Documentary to be screened at Bama

On Tuesday night, the Bama Theatre will lend itself to tell an amazing story of hard work, dedication and love.

"The Outsiders of New Orleans: Loujon Press" tells the tale of the independent Loujon Press and the mark the extraordinary works they published left on this country. The screening will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Directed by Wayne Ewing, the documentary follows Louise "Gypsy Lou" Webb as she recounts how she and her husband Jon Webb published the literary magazine "The Outsider" from their small apartment in the French Quarter during the 1960s.

Ewing said his decision to make "Outsiders" was influenced by his co-producer Curtis Robinson telling him about Jeff Weddle's book on the press, titled "Bohemian New Orleans: The Story of the Outsider and Loujon Press."

His co-producer asked him to film an interview with Lou Webb, to help preserve her memories for the public, and Ewing said he was so taken with her personality he wanted to make the film.

"It's also about this woman's love for her husband, what he wanted to do and what she would sacrifice to make that possible," he said.

A lot of travel was involved in the filming the documentary, he said, as he filmed in New Orleans, California and Tuscaloosa.

The University's part in the film came about thanks to Steve Miller and Weddle, both professors at the School of Library and Information Studies.

"[Weddle] suggested that the book arts program had very similar presses [to those used by the Loujon Press] there to start with," Ewing said. "So it was a great way for people to see exactly what was involved in the production of these amazing, avant-garde books and the magazines."

He said the students in the book arts program provided great commentary about the presses and the amount of dedication someone printing books and magazines on such presses must have had.

What they accomplished was very significant, he said, as they were among the first people to introduce the world to poets like Charles Bukowski, who had previously only been in smaller chap books. Bukowski is widely regarded as one of the most prominent poets of the 20th century.

"The Loujon Press kick-started the career of Charles Bukowski the poet," said Miller, professor of book arts, and coordinator of the Master of Fine Arts program. "They really brought him to national light."

Miller said the University's involvement came from Weddle's book, as well as the book arts program having the ability to make hand-made books like the ones from Loujon Press.

"Theirs is the kind of work many of our students aspire to," he said, "working with unknown authors, helping them get a leg up in their careers."

"After they had filmed most of the footage of New Orleans," Miller said, "the filmmaker came and spent a day in our studios, so that he could actually see students demonstrating how that hand-printing press worked."

Ewing also filmed students going over one of the Loujon Press books, discussing its materials and craftmanship, Miller said.

Weddle, who is an associate professor for the book arts program, said the process for his book and Ewing's movie started with his dissertation, which turned into his book project "Bohemian New Orleans," which was published by the University of Mississippi press.

He said he told a friend of his, who happened to be a producer of the film, it would make a great documentary. That comment sparked a collaboration with Ewing, who directed the film.

"Wayne did his own thing with the documentary," Weddle said, "but the reason he got onto it is because of my research."

"The thing that makes the documentary so special is Louise Webb, who is the big focus," he said. "Lou is this wonderful character, she's full of energy and very warm and human and lively, and tells great stories. It's her story."