Fred Herko
Acting
Biography
Frederick Charles "Freddie" Herko was a legendary figure in the avant-garde scene of 1960s New York who worked as an artist, musician, actor, dancer, choreographer, and teacher. He is best known for his work in Andy Warhol's earliest cinematic experiments.
Born: February 23, 1936
Place of Birth: New York City, New York, USA
Known For
Andy Warhol Screen Tests
The films were made between 1964 and 1966 at Warhol's Factory studio in New York City. Subjects were captured in stark relief by a strong key light, and filmed by Warhol with his stationary 16mm Bolex camera on silent, black and white, 100-foot rolls of film at 24 frames per second. The resulting two-and-a-half-minute film reels were then screened in 'slow motion' at 16 frames per second.
Screen Test: Freddy Herko
1964 screen test of Herko running 4 minutes, 36 seconds in length.
Kiss
An hour-long paean to the art of the kiss featuring fourteen couples, from passionate participants to lethargic lovers, engaging in the intimate act.
Jill and Freddy Dancing
Against a backdrop of the Manhattan skyline, Judson Dance Theater company member Freddy Herko and author and cultural critic Jill Johnston dance together on Wynn Chamberlain’s rooftop.
The Thirteen Most Beautiful Boys
Inspired by a 1962 NYPD pamphlet entitled ‘The Thirteen Most Wanted [Men]’. Warhol transformed it from ‘most wanted men’ into ‘most beautiful boys’, and then began to film the very first Screen Tests, continuing to film for the series into early 1966, totalling more than 13 Screen Tests.
13 Most Beautiful… Songs for Andy Warhol's Screen Tests
Between 1964 and 1966, Andy Warhol shot nearly 500 Screen Tests, beautiful and revealing portraits of hundreds of different individuals, from Warhol superstars and celebrities to friends or anyone he thought had "star potential". All visitors to his studio, the Factory. Subjects were captured in stark relief by a strong keylight, and filmed by Warhol with his stationary 16mm Bolex camera on silent, black and white, 100-foot rolls of film. The resulting two-and-a-half-minute film reels were then screened in slow motion, resulting in a fascinating collection of four-minute masterpieces that startle and entrance, mesmerizing in the purest sense of the word. Songwriters Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips, formerly of the band Luna and currently recording as Dean & Britta, incorporated original compositions as well as cover songs to create new soundtracks for the 13 films.
Vies et morts d'Andy Warhol
Icon of pop art, Andy Warhol has marked the 20th century. This film pays tribute to him with the exceptional participation of Ultraviolet, never-before-seen images of the "private" Warhol and archival documents from the Velvet Underground, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Truman Capote.
Filmography
as Self
as Himself
as Self (as Freddie Herko)
as Himself