Even though my film [Fragment of Seeking 1946] had aroused no interest at USC, one day Kenneth Anger informed me that we were both invited to show our films at a private gathering of fellow artists and intellectuals at the Schindler House in Beverly Hills....
Mrs Schindler ignored the films and spent her time during their projection preparing her tea table. Hence, she had no idea why her emergence from the kitchen after the showing was met with a stunned and stony silence. Everyone in the room was too shocked to say a word. Kenneth and I were kept waiting in the anteroom while we wondered what had happened....
After a very long time, John Cage was delegated to speak to us. He took us out into the garden where we could be alone. "You must understand that these films are not art," he said. "Art has to do with clouds and trees and beautiful things." He repeated, "These films are not art."
...Nearly no one else present would speak to us, so we took our projector and films and went home. A few days later, Mrs. Schindler called Kenneth and told him coldly, "We just want you to know that we have discussed your films and have decided that you are two very sick boys." A few months later, Kenneth embarked for Paris....Curtis Harrington
Nice Guys Don't Work in Hollywood
