| Documentary about legendary dub king Lee "Scratch" Perry
The Upsetter: The Life & Music of Lee 'Scratch' Perry
World Premiere of Documentary Feature at SXSW Film Festival
NEW YORK, March 4, 2008 – Filmmakers Ethan Higbee and Adam Bhala Lough are pleased to announce the world premiere of their new feature documentary, The Upsetter: The Life & Music of Lee Scratch Perry, at the South By Southwest Film Festival 2008 in Austin, TX. They’ll be in attendance at the film’s premiere on Friday, March 7 at the Alamo Ritz 1, 9:00 PM.
The Upsetter charts 70 years in the life of the legendary singer, songwriter, producer, poet, painter, genius and madman Lee “Scratch” Perry, aka “The Upsetter.”The film, seven years in the making, was directed by award-winning young filmmaker/musician Ethan Higbee aka “nahte”(Haro Hara: Pilgrimage To Kataragama) and filmmaker Adam Bhala Lough, whose previous film, Weapons, was nominated for a Grand Jury prize at Sundance for Best Dramatic Feature and will be will be released nationwide by After Dark/Lions Gate this year. Says Bhalu, “I can’t imagine a better venue for The Upsetter than SXSW. This is a festival where everyone from The Stooges and Morrissey to Amy Winehouse and Bloc Party has played. It seems only right that movie about the man who influenced generations of musicians around the globe would premiere here. SXSW has come full circle.”
Seven years in the making, the film is recounted in Perry’s own words through an exclusive interview with the notoriously reclusive artist filmed at his remote hideout in Switzerland in 2006 by Higbee and Lough. After burning his renowned studio, The Black Ark, to the ground in a fit of rage, Perry disappeared to Switzerland to confront the demons of his past. In The Upsetter, he confronts many of these demons head on. The interview is interspersed with archival footage and musical tracks carefully selected from throughout Perry’s extensive career.
Director Ethan Higbee, currently filming his second feature film, The Anti-Fascist, says: “Lee Perry is the definition of a true artist. For 72 years he’s played by his own rules and created some of the best music and painting I’ve been exposed to. I’m excited that people now get to experience him on screen and in surround sound.”
Screening Times
Friday, March 7 - Austin, TX @ Alamo Ritz 1, 9:00 PM (world premiere) SXSW Film Fest
Tuesday, March 11 - Austin, TX @ Alamo Ritz 1, 6:30 PM, SXSW Film Fest
Thursday, March 13 – Austin, TX @ the Paramount. 6:45 PM, SXSW Music Fest
*screening details subject to change
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