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RADIO FREE STEVE
Written, directed, photographed, and photographed by Steve Glenn, Dirk Benedick, and Lars Von Biers
Edited by Lars Von Biers
Additional footage and final post-production by Ugh Films: Jules Beesley, Amy Raymond, Ryan Junell and Wade Beesley.Radio Free Steve - Steve Glenn
Sheena - Trish Caldwell
Dirk - Dirk BenedickWho would have thought that brilliant European director Lars Von Biers would have any interest in an early 1980's, SOV, sci-fi flick made by a couple of high school kids? Yet when shown the footage, now more than over 15 years old, shot by then teenager Steve Glenn, Lars was ecstatic.
Lars met Steve at a video duplication facility in Austin, TX, where Steve is now manager. Steve mentioned that he once shot a video feature many years back, but was never able to finish it. Possibly just being polite, Lars agreed to view the footage. Intrigued by the possibilities, Lars decided to help edit and complete the film. The outcome is an exploration into what drives us all as individuals as well as an examination into our need to define our personal sexual politics. On top of that, it's one hell of a fun ride.
Glenn's original concept dealt with a pirate radio operator wandering a post-apocalyptic, Texas desert with his girlfriend, giving the one-fingered solute to the Federal Communications Commission. After World War III in the mid-1980s, the FCC took control of the airwaves in hopes of bringing order back the country. The FCC never relinquished that control and in 1989 a few pirate radio operators stand in way of total FCC dominance. The most elusive and dangerous is Radio Free Steve. Hunted by FCC assassin Dirk Benedick, Radio Free Steve heads west from the wastelands of Texas to LA, where pirated television is all the rage. Along the way Radio Free Steve indulges in his favorite sport, killing radiated mutants.
Lars, ever the experimental filmmaker, doesn't deliver a film about a teenage, Mad Max wanna-be.During the film's shooting, Steve and his cohorts caught everything on tape including everything that went on behind the scenes. Lars uses much of this behind the scenes footage to blur the lines of reality and fiction, and the truth that drives the film is far stranger than the fiction. One of the film's great ironies is that the actor's real lives are what what actually fueled the plot for the mostly improvised film. When Steve Glenn finds out that his girlfriend, Trish Caldwell, is enjoying a party at some other guy's home, it is Radio Free Steve that breaks in, drags her out, and forces her along for the ride to LA. Somewhere along the way he dubs her Sheena. Later, when Radio Free Steve's need for male dominance drives Trish to hitch a ride back to Texas, it is sniveling Steve Glenn on the CB radio crying for her to rejoin him on his drives to both LA and cinematic self worth. Without her, neither of the Steves can be much of a man.
Lars bookends the Radio Free Steve segments with impromptu interviews with the older Steve Glenn. As a person, Steve Glenn isn't much different than her was as a teenager. After 15 years he is still a loser. Steve Glenn justifies his station in life through a self-delusional fulfillment he claims to gain from his managerial job at the video duplication facility. This contrasts beautifully with the man Steve Glenn aspired to be through Radio Free Steve. What was intended as an 18-year-olds' Hollywood calling card, Lars turns into a compelling and extremely humorous look into one man's hopes and dreams. Through Steve Glenn, Lars shows us what we are ultimately destined to become if we don't follow our dreams through to the end.
Most documentarians simple allow events to unfold. Lars goes a step farther and decides to create them. Steve Glenn never finished his film. An incident during filmming cost Steve his best friend and production partner, Dirk Benedick. The two have never spoken since. Lars allows Steve Glenn to realize his dreams by reuniting the two men and allowing them a means to finish the film. The result is perhaps the funniest damn ending to any film I have ever seen, fictional or otherwise. Not only does Lars toy with the lives of these two men, but he toys with the audience as well.
Then again, maybe you shouldn't believe most of what you have just read. Maybe I'm toying with you too.
Post-production was turned over to a group of Texas ex-patriots now living in California, Ugh Films. Jules Beesley, Amy Raymond, Ryan Junel,l and Wade Beesley, all aided Lars in the completion. The group of up and comers wrote and shot much of the new footage that ends the film. They were even instrumental is securing much of the music appearing on the soundtrack including an original score by Friends of Dean Martinez. Other performers include Luna covering Jerry Reed's "Westbound and Down" from SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT, Cibo Matto, Trans Am, Boards of Canada, Marc de Gli Antoni (of Soul Coughing), Mr. Mister, The Fucking Champs (aka The C4am95), Brown Whörnet, DJ Faust, Knodel, and The Prima Donnas. There's no word on a soundtrack album just yet.
While you might not always know what's going on during the film, one thing is certain, RADIO FREE STEVE is hands down the best underground film of the year! I've waited a few weeks to send out this review just to make sure that statement held up. Trust me, it does. Do yourself a favor and don't wait to see it.
Find out more on Radio Free Steve by going to the official website.