DE-EVOLUTION IS REAL: THE RESTORED FILMS OF DEVO After Dark

Screening to be followed by a conversation with band members Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale moderated by preservationist Peter Conheim.

To mark the 50th anniversary of DEVO, a deep restoration and remastering project of the band’s film, video and audio archives has been undertaken, with a selection presented in celebration of the documentary DEVO, also featured at AFI FEST. Formed in the wake of the Kent State University massacre, DEVO emerged from its spud cocoon as a hydra-headed music, art and film collective whose rare early musical provocations would lead to perhaps the most subversive, whip (it)–smart pop group of the 20th century. Filmmaking and music were intertwined from the beginning, resulting in canonical short films, including IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE END: THE TRUTH ABOUT DE-EVOLUTION, SATISFACTION, THE DAY MY BABY GAVE ME A SURPRIZE and the infamous WHIP TEASE aka WHIP IT, in collaboration with co-director Chuck Statler. This program features new restorations and reconstructions, along with restored versions of music videos, such as GIRL U WANT, FREEDOM OF CHOICE and the devolved Hendrix cover, RU EXPERIENCED, restored from its original 35mm negative. Also included is a brand-new 4K restoration of Bruce Conner’s MONGOLOID, never-before-seen 16mm footage from DEVO’s breakthrough appearance at New York City’s Max’s Kansas City, the saga of long-suffering record label boss Rod Rooter and much more.

Film and video restoration are by Peter Conheim and the Cinema Preservation Alliance, from the archives of DEVO, Inc. MONGOLOID restoration is courtesy of the Bruce Conner Trust. Additional archival footage was provided by Daphne Shaw. –Abbie Algar