Ryan Trecartin's "A Family Finds Entertainment" (2004)

Trecartin is OG

Dennis Cooper writes in Artforum: "If A Family Finds Entertainment can be reduced to a thumbnail description, this might be it: Trecartin stars as Skippy, a clownish but terrifyingly psychopathic boy who has locked himself in the upstairs bathroom of his family home during a wild party. Ignoring his siblings' and friends' pleas that he come out, he paces the little room, cutting himself with a knife and musing opaquely on his existential dilemma in a kind of King Lear-style delirium. Downstairs, the partiers are experiencing wild mood-swings and having complex, disassociated conversations (mostly about him) that are constantly interrupted by bursts of visual effects and animated sequences that disorient the cast of characters like so many lightening strikes. Eventually Skippy emerges, borrows money from his creepy, sexually inappropriate parents, and heads outdoors, where he runs into a documentary filmmaker who decides to make a movie about him; but then Skippy is immediately hit by a car and, apparently, killed. Back inside the house, a hyperactive girl named Shin, also played by Trecartin, gets a call on her cell phone with the bad news. She spends twenty or so hysteria-filled minutes trying to focus and construct a sentence linear enough to tell her friends what has happened. When she finally does, a band plays music that seems to magically raise the young man from the dead, and everyone runs outside and sets off fireworks. Then everyone runs back inside before the police show up.

"A wonder of Trecartin's videos is that his approach seems as intuitive and driven by a mad scientist-style tunnel vision as it is rigorous and sophisticated, grounded in his expert editing and inordinate gift for constructing complex avant-garde narratives."

sound of music and then thunder

laughing

but Lisa do I have to stay in here forever?

I don't want to talk about it right now

oh LIsa

I don't want to talk about it right now

oh Lisa dont

sound of footsteps

Lisa!

I'm being as quiet as I possibly can but you still notice me

ohhhh

ohhhh

sound of running and bells jingling

Lisa

footsteps running up stairs

laughter

sound of footsteps

Lisa! what are you doing out of bed its midnight!

Lisa what are you doing out of bed

Its midnight

sound of a laugh

I am checking up on you

I'm checking up on you

Fine I'm going to bed now!

Fine I'm going to bed

Lisa, it is you that I love

Lisa its you that I love

loud ringing sound

door closes

Lisa its you that I love

as well

loud ringing sound

look I found something that is very dear to me

I've been searching for it. inside is a story something that I like

be good and be thinking for it

like a bedtime story

like a bed time story

sound of indistinctive talking

sound of a wolf howling

sound of music playing

sound of birds

sound of cymbals crashing together

sound of music playing

sound of an explosion over music

sound of guitar playing

show me something beautiful

and I will live

sound of guitar playing

show me something

to hold onto

and I will hold on

Oh ben

that was so romanical

and Asher

I love that more than anything

laughter

yea

yea

we're planning on going on tour pretty soon

I think that is so great

and really groovy as well

Pamy I hate you

so much

what about her

sound of foot steps

I never waste my time with people

who are muddy or inconvenienced

I am not muddy, it's dirt

I fell down a hillllll

so! what!

skippy open that fucking fuck door of yours

never

this is the worst day of my life

Skipping open the frickin door!

yea I hate to go now

Uh huh, me too

Good!

Skippy, the music friends are leaving because their show was a boring whore

sound of things falling into sink

sound of tape being pulled and ripped

oww

sound of fingers snapping

people make peace

and then they fall asleep

yea

I am not 16 anymore

but I feel like I am five

put sun glasses on

sound of polaroid camera

sound of toilet flushing

I believe that somewhere

there is something worth

dying for

I think it is amazing

amazing

Skipping open the door

Off of the floor

Ben I am sick of this shit

lets go on tour

Skippy you cant keep things this way

you just cant

sound of hands hitting together

Sound of door closing

ahhhhhhh

sound of music playing

sound of rain falling

sound of laughter

no its not, no its not

sounds of indistinctive voices and singing

music playing and indistinctive voices talking over each other

sound of music playing

for anything Ill cry for you

not because I care

but because I'm emotional

sound of music playing

sound of loud buzzing noise

for an evening I will hate you

don't say that

for an evening I'll hate you

what?

I'll give you a reason to die

or to kill

sound of music playing

sound of buzzing

last night

in a dream

I was told lots of things

how to feel

sound of a laugh

sound of music playing

no you weren't

stop

sound of music playing

open your eyes

what you want isn't what you need

what you need is right in front of you

but you have to feel it

yea, you have to feel it

laughter

whatever

whatever

why, why did you do that

I did it for fun

why did you do that

I did it for fun

I did it for fun

I did it for fun

I did it for fun

I did it for fun

I did it for fun

I is funnnny

I funny

oh god

its funits funny

no its not

laughter

yes it is

no its not

I think its funny

yes it is

oh fuck the fuck?!

who fixed my blood arm?

no one

barf me out!

psycho!

you make the world boring

eh listen girl

I can for sure make choice

keep that in mind

oh fucking shit

hi

hello Veronica

hi aunt Tina

ohhh, my coat

aunt Tina, whats that?

that a message for skippy

it says dont do it

don't do what?

dont worry about it

hey

I wont step child

I have a life of my own

that's good

be careful listening

its very influencial

sound of water

Skippy, the shell is amazing

its like a vortex to a southern breeze

I dont care!

sound of knocking

hey Skippy

patty may is here

in this room

oh god its true

Patty May is in this room

yes tell him I am here

I am Patty May and I am in this room

did you say Patty May is in the room?

Patty May

Shhhh!

Listen!

Shhhhh

holy mother of earth

I am patty may

Patty May dont need boys who dont stare at her good

because I am Patty May

sound of a burp

Yea

Holy fucking mother of Earth!

where am I? I am Patty May

where is this place I am?

I will tell you where I am

I am not in the land of boys

Honestly

that is my stomach growling?

I am who I am and I dont give a fuck about any fuck about any fucking thing you say

sound of crying

that you say

You assholes

dont think this is for you

because

you

are

sound of laughter

yea Patty May I am just so polite

I need to accomplish something

I find myself walking around

social feet

I need to accomplish something

with my stuff!

sound of clapping

sound of water

sound of crickets and water

sound of bells being played

0:13:13.420,0:13:15.500
skippy you made quite a mess

I know

okay

you better clean it up

I am cleaning it up

sound of laughter

Skippy dont do it

sound of women saying Ohh

wow what was that

A digital relic for a future age of cyber chaos and analog holocost

I went fishing today, see what I caught

I went fishing today, see what I caught

sound of laughter

are you ready to play the game?

lets lets lets

guys are you ready to play the game?

yes were ready

can I do the cards

yes you can do cards

those are upside down

sound of giggling

sound of laughter

sound of music playing

lets play the game

one, two three, four

one two three four

traders

a ghost

mansion

sound of indistinct voices

cooking fish

surfing fish

circling fish

times up

sound of screaming

were the good guys

sound of laughter

do I look good smoking my cigarette boys?

do I look good drinking my soda guys?

do I look good fingering my ball sack?

the ball sack is on fire

sound of lots of laughter

you have three balls

sound of phone ringing

ya know I have messy dreams

I need to be more confidant

ya know in my life, no more fake blood for me

I want the real thing

whoa baby

hes mad

he is like an alien, we are really totally ayy yaa yaa

hi momma

dad what are you looking at?

son you need to give it up

yeaaaa

this family is poisonous

yeaa

you need to find a new home

yea mom

snake

momma is a snake

yes she is

mommas a snake

momma is a snake

she is......

laughing

yeah bubble daddy

damn open that fridge

where are the eggs

momma I love eggs

yeah

make 10

I love Skippy

I think that he's a winner

clark kent shut your super hole of I will knife it

momma you know about knives

laughter

I went through menopause years ago son

momma quit being a hysteric

Marilyn Manson don't make me put a lock on the knife drawer

I will burn you like a witch butt plugger

I know your secret

kept very well

go eat some estrogen homo

yea with your gay friend Billy

How do you know about Billy?!

how do you know about billyyyy

billy boy

dont you go

dont you go in there momma

how do you know about billy mom?

you look good guy

yea you look good guy

no

no?

momma, I aint ever touched him in my lifffe

oh shit

son your family is poison, you need to go find your home boys

be good

and know there is love

oh momma

50 bucks

yeaa

50 bucks

bye momma

get the fuck outta my house

son

dad

son

dad

son

dad

sound of a kiss

yeaa

your so revolutionary

sound of finger snapping

yeaaa

its a nice night out tonight

what is that

hey boy whats your name?

my names Skippy

its in my journal

what's yours?

documentary video artist, Zoey Spelling

yeaaa

Zoey

sound of giggle

I am doing a documentary on medium age kids all over the world

yeaa sounds great Zoey

quarter life creations

its called the other version of me

life is fun but we are funner

Zoey you dont even know.... I am fun!

funny, hahaha

yeaa

I know I have never said something so strange and obvious in my life

that's a nice camera

Skippy, its great it has night vision

can you say freedom?

Free- dom yeaaa

laughter

Zoey you should tape me

I'm good tape me

tape me Zoey

you should tape

tape me

sound of car horn beeping

what the fuck was that?!

skippy wake up

my god Skippy wake up

what the fuck was that!

some fucking fuck shit

laughter

guys people dont get me

Uh we're still talking

why do we hang out with her?

shes a friend of my moms

my god skippy wake up

our moms are friends

close friends

laughter

wake up, wake up

sound of music and singing

whats the time

well its gotta be close to midnight

sound of music playing

music playing

yes yes yes

you are so interesting

that music was great

up the rear end

laughter

oh my god

so honest

so honest

I cant believe it

your so unpredictable

where does this shit come from

seriously philangina

I mean for real

I call it life

coughing

liven every

its like you took my five favorite songs and mixed them all together

into one

so cool cause I get so bored

and I just want to listen to them and switch back and forth

and you accomplished this stuff for me

so cool

I want to hear that remix song again

hey guys guys guys

put that remix song on

yeaa

did you hear something philangina?

I think I heard something

no I dont think I heard anything

Linda, your so unpredictable

shit you are just so in pre pre predictable

sound of clapping

yea thanks Linda

wooo

your so cool

anyway philangina

dont get me wrong I think that you are brilliant and all but

its like you dont talk to me enough

its like I dont know you

what I have in my whole life

you are only a small part of it

sounds cool

shhh shhh shhit

what Linda

play that fucking remix again again again

no

hey linda

what eddy?

Hello?

hey Linda can I talk to Shin?

hey Zoey are you gonna document us tonight?

no this is serious I cant

a boy names skippy just got hit by a car

what a boy named skippy just got hit by a car

get Shin hurry

Ill try Ill try

Zoey is on the phone and cant you look at my shoes

cant you look at my shoes

Linda you just broke my fricking door

but this isn't a door

if you were a better person and would let me know what you are thinking

I would have known what was going on

Linda, I'm just kidding

Linda lets go to your forehead. you broke my door

im just kidding

I'm just kidding I can make a new door

murder on the] dance floor I can make a new door

Linda

yesterday you would have thought it was hilarious

right now I dont see it as hilarious

I'm laughing

sound of laughter

wow okay Linda

lets try this again

what's glued to your forehead?

you broke my door

that's my third eye

this is our sculpture

it was philangina's idea

it's political

its called go to health foods

and if you dont like what you see change it

its yours

health is a universal concern

go to whole foods and take what is yours

oh whole foods doesn't sell red bulls

yea well we wanted to give an edge

oh, I am so on the same page

oh my god where the hell did you buy that

I made it

well interesting. If you are interested, the film makers on the phone

Zoey's on the phone

why didn't you tell me?

Zoeeeyyyyy

I did

she did

I did

hey Linda is she going to documentary us today?

no she isn't shes got this boy whose dead on over there

and shes got stuff to do

Zoey wait, hold on

guys I have a whole life and you are just a small part of it

now get

fine bye

I'm outta here

no wait philangina you, I need you! where are you going?

I love you

hahaha to the dark side I party alone

philagina you dont even know

hi Zoey, this is Shin

I need to know why aren't you documenting me

I cant document you today a boy names skippy just got hit by a car

he is laying in the street

get out are you being honest with me here?

what should I do Shin? bursts into laughter

Zoey just keep filming him

okay

sound of phone ringing

waht

hey Damion its me Shin

you know the pink house girl?

any way you should come more often I'm throwing a party tonight

anyway

Ima throwing a party tonight

and I just haven't been feeling like myself lately

need to get back into the mood of things ya know

any ways so umm

whats going on?

call back

man cunt, your girlfriends not here

heloo

hello

yea like freak out

whate ever dude

I can handle that shit

whose outside?

am I his friend?

maybe some day he'll be your friend

who is skippy any way?

identity failure

exercise

a boring piece of homework

artificial intelligence

cosmic puke

mikalella bitch

mikalella

oh my god that was so lame

whats lame?

guys the ceiling just isn't high enough

gravity slain

mikalella

laughter

clean up that turn or I wipe it out with my butt sweat

Imade this chair on photo shop do you like it?

I hate it

bonos photo shop

its so unorganizaed

I mean come on

its like non linear trash

like color

okay fine whatever

we can handle anything

we can handle it

entertainment is always easy

fuck, I am so ugly

ewww give me a knife

sound of phone dialing a number

sound of giggling

hey umm should we bandage skippy so he doesn't die?

wow

some static interference, must have been a U.F.O. or a stealth bomber

sound of phone ringing

Damien who on earth was on the phone

its just the yerba mate we drank this morning

yerba mate what?!

sound of a slap

I have a weird feeling something bads happened

did you take your tampon out yet?

no

say what Jamie?

what Jamie?

ughhh your making my dick hurt

well my dick always hurts!

my pants are too tight

its in the air

ohh who was that?!

this is my club house

hey Denise

there is a dead boy outside!

yea, he just got hit by a car

and this lady is just sitting there filming him!

its so weird

its awesome

yea sounds awesome

awesome!

yea awesome!

I am not sure I like this, shes just filming him? yea

see I told you something was weird

sound of people cheering

no

sound of rock music playing

sound of music playing

what?

what?

sound of mucis playing

sound of yelling with music in background

sound of drums with music

sound of yelling with music

sound of drums playing

ohhhh

stop

stop

stop

stop

phalangina why you always be so spontaneous in leaving me?

sound of laughter

oh god

I hear music

you should follow me

I will

yeaaaa

yeaaaa

sounds of indistinctive chatter and music

sounds of instrumental music

sounds of yelling and fireworks going off

everyone inside

everyone inside!