Gorman Bechard
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Contact Information*:
Hamden Connecticut USA |
Contact Type: Artist |
| web: http://www.gormanbechard.com | |
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Bio:
Gorman Bechard’s fifth novel, NINTH SQUARE was published in January 2002, by TOR/Forge (due out in paperback in May 2003). Taking place in New Haven, the book introduces William Shute, a smart mouth detective who really always wanted to be a rock n’ roll star. But his beloved Telecaster must take a back seat, as Shute investigates the world of internet prostitution, and finds himself racing against the clock to locate a young woman whom his colleagues believe to be a murderer, but whom Shute knows is just another victim . . . of the hypocrisies of the religious right. Rave reviews are pouring in. Here's what Rick Koster in the Dallas Morning News had to say: "New Haven, Conn., doesn't exactly rank up there with New York City, LA, or southern Florida as an exotic spot for detective fiction. But in frustrated New Haven cop/wannabe rock star William Shute, author Gorman Bechard has created a compelling hero whose knowledge of and love/hate relationship with the city is a refreshing new outpost. The debut novel in the announced series is Ninth Square, in which members of the Sons of God, a religious-right sect in New Haven for a convention, start turning up dead –––– and a strong connection is established to internet pornography and online escort services. Neatly mixing social satire and procedural elements, Mr. Bechard has hit one of the early home runs of the new year." He is currently at work on the next William Shute novel, tentatively titled: FINAL TOUCHES, LAST LOOKS. Bechard just directed the feature film, THE KISS, starring Eliza Dushku, Terence Stamp, Illeana Douglas, Steve Gilborn & Billy Zane. The romantic “dramedy,” about a young book editor’s search for love and the missing ending to the perfect book, which filmed in both Los Angeles and Paris, was written by Bechard and Stephen Manzi. The film was produced by Kingman Films. It is currently being readied for the film festival circuit. The film version of Bechard’s short story THE PRETTY GIRL had its world premiere in January 2001 on www.newvenue.com, has gone on to become one of the most view films on www.ifilm.com (pushing a half-million views). In part an homage to the style of the classic LA JETÉE, Bechard’s short will combine black and white photography, with narration and a musical score. The film also stars Irina Gorb, is narrated by Patrick Nicholas, edited in Flash by Stephen Handwerk, and scored by Bechard and Maya Rossi. Festivals in which THE PRETTY GIRL has appeared: official competition, 2002, Slamdance Film Festival , May 2001 winner, Slamdance Anarchy Online Film Festival; official competition, 2001 Festival International Du Film De L’Internet, Lille, France; official competition, 2001 Dahlonega Internation Film Festival; official competition 2001 Silver Lake Film Festival, opening night selection, 2001 San Francisco Digital Underground Film Fest., official competition 2001 Singapore Shorts Film Fest , official competition 2001 Surf City Film Festival, official competition 2003 Surf City Film Festival, independent exposure program 2003 Microcinema International. Bechard’s first music video, HOT ROD CIRCUIT’S FLIGHT 89 (NORTH AMERICAN), is currently playing on MTV-2 and www.ifilm.com. The video, which is comprised of 417 digital still photographs dissolved together to create a flip-book on acid effect, stars Irina Gorb as an enraged girlfriend. And the video he directed for DOWN ON ME by The Trollops has racked up close to 225,000 views on ifilm.com since it’s debut in late January 2002. He is next schedule to direct a video from the next Crooked Fingers cd to be released on Merge Records in early 2003. Bechard has also made IN HER EYES, a short anti-hunting film, and THIS USED TO BE MY BEAUTIFUL HOME, a short film on the plight of abandoned dogs, for the Humane Society of The United States’ www.animalchannel.net. He is currently working on another similar film project for their website about dolphin-safe tuna, BEHIND THE LABEL, as well as one on the animal cruelty suffered at most county fairs titled: ALL ANIMALS ARE ALIVE. The first 6 episodes of his 2-minute web soap opera, ONE LAST LAUGH premiered on ifilm.com in late July, 2001. As did a 40-second short film spoof starring his 2 dogs, Casey and Kilgore, entitled BLACK DOGS CAN’T JUMP (also available on animalchannel.net), He is currently at work on the sequel to his New Haven mystery novel NINTH SQUARE. The new book is tentatively titled OH! YOU PRETTY THINGS. Bechard’s fourth novel, THE HAZMAT DIARY, is up and running on the web, in a full multimedia site (www.hazmatdiary.com) with streaming video, voice overs, a photo gallery and a complete musical soundtrack. Violently satirical, this book takes a look at life in the year 2050, when the state of Connecticut is bankrupt and the buildings of Yale University have been turned into a condo complex. It’s a wild ride . . . twisted fun for twisted minds! There’s nothing else like it on the web...and it’s still being updated every month! Bechard third novel, GOOD NEIGHBORS -- published in June 1998 by Carroll & Graf Publishers -- introduced Juke Miller to the mystery reading public. A former police detective, Juke, a broken and lonely man since the tragic murder of his wife, is forced to step from behind the shield of his oak bar, as tragedy once again strikes too close to home. When his best friend and neighbor, Reggie, is murdered, Juke knows the case is not as open and shut as his former police colleagues seem to believe. He takes matters into his own hands, unveiling dark secrets which rock his peaceful community, forever shattering the lives of his good neighbors. Booklist raved: "The author of two comic novels, Bechard hits the ground running with this superb first mystery---good enough, in fact, to make some of the genre's veterans look over their shoulders." While Mostly Murder said: "This melancholy look at a man's life and death breaks new ground for those who like their mysteries dark." Bechard is currently writing a screenplay based on this novel. Bechard first novel, THE SECOND GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD -- published in November 1991 by Citadel Press, an imprint of the New York-based Carol Publishing Group -- is the story of the second coming, a second coming in which God, in His infinite wisdom, sends His Daughter, Christ's kid Sister, Ilona Ann Coggswater, to save, not humanity, but the planet. (God's thinking being that by the time humanity was saved there'd be little planet left.) It is a feel good book for cynics, tackling all the big issues: Good, Evil and Rock 'n' Roll. The L.A. Times called it "a very, very funny book." After six options to a variety of producers and production companies, Bechard has decided to take THE SECOND GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD under his wing, and is currently adapting the book as his next directing project. His second novel, BALLS, was published by Dutton/Penguin USA in March 1995. Taking place in the year 2000, BALLS tells the story of Louise "Balls" Gehrig's debut season as the firstbaseperson for the Manhattan Meteorites, a National League expansion team. From the Supreme Court ruling that grants her the right to "play ball," to the threats from psychotic fans and players alike (not to mention newly appointed baseball commissioner Dan Quayle), to the promise from Republican Presidential nominee, Rush H. Limbaugh, that " . . . once elected, I will sign into law a bill prohibiting women from participating in Major League baseball," Louise needs every ounce of strength just to concentrate on the game she so loves. Then she meets the man of her dreams. Only problem . . . he's a pitcher for an American League team . . . the team the Meteorites will most likely face in the World Series. Also, his short story, PIG, appeared in editor Paul Sammon's SPLATTER PUNKS II, which was published by TOR in the spring of 1995. Bechard is also well known for the near cult classic film, PSYCHOS IN LOVE, which he directed, co-wrote, produced, edited and photographed. Filmed during the summer of 1986, PSYCHOS IN LOVE is best described by a review that appeared in the monthly publication Video Times as, "...an imaginative, fun-filled, pseudo-splatter flick that is loaded with juicy and clever satire and one liners. This is a film that should be sought out." The movie also played a midnight stint at the world famous Bleecker Street Cinema in New York's Greenwich Village and was once available on video via Wizard Video. In late 1986, after completing PSYCHOS IN LOVE, Bechard signed a four picture deal with Empire International and made two films, both of which he'd really rather forget. They sucked -- end of story. And though his name is often linked to the movie ASSAULT OF THE KILLER BIMBOS, he had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with that film. On the personal side, Bechard adores his exceptionally understanding wife, Kristine, and his three very obnoxious dogs, Casey, Mr. Kilgore Trout, and Phoebe Caulfield. He's addicted to original New Haven brick oven pizza (he's a pizza snob if ever there was one). His hobbies include listening to music (alternative bands such as the Archers of Loaf, Crooked Fingers, Wilco, and The Replacements are among his favorites), making music (OK, making noise really with his guitar), reading (Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., good mysteries, and just about any and all magazines), and watching one movie a day (AMELIE, RUN LOLA RUN, GHOST WORLD, BUFFALO '66, NURSE BETTY are his favorite flicks of recent memory). And though he suffers bouts of absolute frustration as a fan of the New York Mets baseball team, the winning ways of UCONN's women's & men's basketball teams have helped ease his pain. www.gormanbechard.com Filmography/Awards Info: This Contact appears in this database if Microcinema International has screened a film directed by the Contact, a film directed by the contact is featured in a DVD distributed by the Blackchair Collection Shop, or featured an organization or activity linked with the Contact. This database is used for commercial as well as informational, non-commercial purposes. It is a historical archive of Microcinema International's activities. Inclusion in this database and archive in no way implies a continuing formal relationship or affiliation with Microcinema International or the Blackchair Label nor an endorsement of its activities by the Contact. Contact details are not displayed in order to protect privacy. If you wish to contact this artist please see their website as listed above or write Microcinema International and we will be happy to forward your e-mail.
Microcinema Interview/Article:
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