Stephen Sayadian
Encyclopedia
Stephen Sayadian, also known as Rinse Dream is a writer, production-designer and director active in the 1980s and 1990s. His films and videos
have a small but rabid cult following throughout the United States and Europe. Sayadian's spare but imaginative productions skillfully blends cinema and
performance art techniques.
He began his career as a Creative Director for Larry Flynt Publications
. His satirical and bizarre style was instrumental in the development and
success of Hustler Magazine. He is best known for his stylish, surrealistic, and off-kilter approach to videos and films such as Café Flesh
,
Nightdreams
parts 1, 2, and 3, and Party-Doll-A-Go-Go parts 1 and 2. His work is now considered highly innovative and ahead of its time, in many
ways anticipating the later wave of alt porn that emerged in the early 2000s. Café Flesh, in particular, stands out for its strong production values
and detailed plot, elements rarely seen in adult films. The film was a smash hit on the midnight-movie circuit for many years. He also co-wrote,
designed and directed the 1989 cult movie Dr. Caligari
, a remake of the 1919 silent classic. The film premiered as an opening
night selection (Midnight Madness) at the Toronto Film Festival and despite its miniscule budget and outrageous approach garnered excellent reviews
from mainstream critics.
In addition to film and video, he's designed and directed for network television, MTV and the legitimate stage. As a print art director he's collaborated
on numerous motion-picture one-sheets including films by Brian De Palma, John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper. His print work has appeared in many
publications including Zoom
.
have a small but rabid cult following throughout the United States and Europe. Sayadian's spare but imaginative productions skillfully blends cinema and
performance art techniques.
He began his career as a Creative Director for Larry Flynt Publications
Larry Flynt Publications
Larry Flynt Publications, or LFP, Inc., runs the adult entertainment empire founded by Larry Flynt. Founded in 1976, two years after Flynt began publishing Hustler magazine, LFP was originally to serve as the parent company of this magazine....
. His satirical and bizarre style was instrumental in the development and
success of Hustler Magazine. He is best known for his stylish, surrealistic, and off-kilter approach to videos and films such as Café Flesh
Café Flesh
Café Flesh is a 1982 post-apocalyptic cult pornographic science fiction film designed and directed by Stephen Sayadian and co-written by Sayadian and Jerry Stahl...
,
Nightdreams
Nightdreams
Nightdreams is a 1981 American pornographic film that is often noted for its vastly surrealistic plot and scenes.The film was co-written by Jerry Stahl , who's also known for writing episodes of ALF.-Plot:...
parts 1, 2, and 3, and Party-Doll-A-Go-Go parts 1 and 2. His work is now considered highly innovative and ahead of its time, in many
ways anticipating the later wave of alt porn that emerged in the early 2000s. Café Flesh, in particular, stands out for its strong production values
and detailed plot, elements rarely seen in adult films. The film was a smash hit on the midnight-movie circuit for many years. He also co-wrote,
designed and directed the 1989 cult movie Dr. Caligari
Dr. Caligari (film)
Dr. Caligari is a 1989 cult film by Stephen Sayadian starring Madeleine Reynal, Laura Albert, Gene Zerna, David Parry and Jennifer Balgobin. The film details a disturbed doctor and her illegal experiments on her patients....
, a remake of the 1919 silent classic. The film premiered as an opening
night selection (Midnight Madness) at the Toronto Film Festival and despite its miniscule budget and outrageous approach garnered excellent reviews
from mainstream critics.
In addition to film and video, he's designed and directed for network television, MTV and the legitimate stage. As a print art director he's collaborated
on numerous motion-picture one-sheets including films by Brian De Palma, John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper. His print work has appeared in many
publications including Zoom
Zoom
Zoom is an onomatopoeiac sound that indicates swiftness.Zoom may also refer to:-Technology:* Zoom lens, a lens assembly allowing for adjustable focal length* Digital zoom, an electronic emulation of focal length change...
.
Further reading
- "The Surreal Visions of Rinse Dream" Ultra Violent Magazine issue 4
- Smith, Jacob. "Sound and Performance in Stephen Sayadian's Night Dreams and Café Flesh" The Velvet Light TrapVelvet Light TrapThe Velvet Light Trap is a film and television studies journal collectively edited by graduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and The University of Texas at Austin, with the support of media scholars at those institutions and throughout the United States.Each issue covers critical,...
#59 (Spring 2007). - "Dr. Caligari", in: Gods In Spandex: A Survivors' Account Of 80s Cinema Obscura. (UK: Succubus Press, 2007)
External links
- Stephen Sayadian at the Internet Adult Film DatabaseInternet Adult Film DatabaseThe Internet Adult Film Database is an online database of information pertaining to the American adult industry, covering actors, actresses, directors and movies. It is similar to the Internet Movie Database, in that it is open to the public and is searchable. Films produced by non-American porn...
- Rinse Dream, bio at Excalibur VOD.