ToyCyte: Toy Culture Collected

Attaboy, Tim Biskup, Luke Chueh, Frank Kozik, Thomas Han…. They are just a few of the artists who appear in The Vinyl Frontier, an upcoming documentary by Daniel Zana. His website already has an impressive collection of short interviews with artists like Luke Chueh, Ron English, and Joe Ledbetter. The film is currently in post-production and is scheduled for release this year. It was past midnight in New York when Daniel spoke with me over the phone. He discussed his motivations, his goals, and his plans for the future release.

ToyCyte: Tell me a little about yourself. Are you a full-time filmmaker?

Daniel Zana: I went to Cal State Northridge, and I majored in Film Editing and also studied Journalism. I’ve worked on commercials and music videos. I was working at a reality t.v. station and I thought to myself, “This isn’t why I went to film school.” I went to film school to be inspirational to others and to myself. To create art. I started thinking about making a documentary.

Daniel Zana in front of an L.A. landmark - photograph by Jonathan J. Macnamara

TC: What made you decide to make a movie about vinyl toys?

DZ: I thought about the kind of documentaries that would interest me. I thought about graffiti documentaries and movies like Scratch. I thought about the Ugly Doll Dunny that I bought a few years ago. I’ve always liked Baseman’s art and Kozik. I thought about going to Giant Robot on the promenade. Why don’t I talk to these artists? Surprisingly they were really open about talking with me.

Screenshots from The Vinyl Frontier - Tristan Eaton (left), Ron English (right)

TC: For those who haven’t seen the trailer, describe your movie in a nutshell.

DZ: When I tell people I’m making a movie on vinyl toys, some ask, “Are you making a movie on vinyl records or sex toys?” You’d be surprised at how many people don’t know these toys exist. I think it would be neat to show the history of why you have this piece of plastic in your hands. The history of the toy isn’t necessary but you have more appreciate once you understand its history.

I want to talk about where they came from - to intellectualize the discussion about vinyl toys. Are these toys or pieces of art? Why should people take a look at it one way or the other? I want to re-shape the discussion about toys.

There’s so much history behind the pieces. The movie is for members who visit toy forums and are really into particular artists. I’m also making the movie for people who like counter-culture, who are into art. I want vinyl toys to be legitimized as an art form, and I want toy artists to be known for their work. How often do you see on-camera interviews with these artists? Every artist deserves a time to shine.

TC: Have you always been into vinyl toys? Do you consider yourself a collector?

DZ: I’m a collector in a way that I’ve always collected junk - key chains, coins, action figures, comic books. I’ve always accumulated a collection of something. At first I started buying miniatures. I thought, “Why would people spend $40 on a toy?” Then, it got to the point where it wasn’t a big deal to spend $100-150 on a single toy. It gets addicting. I don’t have a big collection; everything I have fits on one shelf. I’m trying not to buy so much these days.

Zana’s personal collection

TC: Favorite toy or artist?

If I had a billion dollars, I’d get the KAWS Companions. I want them because I like them and they’re really hard to find. On a more realistic level: Jamungo, Blow Up Dolls, UNKL, Bwana Spoons, Dunnys, Bearbricks. I’m probably forgetting a lot of my favorites. I like everybody who is out there right now.

TC: Your website says you’re currently in post-production. When can we expect to see the movie?

DZ: I’d like to finish the film by the end of 2008. People have been reaching out to me and saying “You should interview me.” I’ve been interviewing more artists because I think they should get more exposure. I don’t want to keep interviewing forever, and I want to get this done. Now I’m trying to fill in the gaps and I want to get it done by 2008. I want to take my time with the movie because I want it to be the movie that I want to see.

My first cut of the film was 3 and a half hours. I’d like the final cut to be 80-90 minutes. Right now I’m trying to put together a 10 minute trailer for Comic-Con.

Gary Baseman in The Vinyl Frontier

TC: What else can we expect?

DZ: I plan to update my website more often. The DVD is going to be crazy, and I’m really excited about it. I’ve already thought of the goodies. It’ll have the making of and all the Vinyl Frontier Spotlights. It’ll be pretty cool - I want it to be limited and unique in some way. I don’t want to say too much about it, but yeah…I’m excited.

We look forward to seeing the release of The Vinyl Frontier. I want to thank Daniel Zana for taking the time to talk with me and for providing all photographs and movie stills.

Related posts

• Vinyl Frontier Spotlight, vol. 10
• Toyqube SDCC 08 Exclusives
• Toy2R Pops Up in Brooklyn With Frank Kozik Premieres
• The Vinyl Frontier Spotlight: Jamungo
• The BLAB! Show