UNDERGROUND LISTENING
By Ali Gitlow
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| Michael Krivicka's Subway Melodies. |
For documentarian Michael Krivicka, “the MetroCard was more than just a ride on a subway; it became a ticket to an underground world of music and performances with a random selection that was always a surprise.” His current project, the hour-long Subway Melodies, “explores the subway system as a stage and as a complex instrument that never stops playing.”
Krivicka’s interest in experimental film guided him in choosing not to include formal interviews with the musicians. He feels that “the film is a kind of collage rather than a scripted movie, so it is essential to do it this way.” The variety of musical styles he encountered surprised him, as did the fact that most subway musicians perform without permits as they try to make a living.
Born in Slovakia, Krivicka grew up in Germany and came to the U.S. to attend film school in 1998. While filming Subway Melodies, he found it useful to employ his Slovakian accent whenever police officers gave him trouble, acting like a confused tourist to evade the $200 fine for shooting in the subway without a permit.
One of his latest underground finds is a doo-wop group called Traditionally Yours, which Krivicka says is one of the more compelling groups he has come across. “They have the most visually interesting performance in terms of choreography and emotional value of their songs,” he says.
Subway Melodies is slated to be finished this year, and Krivicka is considering turning it into a feature. For more information visit www.subwaymelodies.com.
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