My pal Kasia just posted about this Criterion release of the classic experimental William Greaves film Symbiopsychotaxiplasm.

In his one-of-a-kind fiction/documentary hybrid Symbiopsychotaxiplasm Take One, director William Greaves presides over a beleaguered film crew in New York’s Central Park, leaving them to try to figure out what kind of movie they’re making. A couple enacts a break-up scenario over and over, a documentary crew films a crew filming the crew, locals wander casually into the frame: the project defies easy description. Yet this wildly innovative sixties counterculture landmark remains one of the most tightly focused and insightful movies ever made about making movies. Criterion presents this long-unreleased gem in a special two-disc edition, along with its sequel, Take 2 1/2, made thirty-five years later with executive producers Steven Soderbergh and Steve Buscemi.

I haven’t seen this yet, but I certainly want to soon! How gorgeous is that cover art, huh?

My friend Hudson and his brother Michael are making a documentary film about their 93-year-old grandfather Alva B. Lines. Here’s a bit of their first trailer the put together based on interviews they filmed with him recently.

I’m certainly intrigued by the film, but I’m equally interested in the way that these fellas are promoting the project using social media marketing tactics (posting updates to a Twitter account, maintaining a production blog in lieu of a ‘coming soon’ splash page, etc). I’ve long been a proponent of indie artists taking full advantage of the tools the web has to offer in building your own audience by keeping them in the loop throughout the entire creative process. I love pointing out projects that ‘get it’ and are doing it right. Another documentary that has been really hitting home runs in this realm is my friends at Project Pedal and their film For Thousands of Miles.

Thought we’re only a few steps into producing our own documentary, Mable’s Murder (working title), Audrey and I certainly aim to do the same kind of audience building and promotion once we’re further along into production. By the way, it’s a pleasent coincidence that Hud and Michael are also exploring stories from our grandparent’s generation. We hope to follow their project closely and share their successes with you in the coming months.

Audrey and I have been meaning to watch Buena Vista Social Club… and voila! Here it is:

I’m so excited about this film! When you live in Philadelphia, Zagar’s work creeps into your consciousness with this odd iconic ubiquity. So strange, and yet so beautiful and literally found in every nook and cranny of this city. The film was made by Jeremiah’s son, so it’s sure to be an intimate family portrait which tend to be some of my favorite kind of films.

Synopsis:
Over the past four decades, Isaiah Zagar has covered more than 50,000 square feet of Philadelphia with stunning mosaic murals. In A Dream is a documentary feature film that chronicles his work and his tumultuous relationship with his wife, Julia. It follows the Zagars as their marriage implodes and a harrowing new chapter in their life unfolds.

I can’t believe I missed the theatrical showing of this film last April, but now it’s coming out on DVD(?) and I plan on seeing it asap. Maybe it’s time for a documentary film house party! Who’s in?

[UPDATE: Luckily, I was wrong about that date - it's actually going to be in the Ritz at the Bourse starting April 17, 2009! Yes! Let's all go! Who's in?]

(I’ll pause now and wait for you to run and rent/download/rip/buy/TiVo/watch it, because you simply must).

Oh, what’s this? It’s on PBS’ Independent Lens this month! Yay for us all!

Well, the chaps who brought you that have a new film coming out this spring called Objectified. Judging by the trailer, another winner.

I got to thinking about it today because my pal Hudson reblogged a link to this NY Times article about a similar (albeit more modern) subject.

Cool fanboy aside: I was given my copy of this film by Bill’s brother and frequent Richard Linklater collaborator Lee Daniel when we met at Sundance ‘07.

Who is Bozo Texino? chronicles the search for the source of a ubiquitous and mythic rail graffiti– a simple sketch of a character with an infinity-shaped hat and the scrawled moniker, “Bozo Texino”– a drawing seen on railcars for over 80 years. Daniel’s gritty black and white film uncovers a secret society and it’s underground universe of hobo and railworker graffiti, and includes interviews with legendary boxcar artists, Coaltrain, Herby, Colossus of Roads, and The Rambler. Shooting over a 16-year period, Daniel rode freights across the West carrying a Super-8 sound camera and a 16mm Bolex. During his quest he discovered the roots of a folkloric tradition that has gone mostly unnoticed for a century. Taking inspiration from Beat artists Robert Frank and Jack Kerouac, the film functions as both a sub-cultural documentary and a stylized fable on wanderlust and outsider identity.

Part One

Part Two

Scenes from Shadow World from David S Kessler on Vimeo.

My grandmother was a striking 39-year-old mother of two who was murdered in Hot Springs, Arkansas in 1967. Her death dramatically changed the lives of generations that followed, yet was unsolved and forgotten at the time. This film follows my mother’s search for truth in a past clouded by chaotic events, mysterious characters and deep family secrets.

Mable Ashley was found dead in her white Thunderbird, two bullet holes in her chest, cigarette burns on her face and upholstery of her car, and her belongings strewn in struggle. The coroner’s report quickly called it a suicide. Her family suspected otherwise and hired a private eye, but after the P.I. was escorted to the county line by Hot Springs officials and told, “if you ever come sticking your nose in someone else’s business again, you’ll leave Hot Springs in a box,” the trail went cold.

My mother Mary, only 13 at the time, was forced to join the adult world, raising her younger sister. Within seven years, she was starting her own family and pushing the past aside. There was a great silence as no one in Mable’s family spoke of the murder.

Now forty years later, my mother can hardly speak about Mable without tears. But we return to Hot Springs together to find the end of this painful story. What could Mable have done to deserve this fate? Who were the last people she spoke to? Who remembers this occurrence? Who killed her? Why was a young single mother the target of this heinous crime, and what made Mable’s family forget about her and her children until now?

In the 1960’s illegal gambling and prostitution ran amuck in the small resort town of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Bookies and casino owners corrupted a significant part of the local government. When Winthrop Rockefeller became governor in 1967, he made it his mission to clean up the culture of corruption.

This documentary deals with buried pasts, and how one event can change the lives of several generations. It will evoke the nostalgia and romance of the past through use of archival footage and photographs from the time period, and contrast this sense of dangerous romance with the reality of a violent murder, and the powerful effect of a mother’s life taken. It will excavate details of Mable’s life and her struggle to make ends meet, and the history of the people and culture of this notorious yet alluring Southern town. It will use an array of sources, including interviews with people involved in the illegal gambling operations in Hot Springs and area historians, newspaper articles and books on the era. We’ll shoot footage of our journey as we search for information and hope for a resolution to this painful mystery.

The subject matter of this film will appeal to a broad audience, tapping public fascination with mystery, organized crime, and murder. It will hold appeal to an audience that will be interested in its personal look into the life of a family affected by a tragic loss. The film will speak to those in search of their roots, to women who struggle to provide for their families, and to those with a curiosity for forgotten stories from the past.

Our good friends Cameron and Lauren are working on a new documentary film project called The Delegates. They will be traveling to Denver for the Democratic Convention later this month with several different party members and explore the people and process behind the American party nominating system. With an historic convention this year, and I’m excited to see how the project turns out. Here’s a short clip they recently posted to the film’s blog:

If you’re interested to learn more about their project, please read their full treatment/press release after the jump, including links to help contribute money, time or resources.

At the end of August, Lauren and I are flying to Denver to film the Democratic National Convention, an event that will surely be a significant moment in American history. We’re going there to make a new documentary about the people chosen to represent the Democratic voters, THE DELEGATES.

Our film will accompany four delegates, with diverse hometowns, backgrounds, and interests, as they take part in the hype and hope of the Convention. Along the way, the delegates will illustrate the personal side of the democratic process, and share what it is like for ordinary Americans to take part in this extraordinary event. The film will follow the delegates from the moment they arrive at the airport, to the hectic scene on the convention floor, around Denver and finally to Barack Obama’s historic acceptance speech at Mile High Stadium.

We’re working on this film with our friends from DoubleSpeak Media who took me to New Hampshire to cover the primary for The Huffington Post. Now, we’re putting together a bigger team so that we can cover as much as we can at this historic event.

Most documentaries are kick-started with money collected through donations from family and friends. So far, we’ve never wanted to go that route. But our next film is about a subject that matters to all of you, and we need your help.

The Obama campaign has taken traditional fundraising strategies and turned them upside-down: building momentum by bringing their appeal directly to small donors. Following in those footsteps, we’re asking for your contribution to help make THE DELEGATES a worthy document of a pivotal moment in American history.

Give as much or as little as you can–every little bit helps and will be appreciated. If you donate $25 or more, your name will appear in the credits. Donate $100 or more and you’ll also receive an advance copy of THE DELEGATES on DVD.

To learn more about the film, visit our website at:
http://www.thedelegates.net

To donate right now, click here:
http://www.chipin.com/contribute/id/7a7c2418fb332bf9

Thanks so much!

Cameron

P.S. We’re trying to build a network of supporters. If you know anyone who might be interested in a film about the American political process, please forward them this email:
http://www.forwardtomyfriend.com/4dlra/e93e2e97b1363a9fc94d5de2eb09ca4e/

[UPDATE: the Red Gold team just launched their official website.]
[UPDATE 2: you can now buy the DVD!]

My favorite film of the 2008 MountainFilm Festival was one that I had the honor of projecting its World Premiere: Red Gold. It also happened to be directed and edited by my good buddy in Telluride, Ben Knight. He’s an amazingly talented photographer and this is his first feature film. It took home the well-deserved Audience Award as well as the Festival Director’s Prize.

Ben and his filmmaking partner Travis Rummel created a beautiful portrait of Bristol Bay, Alaska, one of the most precious natural areas in the world, as it’s residents battle the encroaching interests of a massive copper mine that will heavily impact the region.

Here’s the trailer. I will definitely update this when I learn of their distribution plans (good luck, guys!).

A family band piles in a van and spends their life surfing and traveling, documents it all on sexy 8- and 16mm film. Can’t get much better than that, folks. The film comes out in a limited release over the course of the summer. It’ll be here in Philly starting June 20th at the Ritz at the Bourse. I’m so there.

Also, here’s the website, but beware: nasty browser resizing, ugh! Surfwise