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A year and a half ago, a group of filmmakers went out to shoot a protest. It would be a short little piece, poetic and informed, and go viral among various community groups and activist sites. For me personally, it would also be the first time to work with Meerkats. How could I say no? The project happened to be about the lot of land that sat outside of my window, the Atlantic Yards. I also knew about the controversy that surrounded it and was eager to get involved in the debate. Brooklyn Boondoggle seemed like the perfect fit — work with nice people that had just become my neighbors about a subject all too politically and socially relevant to ignore.

Needless to say, one shoot at a protest turned into days into weeks into a full-blown project for the Collective. And as I am now awakened by bulldozers at 7:45am, protests have turned into endless legal battles into the construction we were all hoping to forestall.

While Brooklyn Boondoggle has screened at various venues and film festivals, it never seemed like the right time to be officially unveiled. It’s inherently difficult to make a fluid subject stay relevant, gutsy and lasting, but we did our best. I’ll be forever grateful for the experience of making it with the group of dedicated people that have become my dear dear friends.

We thank the countless writers, artists, council members and community leaders that continue to voice opposition. We also eagerly await to see the feature doc, The Battle of Brooklyn. And even as the lightweight of our flock, I have yet to turn down a night of going to Freddy’s Bar, a true original and what we sincerely hope to be a mainstay of our neighborhood.

This is for you Brooklyn.

Inspired by others, a wonderful way to have spent the afternoon.  Productivity strikes!

just a little ditty i made this week at my folks’ fancy apartment, and with their amazing piano. also available in HD.  here’s to a new year.

so, i’ve been up to my neck in newnesses. moved across the country to portland. lots of art/music/film happening here (trying not to stalk gus van sant or matt mccormick, for example). i have a little blog where i put the things i think about and make: hearsayandhyperbole.tumblr.com. here’s the latest, a stop-motion in a series about dreams/dreaming. it is an intimate arena and sometimes we share it with near strangers. i think that’s ok, and we should just let it happen.  that’s what this video/song is about.

DREAM I from Hearsay and Hyperbole on Vimeo.

p.s. it should be noted that all images, save a photo of alaina taken by sharon van etten, were found in someone else’s trash.

Americana Kamikaze Trailer from Temporary Distortion on Vimeo.

Hey, remember when Whole Foods CEO John Mackey crap talked public health care in a Wall St Journal op-ed this summer, alienating his liberal consumer base? I believe he said something like “A careful reading of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution will not reveal any intrinsic right to health care, food or shelter. That’s because there isn’t any. This ‘right’ has never existed in America.” Boy, that gets me steamed. The poor don’t have the right to survive, but the rich always have the right to profit, right?

Luckily, our friends at the Brass Liberation Orchestra took action a couple days ago, and executed a kickin’ flash mob in a Whole Foods store in Oakland, California! They called Mackey out for his “let them eat cake” richie-richery, and shook their booties for health care as a human right–check the cool video above.

Thirsty for more? The Single Payer Action website has some good follow-up coverage of the action (as well as lyrics to the BLO’s awesome song!) Plus, if you’re interested, I had some words of my own for Mr. Mackey on my blog recently.

Health care is a human right, y’all!

Our festival run is underway!  Since it’s premiere, STAGES has been accepted to 5 different film festivals around the country.  Here is the information about our upcoming screenings

Friday, October 2nd,  7:30 pm – NEW YORK CITY

WHERE:  Performance Project @ University Settlement House (184 Eldridge Street, at Rivington)

WHAT:  This is a special benefit screening hosted by the community center where the film takes place.

TICKETS: Tickets are $15 at the door and go to support arts programs at University Settlement

Sunday, October 11th, 6pm – NEW YORK CITY

WHERE: Anthology Film Archives (32 2nd Avenue,Manhattan, NY)

WHAT: Screening as an official selection of the New York United Film Festival!

TICKETS: $10 at the door or you can buy tickets in advance from the festival HERE.

Wednesday, October 14th, 5pm – LOS ANGELES

WHERE: Mann Chinese 6  Cinemas (6801 Hollywood Blvd)

WHAT: Screening as an official selection of the Los Angeles International Latino Film Festival

TICKETS: $12 at the door

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Stay tuned for screening information for the  following  upcoming festivals

Orlando Film Festival (November 4-8, 2009)

Queens International Film Festival (November 12-15, 2009)

The online trailer for the book was produced as a collaboration between your very own Meerkat Media, Penguin Books, and Thomas Pynchon, and may or may not feature a cameo voiceover by the reclusive author himself.