Scott B and Beth B facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Scott B
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United States
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| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Scott Billingsley |
| Occupation | Film director, producer, screenwriter |
| Known for | No Wave, Colab |
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Beth B
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| Born | April 14, 1955 New York City, New York, United States
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Film director, producer, screenwriter |
| Known for | No Wave |
Scott B and Beth B, also known as Scott and Beth B or The Bs, were famous filmmakers in New York City during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were part of an exciting art movement called No Wave. They even named their film company "B Movies," which was a clever play on words, like the old "B movies" that were often made quickly and on a small budget.
Their company made a feature film called Vortex. Beth B is the daughter of the well-known painter Ida Applebroog, who worked with Beth on two of her films.
Contents
Filmmaking Journey
Early Work and Style
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Scott B and Beth B were important figures in the "No Wave" art scene. This movement was all about making films with very little money, often in a raw and edgy style. They were interested in how society shapes individuals.
Beth studied art at the School of Visual Arts, and Scott was a sculptor. They got married and joined a group called Colab (Collaborative Projects). They worked in New York City's East Village, often with performance artists and noise musicians.
They made many short films using Super 8 mm cameras. These films often explored how people are controlled by society. Their movies were full of themes like power, control, and punk rock music.
Quickly Made Films
The Bs' short films were shot and edited very quickly. They often featured musicians and other interesting people from the downtown New York art scene. These films were shown as weekly episodes at music clubs like the Mudd Club and Max's Kansas City.
Notable Films
G-Man
In their film G-Man, Scott B and Beth B looked at how power works in society. The film shows a police officer who feels controlled by someone else. No Wave Cinema artist Jamie Nares appeared in this film. It grew out of a short video that was part of a Colab TV show called All Color News.
Black Box
Black Box is the name of a device used for harsh questioning. In the film Black Box, a man played by Bob Mason is trapped inside such a box. The film makes the viewer feel his suffering.
Black Box shows many of the Bs' main ideas: crime, mind control, and feeling restricted. The film uses a simple story: a man leaves his room and is kidnapped by a group of "punk thought-police." He is then put into the "black box" and bombarded with loud sounds and bright lights. The film features Bob Mason, Kiki Smith, and Lydia Lunch. Film expert Gwendolyn Audrey Foster described Black Box as a "terrifying story about society limiting individuals."
Letters to Dad
For 11 minutes in Letters to Dad, various No Wave artists like Pat Place, Arto Lindsay, and Kiki Smith read messages. At first, these seem like letters to a father figure. However, it soon becomes clear that these are actually letters from victims of the Jonestown massacre to their leader, Jim Jones, just before a tragic event.
The Offenders
The Offenders, also shot on Super 8 mm film, is a funny story about a kidnapping. It was first shown as a series of episodes at Max's Kansas City and the Mudd Club. The film includes John Lurie, Judy Nylon, and Lydia Lunch. The full movie was later shown in theaters during a time when crime was a big topic in New York City.
Vortex
Vortex was filmed on 16 mm and received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts through Colab. It's a detective story where Lydia Lunch plays a detective who gets involved in corporate tricks and how companies try to influence politicians for defense contracts. The music for Vortex includes noise music by Richard Edson, Lydia Lunch, and The Bs. Vortex is often considered the last film of the original No Wave movement.
Later Projects
- In 1987, Scott B worked with Joseph Nechvatal on an art performance called Not a Door: A Spectacle. This show was inspired by poetry and other works, and featured actors Richard Edson and Mark Boone Junior.
- Beth B went on to direct other films like Salvation! and Two Small Bodies.
Films by Scott B and Beth B
- G-Man (1978)
- Black Box (1978)
- Letters to Dad (1979)
- The Offenders (1980)
- The Trap Door (1981)
- Vortex (1981)
Films Directed by Beth B (Solo)
- 1987: Salvation!
- 1989: Belladonna (short) (co-director with Ida Applebroog)
- 1991: American Nightmare (short)
- 1991: Thanatopsis (short)
- 1991: Stigmata (short)
- 1991: Shut Up and Suffer (short)
- 1992: Amnesia (short)
- 1993: Two Small Bodies (co-writer, co-producer)
- 1993: Under Lock and Key (short)
- 1994: High Heel Nights (short)
- 1995: ”Out of Sight/Out of Mind” (short)
- 1996: Visiting Desire (documentary)
- 2013: Exposed
- 2016: Call Her Applebroog
- 2019: Lydia Lunch: The War Is Never Over
Legacy and Recognition
In 2023, the No Wave movement, including its films, was recognized at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. An exhibition called Who You Staring At: Visual culture of the no wave scene in the 1970s and 1980s featured Scott B and Beth B's 11-minute film Letters to Dad (1979). The exhibition also included an interview with Beth B, screenings of No Wave films, and musical performances.
