Denver Tourism Tapes
Feature Films
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Comedy, 13-Jan-2022
Local teens of Denver, Colorado lead viewers through a guide to all things Denver, Colorado. Written by and starring the comedy troupe, Phantasmagoria LLC, “Denver Tourism Tapes” is a hilariously far-out grab bag of tropes, parodies, existential comedy, lo-fi psychedelia, kids playtime, and lighthearted commentary. Originally published as four individual episodes, we present it here as a feature length film, an anything goes extravaganza, deeply absurd and monumentally silly. When Dan Gregory moves to Denver, his cousin, Shiloh, helps him get acquainted with the area, and introduces him to his friends, Peggy and Cool Tad. They spend their time doing recreational activities like playing hopscotch and peeking at the sun, and learning about art. “You should try art,” Cool Tad insists, “It’s very…good.” Speaking of good, and Tad being cool, the gang also heads to the teen club, Club Good, where Shiloh and Peggy begin to act and dress like Tad (cause he’s so cool). That is, until they learn that being themselves is actually more advisable. (“Individualism is the most common form of conformity.”) As the group prepares for a local dance, they are forced to get construction jobs to pay for nice things, but when their boss forces them to build a skyscraper without taking a break for lunch, they revolt. Ludicrous plotting is joined by occasional jabs at corrupt modern society: the police create crime; the big boss gets all the rewards and does none of the labor. Directed and edited by Mike Schwanke, the film relishes in odd phrasings, awkward timing and clueless behavior, and it’s carried by its terrifically funny cast, bursting out from no-fi visuals and glitchy patchwork design. Director, editor: Mike Schwanke. Cast: Beth Martin, TJ Clancy, Charlie Wilson, Luke Campbell, Mike Schwanke, Grace Thomas. Credits and additional art direction: George Bangs.