urbanSTL

gone corporate wrote:Trailer for Masters of Sex, a new show about Masters & Johnson and their work at Washington University School of Medicine, starting in the late 1950s, researching human sexuality as a matter of physiological science.

Note that this is technically "safe for work", but I sure wouldn't have the volume up on it.
Watch at your desk at your own discretion...



Looks not only smart but a whole lot of fun, too. Showtime will have the series premier at the end of September.

UR: Your next film, A Fall from Grace, is set in the St. Louis area, and as someone raised there, this holds a particular interest to me. Tell us more about the film and its amazing cast.

JL: I could not be more excited about A Fall from Grace. ST. LOUIS IS AN INCREDIBLE PLACE. It is as much newborn as it is ghost: so many different places and so many amazing stories. As if art directed by time and kept strangely secret, the city hugs the Mississippi River and begs to be photographed. Between the cast we have and the story of the 'human wound'... I feel it is going to be a real gift to bring to life.

UR: Have you and your producers overcome the snags early on in production with Governor Jay Nixon over tax breaks? Are there any new updates on the film?

JL: We have not overcome them (the snags) so much as learned to accept them. I am hoping that ultimately we will be able to shoot at least five to ten days in St. Louis, but without tax breaks and the support of the Governor, it becomes sadly cost prohibitive to bring the full feature there. I believe having a film back in St. Louis would provide incredible economic and creative boosts to residents, and would begin to highlight to the world how beautiful that city really is.

stlgasm wrote:I disagree with those who think Salvage City will reinforce a negative perception of the city. I think it will be good for the city, showing off its edgy side. And for anyone who thinks reality tv is "real", think again. All those shows are staged, coached and sensationalized. I'm quite sure they had permission to get into all of these buildings, and the lawlessness portrayed in the promos and interviews is all marketing. I am excited to see the show- just keep in mind that its entertainment, not real life.

You emphasize repurposing discarded items and in abandoned locations. Is there a preservationist streak in your work?
Certainly. Since I was a kid, I have been fascinated by beautiful architecture and discarded memories. The things we reclaim are not items that other people see value in. We are not going after copper or wire or other commodity-based things. We are going after things that others have left behind decades after the building was disregarded. I never take things that could be used in a historical renovation. I love these buildings and want them to come back to life and be used and appreciated by future generations. My hope is that by rescuing certain items from the landfill, we can help keep these buildings alive by storytelling through functional pieces.

How important is the city of St. Louis specifically to your work?
It's very important. I was born and raised in Saint Louis and feel a deep connection to my city. Whether it's a town of 3,000 or a city of 10 million, urban decay affects us all in every part of the world. There's a whole region called the Rust Belt. When industry left these places, it didn't just cripple economies, it took people's pride. I see what we're doing as celebrating what made these cities great. When people say, "We used to make things in this country," St. Louis is the kind of town they're talking about.