Happy, Sexy New Year!

Here, finally, is one of the two projects I started this past summer at Dance for the Camera 

(at Media Net in Victoria, 

British Columbia - "video camp".)

This 3-minute study was made with no rehearsal, two cameras and the lovely Monica Campbell. Those who know me well won't be surprised to see a video celebration of a woman's evening bath ... is there such thing as a room of one's own?

I'm sharing this unfinished etude here on the blog because I don't plan to submit it to film festivals. So, as the week of the NYC Dance Films Association Festival begins at the Walter Reade Theater, you can enjoy Caught Looking in a room of your own.

PLEASE COMMENT! 

Maybe you can suggest a score...?
Is it way too artsy?
The editing not playful enough?
Do you want more of a pay-off?
Of course there will be no re-shoot, but your comments might lead me to some illuminating re-evaluation of my editing options.

And if this one draws any interest, I'm planning on posting the second etude - one which I did on the last day of the workshop, with one camera in 3 outdoor locations - a man and a woman in a convertible as the sun sets.

Speak up! Watch it through! Vote!

And have a happy, sexy New Year.

DEAR COLLABORATORS,

Dear Collaborators -

Yes, I miss YOU too!

Check out my blogspot (the poor man's website) for a quick slide show I made of Gary Tacon's still photographs of our November shoot

http://martarenzi.blogspot.com

I'm just getting the hang of my new Mac, but I'll begin editing our footage soon. I hope to have my own little film festival - some rough version of CHEKHOV and the newly-finished BRICKTOWN - sometime in early 2008.

Thanks again for all your wonderful work!

Best,

THE HARD SELL

(Because this is a hard sell, you'll get the pitch first, followed by the rationale.) 

The Pitch: 

 For any contribution of $25 or more, you will receive a handsome box of greeting cards, with a dozen color images from past and future dance videos: BRICKTOWN, CHEKHOV, THE WELCOME TABLE, TENDERNESS, and PORCH STORIES. (Click on the button at the end of this post to preview these images drawn from 2 years of recent work.) 

You can make your contribution to AND DANCERS, INC. by using the handy "donation" button on the right-hand side of this page. 

Or you can mail it to me at: 

And Dancers, Inc. 

12 Castle Heights Avenue 

Nyack, NY 10960 

The Rationale: 

The rationale usually includes proof that your contribution is needed, or that the recipient is worthy. Both are true. 

As to worthiness, this has been a productive year for me: 

February 

 The 7-minute dance video THAW was completed, and has been screened several times since, most recently at FRAME 2007 in Porto, Portugal 

June 

A sweaty residency at Garnerville Arts & Industrial Center, with a memorable performance, leading to the completion of BRICKTOWN, a 12-minute video featuring the music of Erik Friedlander, now being submitted to various film festivals. August 

My "video camp" experience at MediaNet in Victoria, British Columbia where I participated in a workshop called Dance for the Camera. I haven't turned in my book report yet, because I'm still working on the two short studies I made there. If you'll allow me an extension, I hope to have them blog-ready by 2008. November 

On a glorious weekend in early November, we shot my latest dance/narrative, tentatively called AT CHEKHOV CREEK. Shooting it was a dream, with the same crew as PORCH STORIES, and a cast that featured long-time Project Co. collaborators Marta Miller and Robert Sorrentino - as well as actor David Strathairn. 

 As to need, a laundry list will suffice: 

more memory for the computer on which I edit all this work entry fees for film festival submissions additional (deferred) pay for cast & crew of CHEKHOV printing of the lovely greeting cards themselves a fund that will allow for not-so-shoestring productions, including more rehearsal time pre-production You get the idea. You've probably been generous to me in the past, and if you've read this far, that alone is a kind of generosity. 

Thanks for being there. 

Say good night, Gracie.