Plaster Caster

Rating:
Summary: Portrait of a "hands on" artist...
Review: A profile of down-to-earth artist Cynthia "Plaster Caster" that should er, hold, the, er, attention of anyone fascinated by "The Sixties" or rock 'n' roll subculture in general. For the uninitiated, the "Plaster Casters" were a group of female "artists" (some may still argue, "groupies") who earned a universal backstage pass of sorts throughout the 60's and 70's by immortalizing the southernmost regions of many a rock legends' anatomy in plaster-based life-size sculpture. This would obviously guarantee many an amusing war story from (surviving) participants, and indeed, the most entertaining parts of the film are derived from such. One warning: The (somewhat deceptive) psychedelic cover art gives the impression that you might be in for a 60's time capsule, chock-a-block with vintage clips and music of the era; but the documentary is shot ultra low-budget direct to video, all "present day" footage with only an occasional still photo from the bygone days for context, and no "period" music to speak of. The overall "feel" is that of any one of the myriad of "reality" TV shows currently cluttering the commercial airwaves (of course, the subject matter here would be strictly "premium cable"!) The "extras" actually redeemed the investment for this reviewer-particularly the additional backstage tales that Cynthia tells regarding Led Zeppelin (somewhat harrowing, actually) and her explanation of why Kiss was "off" her list from the get-go. An interesting companion piece to "The Mayor Of The Sunset Strip" (see my review on this site) as an examination of the "almost famous" who take thier succor from the aura of rock stardom.

Rating:
Summary: fascinating look into the mind of a strange person
Review: I didn't know what to expect when I picked this one up. I've heard mixed reviews about Plaster Caster, but I'm a big fan of reality shows and "slice of life" documentaries, so I decided to check it out. I'm happy to report I was pleasently suprised! Ms. Plaster Caster is an interesting, funny, talented, and often pathetic person. There's no question she's an odd duck, but she sure does keep interesting company! Oddly enough, for a movie about reproductive organs, the film has little to do with adult activities (only one breif moment with an on-camera casting.) It was also nice to see the late Noel Redding (Hendrix bass player) in one of his last interviews. The pace of the film moved along quite nicely and when it was over I felt I wanted more.

The good news is, there is more! The DVD is loaded with plenty of interesting out takes, including funny footage with Wilco's Jeff Tweedy and an L7 "chest" casting sequence. I also liked the photo galleries and the Cast-O-Rama rotating cast gallery! With this feature you can have Plaster Caster's art (both boy and girl) loop on screen for infinity, if one chooses. Great conversation video at parties!

I feel this documentary is worthy of a long hard look. (sorry about that, but I couldn't resist!)

Rating:
Summary: Fun & Very Sad too
Review: I enjoyed this DVD a lot but there were some really sad parts too. Cynthia never has any money and she seems out of touch with her adult life. She moans and groans about how broke she is, how she can't afford this and that but you never see her working a job of any kind. She is a talented artist and she doesn't even do that anymore. The castings are wonderful and she is a perfectly charming person but there is something missing. You see her walking the Sunset Strip with one of the former GTO's, Miss Mercy, and they are both strangely immature and lost. Her bits with Miss Pamela Des Barres are equally disturbing. Perhaps the effect they are trying to achive is "rock & roll" but it comes off like they are living in the past and can't let go. I feel sorry for these women- I don't want to be like them when I get older. You just want to scream- GROW UP! Cynthia says she is trying to write a book. THEN WRITE IT! Don't talk about it and complain that you are broke. My advice to her? Sell your art and your collection and get it together girl! Use your talent and get a job! And write that book.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty good but...
Review: I liked this DVD but I was not impressed. When you can draw like Miss Caster you should persue some sort of craft. This casting thing is unique and cool but it isn't paying the rent for her. She still gets $100.00 dollars a month from her mother who she calls the warden. Very sad. She is a very likable person in the DVD. Almost sweet. It is really nice when she gets her "show" in New York City but the buck stops there. Where is her life going? It got frustrating. Someone with so much talent needs to get some self respect and self worth. I am a huge fan of Miss Pamela Des Barres. Maybe she should help Ms. Caster get her book done. I would buy it and read it. Miss Des Barres is a good writer and Ms. Caster could benefit from a bit of work ethic. Miss Pamela?? She could use your help.

Rating:
Summary: A Rock-Solid Documentary That's a Blast
Review: I saw Cynthia Plaster Caster's "babies" on display at Threadwaxing Space in 2000, read about her in a 2001 issue of BB Gun, and was thus very eager to see this. I got my chance at a recent film festival, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

This documentary is as unique as its subject, who comes across as quirky, warm and eternally youthful, and whose craft provides us with a bizarre but indispensible bit of rock n roll memorabilia.

You'll love "Plaster Caster" if you're a fan of: British rock of the 1960s and '70s; the GTO era of LA; the "indie" music scene of the 1980s and '90s; dive bars inhabited by shaggy-haired rock n rollers; and the DIY aesthetic.

I'm definitely buying this on DVD.

Rating:
Summary: A Rock-Solid Documentary That's a Blast
Review: I saw Cynthia Plaster Caster's "babies" on display at Threadwaxing Space in 2000, read about her in a 2001 issue of BB Gun, and was thus very eager to see this. I got my chance at a recent film festival, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

This documentary is as unique as its subject, who comes across as quirky, warm and eternally youthful, and whose craft provides us with a bizarre but indispensible bit of rock n roll memorabilia.

You'll love "Plaster Caster" if you're a fan of: British rock of the 1960s and '70s; the GTO era of LA; the "indie" music scene of the 1980s and '90s; dive bars inhabited by shaggy-haired rock n rollers; and the DIY aesthetic.

I'm definitely buying this on DVD.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best rock docs EVER!
Review: PLASTER CASTER is one hell of a great documentary. It didn't take me long to fall absolutely, positively, head-over-heels in love with Cynthia. Impossibly cute, sweet and personable, I started beating myself up for never having learned to play guitar or sing.

Benefiting from starring a thoroughly engaging and fascinating character, PLASTER CASTER is also an expertly crafted documentary by filmmaker Jessica Villines, who followed Cynthia around with a camera for 2 years. At least 40-45 minutes go by before an actual plaster penis is even shown. Until then, the doc develops Cynthia's charming personality so that her outrageous art doesn't overshadow the artist. It's a hands-down, definite must see.

And the DVD is loaded with fantastic extras, including tons of deleted scenes with Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, David Yow of The Jesus Lizard and L7 Suzi Gardner's breast casting. Plus lots of great pictures, artwork and diary entries from Cynthia's archives.

Rating:
Summary: If you love music, art or documentaries- GET THIS!
Review: This is a thoroughly enjoyable documentary and I highly recommend it. Not only do you get to see a real casting, but the interviews are funny, serious and interesting. Jessica Villines (film maker) did a great job of bringing together musicians, artists, friends and others for a well-rounded, exceptionally well written piece about a groupie/artist who is still going strong after thirty-some years. Follow Ms. Plaster Caster around her day to day life for some great entertainment.

Rating:
Summary: I liked it
Review: This was a fun DVD. Not War & Peace but a good, fun view at the life of Cynthia. She is talented and sweet and very driven about her "art". It is art and it is her unique art that is true to the spirit she has. I like her, or what I get to see of her in this DVD. I say anyone who buys it will be happy with it.

Rating:
Summary: Exegi monumentum
Review: Van Gogh nailed a canvas to a hay-wagon in his zeal to paint a wind-whipped landscape. Proust wrote hundreds of pages of prose in pursuit of a single memory. Cynthia Plaster Caster strives to capture an even more elusive and prized phenomenon than her artistic predecessors. For some thirty years, she has been creating life molds of the erect (or, sometimes unavoidably, semi-erect) penises of rock stars.
Early in the film, Cynthia makes it clear that she is not a "size queen." Her generous, appreciative spirit is only one of many things that makes this film a celebration of diversity the likes of which are seldom seen. As the film follows her through two castings (one substantially more successful than the other), the passion and logic of her quest uplifts the soul as much as it titillates the mind and body.
While the salt-of-the-earth heroine only grows in our estimation, any grist for post-modern irony has to be shaved off the backs of the run-of-the-mill freaks who surround her. Aging stars like Eric Burdon are seen first in blurry, hairy 60's snapshots, then as sagging, eyebrow-penciled wrecks reminiscing about their groupie years. A procession of preening young rockers, draggy hangers-on, pretentious gallery types and callow publicists underscore the point that C.P.C. is by far the most fulfilled, together, and focused person in her circle (with the possible exception of her attorney). She is that rare, heaven-anointed artist who never doubts her path for a second, and even gets to achieve her dream of a New York gallery show. The final, wildly successful casting session, shown in bravely orgasmic detail, is the best argument made for art in a movie since Charlton Heston saw his Sistine ceiling materialize in the clouds in "The Agony and the Ecstasy."