Cleveland filmmaker Carlos P. Quiros knows all about indie movies. His directorial debut, Cut, was also written by him and shot -- on a tiny budget (less than $125,000) -- entirely in Ohio. It features local actors and a local production crew, and its music was scored by Quiros and performed by local rockers Mojo and Loud. Everyone worked for free. "There really aren't too many resources available to a Hispanic filmmaker in Cleveland," Quiros says. "I paid for the whole thing by myself."
Based on a true story, the feature-length movie is about a college girl who unwittingly becomes part of a torture flick. "It's a small film," Quiros says. "I'm not looking for it to be picked up by Miramax or anything like that." Cut's website (www.cut-movie.com) has been hit more than 80,000 times since January, and Quiros plans to shop the film to festivals over the summer. Cut premieres locally at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Parmatown Cinema (8141 West Ridgewood Drive in Parma). Quiros and the Cutting crew will be at the screening to introduce and talk about the movie. Admission is $10. Call 440-884-6406 for more information. -- Michael Gallucci
Shtick to Business
THU 5/22
Funny singer-songwriter Dan Hart suffers from the same malady known to many Dr. Demento regulars: "I have short-shelf-life syndrome," he explains. "But my big hit, if you can call it that, is called Sex and Violence.' And that's something that's gonna go on for a while." The Baltimore resident's latest album, The Life of Dan, has been getting airplay on The Dr. Demento Show as well as on NPR. "People are sick of serious songs," Hart says. "Our times are so serious right now, you've gotta laugh at something. That used to bother me. Then I just went with the flow. You want funny? I'll be funny." Hart performs a free show at the University Circle Arabica (11300 Juniper Road) tonight. Call 216-791-0300 for more information. -- Michael Gallucci
Gothic Revival
Carnal Carnival 2 shines a light on dark music.
SUN 5/25
The Phantasy Nite Club becomes a cave of flowing capes, fluorescent hair, and black fingernail polish at Carnal Carnival 2, the goth/fetish dark rave happening Sunday. In the words of DJ Fix, it's "a big party for freaks of all kinds." A four-man DJ crew headlined by Darks Choir will spin techno metal in the club, while three female DJs, led by Pleasure Kitten, spin next door at the Chamber. At midnight, DJ Fix's goth-rock band, the Guttervamps, takes the stage. "The scene needs a boot in the ass, and we hope to deliver," Fix says. Carnal Carnival 2 is at 9 p.m. Sunday at the Phantasy Nite Club and the Chamber, 11802 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood. Tickets are $7 and $10; call 216-228-6300. -- Cris Glaser
