Pillbox

Pillbox
Video release by Billy Corgan
Released	November 28, 2017
Length	40:52
Label	Coloma Productions
Director	Linda Strawberry, Billy Corgan
Producer	Mercedes Bryce Morgan

Pillbox (or Pillbox: No Hero Dies Twice) is a short film written by Billy Corgan and sound tracked by his second solo album, Ogilala. The film was directed by Corgan and Linda Strawberry. It premiered in London on October 5, 2017 followed by showing in select theaters in the US, before being released in full to YouTube on November 28, 2017.

The tile "pillbox" refers to both the concrete dug used as a guard post in wartime, and an actual pill box.

“ I thought it was a different approach to listening to an album, to watch it in essence with a related, albeit non-linear, silent movie. Art is art. And together the two pieces create a work unto itself. ” — Billy Corgan

Synopsis

The film tells the story of a young man named Harry Holmes who was enlisted to war. Consequently him and his partner are forced to separate. Eventually wounded, he finds himself in a "psychedelic fantasyland" where encounters a king and his subjects. After insulting the king, the wounded solider is banished with a blind eye and sent on a wayward voyage through a surreal landscape in search of redemption and his home.

Showings

Date	Location	Personnel present
October 5, 2017	London, UK	Billy Corgan
October 9, 2017	Los Angeles, CA, US	Linda Strawberry, select cast members
October 11, 2017	Chicago, IL, US	Billy Corgan, Linda Strawberry
October 12, 2017	New York, NY, US	Billy Corgan, Linda Strawberry

Critical reception

Rolling Stone called it a "kaleidoscopic and psychedelic 40-minute silent film", while Spling Movies wrote that "the styling is artistic yet camp and stagy as the curious fable plays out against Corgan’s stripped down album turned soundtrack", adding that it "manages to fascinate with its careful composition, ever-changing retro style, Wes Anderson appetite and enchanting spiritual component."

Track listing

All tracks are written by Billy Corgan.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Zowie"	2:41
2.	"Processional"	3:55
3.	"The Spaniards"	4:08
4.	"Aeronaut"	3:40
5.	"The Long Goodbye"	2:43
6.	"Half-Life of an Autodidact"	3:27
7.	"Amarinthe"	3:54
8.	"Antietam"	3:16
9.	"Mandarynne"	3:56
10.	"Shiloh"	3:11
11.	"Archer"	3:41
Total length:		38:32

Release

Released	Label	Catalog ID	Format	Country	External sites
November 28, 2017	Self-released • Coloma Productions		Digital	Worldwide			[1]

Personnel

Production

Billy Corgan – writer, director, piano, vocals Linda Strawberry – director, art direction, editing, coloring Mercedes Bryce Morgan – producer Josh Epstein – production manager Daria Hlazatova – illustrations Alex Pollini – photography direction Candi Guterres – production designer Kit Scarbo – costume designer Laney Chantal – makeup

Cast

Harry Holmes – actor Kai Quartley – actor Anna Steers – actor Kalpana Pot – actor Ike Catcher – actor Hardeep Manak – actor Los Angela – actor Paul Seroka – actor Amelya Hensley – actor Django Stewart – actor Brett Grace – actor Annie Hsu – actor Kate Crash – actor Sarabeth Stroller – actor Jules Wood – actor Sophia Park – actor