Two Films on Photography
Two short films up for discussion: <em>The Queer Reveries of James Bidgood</em> and <em>Another Stranger With a Film Camera.</em>
<em>Bidgood</em> is Hastert’s search for the titular artist who spent seven years filming the stunning softcore homoerotic fantasy <em>Pink Narcissus</em> in his New York apartment. Disappointed by his distributor’s mangling of his original vision, Bidgood removed his name from the film. For years people credited Andy Warhol as the film’s creator. Hastert was the first to set the record straight on film.
<em>Stranger</em> questions the process of documenting lives on film as Hastert follows photographer Shelby Adams on his trek through Appalachia in search of subjects. It’s 17 minutes of unbridled originality, a short that does a remarkable job of emulating its subject’s style while forging a creative vision all its own.