Director Lynn Shelton was the toast of the Sundance Film Festival two years ago when her film Humpday was honored with multiple awards which led to a successful nationwide art house release of the film, about two Seattle dudes, both straight, who decide to make a gay porn film together as an art project for The Stranger’s annual Hump Film Festival. While on the circuit promoting that film, Ms Shelton met with producer David Gale who told her about director Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow) who created the original $5 Cover project which originally focused on his hometown, Memphis. MTV was keen to continue the series and Seattle’s reputation as an important music capitol combined with Ms Shelton’s skills as a film maker adept at filming improvisationally and on the fly, made her a natural fit for the project. The series, naturally titled, $5 Cover: Seattle filmed last spring and began airing on MTV on Wednesday, (you can also check them out on the web site) and each 8 minute episode focuses on the lives of 13 local bands/musical artists and the connections between them. Among the artists featured are Moondoggies, Maldives, The Spits, Sean Nelson and Tea Cozies. (Though, I have to say, many of these groups are past the point of playing at $5 venues…)
Check out Ms Shelton’s new interview at Movieline where she discusses the making of $5 Cover, the world’s perceptions of the Seattle music scene, (two words: Starbucks and Grunge), and what it was like filming an episode of Mad Men this summer. (She did the Playboy Club episode and got to cast the Bunnies with the help of Hef!)
But, no mention of what she’s currently working on…could it be, “Humpday 2: Electric Boogaloo”? That would be AWESOME!
– Michael Strangeways
