WAIST HIGH: Exene's 1986 Short Film Bad Day Now Available.

8/31/2010

**Exene's 1986 Short Film Bad Day Now Available.**

After 24 years in a vault, Exene Cervenka and music video director Modi Frank have made their cowboy satire Bad Day available as a digital download. Viewers can pay whatever they want for the film and a portion of the proceeds will go to Gulf Coast aid organizations.

From the Bad Day press release:

(LOS ANGELES, CA) - Early Punk goes Cowboy! Before he danced with wolves Academy Award winning director/actor Kevin Costner made a never before seen western short film that also features legendary X front man John Doe (Great Balls of Fire, Boogie Nights), Grammy Award winner/musician Dave Alvin, and Oscar-winning author of Dances With Wolves, writer Michael Blake.

Filmed in 1986, Bad Day is a 20-minute tribute to the early days of the one-reel, silent Westerns. Photographed and co-written by the Queen of L.A. Punk, X singer Exene Cervenka, and directed by award-winning filmmaker and music video director, Modi Frank, this film also offers an elegant and poignant soundtrack by Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Dave Alvin along with X and The Knitters drummer, D. J. Bonebrake.

Now available for the first time as a digital download, at baddaymovie.com, viewers can pay whatever they choose for the download to view Bad Day. A portion of the proceeds are going to Gulf Coast aid organizations that will help those people directly affected by this disaster in the Gulf Coast area. Benny Puckett, President of the non-profit Committee for Plaquemines Recovery (CPR) says, "Bad Day gives us a real opportunity to help all those people who have been so affected by this oil spill." CPR can be reached through cprrebuilds.org.

Bad Day is also a unique partnership between classic black and white film stock and the digital power of the Internet. The advent of downloading film files for internet distribution provides the perfect format to release Bad Day, allowing this unusual artistic collaboration to reach an ever-expanding audience.

Almost 25 years after it was filmed, Exene fondly recalls: "It was a blast to write, envision and then film. We have talented friends, all up for a project, and we froze a moment in history. It was one of the best times Modi and I have ever had."

Modi Frank, director of Bad Day, is known for her groundbreaking music videos such as "Mountain Song" by Jane's Addiction. Modi's award-winning comedy short films have been seen at film festivals around the world and her music videos, documentaries and films have garnered numerous awards. Modi is best known for directing music videos for artists such as Henry Rollins, Jane's Addiction, L7 and The Smashing Pumpkins.

Made in 1986, Bad Day has never been seen by the public at large. Now, with the advent of digital downloads, this unusual collection of musicians, A-list actors, Hollywood legends and award winning literati, can be seen around the world on personal computers in a classic western tale while viewers can help assist in the recovery of the Gulf Coast from this recent environmental tragedy.

Photo: Bad Day The Movie

CAST OF CHARACTERS

THE KERN COUNTY DRUNKARD
Everything at Waist High is a long story, and the story of The KCD is no exception. After this individual told Waist High in December of 2003 that she was going to kill her, "Waist High" the blog was born. Please do not tell Waist High the person that you are going to kill her or she will create "Waist High" the blog and write nasty things about you! Including the time you stunk up the bathroom at The Alley Cat. The "Kern County Drunkard Watch" detailed the drunken comings and goings of the live-in love interest of one of Waist High's most cherished male friends. Never has Waist High met anyone who drank as much as or as often as The KCD. The KCD, because she was an insecure drunk, hated Waist High for most of her decade long relationship with Waist High's most cherished male friend. She hated Waist High for the obvious reason: Waist High is hot. A one time source of much of the material for Waist High the blog, The "Kern County Drunkard Watch" was permanently retired in March 2005 when Waist High's most cherished male friend finally came to his senses and kicked her ass to the curb.

RAMPART
Rampart is the first ex-husband of Waist High. She refers to him as her first ex-husband because she knows there will eventually be a second. Rampart grew up on the mean streets of Bakersfield and claims to have been the co-discoverer of the well known 1980s dirt field party spot known as "The Place." Rampart's 1987 directive to Waist High, "Drink this six pack before I get back!" made both Waist High and Rampart parents at age 20. Rampart currently resides 4.5 miles from Waist High in the wilds of Oregon and is an enduring fixture at their local Cigs For Less shop. Once a Bakersfield Del Taco associate, Sail Thru Hamburgers drive up dude, and Wible Road AM/PM graveyard worker, Rampart claims to now net $49,000 per month. But only to impress people, not when required.

(THE FORMER) LOVELY TEENAGED DAUGHTER
Not your average 35 year old. Born to Waist High as a "Miracle on 34th Street" in Bakersfield Memorial Hospital on 34th Street, LTD is on the board of MAC cosmetics. Not really, but she swears allegiance only to them. When LTD's mother once purchased LTD some eye shadow from Target, LTD threatened to call the police. Sweeter than Tupelo Honey, with the attitude of a feral cat, LTD is disgusted with most things. Including being forced to live with Waist High from 1988-2005. The child at one time even had her own blog, "Living With Waist High," which detailed her misery. A graduate of the oldest institution in the Oregon University System, LTD kept her promise of not getting knocked up at age 20 like Waist High did.

THE STRANGER
Oh God bless The Stranger. The Stranger was one of Waist High's most loyal confidants during some of the darker periods of the blog. Although his fierce allegiance to really bad music was a great source of aggravation for Waist High, The Stranger gave her a much needed look at life. Through the eyes of someone not yet bitter. The Stranger was almost pushed out of a moving vehicle when he revealed to Waist High that not only did he not know who Barry Manilow, Captain & Tenille, or Spandau Ballet were, but that he literally had no clue what Trail Mix was.

"TRI-TIP"
Special Correspondent to Waist High, and one of Waist High's most cherished friends. Used to live with The Kern County Drunkard. Was a Special Correspondent to Waist High for 9 months before knowing it. Long story. This individual coined the ultimate mid '80s Bakersfield drinking phrase, "Lock hubs. Party!"

DESI
Waist High's former work spouse. Cares about Waist High so much that he once took Waist High with him on a smoke break the very next day after she spent $250 for hypnotherapy TO QUIT SMOKING. Was the first person in conversation to introduce Waist High to concepts like "The Dirty Sanchez," "Dog In A Bathtub," "Tea Bagging," and "The Shocker." Reminds Waist High as often as possible that if women "neglect the balls," their men will leave them.