UNAUTHORIZED AND PROUD OF IT: Todd Loren's Rock'N'Roll Comics (2006)
*Unauthorized And Proud Of It, from director Ilko Davidov and BulletProof Film, chronicles Todd Loren, the controversial publisher of unauthorized comic book biographies of rock stars. The new documentary mixes animation and eerie home video with numerous interviews, including rock stars Alice Cooper and Mojo Nixon; artist Cynthia Plaster Caster: comic book publishers Denis Kitchen and Gary Groth; graphic artists Mary Fleener, Dennis Worden, Robert Williams, and Steve Crompton; and music critic Ian Shirley, author of Can Rock and Roll Save the World? An Illustrated History of Music and Comics.
It is often said that truth is stranger than fiction, and no phrase could more accurately describe Todd Loren..s story. A life-long music fan, he founded his comic book company in 1989 with the intention of creating histories of rock and roll performers that were like graphic novels. An enigmatic figure, he was a brilliant businessman and a First Amendment crusader, but he was also known for creating legions of enemies through his insufferable behavior. Loren went on to publish hundreds of biographies of bands and other celebrities, despite numerous legal challenges from the people he was depicting, often in a scandalous, though accurate fashion. Rock'N'Roll Comics was largely derided by others in the comic book industry and hated by the music business for its ..Unauthorized and Proud of It.. motto and attitude, yet it was Loren who fought the good fight and won a landmark court case that established First Amendment protections for comics and graphic novels. At the height of his success, however, Loren was fatally stabbed. His murder remains unsolved 13 years later, although clues point to Andrew Cunanan, the reported serial killer who has been linked to the 1997 slaying of fashion designer Gianni Versace. But Unauthorized And Proud Of It is much more than the story of Todd Loren..s upstart company or a mere murder mystery. It is a look at the strange interplay of those twin totems of teen rebellion, rock music and comic books. With original Rock'N' Roll Comics art and music by Elvis Costello, Pegboy, The M's, Native Alien, and Mojo Nixon, the film stands as a celebration of youthful exuberance and imagination.
BulletProof Film is a Chicago-based production company celebrating its 10-year anniversary. BulletProof's catalog includes a variety of award-winning works ranging from music videos to short films and feature-length documentaries. Producer and director Ilko Davidov founded BulletProof Film in 1995. He has made music videos and independent films in Europe and North America.
