America IS culture

Posted on 5:59 PM by Rob


Watching the tele and all of the bad news, the blathering on about the market crumbling and all the sky is falling mumbo jumbo... and I can't help but be inspired from where I am. In another arena I would wax poetic and political, maybe at school on Weds I might launch into a polemic worthy of Brooks Atkinson's verbage. But this night, this night I will be content to be inspired by the power of nostalgia and the rising against the adage of "not being able to go home again." This weekend I was pointed in the right direction by John Matthews. John wears so many hats it is hard to mention them all, though I will try: frontman for Strange Things Done In The Midnight Sun, Ginker anthropologist, scourer of 80's youtube clips, etc... John mentioned the EBHS homepage on facebook and I took a gander. Found some stunning Ginker era pics, (1989-91) on the page and immediately followed the link to one Danny Cavanaugh. Within a few hours and a few emails/messages back and forth, he and I were linked inextricably. He gave us permission to use his photos and by doing so both helped our film and highlighted what this process has told me over and over again; that grassroots filmmaking indeed is the voice of the people. Everyone is involved in this - none greater that the sum. 


Thank you to John and to Danny. 

Onto news.

We are gearing up for the fall wrap-up. October 11th we wrap in East Brunswick with an open call for Ginker interviews and a feature interview with Melanie Rodriguez. We move to a return shoot with Scott Schnieder in the end of October and a field trip to shoot some exteriors in early Nov. 

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Keeping the flame lit.

Posted on 7:10 PM by Rob


Some good news prompts this week's post. In 6th grade there was a girl who sat next to me. She was tall, dark-haired, and wore Guns n Roses tees most days to school. Her voice had a bit of rasp and a bit of bass to it, she smoked, she cursed, and mostly, she was the first woman I knew who was my age. A friend of mine told me once she was the first girl who he kissed. In actuality, she kissed him - pulled him off the curb and forced one right on him. They were 12 or so.


Years pass. She finds me on facebook. I really hate those messages for the most part. The how are you, how have you been, catch me up on the last 13 years of your life thing. A few slip through and you're glad. She is one of them. Her messages were the same as her greetings were in the those days of junior high; last names only, some curses dropped for measure. 

She signed on to be filmed for the documentary and I am so glad she did. Of all of the maybe 12 or 15 people I had originally wanted for this film, she was number one or two.
 
Here's to her, Ms. R., and the interview that I know will bring us all back. 

In honor of her, I continue posting pics of our favorite muse, Rachelle, (star of most of our pics). To high school, middle school and all the schools that were breeding grounds for hellions and those that refused to be reformed. 

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Return of the Ginkers

Posted on 7:49 PM by Rob


I began my student teaching internship today. In honor of this, and the many students I may someday teach, I return to the film after a 2 week break and begin a new post. And, I offer a simple picture of a metal girl receiving her diploma from a crusty white dude. Simple enough for me. Hopefully simple enough for all of you.

We return to an almost-completed feature film.  After almost a dozen interviews, the Rucksack Films crew gears up for the final push. It basically amounts to this: 1 or 2 more interviews, and about 10 years of archival basic television footage to peel through. The bitch of it is that scheduling always amounts to delays. Delays equal energy being wasted. All of the crew works, has social / familial obligations. Shoot, a few of them moonlight in various odds and ends working as recording artists, toy designers, even teachers. In the end, it is precisely this working class ethic that binds us together and allows the love to shine through. The sweat makes it all worthwhile.
So coming next, an interview with Mark Nonestied, township historian, author, television host and all around gentleman scholar. We will be filming at the museum in the historic village of Old Bridge. 
After Mark, we aim to film Melanie Rodriguez, the first lady of Ginkers. 
Postings to follow along with updated pics. 

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