Monday July 20, 7:30pm
Reality Bites
Screening and Conversation with artist Eileen Maxson
free, rsvp recommended to rsvp@microscopegallery.com
Microscope invites you to join us for a viewing of the 1994 movie Reality Bites on VHS in connection with I was really gonna be something by the age of twenty-three, a solo exhibition of works by Eileen Maxson inspired by and referencing the film. Maxson will be available for a post-screening conversation about the exhibition, the movie, and the role it plays in her latest works.
Two descriptions of the movie follow: the official one printed on the VHS cover, the other by Eileen Maxson as spoken in her video Unwrapping “Reality Bites” on VHS (2015), on view as part of her exhibition.
From the Official VHS:
Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke and Ben Stiller (directing his first feature film) star in this wildly funny romantic comedy that looks at life, love and the pursuit of gainful employment through the eyes of a generation sandwiched somewhere between The Brady Brunch and Melrose Place!
As her college valedictorian, Lelaina Pierce (Ryder) should be destined for greatness. In reality, she’s a lowly production assistant for an obnoxious TV morning show host (John Mahoney). In her free time, Lelaina’s making a biting, often outrageous video documentary about her peers: promiscuous, ’70s-crazed roommate Vickie (Janeane Garofalo), sexually repressed pal Sammy (Steve Zahn), and best friend Troy (Ethan Hawke), a brilliant but unmotivated rebel.
Meanwhile, Lelaina meets Michael (Stiller), an ambitious video executive who wants to showcase her documentary on “In Your Face TV”. Suddenly, she finds herself at the center of a very odd love triangle with dependable, fast-track Michael on the one side and a sexy, brooding Troy on the other.
Whether cruising to Tempted by Squeeze or rocking to The Knack’s My Sharona, Ryder and friends shine in this hilarious romance that’s pure entertainment. (Rolling Stones Magazine)
From Eileen Maxson’s Unwrapping “Reality Bites” on VHS:
“THIS IS A COPY OF “REALITY BITES” ON VHS
A COMEDY ABOUT LOVE IN THE ’90s
REALITY BITES IS A MOVIE STARRING WINONA RYDER, ETHAN HAWKE AND BEN STILLER.
BEN STILLER ALSO DIRECTS.
JANEANE GAROFALO AND STEVE ZAHN ARE IN THE MOVIE TOO…BUT THEY’RE NOT ON THE COVER
“REALITY BITES” IS ABOUT LELAINA A DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER AND RECENT UNIVERSITY VALEDICTORIAN SORTING OUT HER LIFE AND WORK.
ROMANTICALLY, SHE’S INVOLVED WITH THE TWO GUYS ON THE COVER: TROY AND MICHAEL
TROY IS A GREASY, MOODY, UNEMPLOYED DUDE THAT PLAYS IN BANDS AND QUIT SCHOOL ONE CREDIT SHORT OF A DEGREE IN PHILOSOPHY.
MICHAEL IS A FANCY VIDEO EXECUTIVE AT A FAKE VERSION OF MTV CALLED “IN YOUR FACE TV”
TROY READS BOOKS LIKE “BEING IN TIME” IN THE MOVIE.
MICHAEL DOESN’T READ BUT HE DOES HAVE A CELLULAR PHONE IN 1994.
THE CLIMAX OF THE MOVIE IS WHEN LELAINA PURPOSEFULLY LOSES HER JOB AT A MORNING TV SHOW AND HAS A LOT OF TROUBLE FINDING A NEW ONE
SHE BECOMES PRETTY DESPERATE.
UNTIL MICHAEL CALLS WITH NEWS THAT “IN YOUR FACE WANTS” TO BUY AND BROADCAST THE DOCUMENTARY SHE’S MAKING ABOUT HER FRIENDS
BUT WHEN THE CHANNEL RE-EDITS HER WORK INTO COMMERCIAL GARBAGE, SHE REGRETS THIS CHOICE.
SAMMY AND VICKY ARE HER FRIENDS AND DOCUMENTARY SUBJECTS
SAMMY IS GAY AND CELIBATE. HE COMES OUT TO HIS FAMILY.
VICKY IS STRAIGHT AND PROMISCUOUS. SHE GETS TESTED FOR HIV AT A FREE CLINIC. SHE ALSO WORKS AT THE GAP.
NOW THIS TAPE IS REALLY COOL, BUT WHAT’S EVEN MORE COOL ABOUT IT IS…AS YOU CAN SEE…IT STILL HAS THE PASTIC SHRINK WRAP.
SO THIS TAPE THAT WAS MADE IN 1995 HAS NEVER BEEN OPENED BEFORE.
AN UNOPENED VHS COPY OF REALITY BITES IS PROBABLY WORTH ABOUT TWENTY-ONE DOLLARS.
BUT I DON’T CARE
I’M GONNA OPEN THIS MOVIE.
I’M GONNA UNWRAP REALITY BITES AND I’M GONNA WATCH IT
REALITY BITES.
………………(UNWRAPPING)……….
AND THERE WE HAVE IT, AN UNWRAPPED COPY OF “REALITY BITES” ON VHS”
More info about the exhibition currently on view can be found HERE
Unwrapping “Reality Bites” on VHS, by Eileen Maxson, 2015, color, sound, 10 minutes 25 seconds
courtesy of the artist and Microscope Gallery
