"Words of Advice: William S. Burroughs On the Road" by Lars Movin and Steen Møller Rasmussen (2010)

Copenhagen, Denmark: Lars Movin and Steen Møller Rasmussen with San Francisco: Microcinema International, Inc. (DVD, film), 2010.
case: 7.375" x 5.25" x 0.5", clamshell.

DVD: two-sided (NTSC and PAL), one main feature (1:14:16) with extras.

Words of Advice: William S. Burroughs On the Road, a 1:14:16 documentary film written, directed, and produced by Lars Movin and Steen Møller Rasmussen, as released on an NTSC/PAL DVD by Microcinema International, Inc. (San Francisco, California, US) in 2010. Camera work by Steen Møoller Rasmussen. Editing, mixing, and original music by Niels Plenge. Color grading by Annette Næsborg. Jenny Conte designed the DVD, with photography by Jacob Tue Larsen. DVD authoring by Rachel Melman.

This film is organized into ten sections, combining interviews, film of Burroughs' 29 October 1983 visit to Copenhagen (including book signing, interview, and a reading at Saltlageret), sections of Antony Balch's films with Burroughs, audio from Burroughs' 1971 reading at St. Mark's Church, Burroughs' 7 November 1981 Saturday Night Live (SNL) appearance, video of Burroughs at home in Kansas, video from a 24 May 1997 memorial for Allen Ginsberg at Wayne Propst's place, and more. Bill Laswell/Material, Patti Smith, the Islamic Diggers, and others provide the soundtrack. 

After a brief introductory history of William S. Burroughs, Section 1 of this film is "On the Road," starting in 1983 and centered on Burroughs' visit to Copenhagen on 29 October 1983. This includes footage of his signing and interview at Booktrader in Copenhagen, with commentary from the owner, David Grubb. It also includes footage of Burroughs' evening reading at Saltlageret.

Section 2, "The Last Trilogy," centers on the works Cities of the Red Night, The Place of Dead Roads, and The Western Lands. This includes interview footage with James Grauerholz and Regina Weinreich, with additional footage from the 1983 Copenhagen Saltlageret reading.

Section 3, "Cultural Icon," focuses on Burroughs' image and presence, including interview material with Jennie Skerl and more footage from the 1983 Copenhagen Saltlageret reading. This also includes footage from Dan Turèll's interview with Burroughs, with commentary from the Copenhagen-based Booktrader's owner, David Grubb.

Section 4, "The Bunker," travels to New York City to interview John Giorno and tour the Bunker apartment Burroughs lived in. It also includes interview material from James Grauerholz.

Section 5, "Performer," centers on Burroughs' stage performances and his readings. It includes interview material from John Giorno, Hal Willner, and James Grauerholz, as well as more reading footage from Saltlageret, Copenhagen; audio from the 1971 Burroughs reading at St. Mark's Church; and the 7 November 1981 TV appearance on Saturday Night Live (SNL).

Section 6, "Kansas," investigates Burroughs' final years in Lawrence, Kansas, interviewing James Grauerholz and Wayne Propst at home and in the studio. This includes video footage of Patti Smith, Allen Ginsberg, James Grauerholz, Steve Buscemi, Wayne Propst, and others with Burroughs at his home on 22 August 1996, as well as a tour of the Burroughs home and property with Grauerholz.

Section 7, "Scandinavian Tour," opens with interview material with James Grauerholz and includes footage from Burroughs' 1983 Scandinavian tour, including the book signing, a John Giorno performance in Gothenburg, Sweden, and interview material with John Giorno.

Section 8, "Traveler in Time and Space," focuses on Burroughs' desire to leave the body and go into space and includes interview material with Jennie Skerl, Ann Douglas, and Regina Weinreich. This also includes a segment of Burroughs reading from the not-yet-released text of The Western Lands.

Section 9, "Americana," centers on Burroughs' responses to America, mostly through his LP Dead City Radio. This includes interview footage with Hal Willner. 

Section 10, "Last Words," covers death and Burroughs' final months, with interview material with James Grauerholz and footage from the memorial for Allen Ginsberg at Wayne Propst's property on 24 May 1997.

The DVD additionally contains a 30:17-long video of the 29 October 1983 Burroughs reading at Saltlageret, in Copenhagen, Denmark, a 6:56-long interview with Ann Douglas at Columbia University, and two short videos from September 2003 titled "One Shot" of shooting a video camera with the modified .45 that Hunter S. Thompson gave to William S. Burroughs.

The included booklet contains "Words of Introduction" by Lars Movin and Steen Møller Rasmussen, quotes from the film, credits, photographs of Burroughs, a bibliography of Burroughs, and an excerpt from the Sam Fleischer and Dan Turèll 29 October 1983 interview with Burroughs, titled "A few words (of advice) from Mr. Burroughs."

DVD Contents: 

• Words of Advice: William S. Burroughs on the Road:
• 1. On the Road
• 2. The Last Trilogy
• 3. Cultural Icon
• 4. The Bunker
• 5. Performer
• 6. Kansas
• 7. The Scandinavian Tour
• 8. Traveler in Time and Space
• 9. Americana
• 10. Last Words
• William S. Burroughs: reading at Saltlageret, Copenhagen, 29 October 1983
• Ann Douglas: interview, 18 September 2003
• Steen Møller Rasmussen and Niels Plenge: One Shot I and One Shot II (tribute films, September 2003)

Booklet Contents: 

• Lars Movin and Steen Møller Rasmussen: "Words of Introduction" (introduction)
• William S. Burroughs, Jennie Skerl, David Grubb, John Giorno, Hal Willner, Regina Weinreich, Ann Douglas, and James Grauerholz: "Statements from the Film" (quotes)
• William S. Burroughs: "A few words (of advice) from Mr. Burroughs" (excerpts from the 29 October 1983 interview of WSB in Copenhagen by Sam Fleischner and Dan Turèll)
• Bibliography
• Steen Møller Rasmussen: photographs of William S. Burroughs