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David Lynch Questions:

L1. What are David Lynch's other movies/shows?
L2. What music did DL write?
L3. Has Jack Nance appeared in all of DL's movies?
L4. What is "On the Air"?
L5. What is "Hotel Room"?
L6. What is "Ronnie Rocket"?
L7. What is "Boxing Helena"?
L8. What is Lynch up to these days?
L9. Why are all DL's works so weird?
L10. What is "One Saliva Bubble"?
L11. How can I get in touch with David Lynch?  Does he have
     an e-mail address? 

Answers:

L1. What are David Lynch's other movies/shows?

1. "Six Men Getting Sick" (1 minute, 1967)

Although this is Lynch's first "film" (animated), it was
really part of an experimental sculpture Lynch did at the
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia.  The
sculpture/film won first prize in a student show. 

The work had "a rectangular screen with three gape-mouthed
face fragments staring out while a fuller bust, jaw pressed
to palm, leers disapprovingly.  Onto the three-dimensional
screen, Lynch projected a short film that, as then fellow
student Bruce Samuelson recalls, was wound around long arms
extended on each side of his second-hand 8mm camera, so the
film literally ran in a loop on the squeaking, rattling
contraption.  Samuelsom remembers images of burning canvases
and, prominently, vomiting heads; the crowd loved it, he
says."

"Lynch, never one to describe his work literally,
characterizes 'Six Men Getting Sick' as '57 seconds of
growth and fire, and three seconds of vomit.  It started off
with six heads and then arms and stomachs grew in.  The
heads caught fire and then all of the heads got violently
sick and then it started all over again.'"

"The use of a projector and the inclusion of the operating
machine as part of the sculpture introduces an industrial
element present in many subsequent Lynch works.  The project
also initiates Lynch's interest in vomiting, which will be
graphically and frequently represented in his paintings as
well as in his full-length films from 'Eraserhead' to "Wild
at Heart.'"

No videos or copies of this footage are known to be
available, although a photo of the sculpture "screen" can be
found in Kennth Kaleta's book "David Lynch", from which this
description of "Six Men Getting Sick" was taken (see
question P1 for book details). 

The attention Lynch received from this work led to a
commision to create his next work, "The Alphabet" (see
below). 

2. "The Alphabet" (4 minutes, 1967)

A 16mm color film, which includes animation, showing the 26
letters of the alphabet:

"The drawings are accompanied by the 'Alphabet Song',
changing from the rote children's jingle to the operatic to
the ominous.  The letters appear as characters, designs, and
decorations, even animated into shapes suggesting moving
symbols.  These include life-cycle symbols: phallic symbols,
tubes, and a birth-canal of the letter 'A' giving life to a
litter of 'a's, letters in full bloom, and letters submerged
back into the screen. 

"A woman (Peggy Lynch), in white kabuki-like makeup and
large, dark sunglasses is cut live into the animation.  The
live action of the film includes shots of an exaggerated
rendering of sultry lips, a prominent iron bed, and assorted
body parts.  'Remember you are dealing with the human form'
is enunciated by the woman in a tight close-up, breaking
into the repetition of the alphabet. 

"Tension in the film is heightened by the dual structure of
black-and-white photography with color animation.  As
animated figures decay, wither, and die, the black-and-white
reality of the stylized dreamer is increasingly disturbed by
the animation's darkening tone.  Finally, live action
becomes as disturbing.  Red dots from the animation become
blood spots splattering onto the sheets of the writhing
woman in the bed.  The pelting from the animation results in
her vomiting blood."

"The Alphabet" earned Lynch an American Film Institute grant
to continue filmmaking. 

(Description from the Kennth Kaleta book "David Lynch"--see
question P1 for details on the book.)

See "The Grandmother" below for video availability.

3. "The Grandmother" (35 minutes, 1970)

A 16mm film, with black and white live action and color
animation, about a young boy who escapes his abusive
parental environment by growing from seed a loving
grandmother of his own. 

"The black and white live action has the look of early
silent films: grainy shots, stylized makeup, exaggerated
acting techniques, erratic pacing, diversity of lighting,
and unassuming costumes.  This similarity in look
reinforces the feel is Lynch's early experimental films of
Luis Bun~uel's surrealistic work with Salvador Dali.

"The film already has the look, and more particularly the
sound, of Lynch's later works.  For example, a growing
yellow spot on the boy's sheets mirrors the animated yellow
orb of the sun and flows into a yellow shot of the boy's
idealized grandmother.  Lynch spins the webs of his visual
fabric.  The boy's elongated, pathetic screams of both
ecstasy and misery, the thunderous downpour, and the
parents' exaggerated enunciation and ominous clipped
dialogue aurally reinforce the film's disquieting mood."

"The Grandmother" earned Lynch a place at the American Film
Institute's Center for Advanced Film Studies in Los
Angeles, where he would spend five years making
"Eraserhead".

"The Alphabet" and "The Grandmother" have not been released
on video.  However, a poor-quality dupe of these two films
can be ordered from Video Vamp, 1483 N. Mt. Juliet Road,
Suite 142, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122.  Cost is $19.95 + $2.00
postage (US orders), or $3.00 postage (foreign orders).

4. "Eraserhead" (feature film)

5. "The Elephant Man" (feature film)

6. "Dune" (feature film)

7. "Blue Velvet" (feature film)

8. "The Cowboy and the Frenchman" (short film)

The French weekly Figaro Magazine produced a series of
short films by foreign directors, on the theme "France As
Seen By ..."  Lynch was the only American to participate.

The comedy is "set in a conventional Far West, in which
rancher Slim (Harry Dean Stanton, making his first
appearance in Lynch's universe) has been deaf ever since he
was a teenager, when the firing of a large-calliber bullet
shattered his eardrum.  Slim goes out with his cowboy and
Indian friends (among whom is Michael Horse, Deputy Hawk of
'Twin Peaks') and captures an odd creature wearing a beret
and speaking a bizarre language.

"Like a salesman, this individual is carrying objects as
odd as a ripe, odorous Camembert cheese which Slim finds
offensive, a loaf of French bread and some miniature Eiffel
Towers.  These tourist cliches about France are thus
rehearsed and ridiculed, and the encounter between France
and America ends with musical fellowship around a campfire,
mixing French cancan and women singing country and western
tunes, and giving rise to some noisy, dreamlike images."

(Description from "David Lynch" by Michel Chion--see
question P1 for book details.)

Videotape/laserdisc availability TBS.

9. "Wild At Heart" (feature film)

10. "Lost Highway" (feature film)

[Descriptions and videotape/laserdisc availability TBS]

11. "Industrial Symphony No. 1: The Dream of the Broken
Hearted" (musical/theatrical performance piece), music
composed by Angelo Badalamenti, lyrics/visuals/staging by
David Lynch, featuring Julee Cruise and Michael Anderson
(who plays the MFAP in TP). 
  
A 60-minute one-time-only performance at the Brooklyn
Academy of Music, incorporating TP/Julee Cruise-style music
with unusual staging and visual effects by Lynch, as well as
clips from "Wild At Heart".  Recommended for TP fans. 
  
Published by Warner Reprise Video, catalog number 38179-3
(VHS), 38179-6 (LD)

12. "American Chronicles" (TV series)

A short-lived series (13 episodes) on the Fox network in
1991, each episode contained one or two documentaries on
American topics including: Hugh Hefner (see below), Mardi
Gras in New Orleans, Manhattan After Dark, a high school
reunion, a truck stop, a biker convention, etc. 

Available on videotape and laserdisc, catalog info TBS.

13. "On The Air" (TV series, see below)

14. "Hotel Room" (TV series, see below)

Lynch has also directed a number of TV commercials and music
videos:

- Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" music video
- Michael Jackson's "Dangerous" tour video
- "Obsession" commercial for Calvin Klein
- "Opium" commercial for Yves St.-Laurent
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L2. What music did DL write?

David Lynch wrote lyrics for nearly all of Julee Cruise's
songs (music written by Angelo Badalamenti).  He was also a
musician on some pieces. 

[Exact list TBS]
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L3. Has Jack Nance appeared in all of DL's movies?

Every one since "Eraserhead" except "The Elephant Man" (to
his regret) and FWWM (he worked on FWWM, but his scenes were
cut). 

Regretfully, Jack Nance died in early '97 (see question G8).
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L4. What is "On the Air"?

A short-lived comedy series on ABC about a live television
variety show of the '50s, hosted by a has-been movie star
(played by Ian Buchanan, who played Dick Tremayne in TP),
and broadcast by the third-rate Zoblotnik network
(represented by Miguel Ferrer, who played Albert Rosenfield
in TP). 

While 7 episodes were produced, only 3 were shown before the
show was cancelled.  All episodes are available on video
(Worldvision catalog no. 5065) and laserdisc.  See the
separate episode list written by Jim Pellmann.
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L5. What is "Hotel Room"?

A short-lived drama anthology series on HBO describing the
occurrences in one particular hotel room over the course of
many years. 

Only 3 episodes were produced and broadcast.  They are
available on video.  See the article in issue #3 of "Wrapped
in Plastic" (see question P4) for more info. 

Barry Gifford (author of the "Sailor and Lula" novels on
which "Wild At Heart" was based--see question L1 above, and
the author of "Night People"--see question L8 below) has
recently published a book of the "Hotel Room" screenplays. 
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L6. What is "Ronnie Rocket"?

An unproduced movie, set to star Michael Anderson (the MFAP,
or the dwarf in the Red Room, from TP).  [Description TBS]

The script is available from various sources (see question
P2), including:

     From: cparr@ix.netcom.com (C. Parr)
     Newsgroups: alt.tv.twin-peaks
     Subject: Ronnie Rocket Script
     Date: 25 Jan 1995 04:00:38 GMT

     Receive a copy of David Lynch's script RONNIE 
     ROCKET (subtitled: The Absurd Mystery of the 
     Strange Forces of Existence). A MUST for any Lynch 
     fan. Send $20, for postage and copy costs, to:

     C. Parr
     24 N. Webster St. #8C
     Madison, WI 53703
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L7. What is "Boxing Helena"?

A movie written and directed by David Lynch's daughter,
Jennifer.  A study of obsession about a emotionally
dysfunctional surgeon (Julian Sands) who imprisons the woman
of his dreams (Sherilyn Fenn, Audrey of TP, who replaced Kim
Basinger at the last minute [who was successfully sued for
$8.5 million for dropping out], who replaced Madonna) who
wants nothing to do with him.  To prevent her escape, he
eventually has to amputate her legs and arms (no gore shown
on screen). 

Critically and publicly panned, it lasted only two weeks in
theatrical release.  Jennifer (who also wrote "The Secret
Diary of Laura Palmer" seemed to borrow heavily from her
father's filmmaking style, while crafting a difficult piece
that she says shows how both parties are victims in all
relationships. 

It is available on video.
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L8. What is Lynch up to these days?

The best place to keep track of Lynch is on Mike Dunn's
"LynchNet" web pages: http://www.mikedunn.com

In '96 and early '97, he made the film "Lost Highway".

In 95, he published a book called "Images" (see question
P1). 

He also continues to be a producer and lyricist for Julee
Cruise (see questions P2 and L1).  On her latest album, "The
Voice of Love", a photograph that he described on the Leno
show graces the cover: finding his kitchen overrun with ants
one day, he molded a tiny, hollow clay human head, which he
filled with cheese, mounted on a toothpick, and left out for
the ants to find; as the ants swarmed over the head and
cleaned out the cheese, he took a series of photographs of
their progress; one of the 'cheese head' shots is on the
cover. 

He directed some music videos and TV commericals (see
question L1).

He writes and draws a weekly cartoon strip called "The
Angriest Dog in the World", available only in a few
alternative press newspapers in large cities. 

In late '94, he appeared on the National Public Radio
program "Fresh Air", where he described his current work. 

You can order an audio tape of the show by calling
1-800-934-6000 and asking for the "Fresh Air" show of
December 15, 1994 featuring David Lynch.  The cost is $9.95
+ $3.95 postage & handling = $13.90. 

He's not working on any further TP material of any kind, to
our knowledge. :^(
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L9. Why are all DL's works so weird?

Weird is in the mind of the beholder.
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L10. What is "One Saliva Bubble"?

A film script that Lynch has been attempting to get produced
since 1987.  So far it has happened, but it sounds like
classic Lynch:

     From: Mark Wasiel (mwasiel@genie.geis.com)
     Date: Sun, 22 May 94 01:41:04 PDT
     Subject: One Saliva Bubble
 
     I have a copy of the first draft of the Lynch/Frost
     script for "One Saliva Bubble".  I noticed it wasn't
     listed in the FAQ so I figured I should mention that it
     existed, because you David Lynch fans would want to
     know.  It was written in 1987 and is an absurd comedy
     which reminded me of the first episode (the good one)
     of "On the Air." Basically, a saliva bubble from this
     hick redneck working at a top-secret military base gets
     into a top-secret weapons system and short circuits the
     thing, causing it to fire upon a small rural town.
     This emission causes several of the townspeople to
     switch their personalities into different bodies, sort
     of like "Freaky Friday", but with more people.  It's a
     very funny script and I thought it was better than
     "Ronnie Rocket". 
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L11. How can I get in touch with David Lynch?  Does he have
an e-mail address? 

As far as we know, Lynch does not have an e-mail address. 

Nor is his production company's address or phone number
known. 

All we have is:

     From: jhbrown@athena.mit.edu (Jeremy H Brown)
     Newsgroups: alt.tv.twin-peaks
     Subject: Re: David Lynch mailing address
     Date: 17 Aug 1993 06:22:50 GMT

     This address was given to me once over this newsgroup,
     back when someone had volunteered to provide the
     equipment to get Lynch online if someone would contact
     him.  I wrote, but never received a reply.  If you have
     better luck, please let me know!

     David Lynch
     c/o Creative Artists Management
     9830 Wilshire Blvd.
     Los Angeles, CA  90201

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     From: at231@yfn.ysu.edu (Marc Plainguet)
     Newsgroups: alt.tv.twin-peaks
     Date: 22 May 1994 06:23:25 GMT

     I'm Assistant Manager for a Waldenbooks and we got a
     book called The Address Book in which is supposed to be
     contact addresses for famous people.  Here's one of
     interest.... 

     David Lynch
     P.O. Box 93624
     Los Angeles, CA 90093
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