Genesis Films, Ltd. was a curatorial/distribution project started in 1968 by a UCLA graduate named Reg Childs, to gather interesting student films into curated programs and tour them around the country. Although these programs showed in underground cinemas and other public venues, they were particularly marketed to university campuses.
Filmmakers Burton Gershfield and Pat O’Neill both worked for Genesis (Burton on a more full-time basis for a couple of years, Pat more casually), and along with Martin Muller (aka Neon Park) and sometimes Bruce Lane, also comprised a sort of in-house design outfit for Genesis, called Illuminator. They produced intro/conclusion sequences for the touring programs, as well as program handout design, etc., but O’Neill and Muller eventually turned this into their own separate outfit, doing visual effects, design, etc.
Two of the touring programs are somewhat better documented – GENESIS I (premiering in January 1969, according to some historic references) and GENESIS II (premiering later in 1969). I’ve also tracked down the lineup of GENESIS III (probably 1970), but there are fewer lasting references to this one. GENESIS 4 (1971) and GENESIS 5 (1972) are so far a bit harder to track down precise info for, and I have yet to document their complete, exact contents.
Genesis Films was acquired by Directions Unlimited, Ltd. in 1970. Genesis Films seems to have then be completely overhauled for different distribution angles by 1972-73.
GENESIS I (1969)
“A fresh collection of cinematic styles by a new generation of young filmmakers”
[INTRODUCTION] by Pat O’Neill, Burton Gershfield, Bruce Lane, Chick Strand, & Martin Muller, 2.5m
The Matchseller by Lawrence Lewis, 12m
Untitled by Chris Munger, 4.5m
Now That the Buffalo’s Gone by Burton Gershfield, 6m
Behind Every Good Man by Nikolai Ursin
Son of Heatwave by Jon Fizdale, 7m
Reliquary by Judith Reidel, 12m
Anselmo by Chick Strand, 4m
Orange by Karen Johnson, 3m
Numbers by James Hill, 3m
Sound of Flesh by John Stewart, 10m
7362 by Pat O’Neill, 9m
Breakfast Dance by David Wilson, 6m
Opus I by Colin Higgins, 12m
[CONCLUSION] by Pat O’Neill, Burton Gershfield, Bruce Lane, Chick Strand, & Martin Muller, 2m
Two other short films, both documentaries, were part of the full touring program, but seem to have been left out in some screenings of the show:
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free (1968) by Peter Rosen, 20m
Children of Synanon by Howard Lester, 15m
A review of the program in UCSB’s campus paper, El Gaucho (11/11/1968) refers to the program also including the two documentary shorts, as well as in the 4/11/69 Ball State University Daily News. However, a 1970 Underground Cinema-12 showing omits the two documentaries.
GENESIS II (1969)
Original Genesis II program lineup here
[INTRODUCTION] by Pat O’Neill, Burton Gershfield, Bruce Lane, Chick Strand, & Martin Muller, 2.5m
The Unicycle Race by Robert Swarthe, 7m
Eating Cake by Peter Jensen, 13m
Retreat by Colin Higgins, 10m
Demonstration Movie I by Ron Finne, 4m
Tomo by Alvin Tokunow, 10m
E Pluribus Unum by Alan Jacobson, 13m
Herman by Vic Grady, 1m
Project I by David Lourie, 14m
Bambi Meets Godzilla by Marv Newland, 1.5m
Coke by Doug Ryan, 0.5m
Free Gratis Bastard by John Gunderson, 11.5m
Vicious Cycles by David Brain, Len Janson, & Chuck Menville, 6m
The Tempest by Robert Brown & Frank Olvey, 7m
Campus Christi by D.B. Jones & J.K. Jennings, 18m
[CONCLUSION] by Pat O’Neill, Burton Gershfield, Bruce Lane, Chick Strand, & Martin Muller, 2m
GENESIS III (1970?)
Marijuana Education by Tom Rettig, 10m
Delineation by Roy Barge, 5m
A Matter of Conscience by Don MacDonald, 28.5m
Induction by Larry Larstead, 10m
Less is More by Don Paonessa, 1m
Airplane Glue I Love You by Howard E. Lester, 20m
Runs Good by Pat O’Neill, 15.5m
Cinemania by Ron Policy, Rod Whitaker & Richard Cooris, 10m
Omega by Donald Fox, 12.5m
GENESIS 4 (1971)
I’ve so far only come across one bit of info for Genesis 4, from an ad in the 10/22/1971 Los Angeles Free Press:
Apparently there were 12 films in the program. Per the ad above, the films known to have been included are:
Appointment Reminder by Greg McCarty
Silent Majority by Bruce A. Ward
Star Spangled Banner by Roger Flint
Last of the Shcunue by Mark Griffiths
I Don’t Know by Penelope Spheeris
This is the Home of Mrs. Levant Graham from The New Thing Flick Company
“And six others!”
–
I’ll add more information as I discover it!
GENESIS 5 (1972)
Genesis 5 world premiered at UNM on September 8, 1972, according to the New Mexico Daily Lobo from that day. An article about the show (“UNM World Premiers ‘Genesis 5′” by Scott Beaven) references some of the films from the lineup, with a few small holes filled in by an article in the Los Angeles Free Press from 11/24/72 by Dave Morgenstern, but this is still an incomplete lineup:
Easyout by Pat O’Neill
Megalopolis by Sal Giammona
The Coming of the Dawn by ????
A Trip Through the Brooks’ Home by Tony Ganz & Rhody Streeter
Honeymoon Hotel (1971) by Tony Ganz & Rhody Streeter, 4m
Buns by ????
Good Grief by Mike Jittlov
Television Land by Charles Braverman
Frogs by ????
Jump by ????
Urbasia by Alex Steiner
Heavenly Star by Alan Holleb
Drawings for an Exhibition by Nora Jane Kirkwood
The above list is incomplete and not in program order, and some filmmakers are not known. The original program contained 16 films, according to the Daily Lobo article. Info will be added/corrected if discovered.
LIGHTSTRUCK 