Died Young, Stayed Pretty

There's not much pretense in Eileen Yaghoobian's irreverent and in depth documentary Died Young, Stayed Pretty: it's about Rock Posters. Sound lame? Well it's not. It's actually a fascinating look at the men and women behind some of the greatest visual art in the last two decades. I am biased in loving this film with a background in graphic design, but my wife (God love her) with no photoshop skills whatsoever was completely entranced by the film's raw sexy power.

Ever since seeing the film I've been telling people the story about the guy in the film who goes on a conspiracy-laced rant about Elvis being gay in front of a from-the-knee-up rendering of The King in an outfit only reserved for Village People members with a hot pink revolver sticking out of his belt.

The camera catches this motley crew underground artists candidly expressing their thoughts on religion, politics, celebrities and even typeface. I was dumbfounded to hear the fact that a big majority of these poster artists, famous alike, were doing their work for free. An occasional comped round of drinks or merchandise was rewarded for their duties but for the most part these cats were doing it for art's sake or to help their own band get noticed.

The doc balances a narrative approach that makes you feel like you're plopped down on the beanbag in the studio with the artists commpared to the alternately in-your-face audacity and punk style of many of the posters featured in the film. The soundtrack, conveying the mood and essence of the film, is deftly composed by Mark Greenberg of the early 90s band the Coctails.

The film isn't simply a showcase of old Ramones' posters and silkscreens and photocopies of babes in bikinis with Reagan's head pasted on (although it definitely has some of that) but an exhibition of the context and psychology of the artists and what inspires and incenses their souls. So watch this film so the next time you see your favorite band's poster stapled to a telephone pole you can actually appreciate the skill and thought that went in to it. And if someone tears it down, punch them in the face. No don't do that, seriously. Invite them to see this film at the Little Rock Film Fest.

You can watch the trailer and find out more information about the film including screening times here. Ms. Yaghoobian will be at the screening Friday May 15th at 4:30 PM and Saturday May 16th at 5:00 PM at the Riverdale Cinema.