Postcard of a female dentist and dentist assistant with a woman in the dentist’s chair.

Handwritten postcard addressed to John Heyn.

Postcard from filmmaker John Waters, 1987.

“…your film was great—WHAT MONSTERS! Those ladies that want to censor records would have a heart attack. And the parents of the girl that said, “I’d jump his bones” must be proud. Thanks for letting me see it—it gave me the creeps. Best, John W.”

From Tape Trading to Global Fame

In 1992, a former Maryland student named Mike Heath moved to San Francisco, taking four VHS copies of Heavy Metal Parking Lot with him. One of the tapes found its way into the music community when musician Bill Bartell became a fan, and often screened it at parties. Mike Dalke, soon to become a roadie for Nirvana, got a dub from Bill and brought it on the band’s tour. Another copy wound up in the hands of Colonel Rob Schaffner of Mondo Video A-Go-Go, a video rental store in Los Angeles that specialized in unusual fare. Mondo became a big booster of the film, renting it to all manner of customers including celebrities, musicians, and filmmakers.

Release form, Palomar Pictures, Sofia Coppola’s production company. June 28, 1994.

Typed manuscript titled 'My Hipster Indie Film Column'

First national coverage/interview ever, August 1996, by filmmaker Sarah Jacobson in FilmZone, a website fanzine.
Sarah (1971–2004) was an important champion of indie-filmmaking and DIY culture. The Sarah Jacobson Film Grant gives annual grants to young female directors.

Bootleg cover titled ‘Heavy Metal Parking Lot’

First commercially available bootleg, Trackshun Industries, Canada, 1996.

Copy of Heavy Metal Parking Lot with a neon green cover

Colonel Rob Schaffner holding copy of the film

Colonel Rob Schaffner of Mondo Video A-Go-Go.

Hand drawn VHS label titled ‘The Films of Jeff Krulik and Friends’.

Homemade label for The Films of Jeff Krulik and Friends, Potomac Video, Cleveland Park. Artist: Audrey Robinson.

Official DVD release. Factory 515, 2006.