Lisa Hammer is a NY underground film director. She is best known for her surrealist, German Expressionist films and experimental horror-fairy tales, as well as the voice of Triana Orpheus on Adult Swim's hit cartoon The Venture Brothers. She was also lead singer of the gothic rock bands Mors Syphilitica and Requiem In White. An avid singer and composer, she has CD releases on Projekt Records and a new mod-pop band Love and Hymen with indie guitarist/composer Steven Deal (Chopper/Bleached Black). Lisa's homage to the German Expressionist and silent era style of filmmaking are best exemplified in the films: Jorinda and Joringel, Empire of Ache, Beauty and the Beast, Adieux Dames, Naughty PSA and B.E. Follies.
Her Current projects include TV pilots for The Pox Show, Terror Lab and The Sisters Plotz. Her film POX: The Movie has been screened at the Midnight Black Festival and Gay UK Film Festival. Her feature film screenplay Sweetheart Roland was recently honored as a finalist in the Canadian International Film Festival.
Lisa often collaborates with her brother James Merendino (SLC Punk!). They co-directed a dark-humor feature film The Invisible Life of Thomas Lynch, a film about a lonely hit man, which won best feature film at the 2009 CMJ film Festival. The pair will soon shoot a horror-comedy called The Bitch and are finishing their CD "Bloody Ballads".
In the past Lisa has collaborated with Ben Edlund (Firefly, Angel) and Doc Hammer (The Venture Brothers) on such films as Crawley. Her feature film Pus$bucket, from the Broadway Musical, caused a few near-riots, and has been canonized in the cult movie world. Turn of the Century, a Victorian kooky-spooky variety show has been released worldwide and stars Courtney Love, Tiny Tim, Thurston Moore, and Dame Darcy. Lisa and Dame Darcy created several short films together: The Dance of Death, The Misfortunes of Christine Crappleshire, The Foundling, Cards With Cards, and May I Cut In? Hammer created the award-winning cult NYC TV show POX (with partner Chris O'Leary). The Pox Show and the movie have been graced with the talents of: Jon Benjamin, Jonathan Katz, Eve Plumb, Arden Myrin, Leo Allen, Levi Wilson, Lisa Ferber, James Duval and Clayne Crawford.
Other notable collaborations include: Maldorora and a Little Girl (Dir. Maude Swift) The Everlasting Gaze (Dir. Alex Garland) and Rub (Dir. Doc Hammer), My Virgin Widows, Period Piece, Grimmer than Grimm (Stageplay) Why Does it Do That?, and Ultimate Team Invasion Force
Hammer's films have toured the U.S. and the world, screening at festivals, galleries, clubs, and on TV and strange back-alley "happenings".
