Song for Rent, AFter Jack Smith (2019)

A film by Malic Amalya

16mm with optical sound

open captions and audio description

7 minutes

2019


Every American Flag is a Warning Sign. Damian Dineyazhi


With Kate Smith singing God Bless America looped in the background, experimental filmmaker Jack Smith starred as Rose Courtyard—a drag character based on Rose Kennedy—in his 1969 film, Song for Rent. In this adaptation, Barbarella Bush joins Rose in a campy exploration of US nationalism, queer assimilation, and denunciation. 

Closed Caption and Audio Description make Song for Rent, After Jack Smith more accessible to a wider audience, while playing a critical role in the film’s structure.


FILM SCREENINGS:

DIRTY LOOKS — Los Angeles Filmforum — Los Angeles, CA: 2020

COLLECTIF JEUNE CINEMA — L’Etna — Paris, France: 2020

LIGHT FIELD FILM FESTIVAL — The Lab — San Francisco, CA: 2019

SUPERFEST INTERNATIONAL DISABILITY FILM FESTIVAL — Freight & Salvage — Berkeley, CA: 2019

SAN FRANCISCO TRANSGENDER FILM FESTIVAL — The Roxie — San Francisco, CA: 2018


Based on the film by……………………….…Jack Smith

Starring……………………………………………..…Jade Theriault as Jack Smith as "Rose Courtyard"
Rae Raucci as "Barbarella Bush"


Director/Cinematographer/Editor…….Malic Amalya

Assistant Director………………………..……..Nathan Hill

Production Assistant………………….………Kolmel W. Love
Makeup Artist……………………………….…….Dee Lit
Assistant to Mx. Theriault……………….…Tommy Tompkins

Book Artist………………………………………….Max Garent
God Bless America…………………...….…..Kate Smith

Special Thanks………………………………...Steve Polta, Antonella Bonfanti, & Canyon Cinema

 

stills from Jack Smith’s Song for Rent, 1969