Nick Zedd
Encyclopedia
Nick Zedd is an American filmmaker and author based in New York City
. He coined the term Cinema of Transgression
in 1985 to describe a loose-knit group of like-minded filmmakers and artists using shock value
and black humor in their work. These filmmakers and artistic collaborators included Richard Kern
, Tessa Hughes Freeland, Lung Leg
, and Lydia Lunch
. Under numerous pen names Zedd edited and wrote the Underground Film Bulletin (1984-90) which publicised the work of these filmmakers. The Cinema of Transgression is explored in Jack Sargeant
's book Deathtripping Creation Books
.
movies, including the feature length They Eat Scum and Geek Maggot Bingo, as well as numerous short films. With Rev. Jen Miller
he is the co-creator of the Public-access television
series Electra Elf (2004-), featuring Miller, Faceboy
, Andrew J. Lederer
and a who's who of New York downtown art and performance-types. He is the author of two books, Bleed (1992, Hanuman Books) and Totem of the Depraved
, (1996, 2.13.61Publications) both of which are autobiographical
.
He is the director of photography on another TV series called "Chop Chop
" (2007) produced by Nate Hill
. Additional writing by Zedd is featured in Up Is Up But So Is Down (NYU Press) as well as in Captured (7 Stories Press), Low Rent (Grove Press) and Bleed (Hanuman Books).
Nick Zedd performed in a noise unit called Zyklon B, releasing a single called Consume and Die in 2000.
Zedd toured with Lisa Crystal Carver
's Suckdog
Circus and exhibited his films in the early 1990s.
Important essays outlining Zedd's philosophy
are the Cinema of Transgression Manifesto
, published pseudonymously in the Underground Film Bulletin and The Theory of Xenomorphosis (1998).
Additionally, Nick Zedd has acted in such super-low-budget films as the Super-8 film The Manhattan Love Suicides (1985), What About Me (1993), Bubblegum (1995), Jonas In The Desert (1997), Troma Films' Terror Firmer
(1999) and Thus Spake Zarathustra (2001).
Nick Zedd recently appeared in the documentaries "Llik Your Idols" and "Blank City".
After exhibiting oil paintings in 2010 at the ADA and Pendu Galleries, Zedd presented a major retrospective of films, videos and paintings at the Microscope Gallery in Bushwick, Brooklyn before moving to Mexico in March of 2011.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He coined the term Cinema of Transgression
Cinema of Transgression
The Cinema of Transgression is a term coined by Nick Zedd in 1985 to describe a New York City, United States based underground film movement, consisting of a loose-knit group of like-minded artists using shock value and humor in their work...
in 1985 to describe a loose-knit group of like-minded filmmakers and artists using shock value
Shock value
Shock value is the potential of an action , image, text, or other form of communication to provoke a reaction of disgust, shock, anger, fear, or similar negative emotions.-Shock value as humor:...
and black humor in their work. These filmmakers and artistic collaborators included Richard Kern
Richard Kern
Richard Kern is a New York underground filmmaker, writer and photographer. He first came to underground prominence as part of the underground cultural explosion in the East Village of New York City in the 1980s, with erotic and experimental films featuring underground personalities of the time...
, Tessa Hughes Freeland, Lung Leg
Lung Leg
Born Elizabeth Carr, Lung Leg is best known for appearing on the cover of the Sonic Youth album EVOL...
, and Lydia Lunch
Lydia Lunch
Lydia Lunch is an American singer, poet, writer, and actress whose career was spawned by the New York No Wave scene...
. Under numerous pen names Zedd edited and wrote the Underground Film Bulletin (1984-90) which publicised the work of these filmmakers. The Cinema of Transgression is explored in Jack Sargeant
Jack Sargeant
Jack Sargeant is a writer specialising in cult film, underground film, and independent film, as well as subcultures, true crime, and other aspects of the unusual. In addition he is a film programmer and an academic...
's book Deathtripping Creation Books
Creation Books
Creation Books is a British publishing house specializing in experimental literature, surrealism, erotic and decadent literature. Creation also publish non-fiction, with books on magic, subcultures, and taboo topics such as suicide and serial killers. They are best known for publishing a number of...
.
Career
Zedd has directed several super-low-budgetNo budget film
A no budget film is a produced film made with very little, or no money.Young directors starting out in filmmaking commonly use this method because there are few other options available to them at that point. All the actors and technicians are employed without remuneration, and the films are largely...
movies, including the feature length They Eat Scum and Geek Maggot Bingo, as well as numerous short films. With Rev. Jen Miller
Rev. Jen Miller
Reverend Jen Miller is an American performer, underground movie star, writer, painter, director, preacher, and poet from Manhattan, New York City.- Activities :Miller writes the "Diary of an Art Star" column for Artnet and wrote the "I Did It for...
he is the co-creator of the Public-access television
Public-access television
Public-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
series Electra Elf (2004-), featuring Miller, Faceboy
Faceboy
Francis "Faceboy" Hall is an actor, producer, and activist working in the New York City arts community. He has appeared in stage productions and several films, including Robert Downey Sr.'s Too Much Sun...
, Andrew J. Lederer
Andrew J. Lederer
Andrew J. Lederer is a New York-based comedian who has also starred in low-budget movies and worked in writing and production.-Early life:Growing up in New York City, Andrew appeared as a vocal soloist with the Brooklyn Borough-Wide Chorus, both in live performance and on CBS-TV...
and a who's who of New York downtown art and performance-types. He is the author of two books, Bleed (1992, Hanuman Books) and Totem of the Depraved
Totem of the Depraved
Totem of the Depraved is an autobiography by Nick Zedd released in 1983 and published by Henry Rollins' 2.13.61 publishing company. A rare autobiography to emerge from the Cinema of Transgression film movement of the early 1980s, it provides a venomous, bitter view of his collaborations with New...
, (1996, 2.13.61Publications) both of which are autobiographical
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
.
He is the director of photography on another TV series called "Chop Chop
Chop Chop
Chop Chop may refer to:*Chop Chop , Australian English for homegrown tobacco*Chop Chop , the second single by rap group YoungBloodZ*Chop Chop , an electropop band out of Los Angeles*chop chop...
" (2007) produced by Nate Hill
Nate Hill
Nathaniel Hill was an American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers, the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Redskins. He played college football at Auburn University and was drafted in the sixth round of the 1988 NFL Draft....
. Additional writing by Zedd is featured in Up Is Up But So Is Down (NYU Press) as well as in Captured (7 Stories Press), Low Rent (Grove Press) and Bleed (Hanuman Books).
Nick Zedd performed in a noise unit called Zyklon B, releasing a single called Consume and Die in 2000.
Zedd toured with Lisa Crystal Carver
Lisa Crystal Carver
Lisa Crystal Carver , also known as Lisa Suckdog, is an American writer known for her writing in Rollerderby. Through her interviews, she introduced the work of Vaginal Davis, Dame Darcy, Cindy Dall, Boyd Rice, Costes , Nick Zedd, GG Allin, Kate Landau, Queen Itchie & Liz Armstrong to many...
's Suckdog
Suckdog
Suckdog or "Suckdog Circus" was an American underground band. The core members were the married couple Lisa Crystal Carver and Jean-Louis Costes. The troupe toured every state in the continental United States for several years, performing a mix of wrestling, musical performances, film-screenings...
Circus and exhibited his films in the early 1990s.
Important essays outlining Zedd's philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
are the Cinema of Transgression Manifesto
Cinema of Transgression
The Cinema of Transgression is a term coined by Nick Zedd in 1985 to describe a New York City, United States based underground film movement, consisting of a loose-knit group of like-minded artists using shock value and humor in their work...
, published pseudonymously in the Underground Film Bulletin and The Theory of Xenomorphosis (1998).
Additionally, Nick Zedd has acted in such super-low-budget films as the Super-8 film The Manhattan Love Suicides (1985), What About Me (1993), Bubblegum (1995), Jonas In The Desert (1997), Troma Films' Terror Firmer
Terror Firmer
Terror Firmer is a 1999 American comedy horror film, directed by Lloyd Kaufman, written by Patrick Cassidy and Douglas Buck, and starring Will Keenan and Alyce LaTourelle. The film was produced by the Troma Entertainment company, known for distributing campy exploitation films...
(1999) and Thus Spake Zarathustra (2001).
Nick Zedd recently appeared in the documentaries "Llik Your Idols" and "Blank City".
After exhibiting oil paintings in 2010 at the ADA and Pendu Galleries, Zedd presented a major retrospective of films, videos and paintings at the Microscope Gallery in Bushwick, Brooklyn before moving to Mexico in March of 2011.
Filmography
- They Eat Scum (1979)
- "The Bogus Man" (1980)
- Geek Maggot Bingo (1983)
- "The Wild World of Lydia Lunch" (1983)
- "Thrust In Me" (1984)
- "Kiss Me Goodbye" (1985)
- "Go To Hell" (1985)
- Police State (1987)
- Whoregasm (1988)
- War Is Menstrual Envy (1992)
- "Smiling Faces Tell Lies" (1995)
- "Why Do You Exist" (1998)
- "Tom Thumb in the Land of the Giants" (1999)
- Ecstasy In Entropy (1999)
- "I of K9" (2001)
- "Elf Panties: The Movie" (2001)
- Lord of the Cockrings (2001)
- Thus Spake Zarathustra (2001)
- "I Was a Quality of Life Violation" (2002)
- "Electra Elf: Dance With the Devil" (2003)
- "Electra Elf: Maggot on a Hot Tin Roof" (2003)
- "Electra Elf: Old Man & the Sea Monkey" (2003)
- "Electra Elf: Great Shrunken Expectations" (2004)
- "Electra Elf: Roof Party" (2004)
- "Electra Elf: I, Nauseus" (2004)
- "Electra Elf: Hellbound Heiresses" (2004)
- "Electra Elf: Deadly Little Trees" (2005)
- "Electra Elf: Triumph of the Ill" (2005)
- "Electra Elf: Of Lice And Men" (2005)
- "Electra Elf: The Beginning Parts One & Two" (2005)
- "Electra Elf: Don't Worry Bee Happy" (2006)
- "Electra Elf: Vile Buddies" (2006)
- "Electra Elf: Battle of the Bands" (2006)
- "Electra Elf: No Plague Like Home" (2007)
- "Electra Elf: We All Scream For Ice Cream" (2007)
- "Electra Elf: Behind the Scenes" (2007)
- "Mistakes Hapen" (2007)
- "Electra Elf: Hollow Be Thy Name" (2007)
- "Electra Elf: Goin to the Chapel" (2007)
- "Electra Elf: Gone with the Mind" (2008)
External links
- Nick Zedd's homepage
- Website of Electra Elf
- Films from the Cinema of Transgression at UbuWebUbuWebUbuWeb is a large web-based educational resource for avant-garde material available on the internet, founded in 1996 by poet Kenneth Goldsmith. It offers visual, concrete and sound poetry, expanding to include film and sound art mp3 archives.-Philosophy:...
.