Abstract
Experimental documentary DOOZY is the debut feature from artist-filmmaker Richard Squires. Exploring the voice casting of American actor Paul Lynde as a series of Hanna Barbera villains in the late 1960s, animated antihero 'Clovis' (voiced by 'Kids in the Hall' comedian Mark McKinney) re-enacts a number of alleged stories from the actor's life, whilst a panel of academics take part in a curious gameshow. Through the lens of one of Hollywood's hidden queer histories, DOOZY contemplates cartoon villainy and hysterical masculinity; the use of voice to signify 'otherness' and the frequently uneasy relationship between character and actor. The film had its World Premiere at BFI London Film Festival in October 2018 and its International Premiere at IFFR, Rotterdam, January 2019. A short UK tour of the film took place in April-May 2019.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 13 Oct 2018 |
Bibliographical note
Reviews: 'Richard Squires on Doozy: queer life, laughter and cartoon villainy' Sight & Sound interview with Helen De Witthttps://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/interviews/richard-squires-doozy-paul-lynde-hanna-barbera-queer-cartoon-villainy
DOOZY BFI Experimenta Panel
https://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/features/lff-62-experimenta-richard-squires-doozy
Helen de Witt on LFF Experimenta programme including 'Doozy' BBC Arabic
https://m.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR0thYd60gXVLC9Bkcs3VtpapCcI-IEU1yekhp1MSbtmnUdYnwe9Pu0CAfA&time_continue=1&v=BTCbyQaBJ8w
Alt/Kino interview on 'Doozy'
https://www.altkino.com/richard-squires-on-doozy
Innovation in Animation / Electric Sheep interview podcast
https://panelborders.wordpress.com/2019/04/28/electric-sheep-magazine-podcast-innovation-in-animation/
Richard Squires British Council interview
http://film.britishcouncil.org/comment/spotlight/2019/richard-squires
DCFilm interview
https://www.devon-cornwall-film.co.uk/2019/04/22/inverts-and-treacherous-homos-doozy-takes-on-cartoon-villainy/
'Doozy' on Exeter Phoenix Blog
https://www.exeterphoenix.org.uk/saturday-mornings-sexual-ambiguity/
Format: Digital Cinema Projection (DCP)
Duration: 70 mins
Image/sound Type: HD video/5.1 audio
Reviews: We Are Cult review http://wearecult.rocks/hollywood-square-doozy-reviewed
Impact: 'Doozy' has generated discussion around hysterical masculinity, the casting of gay men in cartoon villain roles and the use of voice as a signifier of 'otherness'. This discussion has taken the form of interviews and during the Q+A conversations at each of the screening events. Academics Professor Sophie Scott (UCL), Professor Paul Wells (Loughborough), Dr Benedict Morrison (Exeter), José Arroyo (Warwick), Helen de Witt (Birkbeck), John Airlie (Birkbeck), Dr Joel McKim (Birkbeck) and film curators and writers Jamie Wyld, Robert Gray, Ben Nicholson, Alex Fitch, Helen Westerik and Ralph Conrad McKay have all contributed to these conversations.
In January 2019, 'Doozy' was screened at an event for incarcerated men in the FENS Unit at HMP Whitemoor, Peterborough. The unit houses around 40 men, all of whom have been diagnosed with personality disorder, and the event was organised in collaboration with psychologist Naomi Murphy, one of the experts interviewed in 'Doozy'. Following the event, Murphy wrote that most of the men "really enjoyed the opportunity to engage with something cultural... It was also useful for generating discussions about homophobia which I am sure will continue to be explored."
Keywords
- Art and design