tagged w/ A Chance at Slamdance (2008)
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In this poignant documentary, we meet Hamedah Hasan and her three daughters, a family caught in the web of our nation's federal sentencing guidelines and drug conspiracy laws. Hamedah fled from an abusive relationship and found refuge at the home of her cousin, who was selling drugs. When her cousin was arrested, prosecutors also charged Hamedah as a conspirator in the drug-selling operation. What happened next shocked Hamedah, bewildered her attorneys and outraged even the Bush-appointed federal judge who sentenced her, calling this the "most unfair, grotesque perversion of justice that I can think of." In this poignant documentary, we meet Hamedah Hasan and her three daughters, a family... more
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These 7 minutes come from a feature length film documenting the rebuilding of a demolished house in The West Bank. This short version takes the basic argument of the longer film - that the issue in Palestine isn't only territory, but rather who controls it. It questions whether the Palestinians will get a real and a viable state or one controlled almost entirely by Israel.
The film is not about taking sides - the activists we see are mostly Israelis who have gone to see for themselves what life is like for the Palestinians living sometimes only 15 minutes from their door. Having seen an injustice, they wanted to do something to help. It is not simply a matter of Israelis bad/Palestinians good or vice versa.
It is difficult to cut 71 minutes down to 7 but I hope this short film will spark a bit of interest in the themes it touches on and develope a curiosity to know more.These 7 minutes come from a feature length film documenting the rebuilding of a... more
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Face the unconventional challenges of Amy Purdy, a competitive snowboarder.
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What happens to American secondhand clothes? This short film follows donated used clothing from the United States to Haiti, where it becomes "pepe."
Our movie is a conversation about "pepe," the Haitian Creole word for "secondhand goods." We took a radio broadcast and interwove it with live footage from our trip to Haiti to create a patchwork of voices, coming together to make sense of the pepe phenomenon. For Haitians in the age of globalization, it's all pepe all the time.
Pepe (Secondhand) is part of our larger project about the culture and history of used clothing and diaspora communities. Visit http://www.secondhandfilm.com for more.
What happens to American secondhand clothes? This short film follows donated used... more
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Whether in the Colombian countryside before the rebels forced his family to leave, or the city slum where his family now lives, Andrés Tabares has always had a way with words. In Andres' barrio where ?social cleansing? groups wage war, this 13 year-old writes and performs rap to speak out against violence . . . and people are listening. He now hosts his own Saturday morning variety show on Colombian national television.
"Rapping at Fear" is one of nine short films in the "Beyond Borders: Personal Stories from a Small Planet" series which was produced by the Listen Up! Youth Media Network (USA) in collaboration with Polimorfo (Bogotá, Colombia). "Rapping at Fear" was directed by Manuel Reinoso.
What do youth fear most in their lives? How do they overcome those fears? 'Beyond Borders: Personal Stories from a Small Planet' is a creative burst of defiance and hope by teenagers who are overcoming the huge obstacles and ignorance that have defined their lives. It's a compilation of eleven short films written, shot and edited by teenagers who weave documentary filmmaking, animation and archival footage to tell personal stories on fear and security.
With stories from Afghanistan, Argentina, Colombia, England Jordan, Korea, Guatemala, Sierra Leone, Ukraine and the United States, these youth-produced films will challenge audiences to redefine fear and the priorities we make in a post 9/11 world.
Whether in the Colombian countryside before the rebels forced his family to leave, or... more
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austin
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4 years ago
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Discrimination appears in many different forms but the end results are always the same: exclusion, anger, hatred, ignorance, regression of humankind, and a separation that divides us all. In Song of Acceptance, four individuals from different regions of America, who experienced discrimination in four very distinctive ways, come to one locale to tell their stories. As these four stories of discrimination are told, key words from the narratives join the soundtrack and song to create one message, a negative concoction of emotions that arises out of the experience of being discriminated against.
But as the individuals talk about the solution to the problem of discrimination and the concept of tolerance, the positive words of wisdom ring out in the soundtrack. This creates a positive medley that offers the one idea at the core of the solution of discrimination: acceptance. Even though the four people come from different backgrounds and were the subjects of different forms of discrimination, they all arrive at the same conclusion of accepting others as the solution to creating a better world. Their thoughts, ideas, and solutions meld together and become one - ultimately creating the song of acceptance, which brings forth the message of acceptance to the world. No matter what the differences between people are, it is key to accept those we inhabit the world with to progress as a society. Tolerance must be acceptance.
Discrimination appears in many different forms but the end results are always the... more
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toph
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added this
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5 years ago
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A look into Sacramento Hardcore. This video portrays the specific story of of a hardcore dancer and gives insight into the hardcore culture in Sacramento, California. The views expressed in this video should not be used to create stereotypes or be used to pass judgments upon others who may fall into a certain generalized category based on the music they listen to or the fashion style they wear. The music in the background is by Catherine.A look into Sacramento Hardcore. This video portrays the specific story of of a... more
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The Crucible's Fire Arts Festival is an annual summer event held in
Oakland CA that features an amazing display of talented artists and
their fiery masterpieces. Meet Pierre Riche a bay area artists whose
18 foot piece Healing Eye was featured there.The Crucible's Fire Arts Festival is an annual summer event held in
Oakland CA... more
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Marsha Trattner is a Blacksmith artist from Brooklyn New York. Using raw iron and a few hundred degrees, she is able to bend and weave the metal into intricate works of art. See how these metal works are created and learn more about the blacksmithing process.Marsha Trattner is a Blacksmith artist from Brooklyn New York. Using raw iron and a... more
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What's Theater like in the Film Capital of the World?
The five young men and women you'll meet in this film are all actors, and they are all trying to make it in LA. Having met at the legendary Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago (founded by Gary Sinise, and counting among its members such legends as John Malkovich, Joan Allen, Martha Plimpton and John Mahoney), they decided to start their own theater company when they all relocated to Los Angeles. Shot in just two nights,99 SEATS (or less) follows the actors as they begin rehearsals for their second play, to be performed in a 99 seat theater on the East Side of LA.
We think that these young people are pretty compelling, and we'd love the chance to tell more of their stories. The financial responsibilities of running a theater, the process of rehearsing and then performing a world-premiere play in LA, and what life is like for working actors in Hollywood, these are all part of the story of Rushforth Productions. We hope you enjoy watching them as much as we did.What's Theater like in the Film Capital of the World?
The five young men and... more
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Difficult Times is about the unusual response of Thomas Delaney to the burning of his home in the fall of 2005. Living in a building on Amsterdam Avenue in New York City, he and about fifty other tenants awoke to an early morning raging fire. Two people died, the rest were forced to vacate. The landlord tried to condemn the building, then boarded it up and refused to repair it. Delaney took to the streets in protest, playing loud blues guitar in front of the building daily for almost nine months, determined to draw attention to the plight of himself and the others. Antagonistic, angry, filled with song and verse, he challenged others to get involved.
Difficult Times is a short version of a longer edit that I am working on, hoping to complete it sometime in 2008. The short version is meant to stand on it?s own. I have followed Delaney for a few years now (we have been neighbors for many years but never met until he took to the streets) and the story is in many ways about his emergence from a life of seclusion into becoming someone who wants to get involved and help others through his music.
The video was shot in DV and is representative of the kind of independent documentary/community based stories that I have been creating for a number of years.
Best Wishes,
Thomas W. Campbell
Difficult Times is about the unusual response of Thomas Delaney to the burning of his... more
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tomwc
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4 years ago
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A common ailment in Los Angeles is that one feels "ungrounded." Without a sense of history to inspire activism, Angelinos rarely participate in politics or civic issues nor do they feel comfortable saying "I am from LA" A professor at UCLA, Fabian Wagmeister and his students have set out to use new technology to promote civic engagement. They call it the LA remapping project... A common ailment in Los Angeles is that one feels "ungrounded." Without a... more
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The idea of this project was to make a series of short films about universal problems all young people have. In each episode we meet a person who has a problem we learn a little bit about them and their trouble. They are introduced to one of our nations leaders who has a chance to talk to them and offer them advice and wisdom. The projects are interesting they offer an opportunity to watch and relate to people who have the same types of problems we do. This project also attempts to tear down the wall between normal people and our elected officals. The idea of this project was to make a series of short films about universal problems... more
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blulu2
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4 years ago
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Please submit my pod to Slamdance.
Thanks,
Bridget Fitzgerald
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A glimpse into the chaotic, unfortunate and obscure world of '10 year' old rock band 'Skirtbox'.
This is an insight to the lives of four talented twenty something?s that spent their youth chasing the rock and roll dream.
Now with the clock ticking, hairlines receding and no decent 'careers' on the horizon the guys question their future, priorities and sanity as they play another gig to 17 year old kids in a local Scout Hut.
Is the lucky break around the corner? Or are they really destined to a life of manual labour digging holes on building sites?A glimpse into the chaotic, unfortunate and obscure world of '10 year' old... more
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Travis and I have known each other for over twenty years. Travis's older brother Chris, whose painting and music adorns this piece, was my best friend growing up. Even though Chris was the oldest and Travis the youngest of four brothers, I came to know Travis particularly well. This may have been due to the fact that, at half my age, he was the only brother with whom I could compete in tennis. It was clear back then what a talent Travis was with the racket.
What has been somewhat surprising is that, as Travis says, he never wavered from the goal of becoming a professional tennis player. "Talent" may be as much about perseverance as it is about innate skill. We see a lot of love given by the media to the top athletes, but the workingman's player is often ignored. More than anything, I would hope that this movie be seen as a portrait of an American worker.Travis and I have known each other for over twenty years. Travis's older brother... more
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For more than 50 years, Colombia has been torn by internal armed conflict that rages to this day. While the current administration of President Alvaro Uribe has been lauded for its reduction of crime and guerilla activity, critical observers declare that while attempting to secure the country through military control they are neglecting the grave problems of continual human rights abuses.
In 2006, a investigations revealed several high ranking Uribista politicians to be in collusion with drug-trafficking paramilitary organizations, calling into question the administration and character of the popular Uribe, who is now considering amending the constitution to allow himself a third term.
This film is an excerpt of material taken to document the results of this political scandal. The subject is the leader of the opposition party, Senator Gustavo Petro, who was instrumental in the unfolding of the scandal and who now bears the dubious honor of being popularly called 'the most threatened man in Colombia.'For more than 50 years, Colombia has been torn by internal armed conflict that rages... more
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la79
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4 years ago
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Some are witty. Some are scary. And all of them make us think just a bit. Political bumper stickers feed us snack-sized nuggets of truth while we're scurrying through traffic. See the stickers and meet some of the faces behind our mobile media as they lay down some sharp and intelligent analysis of the president, the war and the future.
Some are witty. Some are scary. And all of them make us think just a bit. Political... more
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Should I? In Somebodys Company is a short documentary in which I chatted 60 people from all demographics to help me understand of the phenomena of true love. After years of Mr. Almost, Mr. Whoa-Nelly, and Mr. What Was I Thinking? . . my faith has become challenged and eroded. I thought if I could talk with other people, ones that believed and ones who had found their soul mate, my faith could be renewed or at least maybe it would help me deal with my singleness after a "significant" birthday
Perhaps there is more to my crisis of faith than a birthday, and some failed relationships. Should I simply accept that soul mates are an invented notion, and choose to be happy with the one Im with instead of wondering if the one is just around the corner.
I originally thought this would be personal quest, but soon discovered the theme is universal. Everyone has an opinion on this issue and they want to talk about it. Is there a Prince Charming and a Cinderella waiting out there for each of us? Or is that just a myth that became ingrained in our psyches by Hollywood and Fairy Tales. When I was younger there was no question I believed absolutely. In the course of making this film, I learned that person in their teens and twenties are more likely to believe that you have numerous soul mates, whereas a person mid-forties and older think there is only One. Which leaves us in the thirties in the middle and trying to sort it all out.
Should I? In Somebodys Company is a short documentary in which I chatted 60... more
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MINE is the short version of my documentary, STORE that I made after I moved from a rural New England town of 2,000 to Los Angeles, CA with its nearly 4 million people, I expected many things to be different. However, I was amazed to see custom-built buildings to house personal possessions on nearly every corner. Not that we did not have self-storage in New Hampshire. My Dad owns a set of 26 units. Most of units available in New England are outside and not insulated. My Dad calls them tin boxes sitting on a hill, Basically theyre backyard sheds that just happen to be on someone else's land. While his units are an improvement, these structures in Los Angeles are truly complexes. At least one of these huge buildings had over 15,000 units! They have all the comforts of home electricity, piped in-music, A/C with rent that is an1/8 of the average apartment its no wonder people try to live in them.
Even though I am a bi-coastal storer, I kept wondering what is everyone hanging on to? Is this something endemic to city living? Is it just a US thing? Is California a storage Mecca, or it is just Los Angeles? Perhaps its an actor thing? I know from looking at my life that women seem to have a greater connection to their stuff, with a ever increasing divorce rate, perhaps this has something to do with it. Why is the demand growing each year? And is it worth it for the consumer?
I've always been a storyteller. Most of my life, I've been on stage playing a part to help tell a story. When I first moved to LA, I was cast in a play about 9-11 that we performed as a tribute on the 1st anniversary. I have many good friends who live in NYC and some who even work at the Trade Center and escaped the buildings collapse. We were all affected in someway, but I didn't fully grieve until I played the part of Kim. She is an ER nurse whose firefighter husband was killed when Tower 2 came down. It wasn't my loss, it was hers, but somehow her experience became mine and I cried for them both.
I think being an actor and a filmmaker helps me understand the world better. We all judge each other in our lives, but the only way to understand and begin to accept another is to experience what they experience. Sometimes I feel a bit like I was left behind as E.T. was to learn about humanity. Ive always wanted to know why people do what they do, so I decided to make films to see if I could find out.
We traveled to 8 states shooting this film - California, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. East vs. West Coast, rural towns vs. cities, indoor vs. outdoor storage, speaking to over 150 people various ties and experiences with storage including owners, managers, and users. They share their stories and their stuff in the hope, I believe, to learn that they are not alone. That its not frivolous, shameful or crazy to keep their stuff in storage. However there are stories that we capture where people ventured into the extreme, which may not be the most sensible behavior pattern. When is it collecting and when is it hoarding? Are there certain sociological factors that contribute to this affliction?
STORE gives such notable personalities as Jane Withers and Margaret OBrien the chance to share their collections and their cautionary tales, according to Jane, with the public. Janes collection includes furniture from Mary Pickfords house, memorabilia and photographs from her 70-year entertainment career, and the 14,000 dolls in her collection. She most recently stored her belongings in a warehouse as her collection was far too large for her house or a conventional storage unit. Margarets collection has costumes from her 60-year career, a Peruvian mummy, and her Oscar (a terrific story we tell in the film) housed in 6 separate storage units.
MINE is the short version of my documentary, STORE that I made after I moved from a... more
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