Bringing in the Trash

Grindfest 2015

What do cannibals, bikers, monsters and women in prison have in common? They are all subjects of B-movies/exploitation films and have trailers you have to see to believe. And you can enjoy many of them at Nov. 19’s Grindfest at the Fargo Theatre. The slogan for this installment is: "Sometimes it's more fun to bring in the trash." For the fourth time, Randal Black, who also DJs at KRFF 95.9, is producing Grindfest. The event shows trailers from exploitation and B-movies which, according to Black, are “cheesy, sleazy, low budget movies that were pumped out from the mid-’60s to mid-’80s.”

This year’s Grindfest begins at 7 p.m. with a "best of" the previous fests’ trailers, followed by a showing of fan-made trailers. At 9 p.m. is an “All New Sleazy and Cheesy” trailer compilation.

Celebration of Exploitation

Black describes Grindfest as “a celebration of movie trailers of the ‘60s-’80s, especially the art of the trailer; it’s fascinating to see how they promoted these types of movies back then.” Some of the movies represented by the trailers are, admittedly, not high quality, but the trailers are captivating. With trailers, “you don’t have to sit through these 90 minute movies. You get the best parts of each movie.” For some of the more outrageous films, Black says, “A, I can’t believe that movie even exists, and B, that this is how they chose to promote it.”

These trailers and films cannot be lumped into one category. Black tries to represent a variety: Blaxploitation, sexual, serial killer, monsters, science fiction, martial arts, westerns, giallo, to name just a few. Black gets a kick out of seeing venerated movie stars of today in early roles in cheesy movies. One example is Kevin Costner in “Sizzle Beach USA” (1974). “You just need to watch it,” Black says.

This year’s event poster is even a work of art, created by Dirk Eidsmoe. Black calls it a “true homage” to old Grindhouse posters. It also features hand painted representations of some of the fest’s trailer contributors.

Origins

Black came up with the idea for having a Fargo Grindfest while on vacation in Portland in 2010. He had viewed exploitation trailers for several years with friends who had extensive collections. He walked into a Portland exploitation film trailer fest and was blown away. He thought, “I have the means to do this in Fargo, and I must!” This resulted in the first Grindfest, held in 2010 with subsequent events in spring 2011 and fall 2012. Black has also planned and curated three Horrorfests, featuring horror trailers, in the falls of 2011, 2013 and 2014.

Black selects the trailers from friends’ collections. Christopher Bohn is one, with a large library of exploitation and horror videos. Bohn says, "My favorite part is seeing what kind of crazy trailers he digs up. I've definitely been introduced to some new films from the previous Grindfests." Bohn adds, "I always love to see how he puts the trailers together. He definitely puts a lot of time and effort into how they are ordered, so it's interesting to catch what meaning the segues have."

Fan-Made Fun

For the second time, Black will show fake trailers made by fans. He emphasizes the importance of giving regional filmmakers “a chance to have fun and get their work out on the big screen, particularly in the Fargo Theatre.”

Bohn is most looking forward to this year’s fan trailers, "especially getting to see people you know in them." Erik Wicklund has been to every Grindfest and Horrorfest in Fargo. He also has produced fan trailers. “There is nothing like the experience of witnessing an audience react to something you've created,” he says. “I don't know if I can really communicate the sensation. It's a big rush.”

Why Come?

Black is most excited for the 9 p.m. trailers never before shown at Grindfest, a feature that has taken him three years to assemble. Black feeds off the crowd’s reaction and the “anticipation of knowing what is coming up next. It’s like a comedian delivering the perfect joke. You know what the punchline is and you are waiting for the crowd, getting off on how people are going to react.”

Wicklund loves the trailers: “There really is an art to these things — a weird, funky art. Making my own fake trailers, I've realized this is a storytelling medium whose purpose isn't really to tell a story — it’s to make you feel a feeling. That feeling is meant to entice you to go to the movie, but it works as a standalone genre itself.”

And if that is not enough, beers by local brewery, Junkyard, will also be available for purchase.Future Grindfest-type events may focus on specific themes, but Black is not revealing what those are… yet.

IF YOU GO:

Grindfest 4

Thurs. Nov. 19. Doors at 6:30 p.m., trailers at 7 p.m.

Fargo Theatre, 314 Broadway N.

$10 at the door. No pre-sale. 18 years and over only.