Saturday, February 10, 2007

For Life, Against the War...Again, a collective outcry


Artist and curator Lynne Sachs has put together what looks like an incredible program of artist-made films responding to the war.


WED FEB 21 2007
7:30 For Life, Against the War . . . Again, a collective outcry
Curated by Lynne Sachs (U.S., 2006)

Artists in Person

In 1967, with the Vietnam War escalating wildly, an invitation was issued to filmmakers to create works running under three minutes in protest against the accumulating carnage. The original organizers chose the rubric For Life, Against the War, and eventually compiled sixty films from the likes of Robert Breer, Shirley Clarke, Storm De Hirsch, Ken Jacobs, Larry Jordan, Stan Vanderbeek, and many others. Now, decades later, an invitation to protest yet another war seemed sadly urgent, inspiring Lynne Sachs, the Brooklyn-based filmmaker and curator, to ring the clarion once “. . . Again.” The response was overwhelming, with submissions from several generations of artists unified by a singular disgust for the war in Iraq and the foreign policy that perpetuates it. Compiled with works from the overtly angry to the formally forceful, For Life, Against the War boldly announces that artists can take a stand, again and again.

—Steve Seid

• The artists are: Aylon Ben Ami, Kevin Barry, Bosko Blagojevic, Elle Burchill, Jim Costanzo, Bradley Eros, Jeanne Finley and John Muse, Martha Gorzycki, Alfred Guzetti, Barbara Hammer, Ken Jacobs, Douglas Katelus, Lynn Marie Kirby, Les Leveque, Cynthia Madansky, Rohesia Hamilton Metcalfe, Sherry Millner and Ernie Larsen, Bill Morrison, Martha Rosler, Lynne Sachs, MM Serra, Jeff Silva, Jeffrey Skoller, Mark Street, Grahame Weinbren, Cara Weiner, Lili White, Artemis Willis.

• (75 mins, Color, BetaSP, From Filmmakers' Coop)

The Patriarchs: Drunk and Productive



Several of the people I wanted to see tonight stood me up so I was VERY productive. I've spent my night editing on "The Patriarchs." This movie is going to be HOT. Gabriel Cyr has been working on the music. Cutting to something rythmic feels SO FUCKING GOOD! The way he plays with emotion with simple chords and noise is amazing. I can't wait to get more of his soundtrack to continue to kick some ass on this thing! If you look at this picture of the character, "Luther," it's a bit how I feel about The Patriarchs

In other news, I'm really excited about Denver and all the possibility here with the Democratic National Convention coming up! We're gonna have some fun!!!!

Also, met a really kick ass musician last night into making docs! I hope she kicks some ass.

Ok, i'm tired and a bit drunk so please forgive me but I'm off to visit the dream of the rarebit fiend's creator, winsor mccay, i fucking love him.

Thursday, February 8, 2007

Brave New Theatres



Robert Greenwald nails it again! Brave New Theatres is a brilliant move in D.I.Y Distribution. It's a plug and play activist microcinema kit.

"Brave New Theaters provides world changers like you with films and organizing tools to bring attention to, raise money for, and take action around the issues you care deeply about."http://www2.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

I came across it when I realized The Battle for the Klamath, a Free Speech TV Doc, was being advertised there.

Flaherty Film Seminar Announced


What a day! First thing this morning, I found spiders next to my winter biking clothes. I think I'll take it as good luck!

4 one hour meetings in a row and a morning of prep! New shows, new projects, outreach strategies, and a search for a new executive director. Things are really exciting at Free Speech TV.

I read the announcement for the Flaherty Film Seminar and I'm really hoping to go this year. I went several years back and it was a transformative experience. Going again will be a blast. Below is the description from the Flaherty Website.

"This Year's Seminar - South of the Other: Chronicles of anti-colonial guerilla uprisings, contemporary telenovelas, popular dramas and traditional fables share startling commonalities: all reveal, reshape, and unsettle global cultural identities. Shifting southward to Asia, Latin America, and Africa, the 53rd Robert Flaherty Filml Seminar will probe how myriad world cinemas over the past forty years have expolded, invented and reconceived the Other. Co-curators Mahen Bonetti and Carlos GutiƩrrez will present diverse works exploring migration, homelands, Third Cinema, and the popular. Invited artists include Abderrahmane Sissako, Ximena Cuevas, Khalo Matabane, Theo Eshetu, and Kalup Linzy."

"The Independent" Will Be Relaunched


According to my NAMAC Bulletin, the defunct organization, the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers is transitioning ownership of The Independent to new owners, Independent Media Publications.

Tuesday, February 6, 2007

Pledge Drive, Flat Tire, Chats With New Yorkers


So we are in the middle of our Winter Pledge Drive and I had the horror of watching myself on TV today trying to pitch a couple movies about media and raise funds to keep Free Speech TV afloat. It's true what they say, my head does bobble up and down and the way I raise it makes me look like a snob. Throughout the day, I worked on figuring out strategies for the Democratic National Convention and ways Free Speech TV can engage in innovative coverage. Also watching a movie about homeless veterans, one in particular. A gritty, grim film about resistance, organizing and the government's inability to take care of it's people

I spoke with my friends Flux, Gabe, and Chris, all in New York, all complaining about the bitter cold there. Everyone I know who has been in New York has been cold and miserable. Denver has warmed up and I've been riding my bike, happy not to deal with the ice and snow. I got a flat tire and ended up shutting down the office after I fixed it.

Friday, February 2, 2007

Pan's Labyrinth



On top of the pile of socially concious, ill-conceived documentaries I've been overloaded with, I had a chance to watch Pan's Labyrinth this week. Amazing and disturbing film that left me sleepless. Two facts irritate me about the movie. 1) Why does the girl end up in a monarchy; 2) Why does the resistance win when in real life the fascists would prevail.

heartbreaking, beautiful, sophisticated film. Check it out.