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The Dream World of Bettie Page

11 years in the making, and finally edited and assembled for public viewing, "THE DREAM WORLD OF BETTIE PAGE" is a long-standing avant-garde collaboration between filmmaker, Ramzi Abed, and actress (and model), Mary Jane Green. It is a dedication and homage to classic pin-up films and reels of the 1950's and 1960's and the beautiful fetish modeling work of Bettie Page.

Smoking Mary Jane plays the title character, with director, Ramzi Abed, playing the elusive photographer capturing the images and film that the viewer is consuming. Bettie Page stretches out, and goes to bed for a night's sleep... But embarks on four surreal pin-up dreams that reflect the four seasons of the year.

  • Ramzi Abed
    Director
    The Devil's Muse, Telephone World, First Person Savior, Let Love In
  • Ramzi Abed
    Writer
    The Devil's Muse, Telephone World, First Person Savior, Let Love In
  • Ramzi Abed
    Producer
    The Devil's Muse, Telephone World, First Person Savior
  • Maryjane Green
    Key Cast
    "Bettie Page"
    (billed as Smoking Mary Jane)
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short, Other
  • Genres:
    erotic, pinup, experimental, video art, compilation, fetish
  • Runtime:
    38 minutes 19 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 13, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Mixed
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16x9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Ramzi Abed

Ramzi Abed is a visual artist and filmmaker based on Planet Earth.

Ramzi Abed has always been a champion of independent film. Ramzi has worked in film acquisitions for over a decade, and has always focused on discovering new talent and creating new avenues for new filmmakers.

Ramzi wrote and directed the independent thrillers, The Devil’s Muse and Telephone World, which both went on to become cult films over the years, both garnering broad releases on home video and streaming channels including Netflix and Tubi. Ramzi has worked in practically every area of filmmaking that exists, and has created an interesting if controversial legacy that transcends genre and industry. He directed two music videos for Bitter:Sweet, including a version of their song, "Drama", featuring Serj Tankian of System of a Down. He also produced a hugely popular music video for the song, "The Chosen Legacy", by metal legends, Dimmu Borgir. He is currently active developing new projects, listening to lots of records and taking avant-garde digital and 35m photographs in his spare time.

Ramzi most recently directed the music video for "A Free Society", the title song from the debut album by Night Crickets, a jazzy post-punk supergroup comprised of David J Haskins (of Bauhaus, Love and Rockets) and Victor De Lorenzo (of Violent Femmes) and renowned musician, Darwin Meiners.

Abed's latest feature films are First Person Savior and Let Love In. First Person Savior stars John Karyus (Foxfur, V/H/S/2), James Duval (Nowhere, Donnie Darko), Dawn Wirth, and is about and inspired by gun violence and video games in present-day America. Let Love In stars Victoria de Mare (Dust Up, Stripped) and Ramzi Abed, and is about the search for love and personal peace against the backdrop of the world of adult films. Both films are now finished, and ready for exhibition soon.

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Director Statement

I have always been a huge fan of Bettie Page's work ever since discovering her when I was still a senior in high school Bettie's life story as well as her own creativity inspired me in so many ways, and I had always wanted to somehow pay homage to her and her iconic place in both cinema history as well as in popular culture. I had struck up a wonderful friendship and collaborative working relationship with the amazing and multi-talented model, actress, comedian and makeup artist, Maryjane Green, whom I'd met during my time in and around the erotic and fetish film community in Los Angeles. Maryjane, who is billed as Smoking Mary Jane (one of her stage names), has a deep appreciation and understanding for and of Bettie Page, and was the perfect person to reprise the role and mystique that Bettie had created. We shot a number of different vignettes, film scenes and original photo sets, but they were all separate from one another. I actually didn't realize how they all could come together until 2024. With new perspective, I was able to compile some of my favorite pinup videos and films that we'd shot, and re-imagine them as the long lost project that Maryjane and I were initially setting out to make. I hope that you enjoy it, and can feel the spirit of Bettie Page throughout the experience. Thank you.