profile image

George Kuchar

Aug 31, 1942 - Sep 06, 2011 (69 years old) in New York, New York

George Kuchar (August 31, 1942 – September 6, 2011) and his twin brother Mike began making films as teenagers in the 1950s, with 8mm film being their weapon of choice. After shocking their local amateur filmmaking club with their over-the-top stories of lust and angst, they became stars of the NYC underground scene in the 1960s, befriending the likes of Jonas Mekas and Jack Smith. Always working with the constraints of minuscule budgets and nonprofessional actors, the Kuchar’s inspiration comes from classic Hollywood melodrama. Their cheaply made pictures, rather than being held back by lack of funds, blossomed in the shackles of poverty; the garish colors of the cheap makeup and sets were perfectly complemented by the bold color range afforded by Kodachrome reversal stock. The wild (and sometimes the inverse of wild) acting, use of stock music, lack of synch sound, hyperbolic narration, and primitive special effects all combined to make tiny gems unlike anything seen before or since. The Kuchars are cited as major influences by such filmmakers as John Waters, Todd Solondz, and David Lynch.

Known For

poster
Bongwater
Homeless Man
poster
He Stands in a Desert Counting the Seconds of His Life
Self (archive footage)
poster
365 Day Project
poster
Hitchcocked!
Self
poster
Divine Trash
Self
poster
Screamplay
Martin
poster
Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis
Self
poster
Sunset After Dark
George Kilman
poster
Sins of the Fleshapoids
Prince Gianbeno
poster
3 Stories About Evil

Credits