New BWPL documentary to be screened in wake of Meyer death

‘Russ Meyer: King Of Sexploitation’ is a landmark one-hour documentary for Five about the “founding father of independent filmmaking”.
It was commissioned several months ago from leading Northern Ireland independent, Brian Waddell Productions Ltd (BWPL) and scheduled for network transmission in November 2004, but events intervened and the unexpected death of Meyer in September has prompted Five to bring forward the transmission date to Monday October 18.
Meyer, who was known as the ‘King of Sexploitation’, has left behind a legacy of creative genius. In producing this racy tribute to the moustachioed master, producer/director Jon-Barrie Waddell and associate producer Joe Lindsay have trawled the extensive Meyer archive, as well as interviewing some of his most famous admirers.
They include 'Animal House' and 'Blues Brothers' director John Landis, adult publishers Larry Flynt and Hugh Hefner, burlesque queen Dita Von Teese, Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, former Loaded, GQ and Jack editor James Brown, starlets Tura Satana and Kitten Natividad, and many more. The interviews were shot on location in Los Angeles, New York and London.
Meyer's films are currently undergoing something of a renaissance and reassessment, as directors like Quentin Tarantino declare themselves to have been hugely influenced by him - 'Kill Bill' is a classic example of Meyer-inspired movie making. Not only have the films been extremely profitable, but are judged by those in the know to be beautifully crafted, hilariously scripted and starring some of the most idolised - and voluptuously endowed - female characters in B-movie history. Indeed, he has been called the only true American 'auteur', having written, directed, produced, filmed, financed, edited, acted in and distributed his own films. He even carried his own equipment on location. The programme is an insightful and entertaining romp, the tale of a man who made his mark on his viewers' collective libido while crafting a style that has become a genre in itself.
(GB)