October 03, 2007
Daft Hands
In case you're not one of the 4+ million people who've seen this video on YouTube, behold Daft Hands, created by Carleton College student Austin Hall. Apparently, Hall was inspired by the Carleton Singing Knights performing an a cappella version of Daft Punk's “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.”
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 01:16 AM | Comments (5)
August 24, 2007
Real Reality TV
This is a behind-the-scenes video from SPNN's Real Reality TV. St. Paul High School Students work with filmmaker Jenny Hanson and Joanna Kohler through the Connections Program to create three short documentary films.
Check out the press release and the Real Reality TV blog to watch the full documentaries, starting Saturday 8/25.
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 02:19 AM | Comments (1)
August 22, 2007
Sound Unseen 2007
The SOUND UNSEEN film festival kicks off tonight (Wed, 8/22) at the Riverview Theater with 7 Nights in the Entry – a concert film shot in 1981 featuring performances by Husker Du, The Replacements, Fine Art, The Dads, Things That Fall Down, Hypstrz, and more.
Find all festival films here and festival events here.
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 12:59 AM | Comments (1)
August 09, 2007
Battle Buddies
Filmmaker Andrew Govier made a 3-part documentary about life in the Buffalo, MN-based 353rd Transportation Company of the U.S. Army Reserve. This is Part II, where the group heads to Iraq.
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 04:02 AM | Comments (0)
July 20, 2007
Reclaiming Our World
Hey kids - don't do meth!
This is a scene from The Northern Lights: Shining the Light on the Meth-edemic, a Minnesota-filmed documentary about a small town making a stand against methamphetamine. The stories are based upon real interviews. Visit themethedemic.com for more info, including a movie making contest.
MINNESOTA STORIES IN THE NEWS
Thanks to the users of Vita.mn for voting MN Stories #4 in Best Local Blogs!
Also, check out this swell NewTeeVee.com interview.
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 12:59 AM | Comments (3)
July 19, 2007
I Hate My Job
A music video for the people. Song composed and performed by Marla Goodman. Animation by John Akre of Sloppy Films.
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 12:17 AM | Comments (4)
July 12, 2007
Minnesota Climbing
Wade Johnson is a recent Carleton graduate and rock climber. Some folks might think the entire Midwest is flat. Clearly those people have never visited Red Wing, Taylors Falls, or the North Shore. In this 10 minute documentary, Wade follows his climbing crew in each of those places, and learns what drives them to climb.
If you're impatient, don't miss the action in the middle (4:00 - 6:30). You'll really feel what it's like to grapple a difficult rock with your bare hands.
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 01:15 AM | Comments (3)
July 06, 2007
Sex Ed and the State
Everyone's buzzing about Michael Moore's Sicko, which you can download online. On September 20, 2007, Sex Ed and The State screens at Riverview Theater in Minneapolis. It's a balanced look at an important health care issue, right in our own backyard.
From the web site: "When a bill is supported by strong research, a Surgeon General's report, and an overwhelming majority of Americans - what happens when it's introduced in the Minnesota State legislature?
RELATED LINK:
City Pages review
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 04:04 AM | Comments (0)
June 05, 2007
Impaler trailer
On Friday, January the 13th, 2006 Jonathon Sharkey became a candidate for the Governor of Minnesota. Jonathon is a Satanic Dark Priest, Sanguinarian Vampyre and a Hecate Witch. The announcement of his candidacy marked the beginning of the largest amount of media coverage ever given to an unknown third party candidate for Governor in our nation's history.
More info: Impaler documentary web site
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 01:57 AM | Comments (1)
April 27, 2007
Rising Stars
RISING STARS is a video made with blind and visually impaired students at Minnesota State Academy for the Blind. It plays on public television in Minnesota, TPT-17, on Sunday April 29 at 9:30pm.
Directed by Media Mike with support from Young Audiences and V S A arts of Minnesota, this film made by blind and low vision kids shines.
Learn more: The Center for International Education
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 01:25 AM | Comments (5)
April 20, 2007
Al Milgrom's Filmfest Picks
The 25th annual Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival is in high gear, and who better to help us navigate the celluloid treasures than the legend himself, Al Milgrom.
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 04:06 AM | Comments (3)
April 12, 2007
Arid Lands
Arid Lands takes us into a world of sports fishermen, tattoo artists, housing developers, ecologists, and radiation scientists living and working near the Hanford nuclear site in southeastern Washington state. Sixty years ago, Hanford produced plutonium for the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, and today the area is the focus of the largest environmental cleanup in history. Arid Lands tells the story of how people changed the landscape over time, and how the landscape affected their lives.
Arid Lands was produced by Minnesota filmmakers Grant Aaker & Josh Wallaert. The film makes its Midwestern debut at The Bell Auditorium. Thursday, April 12, 7 pm. 10 Church St. SE Minneapolis. Followed by a panel discussion with co-director Josh Wallaert and University of Minnesota geographers Bruce Braun and George Henderson. Tickets $5 and $7 at the door.
Related Links:
City Pages review
MN Daily review
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 04:50 AM | Comments (2)
March 26, 2007
Her River
HER RIVER is a short documentary by 2007 IFP Access Grant winner, Valerie Duvernet.
Minnesota native Sheila Grogan stays true to the deep values of her roots despite brutal betrayal by her husband, IBM's CFO. What does it mean to win? "It doesn't matter whether you win or loose; it's how you play the game that counts." OR "The ends justify the means."
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 12:11 AM | Comments (1)
February 22, 2007
Wargoon Flishe trailer
John Akre, fervent non-driver and the filmmaker behind Sloppy Films, is debuting his animated masterpiece Wargoon Flishe at the Bedlam Theatre on Sunday, February 25th at 7 p.m.
Check out the diary for deeper thoughts, such as this one:
when i have created a big project, and just finished it, i am in a magical mind. i am talking about the time between the point at which i consider the project finished and the time i actually show it to other people. this is a magical time because i am usually so in love with the thing i have created, so amazed that it is actually done, that i am filled from top to bottom with a kind of joy. but i also have come to realize that this joy will not last.
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 04:51 AM | Comments (1)
January 31, 2007
Reflection
The third installment of the ifp/perpich center for arts education.
Life is uncertain. we're constantly searching. things flicker in the distance reminding us of a dream we had. We are watching our life through someone elses eyes.
The filmmakers: Grant Bielefeld, Laura Mobley, Allison Olson, Patricia Towey
MORE FROM THIS SERIES:
The Marshmallow Invasion
Birth
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 07:12 PM | Comments (0)
January 19, 2007
Marshmallow Invasion
The boring. The mundane. And hence, the laundromat. But it all gets interesting when marshmallows are involved. The second collaboration from IFP/Perpich Center for the Arts.
SEE ALSO: Birth
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 12:43 PM | Comments (0)
September 29, 2006
Chasing Windmills (Overture)
Chasing Windmills is one of the most groundbreaking and addictive videoblogs on the planet. Lucky us, they're right in our urban backyard. Season Two started this week, and this is a prelude to what we're in for. You might recognize some local geek celebs in starring roles: Steve Marsh, Alexis (in character), Max Sparber, Brand & Butter boys, Amber.
If you're new to Chasing Windmills, head over to the blog and watch the first episode from Sept. 25. Then watch the second episode, Adamant. Seriously - do this. Now prepare to have your mind blown. eBay auction from our anti-hero. Brilliant.
RELATED LINKS:
WCCO Story
Chasing Windmills Interactivity Model
MORE MINNESOTA VLOG NEWS
Dispatches from the Frozen North - now with video
Wanda Wisdom in hot pursuit of Michele Bachmann
Mooki our cat does battle with a cereal box
Melt your brain courtesy of David Howell
As always, your comments and videos are welcome. Have a great weekend!
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 05:47 AM | Comments (5)
June 26, 2006
Film Film
Film Film was made by Media Mike with people of all ages at IFP Minnesota’s open house last year. Media Mike is also offering a Video Adventure at IFP Minnesota’s Center for Media Arts for kids ages 12-15, July 10-14, 2006. For more info, call Allison Herrera at 651.644.1912 or email her at aherrera@ifpmn.org or visit http://www.ifpmsp.org/.
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 02:43 AM | Comments (3)
June 09, 2006
Brewing Democracy
A new documentary by Beth Peloff asks the question, "Are we prepared for true democracy?" A group of beer-lovin' friends decide to start a beer brewing business that they'll own and manage collectively. However, tension mounts as it becomes clear that individuals within the collective have different ideas about where their collaboration is heading.
Premieres Saturday, June 10, 7PM @ Art Of This Gallery. They're located at 3222 Bloomington Ave S. More info here.
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 04:00 AM | Comments (2)
May 30, 2006
Gay Hip-Hop Film
Tonight, as part of the Flaming Film Festival, is your only chance to see Pick Up the Mic, a documentary about the gay hip-hop scene. (No, I didn't know there was a gay hip-hop scene either.) Minneapolis rapper Tori Fixx is featured in the film. Catch it Tuesday, May 30 @ 9PM at the Suburban World Theater.
(Thanks Emily Goldberg for the tip!)
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 12:51 AM | Comments (5)
May 09, 2006
Hat O' Liver
A short, dark film "with political implications," I am told. Genuinely creepy in a David Lynch sort of way.
FILMMAKER: Chris Nystrom
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 12:46 AM | Comments (5)
April 17, 2006
Resonance
For the last year, filmmaker Paul Creager has been researching the story of the how a centuries-old Japanese temple bell found its way to the city of Duluth, Minnesota in 1947. His research has turned into an adventure and feature-length documentary called Resonance: The Odyssey of the Bells which just received the Japan Foundation's annual international TV and Film Production support grant for 2006.
Paul writes:
"What began with research on a little known MN story has now grown into a full scale international documentary film project that has taken me to Japan two times in the last year and England this May. This is my first film. Production/research is scheduled to be wrapped by the fall of 2006 and the film completed by early 2007."
Paul also organizes the Square Lake Solstice Festival. Now in its 5th year, the festival will feature a commissioned film score and headlining set by Low, and they're accepting local animation and film submissions. Send your work on dvd in mpeg format and bio to:
Square Lake Productions
972 Geranium Ave. East
Saint Paul, MN 55106
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 04:04 AM | Comments (1)
April 05, 2006
By Hand and Heart
From filmmaker Christine Sweet:
By Hand and Heart: The Poetry of American Sign Language (ASL) is a documentary work-in-progress about the visual poetry of a non-word-based language, and it is also about an art form: ASL poetry. The project, supported by an access grant from IFP Minnesota, originated with my curiosity about sign language. I had no previous acquaintance with Deaf culture or people other than a basic course in ASL. My goal is to introduce other hearing viewers to the richness of Deaf language and also spotlight some of the cultural barriers between hearing and Deaf. I'm grateful for the participation of local Twin Cities' Deaf community members you'll see in this trailer: Deaf poet Cara Barnett, some of her third-grade students at St. Paul's Metro Deaf School, Deaf storyteller Estella Bustamante performing for a mixed audience of Deaf and hearing children, ASL interpreters Patty Gordon, Susan Boinis, and Anthony Verdeja, and Anna Saindon, ASL student at The College of St. Catherine.
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 03:48 AM | Comments (11)
March 28, 2006
BOXERS Update
Can someone please explain why women aren't allowed to box in the Olympics? Ridiculoso!
This is an update from Joanna Kohler's BOXERS, a documentary about the women boxers at Uppercut Boxing Gym in NE Minneapolis. [trailer]
Rachel Schley, one of the women in BOXERS, is on her way to USA Boxing Nationals in Colorado at the Olympic training facilities. Rachel has won state and regionals. The boxers at Nationals are competing for a spot on the USA Olympic Boxing Team... except the women boxers. There is no women's Olympic team. If she wins and is ranked number one in the nation... she gets a sweat suit. USA Nationals will be held March 5th-11th.
USA Boxing is helping to lodge and give travel stipens to the men competing. They will not financially aid any of the women competing in the National's Tournament.
. . .
Oh, there's a new MookiTV video too.
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 12:31 AM | Comments (0)
March 13, 2006
Man & Machine
This? This is just amazing. Here's what you're about to see:
A new trailer from the forthcoming documentary from Jesse Roesler, Man and Machine. Enter a world of naked robot orchestras, bicycle symphonies, and inimitable musical madness; all born from the beautifully eccentric union of the Logos Duo. See more about the film at www.spectaclepictures.org.
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 01:39 AM | Comments (3)
March 03, 2006
Melody Gilbert
Melody Gilbert is a documentary rock star. A force of nature. And yet, many of us know her first as a teacher. From her days teaching documentary at the University of Minnesota to MN Docuclub and her infamous IFP Documentary bootcamps, many dozens of camera-weilding truth-seekers have been inspired by Melody's words and deeds.
This video follows her critically acclaimed film A Life Without Pain from it's premiere at the SXSW Film Festival last year, to it's Sundance Channel premiere a few days ago.
Posted by Minnesota Stories at 03:28 AM | Comments (5)