Plexifilm
Encyclopedia
Plexifilm is an independent DVD
label and film production company co-founded by Gary Hustwit
(formerly VP of Salon.com) and Sean Anderson (formerly Director of DVD Development of The Criterion Collection
) in 2001. Plexifilm produces original films, releases films theatrically, and produces, distributes and markets DVDs.
heard of Plexifilm's interest in releasing a Blu-ray
version of the Sam Jones documentary I Am Trying to Break Your Heart: A Film About Wilco, the band urged fans in emails and on television appearances to not buy the new version. Wilco's stance is that the cost does not substantiate any gained value for the money to their fans. Plexifilm responded on their website that the quality of the transfer to Blu-ray is beneficial. Meetings between the band and the DVD company are ongoing as of December 2008.
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
label and film production company co-founded by Gary Hustwit
Gary Hustwit
Gary Hustwit is an independent filmmaker based in New York and London. He has produced and directed a number of documentaries including the 2007 film Helvetica.-Work:...
(formerly VP of Salon.com) and Sean Anderson (formerly Director of DVD Development of The Criterion Collection
The Criterion Collection
The Criterion Collection is a video-distribution company selling "important classic and contemporary films" to film aficionados. The Criterion series is noted for helping to standardize the letterbox format for home video, bonus features, and special editions...
) in 2001. Plexifilm produces original films, releases films theatrically, and produces, distributes and markets DVDs.
Controversy
In late 2008, after the band WilcoWilco
Wilco is an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo following singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup has changed frequently, with only singer Jeff Tweedy and bassist John...
heard of Plexifilm's interest in releasing a Blu-ray
Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the DVD format. The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs being the norm for feature-length video discs...
version of the Sam Jones documentary I Am Trying to Break Your Heart: A Film About Wilco, the band urged fans in emails and on television appearances to not buy the new version. Wilco's stance is that the cost does not substantiate any gained value for the money to their fans. Plexifilm responded on their website that the quality of the transfer to Blu-ray is beneficial. Meetings between the band and the DVD company are ongoing as of December 2008.
Releases
- ODDSACODDSACODDSAC is an experimental "visual album" by Animal Collective, featuring psychedelic visuals directed and edited by Danny Perez.First announced in August 2006, the film took over four years to complete...
by Animal CollectiveAnimal CollectiveAnimal Collective is an experimental psychedelic band originally from Baltimore, Maryland, currently based in New York City. Animal Collective consists of Avey Tare , Panda Bear , Deakin , and Geologist...
& Danny PerezDanny PerezDanny Perez is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. Perez was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the twenty-first round of the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft. He played at the Major League level with the team in 1996....
(2010) - ObjectifiedObjectifiedObjectified is a feature-length documentary film examining the role of everyday non-living objects, and the people who design them, in our daily lives. The film is directed by Gary Hustwit...
by Gary Hustwit (2009) - Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell by Matt Wolf (2008)
- You Think You Really Know Me: The Gary Wilson Story by Michael Wolk (2008)
- HelveticaHelvetica (film)Helvetica is an independent feature-length documentary film about typography and graphic design, centered on the typeface of the same name. Directed by Gary Hustwit, it was released in 2007 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the typeface's introduction in 1957 and is considered the first of...
by Gary Hustwit (2007) - Wasted Orient by Kevin Fritz (2007)
- High Tech Soul by Gary Bredow (2006)
- We Jam Econo: The Story of the MinutemenWe Jam EconoWe Jam Econo - The Story of the Minutemen, is a full-length documentary about the influential 1980s punk rock band Minutemen, created by director Tim Irwin and producer Keith Schieron in association with Rocket Fuel Films...
by Tim Irwin and Keith Schieron (2006) - Kill the Moonlight by Stephen Hanft (2006)
- Guided by VoicesGuided by VoicesGuided by Voices is an American indie rock band originating from Dayton, Ohio. Beginning with the band's formation in 1983, it made frequent personnel changes but always maintained the presence of principal songwriter Robert Pollard...
: The Electrifying Conclusion by Matt Monsoor (2005) - Drift (2005) by Lee RanaldoLee RanaldoLee M. Ranaldo is an American singer, guitarist, writer, record producer, and visual artist, best known as a co-founder of the alternative rock band Sonic Youth...
and Leah Singer (2005) - Drive Well, Sleep CarefullyDrive Well, Sleep CarefullyDrive Well, Sleep Carefully – On the Road with Death Cab for Cutie is a live music DVD from the Seattle-based band Death Cab for Cutie. The DVD was filmed and directed by filmmaker Justin Mitchell during the band's Transatlanticism-tour in spring 2004 with a 16 mm film camera...
: On The Road with Death Cab for CutieDeath Cab for CutieDeath Cab for Cutie is an American alternative rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1997. The band consists of Ben Gibbard , Chris Walla , Nick Harmer and Jason McGerr ....
by Justin Mitchell - Spend an Evening with Saddle CreekSpend an Evening with Saddle CreekSpend an Evening with Saddle Creek is a documentary focusing on the first ten years of the Saddle Creek scene in Omaha, Nebraska. It was released in 2005 by Plexifilm. It was directed by Jason Kulbel and Rob Walters....
by Jason Kulbel and Rob Walters (2005) - Finisterre by Paul Kelly and Kieran Evans (2005)
- Made in SheffieldMade In SheffieldMade in Sheffield is a documentary film on the history of the music scene in the city of Sheffield, England from 1975 until 1983. The film was directed and produced by Eve Wood in 2001...
by Eve Wood (2005) - MoogMoog (film)Moog is a 2004 documentary film by Hans Fjellestad about electronic instrument pioneer Dr. Robert Moog. The film features scenes of Dr. Moog interacting with various musical artists who view Moog as an influential figure in the history of electronic music....
by Hans FjellestadHans FjellestadHans Jorgen Fjellestad is a musician and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Fjellestad co-founded the Trummerflora Collective, and has worked as a curator/producer for the international art initiative, inSite 05. A classically trained pianist, he studied music composition and improvisation at...
(2004) - LowLow (band)Low is an American indie rock group from Duluth, Minnesota, formed in 1993. As of 2010, the group is composed of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker , both founding members, and Steve Garrington ....
in Europe by Sebastian Schrade (2004) - Ilé Aiyé (The House of Life) by David ByrneDavid Byrne (musician)David Byrne is a musician and artist, best known as a founding member and principal songwriter of the American new wave band Talking Heads, which was active between 1975 and 1991. Since then, Byrne has released his own solo recordings and worked with various media including film, photography,...
(2004) - Galaxie 500Galaxie 500Galaxie 500 was an American alternative rock band that formed in 1987 and split up in 1991 after releasing three albums.-History:Guitarist Dean Wareham, drummer Damon Krukowski and bassist Naomi Yang had met at the Dalton School in New York City in 1981, but began playing together during their time...
(1987-1991): Don't Let Our Youth Go To Waste (2004) - Five Films About Christo and Jeanne-ClaudeChristo and Jeanne-ClaudeChristo and Jeanne-Claude were a married couple who created environmental works of art...
a Maysles Films production(2004) - Dirty Old TownDirty Old Town (film)Dirty Old Town is a 2003 concert film by director Justin Mitchell documenting a day in the life of Ted Leo and the Pharmacists on Coney Island. The bulk of the footage is of the band's energetic performance at the Siren Music Festival, interspersed with interviews, boardwalk montages, and a cameo...
by Justin Mitchell(2004) - Decasia: The State of DecayDecasiaDecasia is a 2002 found footage film by Bill Morrison, featuring an original score by Michael Gordon. The film is a meditation on old, decaying silent films and is similar in spirit to Lyrical Nitrate. It begins and ends with scenes of a dervish and is bookended with old footage showing how film...
by Bill MorrisonBill MorrisonBill Morrison is an American comic book artist and writer, and co-founder of Bongo Comics . He currently serves as creative director of Bongo Comics....
(2004) - Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns)Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns)Gigantic is a documentary profiling the alternative rock band They Might Be Giants, featuring interviews with Frank Black, Sarah Vowell, Dave Eggers, Jon Stewart, and others. It was directed by AJ Schnack and premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival in 2002. It was released in theaters...
by AJ SchnackAJ SchnackAJ Schnack is an independent filmmaker. He directed Kurt Cobain: About a Son, which premiered at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival...
(2003) - Space Is the PlaceSpace Is the PlaceSpace Is the Place is an 82-minute film made in 1972 and released in 1974.It was produced by Jim Newman, directed by John Coney, written by Sun Ra, Joshua Smith and features Sun Ra and his Arkestra...
by John Coney (2003) - Northwest by Coan Nichols & Rick Charnoski (2003)
- Hell House by George Ratliff (2003)
- I Am Trying to Break Your HeartI Am Trying to Break Your Heart (film)I Am Trying to Break Your Heart: A Film About Wilco is a black-and-white documentary film by Sam Jones which follows the American alt-country rock band Wilco through the creation and distribution of their fourth studio album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot...
by Sam Jones (2003) - Style WarsStyle WarsStyle Wars is a 1983 documentary on hip hop culture, directed by Tony Silver and produced by Tony Silver and Henry Chalfant. The film has an emphasis on graffiti, although bboying and rapping are covered to a lesser extent...
by Tony Silver & Henry ChalfantHenry ChalfantHenry Chalfant is a well known and highly regarded urban culture photographer and videographer most notable for his graffiti and breakdance photography and film...
(2003) - Friends Forever by Ben Wolfinsohn (2003)
- Mysterious Object at NoonMysterious Object at NoonMysterious Object at Noon is a 2000 Thai independent experimental documentary film directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul.-Production:The film is unscripted and uses the exquisite corpse party game as a concept, with the film crew traveling across Thailand, interviewing people and asking each...
by Apichatpong WeerasethakulApichatpong WeerasethakulApichatpong "Joe" Weerasethakul is a Thai independent film director, screenwriter, and film producer. His feature films include Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, winner of the prestigious 2010 Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or prize; Tropical Malady, which won a jury prize at the 2004...
(2003) - Benjamin Smoke by Jem CohenJem CohenJem Alan Cohen is an award-winning New York City-based filmmaker known for his observational portraits of urban landscapes, blending of media formats and collaborations with music artists. He is the recipient of the Independent Spirit Award and many first place awards for feature filmmaking...
& Peter Sillen (2003) - Fruit of the Vine by Coan Nichols & Rick Charnoski (2002)
- Ciao! ManhattanCiao! ManhattanCiao! Manhattan is a 1972 American avant garde film starring Edie Sedgwick, one of Andy Warhol's Superstars. Although not a documentary, the film centers around a character very closely based on Sedgwick, and deals with the pain of addiction and the lure of fame.-Film overview:Written and directed...
by John Palmer & David WeismanDavid WeismanDavid Weisman is a film producer, author, and graphic artist who is most noted for his films Ciao! Manhattan and Kiss of the Spider Woman...
(2002) - I Am Trying To Break Your Heart (A Film About Wilco) by Sam Jones (2002)