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Athens, GA: Inside/Out
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Wikipedia article
in Athens, Georgia, was where R.E.M. recorded two songs for the film.
'Athens, GA: Inside/Out' is a 1986 documentary film about the mid-1980s music scene in Athens, Georgia, U.S. The film has been described as "the definitive portrait of the city's world-renowned music scene."
About
'Athens, GA: Inside/Out' was the creation of Tony Gayton, a first time director who had recently graduated from the University of Southern California. He was the both director and writer, and shot the documentary on film. The film was produced by Bill Cody.
The film features interviews and concert footage of bands who were a part of the Athens music scene at the time, including well known local legends R.E.M., Pylon, and The B-52's. Other featured bands are the BarBQ Killers, Dreams So Real, Flat Duo Jets, Kilkenny Cats, Limbo District, Love Tractor, The Squalls, and Time Toy.Ankeny, Jason.
The documentary also features interviews with folk artist
Locations
The film's cinematographer, University of Georgia art professor James "Jim" Herbert, says he selected the film's locations with director Gayton. Herbert says, "I pushed for the most interesting visually. Some were appropriate as factual locations the bands played in."
R.E.M. was filmed performing "Swan Song H" and The Everly Brothers "Dream (All I Have to Do)" at the Lucy Cobb Institute chapel. R.E.M. were also filmed performing in the Morton Building at 195 West Washington Street in Athens. The BarBQ Killers, Kilkenny Cats, and Time Toy were filmed performing at the Uptown Lounge on February 4, 1986. Flat Duo Jets were filmed playing on the porch on a fraternity house at the University of Georgia.
Mike Mills of R.E.M. and Mark Cline of Love Tractor were interviewed at Lay Park in Athens. The BarBQ Killers and Walter Rittenberg were interviewed at Walter's Barbecue on 1660 West Broad Street in Athens. ORT was filmed at his former house at 274 Trilby Street in Athens.
Premiere
'Athens, GA: Inside/Out' premiered at Buckhead Cinema and Drafthouse in Atlanta, Georgia on November 30, 1986. This was a special invitation-only showing for the participants in the film. MTV's 'The Cutting Edge' showed the documentary that same night.
'Athens, GA: Inside/Out' also had a limited theatrical run in 1987, mostly playing in major cities.
Reviews
'The New York Times' called 'Athens, GA: Inside/Out' a "bright, scrappy new documentary" that had "a refreshingly homemade feeling; it's as likably odd and unpretentious as Athens itself." 'The Washington Post' wrote, "Gayton's film reflects the energy and the self-made spirit of Athens," and also noted that, "Interviews and performances are skillfully interwoven."
'Athens, GA: Inside/Out' was named pick of the week video by 'People' magazine in 1988. It was also named one of the Top Ten Films about Georgia by the 'New Georgia Encyclopedia'.
Impact and legacy
'Rolling Stone' wrote, "'Athens, Ga." Inside/Out'helped bring the towns music scene to national attention." The film's cinematographer, James Herbert, went on to direct fourteen music videos for R.E.M., as well as videos for other Athens' bands including The B-52s.
The film was featured on the first six episodes of MTV's '120 Minutes' which held a contest "Win a Weekend in Athens, GA."
'Athens, GA. Inside/Out: Original Soundtrack' was released by I.R.S. Records on vinyl and cassette. A single from the soundtrackThe Squalls "Na Na Na Na" and Flat Duo Jets' "Crazy, Hazy Kisses"reached number two on the college radio charts. The soundtrack was re-released in 2012. A 21st-century critic noted, "The soundtrack to 'Athens, GA: Inside/Out' is a testament to how much of an impact bands from a certain era can have on a particular scene."
On June 18, 2008, AthFest kicked off with a with a showing of 'Athens, GA: Inside/Out' at Cin, followed by a panel discussion and question and answer session with ORT, Vanessa Briscoe-Hay and Michael Lachowski of Pylon, Bob Hay of The Squalls, and other cast members. Dexter Romweber of Flat Duo Jets performed a solo set following the session.
In November 2021, a sequel, Athens, Ga. Inside/Out 2: Red Turns Blue, was released to streaming.
See also
*Music of Athens, Georgia
References
Category:1987 films
Category:American rock music films
Category:Documentary films about music and musicians
Category:Athens, Georgia
Category:1980s English-language films
Category:1980s American films
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