Mandatory Service at Tribeca Film Festival
Friday April 25th 2008, 5:37 pm
Filed under: Events, Festivals, Film, Filmmaking 101, News, Points of Art
Tribeca Laurels

Mandatory Service

(Mandatory Service)
In English, Hebrew, Arabic with English subtitles.
Plays In: Shorts: Window Seat

Program Notes

The cultural impact of the militarization of Israeli society has both challenged and stifled the cultivation of creativity in the country. Mandatory Service asks a series of often ignored yet important questions about how forced military service-and resistance to it-influences Israeli artists’ and activists’ efforts to re-civilize the consciousness of Israeli society.

Mandatory Service

Cast & Credits

Director: Jessica Habie
Screenwriter: Jessica Habie
Producer: Nirah Shirazipour
Editor: Effi Cohen
Directors of Photography: Yvonne Miklosh, Melissa Ulto, Jessica Habie
Assistant Editor: Adele Levin
Still Photography: Michael Kolchesky, Steve Sabella, Nirah Shirazipour
Peace,
Melissa


Learning Patience…
Thursday April 24th 2008, 1:09 am
Filed under: News

The Kiss - Gustav Klimt
The Kiss - Gustav Klimt

Age teaches me patience - I sky dived, swam with sharks and did a marathon the year I turned 30.  I am now approaching 40, with my 38th birthday coming up May 29, and the most daring thing I can think of doing is falling in love.

Huh, who knew?

Peace and Much Love,
Melissa



Art Seen Shoot
Monday April 14th 2008, 10:04 am
Filed under: Film, News, Production Notes

Gregg LeFevre and Andrea Grant
Gregg LeFevre & Andrea Grant

I shot the pilot for Art Seen this past Saturday, with host Andrea Grant and guest Gregg LeFevre.  Gregg is a public works bronze artist and urban textures photographer, focusing on the decaying billboards around the city.

I’ll have more updates soon about the new Online.tv venture I’m a part of, with exciting invitations to participate!

Peace,
Melissa



UrbNews.tv Pieces on Huffington Post
Saturday April 12th 2008, 9:52 am
Filed under: Film, News, Production Notes

urb huff

Two more pieces about the 2008 election are now online on the Huffington Post.  Check them out here!

Peace,
Melissa



Seth Gold Photo on Flyer
Wednesday April 09th 2008, 7:46 am
Filed under: Design, News, Photo Eye

seth gold

Check out the flyer above for DJ Seth Gold’s Birthday Bash.  The image was from our photo shoot last August.  Right click and “view image” to see the flyer full size.

Peace,
Melissa



The Killing of Georgie
Wednesday April 02nd 2008, 7:30 pm
Filed under: Im.Perfect, Poetry, Points of Art, Rays of Light, Vodcast Magic, Writing

The TOTP performance circa 1977

A discussion of the song, decades later

I remember my sister and I begging my brother to play “The Killing of Georgie” over and over.  Little girls with big hearts, we would sing this at the top of our lungs and cry over the last lines - “Oh Georgie’s dead - don’t go away - Georgie is dead - you take our breath away!”.

I was 8, she was 6, and combined we made our 14 yr old brother play the song over and over.  It captivated us, told us a story, made us wail for Georgie and Rod and all the sad people all over the world, missing a friend.  We would keep after our brother to play it as much as possible, until he got too annoyed with our crying and singing.  As brothers go, he was not the most patient or tolerant.  But he did recognize great songs, and “The Killing of Georgie” is a classic.

In the discussion of the piece, one interviewee said the song is dated.  I disagree.  I spend a lot time with young gay dancers, as part of my photography gigs in clubs.  These young men are my friends, dance partners, models and co-conspirators in art.  I hear stories all the time of fathers who can’t accept their sons, mothers who stand in the middle holding on hard to both husband and child, sons who are still coming out and facing who they are in a world where gay bashing still happens regularly.  PFLAG, people!

I’m bisexual, out and very happy with my life.  Granted, I mostly date men these days, but my sexual identity is more than a hobby - its a political statement, that in some places could put me in great danger.  And while I can straddle both gay and straight worlds, it does not armor me from the hateful words I hear daily about homosexuality.  I do speak out, but not all minds and ears are open to hearing a different perspective.   I know the wrong word to the wrong person could get me in trouble, but that can’t keep me silent.

I hold this space for my friends, bash back when needed, cheer loudly when its needed, and feel compassion for those who still find alternative sexual identities dangerous.   We are such lovely, brave people, full of a desire to love and be loved, and yet we cause fear - a deep, primal fear in some cases.

From Georgie to Brandon Teena,  to lawmaker Sally Kern in Oklahoma, who describes gays as “a bigger threat to American than terrorism”, (read her op ed letter to explain this and TRY not to get mad) , equality and safety STILL do not exist for the GLBT community.

Are we that scary that we fit in the same category as a terrorist?  You mean loving and being loved is terrorism?  Think on it…

Peace,
Melissa