Local filmmakers mix music, art into movies
By: Alex Minor
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programming and releasing it straight to video or releasing it locally, and nothing ever came to fruition," Rumfelt said. "When I met Dave Kabler, he had been working in film. We talked about it and decided to go forward.
The duo quickly realized that they were destined for success, according to Rumfelt.
"Seeing some of our goals being accomplished, we realized that we worked well together and were compatible. At that point we decided, 'Yeah, let's do it. Let's start our own video production company,'" Rumfelt said, 28-years old.
Wanderlost is Eyesore's third feature.
The first, Chronic Effort, functioned as a video compilation of art including punk rock, performance art, photography, spoken word and slide shows of paintings.
"We wanted to use it as a way to see that everyone in our subculture could have their piece, their voice," Rumfelt said.
These first cinematic productions served as a learning experience for the young production company.
"At the time we saw it as sort of our student film. Our way of learning the process of working with cameras and working with crew, working with people running sound, learning our limitations, and a lot of rules that we either figured out how to break or correct ourselves to follow," Rumfelt said.
Eyesore's next production, Mountain Punks Fight Dirty, developed as a collaboration with local nonprofit show-space collective El Nuevo.
"They had seen us at shows shooting our stuff and seen Chronic Effort, and we had conspired with them about doing a showcase," Rumfelt said. "We decided to interview the collective members and share with the world out there what collectivism is and what that type of volunteer-based venue space that was all ages was all about."
Mountain Punks Fight Dirty showcased some of Asheville's seminal bands, including Electric Damn, Wooden Tit, Trouble Trouble Trouble and the Ahleuchatistas.
The film also features interviews with El Nuevo's core collective members and the work of local graffiti artist Rob Hunt.
"I feel like something hasn't been created quite like our project, where we try to deliver these people's ideas in a way that allows peoples' minds to take them through the subject and be interested by not only what they were doing, but the type of music that was creatively worked through in our community," Rumfelt said.
The production of Wanderlost is based out of Eyesore's headquarters at the River Arts District's Wedge Studios.
"We use every inch of the studio space, from one set to another. That studio has been a focal point in our movie," Rumfelt said.
Recently, at a casting call held at their studio space, local community members were filmed at a staged punk show for the most elaborate of Wanderlost's sets several sets.
Local bands Nasty Ponies, Space Weed and The Chops played during the shoot.
"Everyone on the crew is a big fan of Nasty Ponies, so that was an easy pick. We had originally talked about getting some touring acts, maybe some bigger names in the underground, but we wanted to showcase Asheville music in this movie too and give the community a place in the film," Rumfelt said.
Wanderlost works as a collaborative effort in which everyone's point of view is considered.
Strapped for funding, the crew has come up with creative solutions to otherwise expensive costuming and set design.
"A lot of what we've relied on is ingenuity, dumpster diving and rummaging and scavenging stuff," Rumfelt said. "We look like we don't know what we're doing, but we've got an idea and have a plan. That's what it takes to make a movie. Sometimes it's held together by duct tape and rubber cement, but it holds together."
Wanderlost's staff is volunteer-based and requires a lot of commitment from its crew, many of whom fulfill multiple roles on set.
Kabler works as the writer, director, producer and art director for the film; Dan Judson wrote the original screenplay and is a coproducer, the director of cinematography and the location manager; Rumfelt works as the lead actor, coproducer, assistant director and writing assistant; and Aubrey Adams is the film's lead actress.
However, Rumfelt said many others have been essential to the film's successful production and popularity.
"We plan on having some parties coming up. We're having a big party April 14, an art show at the Wedge. We'll be auctioning-off paintings from the punk show," Rumfelt said.
Eyesore Productions anticipates a release date before the end of the year, hoping to feature the film in festivals.
A Web site for the film is in the works, however some information can be found on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/eyesorevideo.com.
"Wanderlost, check out our movie. It's going to be a good film. It's going to be a rock-n-roll train wreck," Rumfelt said.
2008 Woodie Awards




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Mitch Rumfelt
posted 7/28/08 @ 11:43 PM EST
I would like to make a correction to this posting. This post does not include the 1st page of this interview. Is it possible to have this article in its entirety. (Continued…)
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