Young Filmmaker Remembers Scott Wannberg, Beloved L.A. Poet, Deceased at Age 58, Written by Susanne Swanson-Bernard & Trevor Bernard, Edited by Apryl Skies
As has been reported Scott Wannberg, a larger-than-life, and equally prolific and beloved figure of the Los Angeles poetry scene died on Friday August 19th, 2011 in his home in Florence, Oregon.
Scott was a brilliant poet, a man of husky build with a generous and warm sensibility. When it came to poetry Wannberg was remarkably infectious and an undeniable talent. Scott Wannberg created an unforgettable energy and excitement in the poetry community with his relentless enthusiasm. Without a doubt, he will truly be missed by fans and readers worldwide. Scott’s beat-influenced style of poetry was an active volcano of muse, one that was hot to the touch and when hearing or reading his words one could not help but be affected by the honesty and purpose portrayed in his work.
His poetry was at times controversial, a strong, fearless and resonating voice. Scott would consistently take on topics that needed to be addressed without reservation. He embraced lighter topics as well, such as music and humor, never swaying from his own personal truths, life experience and emotion. He wrote about his concerns regarding the war in Iraq, the poor and homeless, his beloved, now deceased cat, his favorite movies (often westerns) and everything in-between.
Scott along with his closest friend, and fellow poet S.A. Griffin, co-founded an experimental, traveling poetry group called the Carma Bums. The name was selected because the group toured North America for over 20 years, often in a vintage 1959 Cadillac – hence the “Car” in Carma. In those 20 years, Wannberg, Griffin and the rest of the group made nearly a dozen tours that covered the South-West to Canada and their performances were not just dry readings of poetry, but spirited performances, with dramatic, impromptu physical acting and even dance. These were true stage shows in every respect…and Scott’s glory days.
Sadly Scott’s health had been declining. Among his complaints was COPD, which caused Scott to move to Florence, Oregon to be closer to family. The last tour of the Carma Bums was in 2009. However, Wannberg remained prolific having given hundreds of readings and with 10 volumes of poetry published, the last two by Perceval Press in Santa Monica, CA, a small publishing house owned by the actor, artist and poet Viggo Mortensen. Scott’s work was also included in anthologies, one of which is “The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry”.
Wannberg wasn’t just a poet and performer, he was also an actor. He had earned himself IMDB (Internet Movie Database) credits for several smaller parts in films, and knew some very influential people in the film and literary industry. Scott counted Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen among his friends, S.A. Griffin is also an actor. In 2008 the author T.C. Boyle called Scott “one of the true literary zealots of our time.” This feeling is shared by many to this day.
While Scott was a great poet and entertainer, he was also a mentor, and all around warm-hearted individual. He loved life and loved talking poetry, philosophy music, film. Scott loved to pass on his knowledge of poetry, but not in the way that one would expect from such a wise and successful poet. Scott wouldn’t tell you what or how to write, Scott believed that poetry is an emotional thing and that it will find its way out of your heart. Scott would know, he had a huge heart.
When Trevor Bernard an 18 year old Boise poet and emerging filmmaker decided to have Scott, a Facebook friend review some of his poems, Scott was willing to give an honest critique. Trevor had been writing in a free-form style that interested Scott from the beginning. Scott’s comments continued to encourage Trevor, whom Scott immediately dubbed Copacetic Ace.
Trevor was in his senior year at Boise High School and it was Wannberg's mentorship that reassured Trevor enough to begin to share his poetry online to get feedback from a broad group of poets and the overall opinion about young Mr. Bernard’s writing was outstanding. Trevor felt encouraged and wanted to find a way to combine his two passions, poetry & filmmaking. Poetry had begun to pour out of him in much the same way it escaped Scott. That is the mark of a true poet, as Scott saw it. When the words need to be put on paper, shared, read, or even if they just need to be written, that is the passion that is poetry.
The answer to Trevor’s conundrum was to make a film about poetry, a documentary came to mind. As this idea became more defined, Trevor realized that he wanted to make a film that would show the social relevance of poetry and the impact it can have on the human condition. With this, a dream and a worthwhile film project was born. Remarkably as a filmmaker at age 18, unbeknownst to him, would capture (as far as we know), the last reading and the last footage of the beloved Scott Wannberg, L.A. poetry legend. This footage was captured in March of 2011, just five months before his tragic and unfortunate death.
It was Scott’s mentorship that, in part, led Trevor to want to make his film, titled Hold the Line. Trevor opted to use a slant toward a film that would show how poetry can impact and effect social change and the human condition. Trevor aligned his film project early on with an amazing global event that would begin this year in September. This event, 100 Thousand Poets for Change will include over 95 Countries and readings from 400 cities all over the globe on September 24th. Trevor Bernard has organized for Boise, Idaho to participate in the current global event 100 Thousand poets For Change at The Cabin on September 24th and frequently haunts the open mic events in his hometown as well.
Trevor was moved by the 2010 release of the film “Howl” that surrounded the obscenity trial about Allen Ginsberg’s poem of the same title. According to Trevor “That poem and its subsequent trial opened many doors for writers and artists in all media. There should be no censorship in artistic expression. Scott taught me that we all have feelings about things and as Scott said…we create more from our hearts than from our heads, and that’s true for me as well. I need to speak out about what I see and how I feel about it all. When I see a homeless guy on the corner I’m affected by it and it works its way into my poetry.”
Scott was the first poet Bernard had interviewed for his documentary Hold the Line. According to Bernard, Scott was relaxed and made the experience fun all around. “It was very laid back”. Trevor recalls about his visit to Scott’s Florence, Oregon home. Scott did not have a car, and the beach was too far for him to walk to, so Trevor drove him there and really loved the brief visit with Trevor. Scott enjoyed sitting out in front of his apartment and greeting his neighbors daily. He was known and loved by everyone in the town of Florence. During this brief visit, Trevor played guitar and the two shared their poetry with one another. The poem chosen by Scott for the documentary footage was entitled “No Mercy” and it was a spirited reading, just what one would expect from Wannberg.
Trevor’s film Hold the Line will cover the era of the Beat poets, September’s 100 Thousand Poets for Change and The New Poetry Movement. Outstanding poetic voices will be highlighted via stop motion animations. These will include John Trudell, and of course Scott’s footage, as well as ruth weiss (lower case per Ms. Weiss‘ request) one of the last remaining Beat poets, who will show Trevor around San Francisco, where she spent time with Jack Kerouac and Burroughs as well as other Beat poets.
As for Scott, “He was a wonderful mentor. We lost a true maverick and a larger-than-life character in Scott. I’m deeply saddened.” Trevor said, “Scotto, AKA Mr. Mumps –(after the titles of one of his books) …he’s still riding ‘Farther’ in a 1959 Caddy, reading poetry with Jack Kerouac and Gregory Corso, just to name a few. Good bye, Copacetic Ace.”
The young filmmaker/poet is now editing his footage of Scott Wannberg to create a tribute DVD for Scott’s family (his brothers, Paul and Robert) and for a memorial send-off celebration on September 17th at Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center in Venice, California, should they be interested in playing it.
To learn more about Trevor Bernard’s poetry documentary Hold the Line, a film page has been set-up for the project on HOLD THE LINE The film is set to be released in 2012. If you’re interested in obtaining a copy of the Scott Wannberg Tribute DVD, you can contact Trevor Bernard via email or on FaceBook.
In rememberance of Scott Wannberg please enjoy some poetry by Trevor Bernard:
1:45
The dark figure of the majestic beast
slowly pulls itself into my view,
four strong legs propelling it forward,
barley visible but for the light cast from the
7/11 in the background, burning away the night sky,
while being gently greeted by the smoke of a cigarette.
Puffing away like the choo-choo in my mind,
ferrying thoughts to the cubbies vacant of logic.
The hands of creatures buried long ago jut up from the ground,
shedding their skin for lesser men to pick up and wear.
I sit and write while halfway around the world
these lesser men slaughter an equally majestic beast
for the money held in it’s belly.
A light flicks on and the lines of my shadow crispen,
it stands and walks off, leaving me alone,
and the smoke drifts higher,
the train has reached its destination.
Trevor Bernard © 2011
The Night Our Minds Ran Town
It appears that our minds have minds of their own,
as they broke form our heads late Friday night.
Eyes popped from the frontal lobes,
legs and arms resembling noodles
seeped from happy places and learned to walk.
They crept out the front door,
leaving trails of goop and thought,
running wildly down the streets,
yodeling like madmen,
stopped in a gas station for big gulps
and day old pretzels, and,
leaving a mess, failed to tip.
They stopped in a bar and
through numerous poorly played games of pool,
traded off the memory of where you put your keys
for the right to leave unscathed.
They ripped down posters,
wrote on bathroom stalls,
ate Taco Bell and pissed on a cop car.
They paraded through downtown,
crowns upon their heads,
lights in their eyes,
and sang "homecoming".
Complaints streamed in from all around town,
too many for the bureau to keep up with.
Apparently not only do great minds think alike,
but twisted ones as well.
Oh what a sight it must have been,
seeing the two noodle-armed,
pop-eyed brains zooming about,
perused by the suits and their ray guns.
A spectacle indeed.
But, sometime around seven,
having avoided capture,
the dubious duo decided to call it a night.
And, with their arms dragging limply behind them,
crept back through the front door,
closed their eyes,
and nestled down into the cavities of our skulls,
leaving you to wake the next morning wondering,
"where did you put your car keys"?
Trevor Bernard © 2011
See the film review for the short film Meeting Mr. Mumps by Trevor Bernard
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