THE DEVIL, DANIEL JOHNSTON & DANIEL MURPHY

I found out a few years ago completely by accident that I am living in the former apartment of famous Musician/Artist Daniel Johnston. Last year the documentary "The Devil & Daniel Johnston" was released and it's ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT! I saw it at the Austin Convention Center for SXSW(South By Southwest- A Major Film/Music festival in Austin every March) The Film won Best Director at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and Audience Award for Best Documentary at the 2005 San Francisco Independent Film Festival.

The Director Jeff Feuerzeig and the Producer Henry Rosenthal were at the Austin showing. They had a question and answer session after the movie. I had a feeling Daniel would be there as well. So, I asked them what Daniel thinks about the movie and they said well why don't we ask Daniel. Then, Daniel walked in and everyone cheered and clapped. Daniel said something really funny(I can't find my notes DAMN IT) that basically conveyed that he liked the movie.

That's Daniel funny, talented, and entertaining. He was also very pleasant when I met him in person at the service yard gate of the convention center with his brother Dick. I tried to get Daniel to settle a controversy.

I called my apartment manager to confirm that Daniel lived in my apartment and he said it was the apartment next door not mine. Daniel's former manager Jeff Tartakov who was a consultant on the film said Daniel definitely lived in my apartment. So, after congratulating Daniel on the movie, I went totally nutso and asked him to settle the controversy by telling me whether he lived in my apartment 204 or 203. I didn't realize how stupid this was until I said it. I was expecting Daniel to know which apartment it was without even giving him my address. Daniel and his brother had to go. So, I didn't have enough time to explain everything and for him to rack his brain for the answer.

My Apartment better be Daniel's former apartment because I've already booked it to some Daniel Johston Groupies for this years SXSW Film/Music Festival.

At least, the footage of my front door is still in the movie. I wish I'd get as much film time as my Car and Apartment. I have a 1972 Beetle Bug that's been used in a couple of movies.

Maybe Jeff and Henry's next Documentary will be about the famous writer/actor guy who's now living in Daniel
Johnston's old apartment: THE DEVIL & THE TOTAL MAN PACKAGE!!! WOOOOO!!!
Below is a Synopsis of the Movie From: MovieTickets.com

Portrait of a manic-depressive genius singer, songwriter and artist, Daniel Johnston. As a reclusive teenager, Johnston began showing signs of unusual artistic ability. He religiously recorded his thoughts and stories onto cassette tapes, directed intuitive Super-8 films starring his siblings, and created expressive comic book-style drawings in the basement of his family's home. In the eyes of his fundamentalist Christian family, however, he simply wasn't contributing to society in a useful or productive way. After running off and joining a carnival, Johnston landed in Austin, Texas, broke and alone. It was there he began to hone his musical career, recording folk songs on a series of homemade, lo-fi cassettes, which Daniel handed out free to fans, friends and journalists in the early '80s. Ultimately, he managed to secure a brief spotlight on MTV with the help of a timely break. Just as he was beginning to make a local name for himself, however, Johnston's inner demons began to surface. His portrait serves as clear depiction of one artist's balancing act between brilliance and madness--a life marked by wild fluctuations, numerous downward spirals, and periodic respites.

Below is Daniel Johnston's website link and some official links about the movie.


Daniel's Website: HiHowAreYou

DevilandDanielJohnstonWebsite

DevilandDanielJohnstonBlog

museumoflove


Finally, BELOW IS MY ORIGINAL COLUMN FOR AustinActors.net with all the details about how I found out I was living Daniel's old apartment

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The Total Man Package: I'm Living in a Famous Guy's Apartment

June, 2003

I found out on May 1st by accident that I am living in the former apartment of a famous musician/artist. His name is Daniel Johnston. I did a Yahoo search on him and 7680 web pages came up. Here is an excerpt from one:

"Daniel maintains the support of many famous fans, from Matt Groening (creator of The Simpsons) and Johnny Depp to David Bowie and Kurt Cobain. Daniel is the musician's cult musician, whose music is appreciated for its utter lack of artifice and the undeniable simple brilliance. A range of artists, such as Beck, Wilco, Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo, Nina Persson (of The Cardigans), Sparklehorse and Pearl Jam have all covered Daniel's songs in the past."

Here's what happened. It was around 4:35 p.m. and I was leaving my apartment to go to the post office and when I opened my door there was a film crew in the parking lot filming the complex.

Coincidentally, one of the guys with them was Jeff Tartakov, someone I knew from my previous address. Jeff lived in a house next to my old complex. I asked Jeff what they were doing and he said they were filming a documentary on Daniel Johnston who used to live in the complex. I asked who he was and they told me he was a famous musician/artist. Then when I asked them exactly where he lived they said it was in my apartment unit. I was surprised and gave my friend Jeff my business card and mentioned that I would definitely write a column about this.

Jeff asked me if there was any fire damage in my apartment. I said, "Fire damage? No. Why?" He said Daniel had set the apartment on fire at one time.

When I got back from the post office, the film crew was now standing right outside my apartment complex doing close-up shots of my front door.

I talked to Jeff some more and asked him what his affiliation is with the film. I knew he had his own business but I didn't know what it was. It turns out Jeff managed Daniel for seven years and is a consultant on the film. Jeff is also the CEO of Stress Records. I wasn't aware of any of this. You can check out his website at: www.museumoflove.com

I asked, "What happened with your relationship?" He said Daniel had some mental problems and that's how he found my complex. Daniel spent some time in the Austin State School on Guadalupe and when he got out he just picked an apartment complex that was nearby. Hey, another coincidence. That's how I chose the complex as well! Except I had just got out of the insane asylum.

I also got to speak with the Producer, Henry Rosenthal. He has produced several films for the Sundance Festivals. He said they have been following Daniel for a couple of years or more now, filming him around the world.

Before the crew left my complex I asked them if they wanted to come inside my apartment unit to do some shooting. They said they might come back later to do that. I also let them know that we could set the apartment on fire again if they wanted and do a reenactment. (This probably explains the abundance of fire extinguishers at the apartment complex.)

Needless to say, I am seeing $$$ signs! The movie should be released within a couple of years and they said it will probably be on a tour guide. So, I'm going to have to start charging tickets to get into my apartment. Or, I might have to sign a ten-year lease and sublease my apartment out to some obsessed fan for $1500 or more a month.

It's going to be real fun when I'm giving tours of my apartment to fans of Daniel Johnston and I'm saying things like, "This where Daniel Johnston created his hit," did this or that, and "This is where Daniel Murphy went nuts and SCREAMED AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS WHEN HIS COMPUTER WHEN DOWN." Or, "This is where Daniel Murphy Drank eight Dr. Peppers in a matter of hours and they weren't even diet!" Yeah, it's got real crazy in this apartment.

Remember, they'll want to hear about me: Daniel Murphy (World Famous Columnist, Extra and Actor) as well as Daniel Johnston. Here's the proof. I got a copy of the Pedernales Electric commercial I was in a few weeks ago. It's a professionally done local commercial and I'm on camera for at least 3 Seconds.

Moreover, for additional income, I'm going to buy knock-off brand colas and other drinks and charge exorbitant rates for visitors to buy them. I know this will work because I've seen the Convention Center do this as a standard business practice for years. Yeah, the Center uses brand names, but I'm greedy. I want more money.

Hey, if I'm really lucky maybe some Groupie Chicks will come by and say, "Are you Daniel?" and I'll say, "Yes, of course." Then, they'll just start worshiping me because they'll think I'm him. Oh, this is GREAT! I won't be committing fraud or anything like that because my name is Daniel on my birth certificate. My defense: they never asked for my last name. Other possible scams I'm thinking of include making some art and selling it for thousands, saying Daniel Johnston created it.

Furthermore, my idea about having a Knock-Off SXSW Show (check my last column out for details) at my apartment complex is no longer such a crazy idea. I'll be able to drive some real traffic to my show now by mentioning that Daniel Johnston lived in my apartment. Hell, I might even start selling pictures of Daniel Johnston's old apartment on eBay. (Man, this might actually work!)

I don't know why weird things like this keep happening to me. In mid-April I was on the set of Spy Kids III by happenstance. The movie crew was filming downtown on Congress while I was on my way to work at the Convention Center. I think it was a secondary crew.

I keep telling you guys: Austin is turning into a mini Hollywood!

If coincidental weird stuff keeps happening like this to me, I'm going to create a new game like that Kevin Bacon one except I'm going to call it "7 Degrees of Dan Murphy."

I even caught one of Daniel Johnston's videos on the Austin Music Network about a week ago by accident while flipping channels at 2:15 a.m. The video is weird, but I like the song called "Rock This Town Tonight" Dir: Mark Miller on Tim Kerr Records.

Also, it's now a PRIVILEGE to sleep on my floor! So, I don't want to hear any more jargon from my DIRT BAG FRIENDS who sleep over on the floor and complain about how uncomfortable my apartment is when I've got Daniel Johnston Groupies paying hundreds of dollars for the same entitlement.

When you do drop by to see me be sure to have your $5 cover charge or I won't let you in. Thursday and Fridays are LADIES NIGHT. 50% off on all knock-off high-priced drinks.

Here is a link to a website with a bio on Daniel and his picture:

http://www.racingjunior.com/danieljohnston.htm

I'll see ya on MTV cribs. They are doing a show on Daniel Johnson's old crib. It might be the shortest segment ever since Daniel's old crib (now mine) is an efficiency apartment. The only separate rooms I have are a closet and bathroom.

Talk to you later. Take care!

THE TOTAL MAN PACKAGE!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!