MAKING CONTAKT – DVD DOCUMENTARY
by Ali Demirel, Richie Hawtin, Niamh Guckian and Patrick Protz
ADE preview: October 23, 2009 | 7.00-8.30pm
at Melkweg, Lijnbaansgracht 234a, 1017 PH Amsterdam
followed by Q&A with Richie Hawtin and Ali Demirel
Ticket presales: 10 EUR, online at www.m-nus.com in the calendar section or
advance papertickets at the box office of Melkweg/Amsterdam
Last year, Minus celebrated its ten year anniversary with CONTAKT - a free-flowing,
improvisational show involving the label’s top DJs and live performers backed up by
state of the art visuals. The fly-on-the-wall documentary edited by Niamh Guckian
(Totally Wired Movie) superbly documents the journey, offering a unique, behind the
scenes look at what makes this crazy, passionate and highly focused group of
individuals tick, as they attempt to redefine the conventional clubbing experience.
Interspersed with a running commentary from the artists, friends and backroom staff
who made the event possible, it’s a warts ‘n’ all appraisal of the highs, lows,
triumphs and near catastrophes that accompanied the tour, revealing exactly what it
takes to get a performance of this magnitude on the road and keep the electronic
movement pushing forward.
Aptly kicking off amid the shaky foundations of St Andrews Hall in Detroit, where the
bass frequencies literally bring the house down, the show moves on through a host
of major cities before peaking with an awe-inspiring spectacle in Amsterdam and a
memorable finale in Tokyo. Each venue poses a new challenge and the close-up
camera style and subtle juxtaposition of images get right to the heart of the matter
as the crew battle with a seemingly endless string of problems - whether it’s the
dimensions of the building, an excommunicated Cube, overheating equipment or
self-inflicted software updates.
As the drama unfolds, it’s fascinating to watch how the show evolves. The nimbus
clouds from the Detroit experience slowly disperse and the performers gradually
embrace the new format, harnessing the creative potential at their fingertips. It all
boils down to keeping a cool head while others are losing theirs and the multitasking
Minus collective all have a part to play in making sure the show can go on.
The Contakt DVD will go on general release later this year, however there’ll be
another preview of the documentary during ADE in Amsterdam on 23 October. The
preview will be open to the public, and followed by a Q&A.
Directed by: Ali Demirel & Richie Hawtin | Co-Director: Niamh Guckian
Produced by: Minus | Edited by: Niamh Guckian | Camera by: Patrick Protz
DVD Release: Autumn/Winter 2009
by Ali Demirel, Richie Hawtin, Niamh Guckian and Patrick Protz
ADE preview: October 23, 2009 | 7.00-8.30pm
at Melkweg, Lijnbaansgracht 234a, 1017 PH Amsterdam
followed by Q&A with Richie Hawtin and Ali Demirel
Ticket presales: 10 EUR, online at www.m-nus.com in the calendar section or
advance papertickets at the box office of Melkweg/Amsterdam
Last year, Minus celebrated its ten year anniversary with CONTAKT - a free-flowing,
improvisational show involving the label’s top DJs and live performers backed up by
state of the art visuals. The fly-on-the-wall documentary edited by Niamh Guckian
(Totally Wired Movie) superbly documents the journey, offering a unique, behind the
scenes look at what makes this crazy, passionate and highly focused group of
individuals tick, as they attempt to redefine the conventional clubbing experience.
Interspersed with a running commentary from the artists, friends and backroom staff
who made the event possible, it’s a warts ‘n’ all appraisal of the highs, lows,
triumphs and near catastrophes that accompanied the tour, revealing exactly what it
takes to get a performance of this magnitude on the road and keep the electronic
movement pushing forward.
Aptly kicking off amid the shaky foundations of St Andrews Hall in Detroit, where the
bass frequencies literally bring the house down, the show moves on through a host
of major cities before peaking with an awe-inspiring spectacle in Amsterdam and a
memorable finale in Tokyo. Each venue poses a new challenge and the close-up
camera style and subtle juxtaposition of images get right to the heart of the matter
as the crew battle with a seemingly endless string of problems - whether it’s the
dimensions of the building, an excommunicated Cube, overheating equipment or
self-inflicted software updates.
As the drama unfolds, it’s fascinating to watch how the show evolves. The nimbus
clouds from the Detroit experience slowly disperse and the performers gradually
embrace the new format, harnessing the creative potential at their fingertips. It all
boils down to keeping a cool head while others are losing theirs and the multitasking
Minus collective all have a part to play in making sure the show can go on.
The Contakt DVD will go on general release later this year, however there’ll be
another preview of the documentary during ADE in Amsterdam on 23 October. The
preview will be open to the public, and followed by a Q&A.
Directed by: Ali Demirel & Richie Hawtin | Co-Director: Niamh Guckian
Produced by: Minus | Edited by: Niamh Guckian | Camera by: Patrick Protz
DVD Release: Autumn/Winter 2009
