Festival Founders rock out with their docs out!

I shot press stills and interviews for the Cinema Eye Awards - the first awards show totally for documentaries. Sponsored by IndiePix, the event was a raging success, and really inspired me as a documentary filmmaker. It had me fired up to keep going, and to know that a room full of great minds knew my personal pain and joy deeply. We all share this bug, this nagging desire to communicate meaningfully.

“Manda Bala (Send a Bullet)” winners!

The big winners of the night were the crew of “Manda Bala (Send a Bullet)” - they won for Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Filmmaking, Outstanding Achievement in Editing and Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography.

presenter Barbara Kopple

Lots of documentary greats in the house - presenters included Barbara Kopple, Alan Berliner, Alex Gibney…it was incredible to be face to face, shooting these folks and hearing them speak from their hearts about documentary filmmaking.

the Eyes…

This was the first year, hopefully of many more years to come! Check out the pix soon to be uploaded in the photography section.

Peace,
Melissa

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

I celebrate being a Celt on this day, my roots deep in green shamrocks.  Its evident in my red hair and my innate storytelling brilliance.  And my utter lack of modesty!  Hahaha…

We Irish are fierce, and when we fight, its not to win, its to destroy.  We have no fear and we often had nothing to lose.  Plus, we do love a battle.  Donnybrook to debate, its more fun if its got a bite to it.

We are melancholy and moody, sunny smiles and gray eyes.  Much like the weather, mercurial, mystical, magical.  We weave our thoughts into masterpieces of literature and song.  We thrum and hum along with the pulse of land.

We are tough, tender, grit and grim and ever thinking.  Some of us are ever drinking.  The rest are sober and sparkling and walking our friends home.  Hahaha…

Peace,
Melissa

For D:

Buddha’s head
Like my heart
Shattered
Scattered
Reckless handling
Mindless rambling
Explaining air
Over and over
No tap dance
No sliding out
I pin you
Caught in thought
Called for behavior
You scramble
Crab-ways
From my glare
Cold hard and disgusted

Buddha’s body
Disconnected
Disrespected
Accidental
Your act was not
Incidental
Your motives were
Monumental
Cruel to joy
Poorly chosen
The glass before you
Was never empty
Overflowing
Abundant
Accepting
You lost me
Throat dry?

Peace,
Melissa

The Art & Apathy Project was selected for inclusion in the next Tribeca Film Festival. Directed by Jessica Habie, this film addresses the militarized conditions artists struggle to create under in Israel and Palestine, and the complexities of occupations. I was one of the DPs for this project, and it was my great honor to help bring this conversation to Western audiences. Please check out the site and join in the dialogue:

http://www.artandapathyfilms.com

Peace,
Melissa
Multo.com

A piece I directed, edited by Vince Wallace, was picked up by The Huffington Post.  Featured on the front page, you can see the full article here.

Peace,
Melissa

I think it not improbable that man, like the grub that prepares a chamber for the winged thing it never has seen but is to be - that man may have cosmic destinies that he does not understand. And so beyond the vision of battling races and an impoverished earth, I catch a dreaming glimpse of peace.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

This is a piece we’re developing for UrbNews.tv.

Check it out!

Peace,
Melissa

 

 Obama Who? [3:37m]: Play Now | Download (200)

BUSTED!

Silly moralist - tricks are for kids! Now how does the man who busted a prostitution ring, of bargain hookers, end up with a $5,500/night call girl in Washington? Oh, yah, politician…hmmm…

Now if he told his kids or wife they had to cut back or couldn’t get that new bicycle, dress or Playstation, he’s doubly screwed. “Daddy told me I couldn’t have a new laptop, cause he spends all his money on hookers”. Wow, I predict years of therapy ahead for that family, especially if he was as hard core a moralist at home as he was in office. And his wife - I’m sure she livid, furious about many aspects of this situation. I feel most for her - he wasn’t even smart and respectful enough to be discreet - I mean, if you think, in this day and age, that you aren’t being watched, recorded, tapped and tracked, especially as a Democrat in a Republican ruled country, you are an idiot. But I do hope they throw the Mann Act at him - if its good enough to bust Jack Johnson sending a train ticket to his WIFE, its mos def good enough for Spitzer.

Go D!

What I am excited about is who will take Spitzer’s place - David Paterson, the Lt. Governor. This is his bio:

David A. Paterson was elected New York’s lieutenant governor on November 7, 2006.

Elected to represent Harlem in the New York State Senate in 1985, David Paterson has demanded and achieved change at every level, not simply by what he stands for but by who he is.

In 2002, David Paterson was elected minority leader of the New York State Senate, the first non-white legislative leader in New York’s history. In 2004 in Boston, he became the first visually impaired person to address a Democratic National Convention. And 2006 saw Mr. Paterson make history again by being elected New York’s first African-American lieutenant governor.

As New York State Senate minority leader, David Paterson led the charge on several crucial issues for New York’s future, proposing legislation for a $1 billion voter-approved stem cell research initiative, demanding a statewide alternative energy strategy, insisting on strong action to fight against domestic violence, and serving as the primary champion for minority- and women-owned businesses in New York. As a result, Governor Spitzer asked Mr. Paterson to continue to lead New York State on these issues as lieutenant governor.

Lt. Governor Paterson, who is legally blind, is also nationally recognized as a leading advocate for the visually and physically impaired. A graduate of Columbia University and Hofstra Law School, Mr. Paterson also currently serves as an adjunct professor at Columbia’s School for International and Public Affairs. David Paterson lives in Harlem with his wife, Michelle, and their two children, Ashley and Alex, and he is the son of Basil Paterson, the first non-white secretary of state of New York and the first African-American vice-chair of the national Democratic Party.

***********************

Oh yah, I really think Paterson is a PERFECT replacement for Spitzer. He’s got the track record, the passion and he’s overcome much, with his blindness hardly slowing him down. He’s a fighter, a leader and gets shit done.

Peace,
Melissa

Check out this trailer. Very interesting…

If I hadn’t already had a healthy suspicion of the Clintons, I know now for sure I’m not interested in voting for such vicious and ungrateful people.

Go Obama!

Peace,
Melissa

Multo.com is currently editing a short dance film featuring The Vintage DJ and his dancers.  There are a series of great stills up on the Multo.com photo page up now!

Stay tuned for the edit!

Peace,
Melissa

dannyboome.tv launched today with great success!  I developed the branding and whipped up this site in under a week, with all the bells and whistles - full video player, complex blog with a variety of features, complete social networking accounts set up and linked back to the main site, and lots of user interactivity for Danny’s fan base.

Go check out the Food Network’s newest culinary star!

Peace,
Melissa