Courtney Fathom Sell
Encyclopedia
Courtney Fathom Sell is an American
filmmaker, musician
, composer
, writer
and video artist who specializes in documentary film
s. He is the founder of Slumlord Productions, an independent film production company, and has shot a majority of his work on a Hi8 video camera.An advocate of D.I.Y. no-budget filmmaking, Sell's writing on the subject has been published in various publications including Filmmaker Magazine
and Indiewire
, who referred to Sell as being a reincarnation of the young John Waters
due to his unconventional approach at making films. Along with documentaries, Sell has directed numerous music videos, commercials, and experimental films. He coined the term 'Crash Cinema', to best describe the manner of his guerilla style filmmaking. He is the Co-Founder of ASS Studios
alongside writer and artist Rev Jen Miller.
Themes for Films
, a full length album of Sell's film scores and soundtrack compositions was released in June 2011.
at the age of 18, Sell began traveling the country with a Hi8 video camera documenting his life on the road. Traveling through 42 states in just a few years, Sell continued to shoot and produce documentaries on little to no budget, supporting himself by working various odd jobs. While living in Northern California
, Sell slept in a graveyard
and played his guitar on the street for money. Upon his return to New York City, Sell lived in Washington Square Park
for a brief amount of time. During this time, Sell continued to screen his films at various venues in the city and kept the fact that he was residing in the park a secret from friends.
Regarding this time, Sell was quoted in an interview with The Village Voice:
However, in a later interview Sell commented to a Journalist:
Soon afterwards, Sell found residence in a Lower East Side
apartment alongside other artists and filmmakers whom he frequently collaborated with. By the age of twenty, he had produced a number of personal documentaries involving close friends or family members as main subjects.
, which documented the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
in the Gulf Coast as well as the growth of New Orleans non-profit organization 'Defend New Orleans', went on to win 'Best Picture' at the 2006 'Blue November Film Festival', in Tulsa Oklahoma
, and screen at the Casablanca Theater in Dresden
, Germany
. Co-produced and featuring 'Defend New Orleans' creator Jac Currie, the film depicts Defend New Orleans’ transition to a valid social aid project and features some of the earliest produced footage of Post Katrina Mississippi
Gulf Coast and New Orleans. The film was officially released on DVD in 2008, and was the recipient of an Aegis Award later that year.
The film is now recognized by the Danish Film Movement Dogme95 as Dogme95 #267
In 2007, Sell began work on numerous film projects including the short documentary My Dying Day
. Centering around the last months of his own Father's life, a Boston
Reverend who had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer
, the documentary went on to win "Best Short Documentary" at the 2007 'Evil City Film Festival', and has gained the support of The Prostate Cancer Foundation
, who aired the documentary on their official website in November 2010.
In addition to shooting My Dying Day, Sell began to concentrate on various music based video projects, as documented in his 2007 film Long Way Back To Paradise. He continued pursuing his interest in live performance documentation with his short documentary In The Golden Blood of the Sunlight which was produced a few years later in New Orleans.
In 2009, Sell completed a short documentary entitled Under the Bridge, which is based around a community of homeless individuals from Providence, Rhode Island
who created a shelter underneath the Crawford Street Bridge. Revisiting familiar subject matter such as homelessness and alienation, Sell's film features personal interviews with the residents of 'Hope City', as it was being referred to at the time, as well as document their extreme living conditions.
In 2010, Sell co-directed a short documentary alongside filmmaker Billy Feldman entitled The Hole
, based around the New York City neighborhood of the same name. The film explores various aspects regarding the conditions of the community and gives personal insight to the lives of some of the residents who still live in the neighborhood, including many members of the Federation of Black Cowboys. The area, which continues to remain flooded and partially abandoned, is now infamous for being a mafia dumping ground.
On October 16, 2010, the film premiered at the 4th annual Red Hook Film Festival in Brooklyn, New York, and was awarded 'Best Documentary'. In March 2011, the film was officially released online. The Documentary screened at the 2011 Rooftop Films Summer Screening Series presented by IFC
in August.
In late 2010, Sell completed a short documentary on Portland based Author & Poet Walt Curtis
entitled An Afternoon with Walt. The film was later released online.
A collection of Sell's short documentaries were compiled and released on DVD in 2009.
diary film style. Much of his experimental work challenges the perception of the viewer by presenting multi-layered and abstract moving images in order to construct narrative through motion. Some of these films have been referred to as being 'reminiscent of early Stan Brakhage
'.
In 2011, Sell began a collaboration with artist Rev Jen Miller, after he directed the promotional video for her upcoming novel 'Elf Girl!' . The two have since launched their own film production company entitled ASS Studios
which produces short films & music videos featuring a variety of Art Stars
and performers such as Faceboy
.The company became infamous due to an incident at their official launch party in which audience members were attacked by performers with stun guns.
music video for their single 'Master of the Bump' off of their album 'Women as Lovers
'. The video premiered on Pitchfork
TV and has gone on to screen at various Film Festivals across the globe.
The following year, Sell directed the experimental concert documentary entitled Xiu Xiu - You Can't Hear Me, which features a live performance by the band accompanied by various music video vignettes.
He has collaborated on music videos with bands & artists such as The Gentleman Losers, Xiu Xiu
, Diamondsnake, 3epkano, The Singing Knives, The Morning Birds, Wires!Wires! & Carl Simmons. In 2010, Sell shot numerous live performance videos for many other bands for the website DNO Video in New Orleans.
', by himself.
In June 2011, Emphasis Entertainment released a compilation album entitled Themes for Films
, consisting of 27 instrumental and experimental compositions recorded by Sell for various film soundtracks. According to the linear notes, the tracks included on the album were recorded in various locations in the United States over the course of many years. Some of the songs however are previously unreleased, and have never been included within any of Sell's film work.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
filmmaker, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and video artist who specializes in documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
s. He is the founder of Slumlord Productions, an independent film production company, and has shot a majority of his work on a Hi8 video camera.An advocate of D.I.Y. no-budget filmmaking, Sell's writing on the subject has been published in various publications including Filmmaker Magazine
Filmmaker Magazine
Filmmaker is a quarterly publication magazine covering issues relating to independent film. The magazine was founded in 1992 by Karol Martesko-Fenster, Scott Macaulay and Holly Willis...
and Indiewire
IndieWire
indieWIRE is a daily news site for the independent film community. It covers indie, documentary and foreign language films, as well industry news, film festival reports, filmmaker interviews and movie reviews...
, who referred to Sell as being a reincarnation of the young John Waters
John Waters
-Entertainment:*John Waters , American film director, active 1926–29 and 1947*John Waters , American film director, writer, visual artist, actor and cult figure...
due to his unconventional approach at making films. Along with documentaries, Sell has directed numerous music videos, commercials, and experimental films. He coined the term 'Crash Cinema', to best describe the manner of his guerilla style filmmaking. He is the Co-Founder of ASS Studios
ASS Studios
ASS Studios or Art Star Scene Studios is an American independent film production company founded by Courtney Fathom Sell and Reverend Jen Miller in 2011. Their films are often produced on no-budget, involve guerilla style D.I.Y. tactics upon shooting, take place on the Lower East Side, and...
alongside writer and artist Rev Jen Miller.
Themes for Films
Themes for Films
Themes for Films is a collection of experimental and instrumental compositions by filmmaker Courtney Fathom Sell. The album includes 27 tracks....
, a full length album of Sell's film scores and soundtrack compositions was released in June 2011.
Personal life
After leaving Pratt InstitutePratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private art college in New York City located in Brooklyn, New York, with satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica. Pratt is one of the leading undergraduate art schools in the United States and offers programs in Architecture, Graphic Design, History of Art and Design,...
at the age of 18, Sell began traveling the country with a Hi8 video camera documenting his life on the road. Traveling through 42 states in just a few years, Sell continued to shoot and produce documentaries on little to no budget, supporting himself by working various odd jobs. While living in Northern California
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
, Sell slept in a graveyard
Graveyard
A graveyard is any place set aside for long-term burial of the dead, with or without monuments such as headstones...
and played his guitar on the street for money. Upon his return to New York City, Sell lived in Washington Square Park
Washington Square Park
Washington Square Park is one of the best-known of New York City's 1,900 public parks. At 9.75 acres , it is a landmark in the Manhattan neighborhood of Greenwich Village, as well as a meeting place and center for cultural activity...
for a brief amount of time. During this time, Sell continued to screen his films at various venues in the city and kept the fact that he was residing in the park a secret from friends.
Regarding this time, Sell was quoted in an interview with The Village Voice:
"It was fun. It was the first place I went to. I got off the Chinatown bus after running away from home, in Boston. I came for a screening of my films at Cinema Classics on East 11th."
However, in a later interview Sell commented to a Journalist:
"I didn't want to go home, I was stubborn and naïve. It was a lonely feeling."
Soon afterwards, Sell found residence in a Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
apartment alongside other artists and filmmakers whom he frequently collaborated with. By the age of twenty, he had produced a number of personal documentaries involving close friends or family members as main subjects.
Documentaries
His debut documentary film No Place Like HomeNo Place Like Home
No Place Like Home is the fifth studio album by Scottish band Big Country, released in 1991. . Its title derives from a quote in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which is referenced by the first track, "We're Not in Kansas"...
, which documented the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
in the Gulf Coast as well as the growth of New Orleans non-profit organization 'Defend New Orleans', went on to win 'Best Picture' at the 2006 'Blue November Film Festival', in Tulsa Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, and screen at the Casablanca Theater in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Co-produced and featuring 'Defend New Orleans' creator Jac Currie, the film depicts Defend New Orleans’ transition to a valid social aid project and features some of the earliest produced footage of Post Katrina Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
Gulf Coast and New Orleans. The film was officially released on DVD in 2008, and was the recipient of an Aegis Award later that year.
The film is now recognized by the Danish Film Movement Dogme95 as Dogme95 #267
In 2007, Sell began work on numerous film projects including the short documentary My Dying Day
My Dying Day
My Dying Day is a short video documentary produced and directed by filmmaker Courtney Fathom Sell in 2006. -About:The short documentary centers around 54 year old Bradley Sell, a Boston Reverend who had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer years before. Initially given only two...
. Centering around the last months of his own Father's life, a Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
Reverend who had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
, the documentary went on to win "Best Short Documentary" at the 2007 'Evil City Film Festival', and has gained the support of The Prostate Cancer Foundation
Prostate Cancer Foundation
The Prostate Cancer Foundation , formerly known as CaP CURE, is the world’s largest philanthropic source of support for prostate cancer research. PCF was founded in 1993 in order to discover better treatments and a cure for prostate cancer...
, who aired the documentary on their official website in November 2010.
In addition to shooting My Dying Day, Sell began to concentrate on various music based video projects, as documented in his 2007 film Long Way Back To Paradise. He continued pursuing his interest in live performance documentation with his short documentary In The Golden Blood of the Sunlight which was produced a few years later in New Orleans.
In 2009, Sell completed a short documentary entitled Under the Bridge, which is based around a community of homeless individuals from Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
who created a shelter underneath the Crawford Street Bridge. Revisiting familiar subject matter such as homelessness and alienation, Sell's film features personal interviews with the residents of 'Hope City', as it was being referred to at the time, as well as document their extreme living conditions.
In 2010, Sell co-directed a short documentary alongside filmmaker Billy Feldman entitled The Hole
The Hole
The Hole may refer to:* The Hole , a Japanese drama directed by Kon Ichikawa* The Hole , a French film directed by Jacques Becker* The Hole , an animated short film directed by John Hubley...
, based around the New York City neighborhood of the same name. The film explores various aspects regarding the conditions of the community and gives personal insight to the lives of some of the residents who still live in the neighborhood, including many members of the Federation of Black Cowboys. The area, which continues to remain flooded and partially abandoned, is now infamous for being a mafia dumping ground.
On October 16, 2010, the film premiered at the 4th annual Red Hook Film Festival in Brooklyn, New York, and was awarded 'Best Documentary'. In March 2011, the film was officially released online. The Documentary screened at the 2011 Rooftop Films Summer Screening Series presented by IFC
Independent Film Channel
The Independent Film Channel is an American cable TV network that airs independent film and related programming. IFC programming includes commercially interrupted feature-length films, original documentaries, shorts, animated series, original series, acquired series, and content exclusively for...
in August.
In late 2010, Sell completed a short documentary on Portland based Author & Poet Walt Curtis
Walt Curtis
Walt Curtis is a poet, novelist and painter from Portland, Oregon. He is mainly known for his autobiographical work, Mala Noche , which became the basis for Gus Van Sant's 1985 film of the same name....
entitled An Afternoon with Walt. The film was later released online.
A collection of Sell's short documentaries were compiled and released on DVD in 2009.
Short Films & Experimental Videos
Sell's short film & video work commonly combines experimental techniques with a non-fictionNon-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
diary film style. Much of his experimental work challenges the perception of the viewer by presenting multi-layered and abstract moving images in order to construct narrative through motion. Some of these films have been referred to as being 'reminiscent of early Stan Brakhage
Stan Brakhage
James Stanley Brakhage , better known as Stan Brakhage, was an American non-narrative filmmaker who is considered to be one of the most important figures in 20th century experimental film....
'.
In 2011, Sell began a collaboration with artist Rev Jen Miller, after he directed the promotional video for her upcoming novel 'Elf Girl!' . The two have since launched their own film production company entitled ASS Studios
ASS Studios
ASS Studios or Art Star Scene Studios is an American independent film production company founded by Courtney Fathom Sell and Reverend Jen Miller in 2011. Their films are often produced on no-budget, involve guerilla style D.I.Y. tactics upon shooting, take place on the Lower East Side, and...
which produces short films & music videos featuring a variety of Art Stars
Art Stars
Art Stars is a group of experimental performers, comedians, poets, storytellers, musicians, and performance artists located in and around New York's Lower East Side. Appropriated by the New York Lower East Side open mic performance scene, the term "Art Star" was first coined by Andy Warhol. As...
and performers such as 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...
.The company became infamous due to an incident at their official launch party in which audience members were attacked by performers with stun guns.
Music videos
In 2008, Sell directed the controversial Xiu XiuXiu Xiu
Xiu Xiu is an American avant-garde group originally from San Jose, California. The band is the brainchild of singer-songwriter Jamie Stewart, who has been its only constant member since its inception in 2002. His current bandmate is Angela Seo...
music video for their single 'Master of the Bump' off of their album 'Women as Lovers
Women as Lovers
Women as Lovers is the sixth studio album by American avant-garde band Xiu Xiu. It was released on January 29, 2008, by Kill Rock Stars, and shares its title with the Martin Chalmers translation of Elfriede Jelinek's 1975 novel Die Liebhaberinnen....
'. The video premiered on Pitchfork
Pitchfork
A pitchfork is an agricultural tool with a long handle and long, thin, widely separated pointed tines used to lift and pitch loose material, such as hay, leaves, grapes, dung or other agricultural materials. Pitchforks typically have two or three tines...
TV and has gone on to screen at various Film Festivals across the globe.
The following year, Sell directed the experimental concert documentary entitled Xiu Xiu - You Can't Hear Me, which features a live performance by the band accompanied by various music video vignettes.
He has collaborated on music videos with bands & artists such as The Gentleman Losers, Xiu Xiu
Xiu Xiu
Xiu Xiu is an American avant-garde group originally from San Jose, California. The band is the brainchild of singer-songwriter Jamie Stewart, who has been its only constant member since its inception in 2002. His current bandmate is Angela Seo...
, Diamondsnake, 3epkano, The Singing Knives, The Morning Birds, Wires!Wires! & Carl Simmons. In 2010, Sell shot numerous live performance videos for many other bands for the website DNO Video in New Orleans.
Music & Compositions
Sell commonly composes and records the soundtrack scores to many of his films, most notably 'My Dying DayMy Dying Day
My Dying Day is a short video documentary produced and directed by filmmaker Courtney Fathom Sell in 2006. -About:The short documentary centers around 54 year old Bradley Sell, a Boston Reverend who had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer years before. Initially given only two...
', by himself.
In June 2011, Emphasis Entertainment released a compilation album entitled Themes for Films
Themes for Films
Themes for Films is a collection of experimental and instrumental compositions by filmmaker Courtney Fathom Sell. The album includes 27 tracks....
, consisting of 27 instrumental and experimental compositions recorded by Sell for various film soundtracks. According to the linear notes, the tracks included on the album were recorded in various locations in the United States over the course of many years. Some of the songs however are previously unreleased, and have never been included within any of Sell's film work.
DVD
- No Place Like HomeNo Place Like HomeNo Place Like Home is the fifth studio album by Scottish band Big Country, released in 1991. . Its title derives from a quote in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which is referenced by the first track, "We're Not in Kansas"...
– (2008), released through Emphasis Entertainment - Hi8 The Short Documentaries of Courtney Fathom SellHi8 The Short Documentaries of Courtney Fathom SellHi8 - The Short Documentaries of Courtney Fathom Sell is a collection of four short video documentaries by American documentary filmmaker Courtney Fathom Sell...
– (2009), released through Emphasis Entertainment - Xiu Xiu - You Can't Hear Me – (2009), released through MVD Entertainment
Select Filmography
- The HoleThe HoleThe Hole may refer to:* The Hole , a Japanese drama directed by Kon Ichikawa* The Hole , a French film directed by Jacques Becker* The Hole , an animated short film directed by John Hubley...
- (2010) - An Afternoon with Walt - (2010)
- In the Golden Blood of the Sunlight - (2009)
- Xiu XiuXiu XiuXiu Xiu is an American avant-garde group originally from San Jose, California. The band is the brainchild of singer-songwriter Jamie Stewart, who has been its only constant member since its inception in 2002. His current bandmate is Angela Seo...
- You Can't Hear Me - (2009) - My Dying DayMy Dying DayMy Dying Day is a short video documentary produced and directed by filmmaker Courtney Fathom Sell in 2006. -About:The short documentary centers around 54 year old Bradley Sell, a Boston Reverend who had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer years before. Initially given only two...
- (2008) - Under the Bridge - (2008)
- Long Way Back to Paradise - (2008)
- White Clover - (2007)
- No Place Like Home - (2006)