Cultpix Radio Ep.12 - Lisa Petrucci of Something Weird Video
For the 12th and last episode for this season we talk in-depth to Lisa Petrucci, the heart and soul of Something Weird Video, which pioneered the re-release of cult and genre films. SWV was founded in 1990 in Seattle, Washington state by Mike Vraney, who was a projectionist and collector of 8mm and 16mm girlie loops and films. He started transferring and sharing some of these films to VHS, which earned him a call from David F. Friedman and a lesson in copyright. Thus Mike the film enthusiast/pirate became a legitimate film distributor, publishing the works of directors such as Harry Novak, Doris Wishman, Herschell Gordon Lewis and Friedman himself. The name comes from HGL's 1967 film "Something Weird". Petrucci tells us about her background as an artist and collector, moving from Boston to New York ("where I went down a rabbit hole at Kim's Videos") to Los Angeles and eventually to Seattle ("which was like going to Mars,"), completing her journey from high brow to popular and low-brow culture. She recalls how she first met Mike at the Chiller Convention, and how they started working together, until they became a couple and soul mates. Lisa picks her favourite films (tough choice!), including "Monsters Crash the Pajama Party" (1965, coming to Cultpix soon), "She Freak" (1967), "Shanty Tramp" (1967), "Psychedelic Sex Kicks" (1967) and "Wild Hippie Party" (1967), "Teaserama" (1965, also coming to Cultpix soon). Lisa discusses how some of these films can be 'problematic' viewing today, but that they are 'time capsules' of their era. But with cinema screenings of their films you have to think ahead to see if something in the films will offend somebody, "which they will, because Something Weird was set up to be abrasive."Lisa and Smut Pedler discuss how Mike overcame his reluctance to travel to come to Sweden twice and how it led to the birth of Klubb Super 8, which in turn led to Cultpix. How Mike could be demanding, but forced KS8 to "get its shit together." Mike was then diagnosed with lung cancer and Lisa talks movingly about making the most of his last year and days. After Mike's passing Lisa and SWV was lucky to get contacted by Alamo Drafthouse and how Tim League and AGFA - American Genre Film Archive stepped in with a proposal to represent some of the titles. Today SWV has switched to DVD-R distribution, as well as partnering streamers such as Cultpix, Nightflight and The Film Detective. And we finish by revealing who the new 40 Thieves of cult film are. This the 12th episode marks the end of the first season of Cultpix Radio WCPX 66.6 as we take a brief summer break, but we will be back in late summer/early autumn with more films, guests and banter about our favourite films. Drop us a line at [email protected] with comments and suggestions. Have a great summer and stay cult! #WeAreCultpix