The power and magic that surrounds the music of Jim Morrison & The Doors is legendary, but a little known fact is that Jim Morrison was also a passionate cinephile, and now finally a book has been released detailng his talent as a filmmaker from 1965-71. The book Jim Morrison: The Genius of an Unsung Filmmaker, written by underground film director Fabrizio Federico, is a unique and razor-sharp look into Morrison as a shamanic artist. ''This book is essential to Jim's story, he loved cinema it was his life, even his lyrics are cinematic. I really enjoyed researching this book, I've been a Doors fan since I was ten years old so being able to write about Jim's love of film was a dream come true, because not many people even know that he was a filmmaker. It's like a hidden secret, but he really understood how to hypnotize an audience with his vision, and you can see that in his wild performances too. This book is also a manual into what techniques Jim used to create mass-madness.''
After studying cinema at UCLA, where he met fellow bandmate Ray Manzarek, they incorporated this unique cinematic quality into The Doors dark psychedelic music, making them the kings of Acid-Rock during the turbulent sixties. Proving that the devil has the best songs. The Doors were also one of the first bands to make artistic music videos, and in 1968 they even made a fly-on-the-wall documentary called Feast of Friends, which chronicles their spring tour, while at the peak of their powers. The film is full of riots and transcendence and is now a cult classic. Morrison's independent movie HWY was screened only a few times before his tragic death in 1971, making him a member of the notorious 27 Club.
Jim Morrison could have been an amazing independent filmmaker had he lived longer and it would have enhanced his already solid legacy. His movies prove that there is an unbreakable bond between alchemy/ritual/shamanism and the power of cinema.
In this book his film projects and thoughts on performance are examined through interviews he gave talking about his films, giving us a glimpse into the real artistic heart of Jim Morrison. Plus how he used mind control through media manipulation to achieve superstardom. Additionally, there are rare and previously unpublished glimpses into Morrison's cinematic wisdom, and his point of view on the dark powers of cinema. Through trace and hypnosis he could spellbind an audience and for the very first time this is examined. An unremittingly exhilarating journey into the psychosis of an alluring yet enigmatic artist. A must read for fans of The Doors.
