Strange Parallel

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Strange Parallel

Elliott Smith with the "robot hand"
Directed by Steve Hanft
Produced by Raub Shapiro
Written by Steve Hanft
Jason Mason
Starring Elliott Smith
Larry Crane
Marne Lucas
Amber Strom
Gus Van Sant
Sam Coomes
Janet Weiss
Music by Elliott Smith
Cinematography Steve Hanft
Editing by Steve Hanft
Paul Menne
Distributed by DreamWorks SKG
Release date(s) 15 October 1998
Running time 30 min
Country USA
IMDb profile

Strange Parallel is a documentary/short film revolving around the American singer/songwriter Elliott Smith. The film features interviews with Elliott himself as well as fans, friends and other acquaintances of his (including Gus Van Sant, Larry Crane, and the members of Quasi). The film also includes snippets of Elliott Smith performing as well as footage of him recording an unreleased song, "Brand New Game". The film sometimes moves out of reality, with acted-out, metaphorical sequences that involve Elliott considering purchasing a mechanical hand (a "robot hand") to improve his music.

The film was made in 1998 and was directed by Steve Hanft. The film takes place mostly in New York City and Portland, Oregon. The title is a direct quote from an interview of one of Elliott's acquaintances (a bartender) who said he felt a "strange parallel" between himself and Elliott when he met him.

The film was used for promotion only and is not available for purchase. [1]

Director Steve Hanft says this about the film:

"In 1998 I was hired to make a film for the reclusive rocker Elliott Smith. Very excited, I flew to Portland, Oregon, where he was staying and met with him to figure it out before we filmed. At the meeting he explained, in a very quiet voice, with a slight smile, that he didn't want it to be a straight-up documentary. So I suggested he write down some of his dreams. The next day, we met again, and he began talking a lot, and louder, telling me all about how he "had a fucked up dream last night". It was very funny when he explained it, everyone in and around the music business he was in was telling him to get a mechanical hand to replace the hand that he'd trained for so long to play guitar. There was also a military recruiter who came into the bar where he was writing a song that would yell at him for no reason, and Satan was there, that kills me. A lot of people who know him from his music don't understand that he was really funny. So we wrote the dream into the shot list and intercut it into the more traditional music footage. It was hard to get the documentary footage out of him, he hated being interviewed. He was much more into the dream sequence and we had a lot fun shooting it. It was an amazing experience and just knowing a guy like that, so talented and brutally honest, has changed my life. Bless him."

[edit] Credits

  • Written by Steve Hanft, Jason Mason & Elliott Smith
  • Shot and Directed by Steve Hanft
  • Produced by Raub Shapiro
  • Sound Recording by Jason Mason
  • Additional Photography by Patrick Simpson
  • Art Direction by Tom Marsan
  • Edited by Steve Hanft & Paul Menne
  • Camera Assistants: Rebekah Sitty & 'Cool' Keith Sirchio

Portland Crew

  • Skateboard Cam: Dave England
  • Props Production: Beth Stewart
  • 2nd Camera Operator: Loch Phillips
  • Production Assistants: Rich Velasquez & Stuart Kinger

Interviewees

Additional Appearances

  • Dave England: Devil
  • Sasha Fuentes: Robot Hand Salesman
  • Ross Harris: Robot Hand Salesman
  • James Lee Ellis: Doctor
  • Akhigbonde Francis: Doctor
  • Amy Metsman: Member of the Board
  • William Edwards: Chairman of the Board
  • Sean Croghan: Sgt. Slaughter
  • Joanna Bolme: Recording Engineer
  • Robin Bauer: Devil Sympathizer
  • Laura Nerlove: Devil Sympathizer
  • Sonia Manalli: Medical Technician
  • Vanessa Reyes: Medical Technician
  • Brent Sersen: Member of the Board
  • Tracy Van Zandt: Devil Sympathizer

Music

  • "Independence Day"
  • "Waltz #2 (XO)" (live)
  • "Brand New Game" (early version, unreleased)
  • "Miss Misery"
  • "Waltz #2 (XO)"
  • "Waltz #1"
  • "Bottle Up and Explode!" (live)
  • "Robot Hand Jive" and "In Between Time" (narration music) - written and performed by Dada Munchamonkey (aka Ed Ruscha, Jr.)
  • "Isn't it a Pity?" (live) - written by George Harrison, performed by Elliott Smith
  • "Ballad of Big Nothing" (live)
  • "Happiness" (live)
  • "Oh Well, Okay" (theremin) - performed by Sam Coomes, arranged by Elliott Smith
  • "Waltz #2 (XO)" (dub version) - written by Elliott Smith, performed by Future Pigeon
  • "Prelude Op3 #2 in C Sharp Minor" (live) - written by Sergei Rachmaninoff, performed by Elliott Smith
  • "Coming Up Roses"
  • "Oh Well, Okay" (live)
  • "Baby Britain"

(All songs written and performed by Elliott Smith unless otherwised noted.)

Post-Production

  • Colorist: Paul Bronkor
  • Henry Artists: Eric Novisieciak (robot fire), Steve Koko & Patti Gannon

Executive Producers

  • Luke Wood, Frances Pennington & Margaret Mittleman
  • Laurie Maloga & Tim Clowson for Propaganda Films

[edit] External links

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Elliott Smith
Films: Lucky Three · Strange Parallel
Associated acts: Heatmiser
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