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Death Fucking Metal is the third and final film that is part of a trilogy. Theys his two previous films, Fanfare, Calme & Volupté (2007) and Patria (2008), are respectively the first and second part. In all three video works, we see a group of people dressed up in costumes. They all lie still - as in a state of depression - in a spectacular, staged environment. In part one they all wear the classic outfit of marching-girls, in the second part the official uniforms of the riot police, and in this last part, the third, they wear the anti-uniforms of rock fanatics and stars alike.

Death Fucking Metal was recorded in a velodrome, an arena for track cycling located next to the museum of contemporary art in Ghent. The recordings were, due to their public accessibility, also a performance, which took place during the opening of Home-made Victories, the solo show by Koen Theys in S.M.A.K. on March 29, 2013.

Amidst the arena, Koen Theys placed a slowly rotating, three-tier circular stage. On it, some thirty old rock stars are scattered among their instruments and amplifiers. Their rough outfits, guitars and drums alike, shine in the spotlight. A burst of dazzling light pierces the smoke on stage. All the necessary ingredients for a spectacular concert seem to be present, but the musicians lie totally weakened and depressed on the platform, barely able to produce a decent note of music. Yet, now and then, a seemingly wasted rock star succeeds to murmur a famous line from an equally famous rock song, but these are nothing but vain attempts that cannot prevent us from thinking that the concert is nearing its death.

 

The film was screened or exhibited at:

 

  • Scientific-Research Museum of the Academy of Arts of Russia, Saint-Petersburg (RU), 2017

  • At The Gallery, Antwerp (BE), 2017

Credits:

 

  • Produced by Escautville

  • Executive producer: Sam Sterckx, Assistant: Sophie Samyn

  • Co-production: S.M.A.K. (Ghent), DEE, Guy and Linda Pieters

  • With the support of the Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF)

  • With: Jakke Anthonis, Wim Calluy, Frank Castelyns, David Davidse, Maurice De Grauwe, Amar Delaere, Guy Dermul, Jan De Smet, Isabel Devriendt, Raf De Weerdt, Katrien Fermont, Eddy Gabriël, Bert Ghysels, Marja Hoes, Snake Lemmens, Ludo Mich, Vanne Opdebeeck, Ria Pacquée, Marc Poukens, Annemie Steeman, Luc Van Acker, Alain Vanassebroeck, Päul ‘Shorty’ Van Camp, Roland Van Campenhout, Bernard van Eeghem, Dirk Van Hecke, Frank Vranckx, Guy Willekens, Willy Willy

 

  • Camera: Wim Catrysse, Ilke De Vries, Glenn Geerinck, Azylis Roman, Frank Theys, Koen Theys, Ben Van den Berghe

  • Editing, Sound design: Koen Theys

  • Sound finalisation: Johan Vander Maelen

 

  • Light: Wannes Budts (DM Concepts)

  • Sound: Wannes Vertommen (DM Concepts)

  • Set Design: Bert Leysen, Dries Dejonghe (Omgevingen)

  • Assistants Set Design: Wim Calluy, Katinka De Jonge, Raphaël Molinel, Daan Verzele

 

  • Make-up: Kaatje Van Damme

  • Assistants Make-up: Rachel Beeckmans, Virginie Berland, Marie Brabant, Caroline Case, Lisa Schonker, Michelle Van Brussel

  • Costumes: Emma Zune

  • Assistants Costumes: Lynn Bruggeman, Nele Leloup, Nadine Scheuer

 

  • Set Photography: Liesbeth Doms, Elly Strik

  • Catering: Godart Bakkers, Nadia Bijl, Yirka De Brucker, Beau Delagaye, Sietske Van Aarde, Tom Van Camp

 

  • Special Thanks: DEE Sound & Light, City of Ghent, ‘t Kuipke, Vaast Colson, Ulrike Lindmayr, Elly Strik, Guillaume Bijl, Wim Calluy, Wim Catrysse

 

Anchor C_Death Fuckig

 

Death Fucking Metal, 2013 | excerpt

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