Categories
Issues and Actions

Fund The Culture You Love With The Gift Of Crowdfunding

How do we make it better?  How do we make our indie film infrastructure work for more filmmakers and more diverse audiences?

How do we improve things as individuals as well as a community?

This is the season of giving and that’s not a bad place for us to start.  I have always liked the idea of buying local, of buying direct — be it from the farmers, artisans, or owner/operators.  I have lamented the loss of more intimate connection that all of our innovation delivers.  I have always hated shopping and have enjoyed how the internet kept me out of stores, but there have been some stores, notably book stores, video stores, and record shops, that I enjoyed and now miss dearly.  The only online phenomenon that gives me the same rush I got when I discovered from those “stores of old” something I did not know about and simply needed to have is… crowdfunding sites.  

There is such a unique pleasure in making something happen.  It is an even greater pleasure when you give  to an artist that you admire.  

This gift giving season I am going to give to twelve artists via their crowdfunding campaigns.  I hope

Categories
Truly Free Film

Guest Post: Beth B “Who Says An Old Punk Can’t Learn New Tricks?”

I moved to NYC in the early 80’s with dreams of making films that would change the world. To prime my path, I was prepared to serve first. There were two internships I wanted. Having grown up listening to Alan Lomax’s Southern Journey records, he was one. He didn’t hire me. The Super-8 No Wave film thing was taking the city by storm — or at least the East Village. I turned my sights to working for Beth B, one of the key figures in the “Cinema Of Transgression”. I got the interview… but not the gig. Although I have had to watch from afar, I have kept track of Beth and her work, and have always found it inspiring and uncompromising. How Beth navigates the challenge of giving her work form while leading her life and not being lead is both a marvel and a mantra. As Beth points out in her post today, it is not easy, it is a struggle, but the rewards prove the choice’s righteousness time and time again.