Videography
2009
Nonstop
40 minutes of non-stop footage to assault the eyeballs. Created as a part of The Butthole Surfers/School Of Rock tour.
2007
Side Effects
Only two developed countries, the USA and New Zealand, allow drug companies full television access to advertise their product. This video is built upon a montage of TV drug ads in the United States. Exploring the commercial overload with visual spontaneity... more
Leisure Class - I love You More
Not so much a band as a musical and visual assault on the comfort and sanity of those poor unfortunate souls who wandered into the East Village bars and performance spaces of the late 1980's and early 1990's. Edited from original footage of the group.
No Limit
A document of the Boston based band performing live.
2006
Nam June Paik's Fingerprints
Taly and Russ' portrait of the artist Nam June Paik through a collage of his own edits
2005
Surveillance
"Surveillance" looks at the nature and role of studying what has been captured in surveillance footage. Touching on a range of subjects through a series of seemingly unrelated studies.
2004
Nine Brief Pieces Redux
Digitized, restored and remastered from the original tapes for the Microcinema International Tenth Anniversary.
Each work conceptually explores a separate idea using the often overlooked fundaments of the video process. This is a compilation of short, humorous, straight forward pieces each with a beginning, middle, and end, using familiar objects like toys, hands, telephones and books. The tape focuses on the artists fascination with how the camera captures and communicates an idea. The artists question the role of communication through video language, both audio and visual. Each piece plays with the notions of movement, depth, scale, shape and luminance. The artists investigate the conventions of the video medium using the familiar and placing no importance on style. The subjects present themselves often with humor for reflection. The point of this work is to figure out the hidden in our familiar world, one step at a time. 04:55, 2004
Ramones Raw
See some of Russ' footage from the 1980's days at The Ritz in the Ramones Raw DVD
2003
Stream
A stream of consciousness and liquid video poem. With Ed Korczynski, Truly Johnson, Glenn Johnson and Anthony Matt. 03:58, 2003
Theme Park Fun
This experimental piece tours the unexpected sun burnt sadness found in a theme park. The piece was created in reaction to the artists own recent All-American Theme Park experience. 02:31, 2003
The Rutles, together again
In the words of singer/songwriter Ron Nasty "This is a shameless publicity stunt". This music video documents the secret unannounced rooftop reunion of a nonexistent rock band from the Sixties. Ron Nasty, Stig O'Hara and Barry Wom perform high above the streets of New York. The Beatles were never like this! Gear! Fab! 09:21, 2003. More about THe Rutles here.
2002
After
Through a meditative vision, a little girl's memories reveal an unsettling feeling of loss. This poetic document depicts the new feelings of emptiness in New York City during the weeks following the tragic events of September 11, 2001. 12:46, 2002
Warthog for Dee Dee Ramone
This experimental/poetic tribute to Punk Rock pioneer Dee Dee Ramone depicts the space in front of CBGB's club in New York City after his death. 02:07, 2002
The Cosmic Nuptial
Saugerties, New York hosts the strangest wedding/performance. 30:00, 2002
2000
Egg
The beauty of birth. 00:43, 2000
Pot
America, the melting pot. 01:13, 2000
A Few Important Messages For Our Viewers
Three questions of integrity and selling. A conceptual piece using the idea of the TV commercial to sell you questions of greed, lies, and false proof. Important messages that are neither really important nor real messages. 02:30, 2000
A Word From Our Sponsor
Just one word. 00:34, 2000
Debate 2000
A Presidential debate edited down to leave only relevant points. 02:01, 2000
Snack Time
In the nostalgic style of drive-in movie refreshment advertisements, this quirky piece reveals itself to be about world hunger. 01:33, 2000
a miracle
An average tacky plastic Virgin Mary night-light becomes part of a miracle. 01:12, 2000
Intermission Time
A poem-montage from intermission announcements. 01:30, 2000
1999
One More Thing (version 4)
TV's Columbo is reworked in this comical montage. 01:40, 1999
Expecting
Anticipating birth. 01:37
The Big Cement Thing
Michigan myth of fact? The legend is investigated. With Tom Demerly (of Bikesport) as the climber. 06:38, 1999
Nicotine
Smoke and mirrors... One minute of tobacco companies CEOs revealing their true selves. 01:00, 1999
William (Bill) Jefferson Clinton
An experimental and in-depth (One minute and 15 seconds) look at the forty-second President of the United States. One sentence under a microscope. 01:15, 1999
Life Cycle
Documentary of artist David Hebb walking through his installation Life Cycle. The famous dark gallery installation created especially for the space at the Helen E. Copeland Gallery at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. The installation was a series of three sculptural "sites" (Birth, Sex and Death) which were linked together by a snaking canal of water. 04:41, 1999
1998
Silent Voices
In Israel, after Yitzhak Rabin's assassination, on the site of the tragic shooting, a spontaneous graffiti tribute has appeared. This video-poem documents the short-lived space in Tel Aviv that has now become Rabin Square. Music by Glenn Johnson. 02:46, 1998
One More Thing (version 1)
Reworked television montage. 01:50, 1998
Presidential Debate (abridged)
Reworked Presidential debate. 02:55, 1998
1997
David and Anne-Rene Together
A wedding near Bunnyville. 21:40, 1997
1996
Nine Brief Pieces
Each work conceptually explores a separate idea using the often overlooked fundaments of the video process. This is a compilation of short, humorous, straight forward pieces each with a beginning, middle, and end, using familiar objects like toys, hands, telephones and books. The tape focuses on the artists fascination with how the camera captures and communicates an idea. The artists question the role of communication through video language, both audio and visual. Each piece plays with the notions of movement, depth, scale, shape and luminance. The artists investigate the conventions of the video medium using the familiar and placing no importance on style. The subjects present themselves often with humor for reflection. The point of this work is to figure out the hidden in our familiar world, one step at a time. 04:55, 1996
I Remember
Remembering is not always what it seems. 01:00, 1996
Freds, Fish, Fresh Air
A series of short table top videos. 06:02, 1996
The Johnson Family Anthology
33:00, 1996
1995
Performance with Birds and Broken Glass
Russ feeds birds. 01:00, 1995
Christmas Television
01:16, 1995
Chanukah Television
01:04, 1995
Performance with TV and The Written Word
04:05, 1995
Little Bytes
A series of short table top videos. 06:37, 1995
Fruit Cake
The answer to holiday food.
02:05, 1995
1994
The Finger Guy, Out West And Beyond
01:58, 1994
Mike Rimbaud "Treasure Chest Cancer"
music video, 02:30, 1994
1125 Park Avenue
02:00, 1994
1993
A Few Protests And A Parade (A Journal Of Gulf War Protests)
A Few Protests And A Parade is a fast paced, sometimes humorous, trip through protests in New York City during the Gulf War. All the events included were ignored in other media accounts. The program starts two hours before President Bush's midnight deadline and runs through the "Victory Parade" following the war. This documentary shows the real feelings of everyday people in Manhattan during war time. The program includes strange overlooked details of the war coverage like the anti-war protesters' clash with cops that other media reported as "peaceful parade without protest." Music by Glenn Johnson. 14:45, 1993
Arachnovision
25:00, 1993
1992
Presidential Debate, Abridged
02:38, 1992
Waiting for the Plumber
07:00, 1992
Channel 44
10:00, 1992
James Bay
Public Service Announcement, 00:30, 1992
Joey Ramone and the Resistance "Cencorshit"
music video, 04:00, 1992
The Element Of Surprise "Video Dream"
with Ed Korczynski
music video, 03:03, 1992
Leisure Class "I Love You More"
The performance group performs their infamous song "I Love You More". music video, 05:00, 1992
1991
Gulf War Protests in New York City (presented as a work in progress)
see the final version "A Few Protests And A Parade (A Journal Of Gulf War Protests)" above. 20:00, 1991
Video Greeting Card
30:00, 1991
4th of July In Saugerties
presented as work in progress. 15:00, 1991
1990
Executive Slacks "Firestick"
music video, 03:25, 1990
Live With A Bag Of Cement
18:00, 1990
George Bush: A Video Portrait
01:00, 1990
Wild Focus
with Suzanne Anker
09:00, 1990
John and Lynn's Excellent Adventure
The Wayne State University Ski Club reunites and attempts to take over the festivities at a wedding in Dearborn Michigan.
Documentary, 39:11, 1990
1989
Jason and Huma
24:00, 1989
The Holy Inquisition Thunder Storm
Edited live with DJ Nancy Rapchak's live sound. 15:00, 1989
Lords of the Dead, In Concert, with Stiv Bators
(home video version is titled "The Dead Boys Live In France" for some reason). The Dead Boys meet the Lords Of The New Church under the umbrella of Insanity. Live at The Riz in New York City (not France). 30:00, 1989
1988
Sid Vicious "C'mon Everybody"
Edited for The Ritz night club in New York City
Gretta
with Ira Schneider
06:08, 1988
The 1988 Greenwich Village Halloween Parade
The weather was good and Regan was President and the Village went wild. 14:40, 1988
Camper Van Beethoven "Eye of Fatima"
(animation with Dave Fleischer) music video, 02:38, 1988
Nixon In 88!
TV ad spoof for Hunter S. Thompson live lecture show. "Tan, Rested and Ready". 00:60, 1988
1987
20 Pieces, Summer 87
10:18, 1987
You and me on the Frozen Trail
05:00, 1987
Rob Rodriguez: SKATESTYLE
The New York skateboarding champ shows his stuff. Real time board tricks sans cuts. With Dan Porvin. 03:46, 1987
I Love NY, The Tour
A brief tour of New York. From The World Trade Center to The Empire State Building in less than a New York City minute. by Russ with cabbie Paul Hodge. 00:36, 1987
Surf MC's "Surf Or Die"
With Dave Fleischer. music video. 03:51, 1987
The Bellevue disclaimer
with Paul Hodge. :05, 1987
Richard Hambleton- Beauty and The Beast, paintings
Documentary at Diane Boone Gallery. 30:00, 1987
Kool King Will Not Eat Bananas
Short film. 04:01, 1987
Between St. Marks and Great Neck
Manhattan's Lower East Side mixed with suburban supermarket. 03:41, 1987
1986
Concrete
02:36, 1987
Hawaii 5-Over
Reworked television show 07:30, 1986
The Ballad of The Green Berets
Table top toy soldiers. music video 03:00, 1986
Untitled #2 (melting cake)
with Jason Fox 05:40, 1986
Two Or Three Things I Know About Syracuse, New York
05:30, 1986
Chair Anatomy
with Jason Fox and Scott Barbey
02:15, 1986
Heavy Metal Laser Meta Spectacle
with Jason Fox
04:46, 1986
1985
A Man Sitting
01:00, 1985
Condemned Shoes
interview of a man with death row shoes. 05:00, 1985
No. 1 with a Bullet (Madonna)
with Jason Fox and Jose Riveros
cut-up style visual poem 02:25, 1985
Forever King
with Jason Fox and Jose Riveros
cut-up style visual poem 05:30, 1985
Something About Boston
with Scott Barbey 16:00, 1985
Marriage Rules!
19:20, 1985
1984
Historia Calimatium (The Story of My Misfortunes)
with Jason Fox and Jose Riveros. 28:00, 1984
A Weekend At The Beach With Mr. Unique...
03:47, 1984
Harvey
Russ' short film. 03:25, 1982
1981
Well Kept Dreams
Taly's short film. 03:49, 1981