Southlander
Encyclopedia
Southlander is an American
independent film
by Steve Hanft
and Ross Harris
.
Originally titled Recycler
after the Los Angeles
magazine
of the same name, the filmwriters changed the name of the movie—and a central plot device—to Southlander to avoid trademark
issues.
) sees redemption in touring with dub-pop band Future Pigeon
, fronted by the lovely Rocket (Beth Orton
). But to make the band, he needs a signature sound—which he finds in the futuristic '69 "Molotron" keyboard. Chance's dreams are put on hold on the eve of the tour, when the Molotron is swiped from his car. Southlander follows Chance and his friend Ross Angeles (Ross Harris
) as they track down the stolen keyboard through the pages of the Southlander, a local rag that publishes classified ads for musical equipment. The journey quickly turns into a surreal trip through LA's underground music scene.
Southlander runs approximately 80 minutes, and is filled with musical interludes, performances, and an original soundtrack.
Singer/songwriter Elliott Smith
plays the role of the bus driver in the film. He also wrote two exclusive songs for the film.
Notes:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
by Steve Hanft
Steve Hanft
Steven P. Hanft , more commonly known as Steve Hanft, is an American independent film director.-Early life:Hanft was born in Ventura, California. He started making films at the age of 11 growing up in California. His first works consisted of surf films and nature films followed later by...
and Ross Harris
Ross Harris
Richard R. Harris , better known by his nickname, Rossie Harris is an American actor, artist, and musician.-Acting career:...
.
Originally titled Recycler
The Recycler
The Recycler is a Los Angeles based, classifieds only newspaper, started by Gunter and Nancy Schaldach in 1973. The Recycler was based in Silverlake and was subsequently sold to the Times Mirror Company in 1998....
after the Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
of the same name, the filmwriters changed the name of the movie—and a central plot device—to Southlander to avoid trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
issues.
Plot
Down-and-out keyboardist Chance (Rory CochraneRory Cochrane
Rory Cochrane is an American actor. He is known for playing Ron Slater in Dazed and Confused, Lucas in Empire Records, and Tim Speedle in CSI: Miami.-Early life:...
) sees redemption in touring with dub-pop band Future Pigeon
Future Pigeon
Future Pigeon is an American punk/dub band from Los Angeles, California, contemporary to the late 1990s and early 2000s.-History:Future Pigeon are an award-winning underground band from LA; they are often associated in performances with other more famous members of that scene such as the late...
, fronted by the lovely Rocket (Beth Orton
Beth Orton
Beth Orton is a BRIT Award–winning English singer-songwriter, known for her 'folktronica' sound, which mixes elements of folk and electronica. She was initially recognised for her collaborations with William Orbit and the Chemical Brothers in the mid 1990s. However, these were not Orton's first...
). But to make the band, he needs a signature sound—which he finds in the futuristic '69 "Molotron" keyboard. Chance's dreams are put on hold on the eve of the tour, when the Molotron is swiped from his car. Southlander follows Chance and his friend Ross Angeles (Ross Harris
Ross Harris
Richard R. Harris , better known by his nickname, Rossie Harris is an American actor, artist, and musician.-Acting career:...
) as they track down the stolen keyboard through the pages of the Southlander, a local rag that publishes classified ads for musical equipment. The journey quickly turns into a surreal trip through LA's underground music scene.
Southlander runs approximately 80 minutes, and is filled with musical interludes, performances, and an original soundtrack.
Cast
- Rory CochraneRory CochraneRory Cochrane is an American actor. He is known for playing Ron Slater in Dazed and Confused, Lucas in Empire Records, and Tim Speedle in CSI: Miami.-Early life:...
- Ross Harris
- Lawrence Hilton Jacobs
- Beth OrtonBeth OrtonBeth Orton is a BRIT Award–winning English singer-songwriter, known for her 'folktronica' sound, which mixes elements of folk and electronica. She was initially recognised for her collaborations with William Orbit and the Chemical Brothers in the mid 1990s. However, these were not Orton's first...
- BeckBeckBeck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
- Hank Williams IIIHank Williams IIIShelton Hank Williams, known as Hank 3 , is a neotraditional country and punk metal singer, drummer, bassist, and guitarist. In addition to his honky tonk recordings, Williams' style alternates among country, punk and metal...
- Jennifer HerremaJennifer HerremaJennifer Herrema is an American rock music singer, song writer, record producer, artist, and model best known for her work as one half of the influential rock band Royal Trux.-Biography:...
- Gregg HenryGregg HenryGregg Lee Henry is an American theatre, film and television character actor and rock, blues and country musician.-Biography:...
- Richard EdsonRichard EdsonRichard Edson is an American actor and musician.-Biography:Edson was born in New Rochelle, New York. He has one brother, Steven, who resides in the Boston area, and two sisters: Andrea, who resides in Newton, Massachusetts and Jennifer, who resides in New York City. His father Arnold was one of...
- Ione SkyeIone SkyeIone Skye Lee is an English-born American actress, who became a teen idol after the 1989 movie Say Anything.... In 2006 VH1 placed her at number 84 in the "100 Greatest Teen Stars" list.-Early life:...
- Mark GonzalesMark GonzalesMark Gonzales , also known as "Gonz" and "The Gonz," is an American professional skateboarder and artist. He is known in the skateboarding world as a pioneer of modern street skateboarding, currently skateboarding's most popular form....
- Laura PreponLaura PreponLaura Prepon is an American actress, best known for her role as Donna Pinciotti in the long-running Fox situation comedy That '70s Show, for all eight seasons. She is also known for the role of Hannah Daniels on the ABC drama October Road...
as Seven=Five
Singer/songwriter Elliott Smith
Elliott Smith
Steven Paul "Elliott" Smith was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and resided for a significant portion of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he first gained popularity...
plays the role of the bus driver in the film. He also wrote two exclusive songs for the film.
Production
- Produced by Phineas Atwood Productions
- Directed by Steve Hanft
- Written by Ross Harris & Steve Hanft
- DVD Producer: Ed Seaman & Clint WeilerClint WeilerClinton S. Weiler is a Phoenixville, Pennsylvania-based music publicist. A native to Birdsboro, PA and a 2001 graduate of Kutztown University, he's best known for his publicity work with past and present punk legends. He is founder of Clint Weiler Publicity & Public Relations and works for MVD...
- DVD Photographs by Amy Lou Stein
- Director of Photography: Lance AcordLance AcordLance Acord, A.S.C. is an American cinematographer.Acord was born in Marin County, California. He attended Sir Francis Drake High School's School Within A School program and went on to study photography and filmmaking at the San Francisco Art Institute. He began his professional career with...
- Produced by Laurie Malaga, Darren LaVettDarren LavettDarren J. Lavett is an American music video director, who directed videos for The Offspring, Bad Religion, Bush, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Claw Hammer, Testament and several other bands. He is probably best known for directing the videos of The Offspring's biggest hits "Come Out and Play" and "Self Esteem"...
& Kerstin Mueller - Original Score by Eddie Ruscha
- Music Supervisor: Howard Paar
- Musical Performances by Beck, Beth Orton, Hank Williams III, Billy HigginsBilly HigginsBilly Higgins was an American jazz drummer. He played mainly free jazz and hard bop.Higgins was born in Los Angeles, California. Higgins played on Ornette Coleman's first records, beginning in 1958...
, Future PigeonFuture PigeonFuture Pigeon is an American punk/dub band from Los Angeles, California, contemporary to the late 1990s and early 2000s.-History:Future Pigeon are an award-winning underground band from LA; they are often associated in performances with other more famous members of that scene such as the late...
& Union 13Union 13Union 13 is a hardcore punk band from Boyle Heights, California, USA who have, to date, released four full length albums – three on Epitaph Records and one on Disaster Records.... - Music by Elliott SmithElliott SmithSteven Paul "Elliott" Smith was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and resided for a significant portion of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he first gained popularity...
, DJ Me DJ You, Royal TruxRoyal TruxRoyal Trux was an American alternative rock band from 1987 to 2001, founded by Neil Hagerty and Jennifer Herrema .-History:...
& The CoupThe CoupThe Coup is a political hip hop group based in Oakland, California. It formed as a three-member group in 1992 with emcees Raymond "Boots" Riley and E-Roc along with DJ Pam the Funkstress. E-Roc left on amicable terms after the group's second album but appears on the track "Breathing Apparatus" on... - Packaging by John Joh & Truck Torrence
Soundtrack
- "Soutlander Theme"
- "Illumination Dub" - Beth Orton, Eddie Ruscha
- "Dr. Fantasm" - Eddie Ruscha
- "Making Out" - Eddie Ruscha
- "Green Room" - Billy Higgins, J. Littleton, K. Gamble, Azar LawrenceAzar LawrenceAzar Lawrence is an American jazz saxophonist, known for his contributions as sideman to McCoy Tyner, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, and Woody Shaw. Lawrence was the tenor saxophonist Tyner used following John Coltrane's death....
, & Richard Grant - "Speedway Child" - Eddie Ruscha
- "Taste It" - Eddie Ruscha, Ross Harris
- "End of the Century" - Jennifer HerremaJennifer HerremaJennifer Herrema is an American rock music singer, song writer, record producer, artist, and model best known for her work as one half of the influential rock band Royal Trux.-Biography:...
, Neil HagertyNeil HagertyNeil Michael Hagerty is an American guitarist, songwriter and producer. He is best known for his work in Royal Trux. Hagerty released several solo albums since Royal Trux's demise in 2001, followed by recordings under the moniker The Howling Hex... - "Space Kat" - Eddie Ruscha
- "Video City Boy" - C. Borrell, Ross Harris
- "A Life Story" - Union 13
- "Rust Drive" - Eddie Ruscha
- "Elemental Blues" - Eddie Ruscha
- "Motherchild Theme" - Eddie Ruscha
- "Zu Zu Dubrider" - Eddie Ruscha
- "Piano Drop" - Ross Harris
- "Puttin' It Down" - Beck HansenBeckBeck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
- "Seven Equals Five" - A. Spiegelman, B. Reynolds, Bill Dusha
- "Spa" - C. Borrell, Ross Harris
- "Lane's World" - Eddie Ruscha
- "Solar Invocation" - Eddie Ruscha
- "Gently Waves" - Takako MinekawaTakako Minekawais a Japanese musician, composer and writer.-Background:As an accomplished all-around musician, Minekawa's musical skills set her firmly outside of the J-Pop "idol" tradition: she writes and composes most of her material, singing quirky lyrics about subjects such as clouds, cats, and the color...
- "Broken Train" - Beck Hansen
- "Confederate Dub" - Eddie Ruscha
- "Alone and Dying" - Hank Williams III
- "Sweetest Decline" - Beth OrtonBeth OrtonBeth Orton is a BRIT Award–winning English singer-songwriter, known for her 'folktronica' sound, which mixes elements of folk and electronica. She was initially recognised for her collaborations with William Orbit and the Chemical Brothers in the mid 1990s. However, these were not Orton's first...
- "Fatter Cats Bigga Fish" - The Coup
- "Snowbunny's Serenade" - Elliott SmithElliott SmithSteven Paul "Elliott" Smith was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and resided for a significant portion of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he first gained popularity...
- "Motherchild Chase" - Eddie Ruscha
- "Splitzville" - Elliott SmithElliott SmithSteven Paul "Elliott" Smith was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and resided for a significant portion of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he first gained popularity...
Notes:
- Ed Ruscha, Jr. is credited as Da Da Munchamonkey in the film.
- "Sweetest Decline" is erroneously listed as "Central Reservation" in the DVD liner notes.
- "Snowbunny's Serenade" is Elliott Smith's song "Bye" (from Figure 8Figure 8 (album)Figure 8 is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. Released by DreamWorks Records on April 18, 2000, it became Smith's second release on a major label and the last album he would complete before his death...
) played on a different keyboard.