Ruth, Roses and Revolver

The BBC ran a regular programme titled Arena, featuring a variety of documentaries. David Lynch made one for them entitled: David Lynch presents: 'Ruth, Roses and Revolver'; the name derives from a Man Ray film, and the documentary exposed the films and filmmakers Lynch felt had been influential and pertinent to his own personal works.

Ronnie Rocket & One Saliva Bubble

The script for Ronnie Rocket remains unproduced, a project which Michael J. Anderson was meant to star in; the themes were heavily influenced by Lynch's fascination with factories and the internal mechanism of human thoughts (Lynch visited northern England with Freddie Francis as a location scout). Interestingly, Ronnie Rocket caught the attention of film director Mel Brooks, who encouraged Lynch to pursue its production; however, it never took ground.

One Saliva Bubble focuses on the escape of an electric bubble from a computer which bursts over a town, resulting in the personality change of its inhabitants, as five cattlemen become convinced of their identity as Chinese gymnasts :). It was co-written by David Lynch and Mark Frost in a Carnation Dairy on Wilshire Boulevard; although it never took off, it solidified the partnership of Lynch and Frost, both of whom would later create Lynch/Frost Productions, and Twin Peaks.

The Cowboy and the Frenchman

Commissioned by Figaro Magazine and Erato Films as part of their "France as Seen by..." ("Les Francais vus par...") series created by contributions from international filmmakers, this 22-minute piece was Lynch's first and only venture into Western film style. The theme archetypically surrounds Lynch's fascination with the dilemma of human interaction and the modes of communication available to us to do so; the conflicts which can arise when the modes are limited is the main focus. The story focuses on the arrival of an unrecognizable individual, a deaf Frenchman carrying a basket full of French goods, in a Western town in which the suspicious English-speaking cowboys try to understand his presence. Followed by the appearance of some French girls supplying beer, a party ensues, in which all participants celebrate and enjoy common ground.

Zelly and Me

David Lynch stars opposite his real-life partner at the time, Isabella Rossellini, who acted in Blue Velvet, and was about to act in his upcoming film, Wild At Heart.

Floating Into The Night

David Lynch collaborated with Julee Cruise and Angelo Badalamenti; Julee Cruise was about to appear in the pilot of Twin Peaks, and Badalamenti had been working with Lynch since his musical contribution to Blue Velvet in 1986. As producers, both Lynch and Badalamenti wrote the music, as well as the lyrics, whilst Julee Cruise sung the ten original songs on this album which originated from Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks, and Industrial Symphony No. 1.

Twin Peaks European Pilot

David Lynch had directed a separate American pilot (originally meant to be called Northwest Passage) to launch his new TV series, Twin Peaks; the European version was created with fifteen minutes' additional material, featuring the Man From Another Place's dancing dream sequence which would be viewed in Episode 3 of the series. It boasted a different ending in which Special Agent Dale Cooper and Sheriff Harry S. Truman follow the One-Armed Man's advice, and corner BOB in the basement of the Twin Peaks hospital, which results in his shooting. The European pilot ran for 110 minutes, and was only released on video. (anyone interested in ordering the European pilot on video should email me)

Industrial Symphony No 1.

Extensive.

American Chronicles

These were a set of television documentaries that were produced by Lynch/Frost Productions, which had been created to host David Lynch's epic television series, Twin Peaks. Of the documentaries, Lynch and Mark Frost co-directed one addition to the series called Champions. Premieres September 9th, 1990 on the Fox Network.

Wicked Game

Chris Isaak, who would later star as Special Agent Chet Desmond in David Lynch's Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, released a song to which the accompanying television video was filmed by Lynch. The video became infamous for drawing attention to Helena Kristiansen, whose supermodel career would take off; however, it also received vast criticism from fans of Lynch's film at the time, Wild At Heart, as the feature song of the film was Wicked Game. The criticism arised mainly due to the fact fans felt the music video detracted from the song's metaphorical association to the plot of the film.

On The Air

Filmed in March 1991and produced by Lynch/Frost Productions, as well as Twin Peaks Productions (episode one only), On The Air comprised of seven half-hour comedic sitcom episodes which were set at the Zoblotnik Television Network in New York in 1957. Episode one was directed by Lynch, whilst co-writing Episode six with Robert Engels, who had also collaborated with Lynch on several Twin Peaks episodes. Due to its blend of the 'absurd and stupid' and crude slapstick, acted out by several individuals of the Lynch Mob, only three of the seven episodes were aired, as ABC Worldvision Entertainments for whom the sitcom was created, was still smarting from their rejection of Twin Peaks, and pulled the plug prematurely. Premiered June 20th, 1992 on ABC, and lasted three weeks.

Hotel Room

Comprised as a trilogy of short stories, Hotel Room appeared on HBO in January 1993, produced by Asymmetrical Productions and Propaganda Films; the three stories are based on a collaboration of David Lynch and Barry Gifford, who had worked with Lynch on Wild At Heart (based on the book he wrote) and the screenplay of Lost Highway. Gifford wrote both Tricks and Blackout, whilst the third Getting Rid of Robert was written by Jay McInerney and directed by James Signorelli. The actions which take place in the trilogy are set in specific years in a New York City hotel room (Room 603); Tricks is set in September 1969, Blackout is set in April 1936, and Getting Rid of Robert is set in June 1992, all three focus on the strange and disturbing journeys of guests who stay in room 603. In typical Lynch thematic fashion, all the guests are crippled in one form or other, all emotionally, and confined to situations or predicaments they cannot control. Of the Lynch Mob, those acting in Hotel Room are Harry Dean Stanton, Freddie Jones, and Thufir Hawat.

ADVERTISING/PROMOTIONAL SPOTS

David Lynch directed a brief advertisement for Yves Saint Laurent's new fragrance, Opium.

ADVERTISING/PROMOTIONAL SPOTS

Directed by David Lynch, with music by Angelo Badalamenti, Lynch worked on a 30-second commercial for Barilla Pasta; comedic, the commercial centers around the help offered by a man (Gerard Depardieu) to a little girl as she falls from her bike in front of his table at an outdoor cafe. He proceeds to console her by vanishing into the cafe, emerging with a plate of Barilla Pasta; shortly thereafter, a woman drives by on a scooter, and falls near his table. The commercial ends as he rushes to help her.

The Voice of Love

Produced by David Lynch and Angelo Badalamenti, this album of music features eleven songs from Wild At Heart and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, several sung by Julee Cruise; lyrics by Lynch, music by Badalamenti. Released by Warner Bros Records.

Lumière and Company

Also called Lumière est Compagnie, this project comprised of thirty-nine directors, including David Lynch, who had been asked by the French/Spanish/Swedish film company to each shoot fifty-second short films using an original hundred-year old hand-cranked Lumière camera, natural light, and a maximum of three attempts to capture a continuous shot. The sound effects and music are created by Angelo Badalamenti. Lynch's brief work captures the body of a young girl lying in a field observed by three policemen, as an anxious woman lingers in her house; at the same time, the scene morphs into two separate shots, one of the future, and the other of the past, as a naked woman submerged in a tank of water struggles.