary dive where punk bands like Black Flag, X and Nirvana played before finding fame and fortune.
Narrated by public radio personality John Rabe, “Tales of the American” features archival photos and footage, and interviews with artists, musicians and others who lived, worked or played at the American Hotel. Filmmakers Stephen Seemayer and Pamela Wilson — along with executive producer Michael Connelly, best-selling author of the Harry Bosch novels — have captured the history of a landmark, and the free spirit of a creative community now facing the challenges of overdevelopment and gentrification.
Director: Stephen Seemayer
Writer & Editor: Pamela Wilson
Cinematographer: Raymond Y. Newton
Narrator:John Rabe
Executive Producer: Michael Connelly
Producers: Pamela Wilson & Stephen Seemayer
Executive Producer: Jonathan Jerald
Associate Producer: Zach Seemayer
Sound/Music Supervisor: Justin Burrill
Music: Jesse Easter, POPDeFECT, Leather Hyman, Jake LaBotz, Ramiro Fauve, Lightnin’ Woodcock
Drone Photography: Corridor Digital (Sam Gorski & Nico Pueringer)
Animation: Alisa Ogura
Featuring interviews with musicians Joe Baiza, Bill Bateman, Ella Black, Toast Boyd, James Duck, Carlos Guitarlos, Jake LaBotz, Bruce Moreland, David Travis and Mike Watt; artists Richard Duardo, Gary Lloyd, Colette Miller, Alex Schaefer, Kent Twitchell and Marnie Weber; photographer Gary Leonard; fashion designer Oliver Manhattan; writer Kyle McCulloch; and actor Michael Shamus Wiles, among others.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT SEEMAYER STUDIOS: Stephen Seemayer (760)814-0822
Los Angeles Poverty Department’s Movie Nights at the Museum
Free movie screenings, free popcorn, free coffee & free conversation. Every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month, we screen movies about issues that are important to our Skid Row and downtown community at the #skidrowmuseum.
Location: Skid Row History Museum and Archive, 250 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
