Dolly Dimples revisited

update June 25th followup: Thanks to the CBS story, a viewer located Dolly's uhaul trailer -most items were stolen, but at least she got some things back. Here's the story, my clip CBS used comes in at about 1:54.

Back in 2011 as I was arriving to perform in Times Square, I happened to be at the right place at the right time with my camera filming subway musician William Ruiz as two clowns passed by us. I was able to film them for my Inspiration Project. Now 5 years later, I have learned that during a recent move, Dolly Dimples had her UHaul truck stolen with all her clown costumes inside. This means $1000's of dollars of investment and what she needs to work her craft.  I was contacted by a CBS 13 affiliated station out of Sacramento, CA asking me if they could use this footage. "Certainly," was my response. Anything that can help return Dolly's items to her is okay by me. And maybe inspire people to pitch in and help re-outfit an incredibly talented clown. 

See and hear what inspires Dolly below:

Not to mention that both Dolly and Sparky won third place performance medals at the 2011 Clown convention competition!

Inspired Erin McHugh author of Llife

This year's Tony award for best musical went to Fun Home the poignant gritty memoir of notable lesbian Alison Bechdel. Also winners in a big category (not aired on primetime-SHAME) was the writing team of Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Korn, who broke ground for being the first women to win in the musical score category. 

A few years ago my friend Erin McHugh wrote a book entitled L life. Here is Erin's inspiration for writing the book in which she features Alison Bechdel.

"In a place where we are already a minority, we're the invisible part of the minority....time to step up and bring out a book that will honor them."

here is Erin for the Inspiration Project

Meneachea's inspired mantra

I met Meneachea at Columbus Circle, her enthusiasm for what I was doing made her stop and chat. I'm happy I asked what inspired her. Her answer was quick off the top of her head and spot on. "music, life, service, and the earth." Listen to her reasons why. Filmed in 2011, just as relevant now as it was then.

I honor her as we celebrate International Women's Day on March 8th #IWD2015

Baton Rouge tourist jam in Grand Central

While performing in Grand Central harmonica player Frank Ames stopped by to sit in. Three tourists from Baton Rouge also stopped, Trampus, Hillary, and Will. I saw Will had a guitar and invited him to jam with us.  Of course I asked my favorite question, what inspires you? (Sunrise, People, Love).

In this clip, Will borrows my guitar for a spontaneous cover of Sam Smith's 'Stay With Me'

This is a perfect example of what it's like to perform in one of the busiest stations in NYC.

co-edited by Ian James MacRae Jackson

Rose Mandolin jam @Penn Station

I met Rose all the way from Victoria Island, BC, while I was performing in LIRR Penn Station, excited to her mandolin case I urged her to jam, and she did.  What a treat to play with another female musician, not something you see much in the subway.

What inspires Rose besides music? New York City of course

co-edited by Ian James MacRae Jackson

8 String Guitar Jam inspired Vincent Denis

I met Vincent when he auditioned at the Music Under NY Auditions (he's also in the clip I made about the auditions for my Inspiration Project series).

One day Vincent showed up while I was playing in LIRR Penn Station and we jammed. What inspires Vincent? music and people and the chance to play.

 What's Your Inspiration?

thanks to Ian James MacRae Jackson for co-editing this clip

Winner Best Documentary Web Series

What an honor to have been selected as Best Documentary Web Series at this years Chain Film Festival.  Only in their second year and this is the first time they have added a web series category. All I can say is for years I haven't thought of myself as a film maker, just someone who has captured my experience in short vignettes on my flip camera. Those who have been involved, the musicians, the commuters, the passersby who have answered a simple yet complex question "What's your inspiration?" captured on film, have caught the imagination of those watching.  Congratulations to you all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQC6Jwf7ops&index=1&list=PL01109F04C202C9FC

here are the films I submitted, the Inspiration Project:


Chain Film Fest selected Inspiration Project films

The Inspiration Project series episode Music Under New York auditions 2013 and my short film The Inspiration Project are both official selections in the Chain NYC Film Festival 21-28 45 Rd Long Island City, NY 11101

The second and last screening will be this Thursday August 14th at 9pm.  It would be wonderful if you could join me at the screening.  If you can not attend, I have attached the films below, including links to rate the film, which I would much appreciate. There is even a space to write a review if you are so inclined. These films are what I call "lo-fi with hi-human content." The only cost in making them is my time and passion (which is actually more than you can imagine). To be able to share with you the stories of the people I meet and what inspires them in short clips is inspirational to me, and to be selected to screen at a film festival is very gratifying.

The Inspiration Project short film you can rate here on the Chain Film Fest website

Music Under New York Auditions 2013: The Inspiration Project web series, you can rate here on the Chain Film Fest website

Picked from hundreds of submissions from all over the world, The Chain NYC Film Festival is presenting 108 films. From short documentaries to full length narratives and web series; encompassing work from filmmakers in Australia, Belgium, F…

Picked from hundreds of submissions from all over the world, The Chain NYC Film Festival is presenting 108 films. From short documentaries to full length narratives and web series; encompassing work from filmmakers in Australia, Belgium, France, UK as well as our own Long Island City; an innovative and diverse set of topics is curated in thematic groups, featuring both indie actors on the brink of stardom as well as actors such as Academy Award Nominee Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight), Louis Lombardi (The Sopranos), Nicholas Brendon (Xander from Buffy), and the debut lead performance of 2014 Miss Golden Globes, Sosie Bacon (Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick’s daughter).
 
Films will be presented on a rotating schedule from August 4 through August 17.Tickets are $10 for all performances. For more information please visit www.chainfilmfestival.com.

Prideful NYC 2014

In Celebration of Gay Pride week in NYC here is a tribute from my archives

Matthew Hamilton featured in this clip wrote to me in a recent post, "I got to walk my Mom down the aisle and give her away at her wedding last year. It was far and away one of the best days of my life."  

Now that's what I call inspiration at it's fullest.

What's your inspirational story?

Rick Miramontez Broadway's Charmer

Seeing the fun article about Rick Miramontez in the NY Times Today by Patrick Healy, made me think of the time when I filmed Rick for my Inspiration Project.  Made in 2011 at the Premiere of Nico Muhly's Dark Sister produced by Music Theatre Group.

What inspires Rick?  Colors and Music!

 What's Your Inspiration? 
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Mitch Goldstein HooplaHa.com inspired

At the 27th annual Music Under New York auditions I interviewed Mitch Goldstein from HooplaHa.com about what inspired him to do a story on the musicians auditioning.

Here's some of the artists and interviews he captured during the auditions.

and here's the list of the musicians who auditioned and made it into the program!

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