Week 5

This week for 52 Films by Women, I watched Gayle Kirschbaum's A Dog's Life, a documentary about her relationship with her dog. It's an interesting documentary...Not quite what I expected after spending a weekend learning how to dogsled. (So many puppies). The basic premise of the documentary is that she is off to find a husband for herself and the dog. She does take us to some interesting places including a fancy dog spa that includes a pool. I can only imagine how my dog would react if we put hiim next to the water. There was also a pretty amusing scene when Gayle K. has a casting call for doubles for her Shih Tzu. Amazing to know that there are crazy dog owner divas out there.

The doc really finds it's heart towards the end. During the filming of the documentary, 911 happens and Gayle realizes the potential healing power of the dog. Chelsea becomes certified and they go to hospice and provide much needed comfort. That part of the film really moved me.

That's all for now!

Week 4

This week for the 52 Films by Women challenge, I had the immense pleasure of watching Never Sorry about Chinese artist/activist Ai Wei Wei directed by Alison Klayman. I have been interested in Ai Wei Wei but knew very little about him. The documentary details his work around 2009-2010. He talks about his meaningful works that were in direct contrast with government policy, his efforts to get justice for being hit by police, etc. It was a reminder that people must speak truth to power. There's an amazing story about how Ai Wei Wei's new studio is torn down by the government. He decided to hold a party for it, where people would come and eat crabs, a political act. He's detained but people show up anyway to celebrate. They don't have his celebrity but they do it anyway. 

This quotation really resonates with me right now: 

Journalist: Do you ever examine yourself to see why are you so fearless compared to other people?

Ai Wei Wei: I am so fearful. That’s not fearless. I’m more fearful than other people. I act more brave because I know the danger is really there. If you don’t act, the danger becomes stronger.

So check it out! It's available streaming on Netflix. 

52 Films Update

Greetings all!

Last week I decided to take the 52 Films by Women pledge where I aim to see a film directed (or written) by a woman every week. In the spirit of this oral history project, I'm going to talk about the films I've seen in brief.

1. What Happened, Nina Simone? by LIz Garbus is a documentary about Nina Simone. I've been a fan of hers for years (Sinnerman is one my favorite songs) but I didn't know about her life. Fascinating life of this amazing, troubled singer.

2. Hidden Figures is based on a book by Margot Lee Shetterly about African American women who were the computers for the NASA space program. While the book is nonfiction and the movie is fictional, it's a really powerful movie about these intelligent women who made the American space program happen during segregation. It shows the injustices that these women faced to do their work. A great inspiring movie.

3. 13TH by Ava DuVernay is a documentary about the mass incarceration industrial complex and race. A very sobering film about how the system is another iteration of Jim Crow and slavery. A must see. This film does not pull punches so be prepared for some graphic content.

I'll keep posting about the films I see throughout the year.

Other news:

Not Just Another Pretty Face is on view at the Hyde Park Art Center until February 8th. Maria Gaspar and Joyce Owens, both incredible artists who participated in the project, have work on display. It's worth checking out.

Find out more here: http://www.hydeparkart.org/exhibitions/emnot-just-another-pretty-faceem--3

Here's a Chicago Tribune article about it: http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-pretty-face-hyde-park-art-center-ent-0112-20170111-column.html

Don't forget to check out Artists Against Hate: Inauguration Protest Show this Friday at Uptown Underground led by the amazing Dawn Xiana Moon. See amazing performers and win prizes. All proceeds will be donated to ACLU. Check out more info here: http://artistsagainsthate.org/

New Recorder!

This past week I got a new recorder. It’s a Tascam DR-05. After the Vocalo Storytelling Workshop, it was clear that if I was serious about audio documentaries, I should upgrade my recorder. Just to give you all an idea about the difference, here’s a photo between my old recorder Athena and my new recorder Aiode. Just a tiny difference, no?

I will use both since Athena still works and it’s always good to have a backup. But I’m very excited to have this recorder. I’ve already played around with it, wandering through an empty church and I like what I hear. I’m much more sensitive to noise opportunities. Plus Third Coast International Audio Festival’s Short Docs competition is on right now. They are partnering with one of my favorite performance groups, Manual Cinema, this year. The general idea is to use the recorder like a camera. (And they have specific rules on their website). Very challenging. Still working out what I’ll do this year. So stay tuned for that.

Upcoming events: 

Meida Teresa McNeal and the rest of Honey Pot Performance are putting on Ma(s)king Her at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion on 4/14 to 4/16. For more information, check the website: http://honeypotperformance.com/projects/masking-her/

Other News:

This movie Signature Move: Life, Love and Lady Wrestling sounds like a great thing to support. 

Brief synopsis:

"Signature Move is an indie romantic comedy meets coming-of-age feature film about a Pakistani-Muslim-lesbian named Zaynab, who lives in Chicago taking care of her conservative-but-sweet TV-obsessed mother. A mother she keeps secrets from. The film is set in Chicago, because a Chicago summer is a beautiful time to fall in love. And Zaynab does fall in love with Alma (secret #1), a smart, bold Mexican woman with whom Zaynab connects across culture, food, AND WRESTLING because as Zaynab is learning professional-style wrestling (secret #2), Alma tells her that her grandmother used to be a Lucha Libre wrestler back in Mexico when she was young."

If you can, please support. It sounds like a wonderful movie. You can support it here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/signature-move-life-love-lady-wrestling--4#/

That’s all for now!