Stroker Ace

So my brother and sister in law came to visit this weekend which was great because they are two of my favorite people and I don't get to see enough of them. It pretty much rained the whole time but we had fun running around Brooklyn. We checked out the Brooklyn Flea Market on Sunday and my brother tried on a ridiculous Warriorsesque nylon jacket with offsetting ascot that his wife declared fit for Halloween. My sentiments exactly. Then we went out that night and had some drinks and he became obsessed with having me look up this Burt Reynolds movie on IMDB that he couldn't remember the name of because he swore the jacket was cool and somehow Burt Reynolds wearing one in 1983 was going to prove that fact to me. Of course my iPhone wasn't cooperating so he is getting no confirmation. Until today when we all go out for one last meal and the internet cooperates and we find the movie poster only wait a minute...Burt's jacket was cooler says my brother and with that he stops lamenting buying the jacket noone liked that was two sizes too small. So I thought I would post the trailer from the movie in homage to the weekend when a youtube search turns up this video made by Lovage entitled Stroker Ace and I realize that the hot singer in the video is my friend Jennifer Charles from Elysian Fields. So as much as Burt's jacket is swell Bill and who doesn't love an early 80's moustache, this feels so serendipitous that I had to post it. Lovage is made up of Jennifer Charles, Dan the Automator, Mike Patton and Kid Koala. Enjoy.

Please spread the word about my Kickstarter project!

Raise it up for ma Dukes was just accepted as a Kickstarter project! Kickstarter is a new website, actually still in BETA so I was very fortunate to have been chosen, that uses the Web to match aspiring artists with individuals who are willing to chip in a few dollars toward their projects. Unlike similar sites that simply solicit donations, patrons on Kickstarter get an insider’s access to the projects they finance, and in most cases, some tangible memento of their contribution. It's basically like micro-patronage. We can't all afford to fund an entire project, but who can't afford $5 especially when I am offering rewards for all sized donations! Just check out my project page to see what it is all about. You can also see a short clip of raw footage from the film on the site and track the number of backers I receive as well as the amount of donations. It really brings everyone into the filmmaking process.
So please take a second and check out my Kickstarter profile by clicking here

If you want to find out more about Kickstarter in general check out this great article about the platform in the New York Times.

Please help me spread the word and as always thank you all for your support. I woudl not be able to make this film without all of your love and support!

Urban Assembly School of Music and Art

I recently started teaching a Documentary film class to high schoolers at the Urban Assembly Music Academy www.uamusicandart.org. A little about the UAMA, it is the only arts-focused public high school that does not require special auditions or portfolios for application, believing that any student will benefit from arts education. Last year was the schools first year and every student who applied for college was accepted. It is truly a remarkable place with a remarkable vision.

The school was able to get some equipment to teach the class but we could really use some microphones, a tripod or two and most importantly some cameras. I know some of us have smaller inexpensive cameras that we use as decks or maybe a small camera that you just don't use anymore. If you have any extra equipment or you know of anyone who may have some extra equipment please get in touch with me off list at danabartle@gmail.com The school has 501c3 status so you will get a tax break and an immense and heartfelt thank you from me and my students.

Our final film will be screened at the school's graduation ceremony and I would be more than happy to invite anyone who donated to the screening. This is a way to make a real difference in the education of some very eager and talented kids who without this equipment may not get a chance to see what filmmaking is really all about.

This will be the first Documentary film class that the school has offered so I can't show you examples of our film work as of yet, but I can show you another example of just how creative the students at the UAMA can be. At last years graduation ceremony, in the wake of the news of Michael Jackson's passing, the kids threw together this MJ tribute with only one early morning sound check as a rehearsal...