2024 Films: Top Secret Jazz

Top Secret Jazz by Tommy Simms & Joe Ludwig
Milwaukee, WI (Milwaukee Premiere)

Running Time: 7 minutes
Comedy/ Western/ Fantasy

Sunday Sept 8th, 3pm
Avalon Atmospheric Theater
2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

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A lone stranger rides into a weathered settlement and tussles with the locals. After a lethal encounter, the gunslinger is transported to a mysterious lounge, where he learns secrets of a trade he never imagined.

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Director Bio:

"Top Secret Jazz" co-directed by Tommy Simms & Joe Ludwig

Tommy Simms is an interdisciplinary artist and award-winning filmmaker, specializing in stop-motion animation. Earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, his senior animation was showcased at the Festival de Cannes. For years, he taught classes online and at art camps across the United States, inspiring younger generations with puppetry and stop-motion. Ranging from cartoons to live-action, Tommy's work has been featured in film festivals around the world, on PBS, in theatre productions, and at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. His animated adventures continue through the production of independent films and music videos.

Joe Ludwig is a visual storyteller based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, specializing in narrative music videos and live event videography since 2013. His work has been shown in film festivals around the world. In 2013, he created the video for a Kickstarter campaign that successfully raised +$72,000 to save the historic Towne Cinema in Watertown, WI.

Directors Statement

How does a ghost become a ghost? When do they discover their full paranormal potential? This is the topic we sought to declassify when conjuring up the story that would become “Top Secret Jazz.” Set to the track of the same name from Lovely Socialite’s album, “The Drift,” the music of “Jazz” helped inspire our tale’s pacing and genre. The film opens as a full-blown Western. A gunslinger rides into town, settles poker disputes, has showdowns with the locals — and that’s just the start of it. We tackled as many classic tropes as we could pack in. Though the action takes place in the Old West, the film was shot entirely in Southeastern Wisconsin. Kettle Moraine Ranch was kind enough to provide the backdrop for our Midwestern Western. From horseback riding on dusty trails, to weathered storefronts and a holy sanctuary; we chewed through the scenery and took full advantage of everything the ranch had to offer. Once the Western action reaches its climax, the story pivots to that of a grim horror tale. Our cowboy comes to terms with his dark fate and descends to a mystical lounge. This hidden lounge was the missing piece of the puzzle that allowed us to incorporate the jazz element into this jazzy-titled Western. Lovely Socialite performs live on stage as the surrounding bar spirits demonstrate what it is to be a ghost. Stop motion and hand drawn animation add supernatural flourish to this otherworldly realm. Because the jazz lounge lies in a space beyond time, we were able to sneak in a few familiar faces from our existing collection of Simwig films. After a truly eye-opening experience with these spooks, it’s not long before our desperado ventures out to prey on unsuspecting victims of his own. Now — if you’re dying to round up wild thrills and campy chills — saddle up and hit the trail with Simwig Studios’ unique production of Lovely Socialite’s “Top Secret Jazz.”