13 Most Beautiful… Songs to Andy Warhol's Screen Tests

Written by Lauren Lees on Monday, 29 June 2009 22:36

It’s 1967, young Cornell art student visits Andy Warhol’s ‘The Factory’ as part of a class field trip. She ends up watching her classmates leave, while sitting on a pedestal watching Warhol fiddle with a 16 mm Bolex Camera before conducting a screen test for the artist.

That student, Mary Woronoz, went on to act in a slew of Warhol’s films eventually gaining cult status with her most famous role in “Death Race 2000." Before the film began, Woronoz, was introduced to the audience as one of the many who grazed through his studio’s doors. For Warhol, this wasn’t just an opportunity to make his films, but a three minute look into a person.
“This is your one time to have a film made out of you,” Woronoz explained to the audience filled Ford Amphitheater. “It certainly was tortuous, he didn’t say hello.”
Woronoz’s test along with Edie Sedgwick's, Dennis Hopper's, and Nico's all shared the stage during a screening of “13 Most Beautiful…Song For Andy Warhol’s Screen Test."

      Outside in the breezy June night, the Ford Amphitheater's seats were filled with a mixture of the old and young. All were there to celebrate Warhol's eccentricities set to the music of Dean & Britta. The set was simple, a mixture of songs the group wrote inspired by the various screen tests and they included some cover songs as well. Sprinkled between the screen tests was the narrative by lead singer, Dean, this consisted of interesting tidbits of information on the various subjects.
      The first screen test was of Richard Rheem, Warhol’s one time boyfriend, on an empty stage set to pre-recorded music. His statuesque stance broken by the occasional blink, was the only test where the camera was technically handled, zooming in and out, with various angle and focus changes. It seemed to be more of an experiment, but it was the perfect beginning to a night of interpretation, and allure.
      What you wait for during these screen tests are a break in the subject's emotions, for the façade to be revealed. However most of the tests seemed to be pre-packaged, the look of pretentious seriousness plastered on their faces like Billy Name. Some of the subjects, such as famous Warhol actress Nico and Ingrid Superstar, anxiously maneuvered throughout the test, rejecting eye contact with the camera and projecting nervousness.
      The most impressive test came from Ann Donahue who sat calmly and passively without an ounce of emotion on her face save for the tears streaking down her cheeks. Juxtaposed against upbeat tempo music, her look and tears created a three minute Mona Lisa experience. The tears came across comically. For us, the audience, it was the joke.
      The night ended with Jane Holzer, Warhol’s most famous superstar, brushing her teeth. It was both a silly and provocative collision as she bent over to spit out the frothy white toothpaste from her mouth and laughed while lifting up to commence her brushing.
      Woronoz best describes what the audience came to see that evening. “It’s not really a film, it’s a living portrait that hangs on the wall,” she says of Warhol’s fixation with his film tests.
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      For the first time ever released to the public, 13 Most Beautiful… Songs for Andy Warhol Screen Tests is a treat for anyone seeking three minute glimpses into the mind of Warhol through 13 of his most beautiful tests.
      Dennis Hopper periodically cracks an amused simple smile, alluding to the thought of how ridiculous it all must have seemed to him. Sometimes his were anxious movements as seen with both Nico, and International Velvet. The lighting played its own character, and truly flexes his muscle for International Velvet’s screen test where she sat in almost total darkness. Half her face was covered in shadow, while her black locks framed her face and her bangs covering her forhead left only a fourth of her exposed. She glared down into the camera with an intense anger, giving a look, not unknown to her, screaming out ‘love me or I’ll leave you’.
      Quipping on Dennis Hopper, Dean shares that Hopper was the first person to buy one of Warhol’s soup painting for a hundred dollars. That was before the Art Dealer gave him his money back, in order to keep all 32 paintings he had together.
      Staring at the screen, each face looming for three to five minutes. Searching for a crack, a break in the character each person is trying to be throughout the time. Emotions flicker beneath subtle face changes, while nerves cast shadow on others. Sedgwick’s face stayed still, fluttering eyelashes were the only indication for any type of emotion. With her big almond eyes, covered with heavy mania remained static. In the background you can hear Dean quietly echoing…"

Web Site: http://www.warhol.org

-Lauren Lees

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