The Good Night Ladies is a collective committed to empowering female artists by producing outstanding works by
women in a variety of media.

CUT Artist Spotlight: April Lynn

April Lynn’s amazing visual art, see more here www.aprillicks.tumblr.com, will be featured in the gallery at CUT. Here’s a little bit more about the artist herself:

Why did you first become an artist? Tell us a little bit of your journey to where you are now?  I have been expressing myself through the visual arts for as long as I can remember! In 2009, humans began to provide me with opportunities to show my work in their businesses/publications/etc, which has been completely nifty to me, as I adore being provided with opportunities to share some of what I had so much fun creating. So, here I am walking dogs in weekday light whilst picking up sticks, and looking up trees, and pressing leaves, and engaging the city surrounds, and here I am on this journey, and it’s the loveliest of times…

What artist inspires you the most? Why? I will always be inspired by the art of mother nature, and sister sounds. 

Is there a medium or kind of art you want to try but haven’t yet? What is next for you? Oh my gosh, my geesh, yes! I want to get into textiles, clothing, leggings, dresses, shirts, sounds, more sculpture, jewelry making, and the fabric print business, please (and thank you). Next for me is all of the above. Seriously, serious. 

Cut Artist Spotlight: Nick Drew

Nick Drew is the founder of Red Hat Collaborative, we will be screening a music video he directed called ‘Squirrel Killer”, in addition to that Nick is the editor for The Good Night Ladies film ‘Sunday Morning’. You can check out Nick work here: www.vimeo.com/redhatfilms 

Why did you become a filmmaker?I became a film maker because I am a storyteller who wants to tell stories that reach as many people as possible. I also love the language and intricacy of film, and really enjoy the filmmaking process. But, at heart, I ended up in film because I think it is the art form and the medium that most defines our era and our culture, and I want to be a part of that world. I want to be in on the ground floor, making meaning, not just consuming it. 

What filmmaker inspires you the most? Why? I’m inspired by many, many filmmakers, and it’s hard to pick just one who inspires me the most. If I had to pick the one who inspires me the most, not just who I like, I think I might say David Lynch. While my own work does not approach his in any way, I am always inspired by the way he explores the dark, weird and strange sides of the world and the American Dream. His commitment to making art, not just movies, is also very inspirational. 

Is there a story you want to tell that you haven’t gotten the chance to yet? Of course. There are a thousand stories I’d like to tell still - stories from history, from my life, books i’ve read, fantasy worlds i’ve imagined. I also have several family legends that I really want to make into films once I have the resources. I hope that there will always be more stories i’d like to tell, that I never hit a point where I think i’ve said all I have to say, or told all the stories I have to tell. 

Are you coming to CUT?

Are you coming to CUT?

Cut Artist Spotlight: Ashley Thompson

Ashley’s film ‘Whisper Trip’ will be screened at ‘CUT. An Evening of Short Films’  and her photography work was last seen at The Good Night Ladies present VAGINA, you can also see her acting in The Good Night Ladies film ‘Sunday Morning’ (also being screened at CUT).

Why did you become a filmmaker? i make films because photos aren’t enough sometimes, because you can fuck with the perception of time and space, and because it truly still amazes me that you can capture life and replay it over and over.

What filmmaker inspires you the most? Why? don’t know much about filmmakers but Doug Aitken’s work is bomb.

Is there a story you want to tell that you haven’t gotten the chance to yet?
i want to tell stranger’s stories; the woman taking the bus on the way to her night shift at 11 pm, the man behind the counter at a minimart on kedzie, the kid who is sitting on her front stoop braiding her sister’s hair. interaction and words spoken between strangers is so necessary..the simple act of talking to these people is enough for me but being able to film it for everyone to see would be something i’d like to do.
Location scouting for our next film project ‘The Long Walk to Forever’, based on the Kurt Vonnegut short story of the same name.

Location scouting for our next film project ‘The Long Walk to Forever’, based on the Kurt Vonnegut short story of the same name.

CUT Artist Spotlight: Wonjung Bae

We are thrilled to be screening Won’s student Academy Award winning documentary ‘Vera Klement: Blunt Edge’ at CUT. 

Why did you become a filmmaker?I am a storyteller before a filmmaker and a story-collector before a storyteller. I like intimate and delicate portrayal of human experiences that bind us. Why I became a filmmaker? Because I am such a sucker for good human stories?


What filmmaker inspires you the most? Why?
With a background in 35 mm still photography and training in darkroom process, I often find overwhelming inspiration in the works of still photographers such as Josef Koudelka, Daido Moriyama, and photographers at Magnum Photos and World Press Photo. It is fascinating for me to study the common properties of still and moving images while constantly rediscovering the individual characteristics of each expression and emphasizing the difference in my movies.  

Is there a story you want to tell that you haven’t gotten the chance to yet?
I haven’t told a good old love story; yeh a girl meets a boy and all the headaches and miracles. what makes a love story special? no, I am not talking about that infatuation, no, no, not that.