Prospecting in the mountains for minerals and things that glitter was a fruitless endeavor. It turns out you need to know where to look, and all I was looking for was the next jarring chord progression. Casino slot machines also yielded little yield unless you were looking for the relaxation of bingo. I'm returning to circus music. The money and prospects are similar, but the outcome is worth more than a used calliope or a second hand. My next project is called One-Handed Witch, a silent film of savagery and survival. It was written and scored by the Hiss. It was filmed by shadow puppet artists Rita Deiola and Sara Draghi in Italy. Watch the trailer below.
A FIERY WITCH LOSES HER HAND TO AN ANGRY MOB, TAMES WILD BEASTS IN THE FOREST, AND STARTS HUSTLING SMALL TOWN FOLK AND CASINOS OUT OF ALL THEIR MONEY, ALL WITH ONE HAND.
Here is the backstory for One-Handed Witch in 50 words or less.
Two years ago I fell off my bike in the rain on the Lefty O'Doul Bridge in San Francisco and broke my wrist. After an x-ray confirmed my swelling suspicions I started to compose organ music for one hand. One day while playing a Wizard Of Oz slot machine inspiration struck and I wrote the silent film One-Handed Witch. I found shadow puppets from Italy to collaborate with and film it. In the end it worked, like a well orchestrated spell.
Okay, that was 79 words, but who's counting?
The pandemic has pushed musicians and performing artists in many directions. It pushed the Hiss to write and score my first silent film by shadow puppets. One-Handed Witch will be screened with a live musical score performed by a band of witches (the Hiss and Paul Dab). It will be screened/performed March 4-5 at PianoFight OAKLAND in Oakland CA. Early Bird tickets are on sale now through January 7. Get them early, get them late, just get them before the cleaver drops.
PianoFight’s COVID Protocol - Each audience member must show proof of vaccination to enter PianoFight, no exceptions. Audience members must also wear their masks unless actively eating or drinking. We will comply with all local, state, and federal requirements in effect at time of show. We reserve the right to add additional requirements that we deem necessary to keep our staff, artists, and audiences safe.
-Samson
