Mister Mofungo in The Sucking

video & video direction

I’ve been writing, directing, and acting in videos since I was 15. VHS, Hi-8, MINI DV, and digital. here are some projects I’ve made.

lesion

Since 1999, I’ve written, directed, and starred in 25 short films about LESION, Greatest Rock Band the World Has Ever Known™ (under my pseudonym Dr. Gustave Hurtz). Several of these movies won awards at the Arlene’s Grocery Film Festival, as well as having been screened at the Anthology Film Archives and Two Boots Pioneer Theater in NYC.

THE SUCKING

(2004) LESION MOVIE #14

Finally, a Halloween movie about vampires. When LESION's tour van breaks down in the backwoods of upstate New York, the band is forced to spend a night at the home of blood-sucking antiques dealer Mister Mofungo.

This new digital remaster, meticulously assembled by director Dr. Gustave Hurtz, features significantly improved video and superior sound quality.

the anti-santa

(2002) LESION MOVIE #8

Dim-witted super-patriot George W. Bush reluctantly gives Mrs. Santa Claus the go-ahead to have Santa lobotomized. Now it's up to LESION to perform the operation, save Christmas, and rock the yuletide.

The pod knot

(2002) LESION MOVIE #4

Mr. Pod finally ties the knot, only to discover that marriage is a deadly bore. GUEST STARS: Diana Henry as Cheryl and Owen Comaskey as Richard Balty. Movie 1 of 4 from The Lesion Lifestyle Experience.

broken karaoke

(2002) LESION MOVIE #7

Dr. Hurtz overdoes it at karaoke and loses his voice. Then he loses his job. GUEST STARS: Jim Wisniewski as Fred, David Hollander as Dr. Grip and Pete Kress as Lord Coca Log. Movie 4 of 4 from The Lesion Lifestyle Experience.

death takes a piss

(2002) LESION MOVIE #6

When an antiquities appraiser tells Piss that Napoleon's penis will make him invincible, he decides to smoke it. Then he dies. Will the Angel of Death cut a deal to let him live again? GUEST STARS: Tom Cardamone as Death and Zoe Schneider as Fatima. Movie 3 of 4 from The Lesion Lifestyle Experience.

I touch death

(2009) LESION MOVIE #21

Piss and the Doctor embark on a casual murder spree en route to their Halloween gig after they discover an illegal iPhone app. The bloodiest movie in LESION history! GUEST STARS: Adam Hurtwitz As Dr. Rameses and Joe Porletto as Burt Tinkle. This new remaster by writer and director Dr. Hurtz features significantly improved video and audio.

showcases: lesion

The following showcases group several of the LESION movies into related showcases and feature additional live footage, deleted scenes, promo materials, etc.

The lesion lifestyle experience 20th anniversary experience

Celebrate the 20th anniversary of this epic 4-night NYC rock and roll residency with remastered editions of The Pod Knot, Rare Tongue, Death Takes a Piss, and Broken Karaoke. Also includes rare live footage from the original shows and the isolated commercial for Sanitor XT from Rare Tongue.

The sucking archive

If you love THE SUCKING, here's everything you could possibly want.

Dr. Hurtz Remasters

An ongoing series of LESION videos meticulously restored and remastered by director Dr. Gustave Hurtz, featuring significantly improved audio and video.

The musho chronicles

Remastered versions of GROUPIE.FUCK.FACE. andits sequel, A HORSE CALLED CLUSTERFUDGE. These two LESION movies may be separated by 17 years, but they both feature extraordinary performances by Joe Lazenby as super-groupie Musho. Includes supplementary archival footage related to the films.

Lesion chronologically

Watch the LESION movies in order! Note: this is not the complete LESION filmography and several have not yet been remastered.

Lesion LIVE

The title of this showcase says it all. Live performances (mostly) remastered.

other projects

Mosaic is Light: Jeanne Reynal

JEANNE REYNAL we was a mosaic artist who worked primarily between the 1940s and the 1970s. She was a significant figure in the New York School, collaborated with Isamu Noguchi, and was directly responsible for Jackson Pollack’s first solo art show. I was privileged to co-direct, shoot, and edit this retrospective of her life and career for the gallery currently representing her work.

pipe cleaner people

Santa Claus recounts a troubling episode from his past to his analyst, an experience that still haunts him.

hot keys

An average day at the office turns grotesque for three coworkers.

windex

An intellectual must find a solution to dirty eyeglasses.

more lesion

You’re already here, why not?

monkey rump

(2010) LESION MOVIE #22

A LESION fan is hideously disfigured after acid is splashed on his face by a crazy person, and the only available donor tissue is from a baboon's dead, red ass. Will a skin graft save his dignity or ruin his life forever? Find out in this chilling LESION Halloween yarn starring Piss Promise and Dr. Hurtz, with guest stars Adam Hurwitz (as Burt Bacharach), Cassie J. Sneider (as Carole Bayer Sager), Paris Mancini (as the crazy acid lady), along with a very special appearance by Mister Pod!

This sparkling digital remaster by Dr. Hurtz features upgraded video and superior sound quality.

shush, shush, sweet schatzi

(2004) LESION MOVIE #9

Piss Promise smokes the world's most powerful weed, then hears the voice of God commanding him to turn LESION into a Christian rock band. Features the music video for "He is The Rock" by German church-rockers LESSON. GUEST STAR: Zoe Schneider as Moonjava.

This new director's cut remastered by Dr. Hurtz, features improved audio and video, as well as never-before-seen footage!

rare tongue

(2002) LESION MOVIE #5

After overdosing on anti-depressants, Venison goes on a terrifying, hallucinogenic "freak-out." GUEST STAR: Adam Hurwitz as Dr. Shove. Movie 2 of 4 from The Lesion Lifestyle Experience.

stiffies!

(2007) LESION MOVIE #19

Ben Franklin's "crazy Halloween voodoo" zaps colonial-era bass impresario American Art 230 years into the future, (just in time for LESION to rock the ass off Halloween). WARNING: This film contains fops. GUEST STARS: Jacob Henderson, Adam Hurwitz, Mick Stingley, and Joe Porletto as Burt Tinkle.

Unavailable for more than a decade, this new "director's cut," remastered by Dr. Hurtz, features improved audio and video, as well as never-before-seen footage!

to live as a woman

(2004) LESION MOVIE #10

As a desperate ploy to sell CDs, Venison is tricked into having a sex-change operation by Piss and Dr. Hurtz. But it's Mr. Pod who delivers the most unsettling wake-up call in this bittersweet hats-off to gender ambiguity.

This new remaster by director Dr. Gustave Hurtz has significantly improved video and audio. Contains hideous footage of plastic surgery as well as coming attractions hosted by Jesus and a never-before-seen post-credits scene. Guest stars: Lenny Williams as "Lady" Venison, Joe Porletto as band manager Burt Tinkle, Adam Hurwitz as Dr. Connie Cotton, and Mick Stingley as Jesus.

burnouts!

(2018) LESION MOVIE #24

LESION is offered a billion dollars to play a reunion show. Can Dr. Hurtz get the band back together one last time to rock the ass off New York City?

a horse called clusterfudge

(2019) LESION MOVIE #25

Finally, the long-awaited sequel to LESION's 2002 classic GROUPIE.FUCK.FACE. is here! Has super-groupie Musho infiltrated LESION by posing as drummer Venison? (Spoilers: yes.) Also features an animated interlude starring everyone's favorite vampire Mister Mofungo! Special guests: Joe Lazenby as Musho, Joe Porletto as Burt Tinkle, and Kirsten Ulve as The Universe.

This new digital remaster by director Dr. Gustave Hurtz features improved video and superior sound quality.

groupie.fuck.face.

(2002) LESION MOVIE #3

Piss is kidnapped and tortured by an obsessive groupie. Meanwhile, flaccid record sales force lead singer Dr. Hurtz to get a facelift. This classic LESION movie took home awards for Best Narrative Under 30 Minutes and Best Screenplay at the 2002 Arlene Grocery Picture Show. With special guest star Joe Lazenby as Musho.