Shorr - Speeding into the future: the amphetamine-fueled generation

If someone wants to be in movies, you can buy their life.

Andy Warhol

In the TV series, our intros offered a hint of cinematic sixties excitement to come, as I hope they do here. Like the first part, our interviewed subjects, charming as they were, would not dominate screen time, since wed unearthed so many photos, archive film clips, and art shots of, well, what they were talking about. Some French documentarians who still love Talking Heads (not the band) had a problem with that. Exit one more film editor. By now I was running out of ship hands and we were not even halfway across the straits. Should we turn back now before we lose our shirts? Shucks no. Inspired by Billy Names vivid recall and his vast photographic collection, we forged ahead with Warholian abandon, three sheets to the wind

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We shot reels, and reels, and reels, of film, which most people would say are boring or uninteresting, but people who curate his films know these films as art pieces.

Billy Name: Warhol Photographer, Factory Foreman

I think the movies are non-commercial, and really have to be raw material in Andys thinking, the basis for future (art) work.

Henry Geldzahler (19351994): Art Critic, Curator, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1965

He seems to prefer to do filmmaking to painting.

Leo Castelli (19071991): Famed Gallery Owner, Warhol Art Dealer

Andy created his own Hollywood, based in part on having been rejected. He wanted to be taken seriously by a Hollywood that shut its doors on him.

Gerard Malanga: Poet, Warhol Factory Assistant, The Prime Minister

You were a star! That was just great not to having to go through all the Hollywood producers, and banging and having the door close. If he chose you, you were an immediate star.

Ivy Nicholson: Warhol Superstar

We were just shooting. There was no name. I mean, there was no script, how could there be a name? I never in my life believed that these would be considered films.

Allen Midgette: Actor, Warhol Star

The Screen Tests were murky, with poor contrast and focus. Except mine. The lens had been covered with debris and fingerprints (Andy didnt think it mattered!) and I spent two minutes cleaning it for him with my T-shirt.

Kip Bima Stagg: Co-star of Beauty 1 with Edie Sedgwick

Reels and reels of film! Gerard Malanga and Edie Sedgwick act out in Warhols Vinyl, 1965.

Vinyl was Edies first role in a Warhol film. She did not have much to do, except sit on Billys silver storage trunk and look beautiful, even with hair teased into a beehive. (Photos: Billy Name)

With a Warhol movie they would carry on, and they stopped when the film ran out. It was all improvisation. So they are real sleepers. The concept was extraordinary.

Ultra Violet: Socialite, Artist, Warhol Superstar

I dont remember ever saying anything to Andy where he didnt say it was a good idea. He was so glad to have any ideas.

Paul Morrissey: Filmmaker, Warhol Co-Director

Everybody loved Andy. People like Danny Williams, who got bumped because Andy thought it more valuable to work with Paul Morrissey.

Nat Finkelstein: Photojournalist with Black Star Agency, Warhol Chronicler, 196467

Andy used to let other artists do their thing, too. There would be poetry readings, and people would do plays. He really was a very generous person.

Baby Jane Holzer: Socialite, Girl of the Year 64

Edie was actually the second choice to star in Prison with me. The first had been Jane Holzer. But there was some talk that the film would be salacious, and she was concerned about offending her family.

Bibbe Hansen: Youngest member of Warhol Family

Edie, how does your family feel about your being in these movies?

Dave Dugan, CBS News Interviewer, 1965

Agghhhh! They hate it! And theyve decided I shouldnt have any money.

Edie Sedgwick (19451971): Warhol Icon, Girl of the Year, 1965

Everyone gets to the point where the family tries to cut you off. Who could blame them? Why do you need this wild person going around and spending your hard inherited money?

Danny Fields: Edie Sedgwick confidant, Music Entrepreneur (The Ramones)

Warhol had a goldmine in Edie, and he knew it Were going to make Edie the queen of the factory. At the moment Edie, literally, does her last film with Warhol, he brings the Velvet Underground in.

Victor Bockris: Biographer, Warhol, The Velvet Underground

We introduced them to the Psychiatrists convention. Thats where the first public performance of the Velvet Underground took place!

Jonas Mekas: Founder, Film-Makers Cinematheque, Anthology Film Archives

Nico, Paul Morrissey, Andy and Gerard Malanga share a limo, and good ideas, on the way to Philadelphia for a Velvet Underground gig. (Photo: Nat Finkelstein)

Factory Family get-together. See how many you can recognize by now. (Photo: Billy Name)

Bibbe Hansen looks up to Factory Prime Minister Gerard Malanga. (Photo: Billy Name)

This is not nuclear physics; this is three chords: Im, waiting for my man, twenty-six dollars in my hand.

Lou Reed (19422013): Rock Legend, Founder of The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground I didnt know at first what Waiting for the Man was about. I kind of thought it was something vaguely homosexual.

Leee Black Childers (19452014): Factory Acolyte, Photographer, Music Manager. (David Bowie, Iggy Pop)

The Velvets would dress in black with their black goggles on and I would dress in black with my black goggles. And we would arrive at these peoples houses looking like the death crew!

Mary Woronov: Writer, Artist, Cult Actress, Warhol Star

Andy was in the shadow, standing in the shadow, always behind the camera.

Nico (19381988): Warhol Icon, Velvet Underground Star

They didnt show Chelsea Girls, so we had a lot of time on our hands. We drove to St. Tropez with Nico driving. Im thinking, Okay, you have to keep your eyes on the road. Youre beautiful, but I want to live!

David Croland: Factory Boy, Publisher, LID Magazine

Andy spliced some of my play The Bed into Chelsea Girls. It was to be Andys first split-screen film, so I think it did influence the style, those rooms at the Chelsea.

Robert Heide: Playwright, Warhol Confidant