Come Fly With Me Nude

Breakthrough underground performance artists Dom Casual & Bella Hagen made an unannounced public appearance at the closing ceremonies of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin this past Sunday night. Crowds were stunned and gave an unprecedented 45 minute standing ovation.

No word yet on whether or not this means a return to the performance circuit for the legendary Mutual Muses. At last report, their annual holiday collaboration was cancelled when Bella went missing, citing “stress and exhaustion” over their legal battle with Omni Dazzle Television (www.omni-dazzle-tv.com). The duo starred as themselves in the biopic Come Fly With Me Nude (www.comeflywithmenude-movie.com), Omni Dazzle’s first foray into theatrical filmmaking.

Dom & Bella (www.dombella.com) are protesting the network and all its merchandising, claiming they were “exploited”, “misrepresented”, and “made to look like complete imbeciles”. In retaliation, Omni Dazzle is suing the artists for libel and for failing to fulfill their obligation to promote the film. More information on the protest can be found at www.comeflywithmenude.org

October 24, 2005: Read the action-packed, edge-of-your-seat story of how Come Fly With Me Nude almost didn’t make it across the finish line in Leah Garchik’s column in the SF Chronicle’s Datbook by going to:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/10/24/DDGQCDVI471.DTL 

If you need to access any of our press kit materials, you may do so by clicking PRESS.

MOVIE CLOSE UP TELEVISION INTERVIEW 

Dom & Bella — or rather, Todd & I — are looking forward to doing our first television interview in almost a year. This time we’ll be the guests on Bonnie Steiger’s Movie Close Up, on San Francisco Public Access Channel 29. We’ve been invited to talk about — what else — Come Fly With Me Nude, which is this close to being finished. The show airs Wednesday, September 7 at 7:30 – 8:00pm PST.

AT THE SAN FRANCISCO APPLE STORE: “MADE ON A MAC : COME FLY WITH ME NUDE“

 In other news, we’ll be doing a presentation at the San Francisco Apple Store (Stockton Street, just north of Market) on Thursday, September 15, 6:00 – 7:00pm. It’s part of their “Made On A Mac” series, and we’ll tell how we used our Macs in preproduction, production, and postproduction of Come Fly With Me Nude. Technology guru (and the film’s writer/co-director/director of photography) Dan Gomes will be there to talk serious computer speak to all the tech-heads out there. And I’ll be there for the rest of you who want to know in plain English how a Mac can make every step of filmmaking 100 times easier. To download a PDF of the information covered, click here.

That’s right, we were interviewed on KPFA* (in Berkeley) about our performance in the 13th Annual San Francisco Fringe Festival! To hear the interview, click on the word BUTTON . For more information, to purchase tickets, etc. etc, please visit http://www.sffringe.org/fringe04/plays04/comeflyw.html So inspired were we by Berkeley’s rich history as a hotbed of revolution, we decided to head straight over to the campus afterward and engage students in a passionate sing-along. It was more like a sing-alone (save one accordion player who joined in on a few ditties), but nonetheless, we felt the magic of sitting in the shadows of the watchtower. 

*Founded in 1949 by Lewis Hill, a pacifist, poet, and journalist, KPFA was the first community supported radio station in the USA. KPFA broadcasts on 94.1 FM, San Francisco and KPFB 89.3 FM, Berkeley. Much of their programming is local, original and eclectic, with a well produced mix of news and in depth public affairs, an ongoing drama, literature and performance series, interviews, and reviews. Best part: their music ranges from folk to hip hop, Bach to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Please check them out at www.kpfa.org.

1997: The Artists First Interview

This duo have been each other muse for a good many years, but it is only recently that this intimate, artistic support-group have grown beyond their subtle tacit singularities; Following near identical orbits around the body of California’s performance arts circuit; Disturbing Middle-America’s mental myopia with highly individual acts of auricular adversity. Since ’95 the sum became greater than the parts; The melding of man/woman, yin/yang became complete and “Come Fly With Me Nude” was released upon a totally unsuspecting public. Continuing they’re unrelenting assault on the people of the world, they have now announced the imminent release of a new textual corroboree which promises to surpass all other literary works of recent times. So, who are these entities that have been likened to a tsunami of Byronian Ferlinghettis? How did they find each other, let alone themselves, amidst the detritus of pop USA?

Discussion:
INTERVIEWER: What catalyst caused this big-bang?
BELLA: Its genesis was almost eerie. I was returning home from my Rolfing for Creative Personalities class, when I was struck by the beauty of the flowers outside a small florist. I was inspired to indulge myself, and couldn’t decide between the Phlox Drummondi and the Delphinium Consoldia. Now mind you, this struggle to choose was purely internal, I’d not vocalized my conflict, when this soothing voice behind me said “the Delphinium Consoldia.” I turned to see Dom standing there, nodding gently, assuredly. Of course I recognized him right away; who hasn’t seen his performance piece “I Miss Me”, and I knew he was right–about the flowers. But more important, he answered my questions, heard my thoughts, and completed my purchase. It was fate.

I: You were both held up as untouchable divas of the performance art world, what did you stand to gain by becoming a single amalgam?
DOM: Neither gain nor loss was ever considered. We simply did what we had to do. What we were chosen to do.
B: Actually, we have an affordable health plan available to us now. And we got a decent tax break.

I: What is your response to those people who would have your work banned and labeled as the worst form of gutter literature?
D: First, we ask that they read it.

I: So, you deny that much of what you write is purely for shock value?
B: I’ve never heard that before. We have been accused of writing purely for schlock value. Simply, we speak the truth. I suppose the truth is shocking to some.

I: Then you’re not just, “riding the wave of controversy,” and, “exploiting sensationalism,” as the London Times reviewer states?
B: That’s rather amusing. The New York Times said we were sensationalizing exploitation.

I: Is there any truth in the rumor that the PBS channel asked to produce a biographical documentary on you both and that you felt this to be a plot to trivialize your art?
D: I don’t see how you could possibly trivialize it.

I: CFWMN seemed to pull on the apron strings of the past thirty years or so of US Pop culture. Does this make you the Bradys of poetry?
D: My approach to writing more like that of Keith Partridge, and Bella is my erstwhile sister Laurie. More than a keyboardist: part Tracy, always ready with a tambourine.

I: The piece entitled “Come Fly With Me Nude, Santa” appears to be some sick sexual fantasy about a jolly, old, fat man. Surly there are greater depths here to be plumbed.
B: No, we simply wanted to write a lighthearted, festive childrens poem for the holidays.
D: We thought the children needed a voice. We wanted to crystallize how they really felt about Christmas.

I: So, the “Santa” here is more of a prototypical representation of the Satanic nature of Western materialism …
D: Ask the children. Simply ask the children.

I: If you had to capture the essence of your work as a single image, what picture would you paint, who would be the artist and what materials would be used to craft the image?
D: Play Doh…SpiroGraph…Etch-a-Sketch…Lite Brite; Bella and I illuminate each other in the mixed-media of our youth. I’m real big on Spam carvings because they’re edible.

I:…. Interesting … and why did you choose these materials?
B: Clearly we live in the past.

I: Well, I’m not entirely sure that what you’re saying makes sense in the Newtonian universe that we inhabit ….
D: Obviously I’ve reaped nepotism’s fruit. Living in uncle Wayne’s shadow was both a blessing and curse. But to credit a whole universe to him, even at his egotistical best I don’t think he’d go that far.

I: …. So you trying to reach that other plain ….
D: You’re not listening, cocksucker.

I:Earlier you mentioned “cocks”, would this be an adroit reference to farm animals and how the human sexual act is animalistic?
D: No, clearly it’s the human penis. Whoops! Can I say penis?

I:I see … please go on …
B: I see the animal sex act as very humanistic.

I:That’s rather offensive …. don’t you think?
B: Have you ever seen two farm animals – nude farm animals – make love? It’s very…

I: You lost me there …. can we back up a bit … to what you were saying about the male organ?
D: No more, I was finished. Now it is you who fixates.

I:Me fixating! You’re the ones who write this stuff.
D: Hey, you’re asking the questions.

I:Okay … let’s move on to your new book …
B: It’s a sequel, “Come Swim With Me Nude.” It’s filled with anecdotes, poems, and short stories, all of hope and inspiration. To us.

I:… yes … I’ve heard this described as mainstream. How do respond to that and the assertion that you’re selling out?
B: Selling out implies that people are buying our books, which is a fascinating thought. As for mainstream, I think we’re finally reaching our understanders – and there are many of them – who’ve been waiting for a voice.

I:Have either of you heard about the Internet and do you find it useful in your art?
D: We’re vehemently against it, since we can no longer communicate with the children in our favorite chat rooms. It seems the POLICE [Parents Opposing Lewd Internet Chatroom Exhibitionists] don’t want us to reach them [their children]. And that’s a shame.

I:Now that you’ve worked poems and short stories, where do you intend going next? is there a novel or play on the horizon?
D: We’re working on a picture deal with Disney. It’s in the very, very early stages. I don’t want to give away too much, but the working title is “Have You Seen My Hymen?”. It’s based on Lewis Carroll’s lesser known masterpiece “Alice in Hymenland.”

I:And beyond that … What does the future hold?
B: We’re not terribly future-oriented. Although it’s been suggested that we retain a good attorney. But we’re optimistic; a bumpy legal road would only give us fuel for the fire, fodder for fiction.
D: I’m going to EuroDisney!
B: Amen!