Switched on Cinema – YOKAI MONSTERS: SPOOK WARFARE w/ Live Electronic Score | Philosophical Research Society
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Let’s get kooky and spooky as PRS welcomes a colorful cast of folkloric creatures from The Land of the Rising Sun – and the return of Switched on Cinema, the screening series which pairs eclectically curated films with live scores by electrifying electronic composers! The brainchild of dj A/D of KSPC’s Synthdactyl Program, SoC’s mission is to highlight the many talented synthesizer-based artists in the SoCal music scene, pairing them with diverse film selections which, through original live film scores, showcase their expansive artistry. For their Halloween month happening, they have selected a delightfully delirious entry (and fan favorite!) in the classic Japanese, creepy, goofy, and fun-for-the-whole-family Yokai Monsters series – YOKAI MONSTERS: SPOOK WARFARE! What’s more, this gleefully ghoulish romp will amplified by an amazing, tag-teamed original score by electronic composers DISKQ and BbartokK! On YOKAI MONSTERS: SPOOK WARFARE: From the makers of the DAIMAJIN trilogy comes YOKAI MONSTERS, a hallucinatory series of Theremin-fueled films that combine Kaiju-styled beasties with epic mythological storylines. In Yoshiyuki Kuroda’s YOKAI MONSTERS: SPOOK WARFARE(the second movie in the series – from which Takashi Miike heavily borrowed for his modern day Yokai entry, The Great Yokai War), an evil Babylonian vampire is accidentally resurrected by a group of treasure hunters. And it's up to the Yokai monsters to stop this unholy bloodsucker from destroying the world! Combining the iconic surrealism of HAUSU with monsters that are as adorable as baby Yoda (and as ferocious as Godzilla), SPOOK WARFARE is an unmissable chapter in the Japanese horror-fantasy canon. This movie will give your audiences everything they need, including smiles, joy, and a demon vampire with the ability to clone itself. (AGFA Synopsis) DISKQ says: Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare is a charming Japanese horror film that centers around the creatures known as “yokai”, or strange spirits, who band together to defeat the vampiric demon. I think the most notable part of this film is the costuming and classic special effects, which give it a bizarre and fantastical tone without the use of CGI. To pay homage to that, I’ll be using a mostly analog setup—with playful synthesizers and gritty, overprocessed drums to create an abstract yet cinematic soundscape which complements the tone of the film.BbartokK says: Somewhat playful, always mischievous, and mostly harmless...This can be said about both the type of music I create and the Yokai in this next Switched on Cinema event. Directed by Yoshiyuki Kuroda, Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare is the second in a trilogy of films about the Yokai, which are supernatural entities and spirits from Japanese folklore. I will be using a mix of analog and digital synths to add to the drama, suspense, and sometimes comical portrayal of the Yokai, as they battle against a villain invading their home. The instruments I will be performing on are made by SOMA Laboratories and are described as organismic synths . They invite you to be hands on and performative. Each performance is therefore unique and varied, much like our little Yokai friends.dj A/D says: I don't watch many horror films but I DO enjoy spooky films from the 60's with special effects, costumes, and puppets! Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare came from Daiei Film, the same studio that gave us Daimajin AND Gamera! I grew up watching Japanese Kaiju movies like Godzilla, Mothra, etc so Spook Warfare immediately wedged itself into my heart the first time I saw it. I think everyone will have a blast watching this fun supernatural movie with a perfect new live score by electronic artists 𝒟𝐼𝒮𝒦𝒬 and BbartokK. Which monster will be your favorite? Mine is Kasa-obake!
Who will your favorite Yokai be? Come find out at this once-in-a-lifetime blast of an event. Don’t miss it! Dir. Yoshiyuki Kuroda, Japan, 1968, 79 mins, Unrated (Suitable for All Audiences), Japanese w/ English subtitles Special thanks to Bret Berg of the American Genre Film Archive. ABOUT DISKQ DISKQ is a synthesizer artist and music content creator currently based in Los Angeles. Her work is mostly dawless techno music, and she enjoys taking her portable studio outside. She takes inspiration from digital culture, playful aesthetics, and nature. DISKQ performed at NAMM in 2023, showcasing the unreleased myTRACKS. She’s also worked with various brands such as Novation, Arturia, Elektron, IK Multimedia, Mellotron, Perfect Circuit, and more. Currently, she’s experimenting with midi reactive visualizers and tinkering with 3D printed prototypes. Follow DISKQ on Instagram Listen to DISKQ on Spotify ABOUT BbartokK Since 2018, composer and electronic music artist BbartokK has been creating dark ambient and percussive grooves using eurorack modular synthesizers and SOMA Lab instruments. Based out of LA, and originally educated in classical music, he has combined these early influences with electronic music, creating evocatively rhythmic, industrial-tinged sounds. Visit BbartokK’s Linktree Follow Synthdactyl Program on Instagram and listen live on the 3rd & 4th Sunday of the month, 7-10pm PST on KSPC 88.7fm or kspc.org Tickets: $10 (In Person Only Event)Please email events@prs.org or phone 323-663-2167 with any questions. ACCESSIBILITY PRS wants all guests to be able to enjoy our events safely and comfortably. If you require any accessibility accommodation, please reach out to events@prs.org before showtime and we will be happy to assist you. Please note that events held in our upstairs Lecture Room are unfortunately not ADA accessible. REFUND POLICIES All sales are final. There are no refunds for PRS events , except in the event of a medical emergency, including but not limited to a positive COVID-19 test. Ticket exchanges may be granted on a case by case basis, pending circumstances. In the event that PRS is forced to cancel an event entirely, tickets will be refunded or vouchers offered for a rescheduled event. PARKING Limited parking is available onsite at PRS in both the front lot (entry from Los Feliz Blvd. when heading east) and back lot (entry from first alley way, off Griffith Park Blvd. from intersection with Los Feliz Blvd.), as well as street parking on Griffith Park Blvd. and (after 7 PM) on Los Feliz Blvd. We encourage attendees to consider carpooling, walking or biking to events if possible, and please be considerate of our Los Feliz neighbors when parking. PRS EVENT POLICIES We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.Events are subject to change without notice, including guest speakers and/or performers.We encourage you to arrive at least 30 min. before the scheduled event start time to find parking, enjoy the Bookstore and take your seats.Please turn off all mobile devices before the show. Talking and texting are not allowed during the events.No filming, audio recording or mobile phone recording of events, screenings, concerts or other programs by audience members is allowed without permission.There is no smoking permitted on PRS grounds.We strongly encourage guests to wear masks to PRS events to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.PRS allows Service Animals into the facility under ADA and state guidelines. For further details please visit www.ADA.gov. No animals permitted whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support, under ADA guidelines and CA Health Code.Please do not bring outside food or drink into PRS events.Weapons are strictly prohibited at PRS events.
Information Source: The Philosophical Research Society | eventbrite