I’ve got some great news. Co-Director Elaine McMillion and I were in Los Angeles this weekend for The Caucus Foundation Awards Dinner. The Caucus gave us a grant last year for The Lower 9.
To our surprise, we were given another award for The Lower 9, the Gold Circle Award. This award includes a $20,000 post-production package from the Hollywood based company HTV/illuminate and will be applied to our next film. So awesome!
Thank you again for all your support. We’re waiting to hear back from film festivals and will let you know once we know.
This Sunday (December 4, 2011), Director Matthew Hashiguchi and Co-Director Elaine McMillion will be in Los Angeles for the Caucus Foundation Awards Dinner. The Lower 9: A Story of Home was awarded a grant from The Caucus for Producers, Writers and Director’s. It’s a very exciting and prestigious awards that both Matthew and Elaine are honored to receive.
We’ve just signed a distribution contract with the company Third World Newsreel, which primarily distributes to educational institutions like colleges and universities.
In 2012, Third World Newsreel will begin to offer The Lower 9 as a film to include in school and college curriculum’s. This is extremely flattering, as we hoped this film would educate and inform.
I spent the morning with Battle Ground Baptist Church in the Lower Ninth Ward. Their church was HEAVILY flooded and damaged after Katrina. They have not been able to rebuild their church and still need help repairing their building.
They’ve been renting a church in New Orleans called Greater Hill of Zion Baptist Church. It’s a shame that they haven’t been able to rebuild their place of worship. The congregation still gathers every Sunday and Tuesday and needs help.
If you’d like to help Battle Ground Baptist E-MAIL us and we’ll lead you to the right people.
Emerson College in Boston, MA published an article on Matthew Hashiguchi, Elaine McMillion and The Lower 9: A Story of Home documentary.
The Caucus for Producers, Writers & Directors Foundation is a nonprofit founded in 2000 to promote diversity in the entertainment industry through content and the personnel behind the camera. Its primary goal is to help launch the professional careers of student filmmakers from groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in the film, video, and television industry. It achieves its goal through its grants and mentoring programs. Through its grants program, student filmmakers from diverse backgrounds receive financial assistance to complete their thesis projects.
The Lower 9: A Story of Home, will have a SNEAK PREVIEW screening tonight at Paramount Theatre’s Kevin Bright Screening Room in Boston, Massachusetts. The Lower 9: A Story of Home will be shown in combination with other documentary films of all lengths.
The Festival starts at 7pm in the Kevin Bright Theater.
This is a very cool interactive feature in The New York Times on the Lower Ninth Ward. It has 4 videos that play parallel with eachother that show the same street in the Lower Nine from 2006-2010.
Sankofa Literary Society has named “UNTOLD: The New Orleans 9th Ward You Never Knew,” the 2010 Book of the Year by the network of organized, independent book and social clubs.
The book is written by Lower Ninth Ward native Lynette Norris Wilkinson, it details her experience and memories of growing up in the Lower Ninth Ward.
These are the most important stories that should be told about New Orleans.
The Lower 9: A Story of Home will have a SNEAK PREVIEW showing at the 33rd Big Muddy Film Festival in Carbondale, Illinois on Sunday, Feb 20, 2011 at 7:30pm.
This Abandoned Six Flags video has been making the rounds this week. I remember hearing about it when we were filming in New Orleans, we drove by it a few times but never had the courage to enter. Great job, whoever made it.
I’m working on the title sequence for The Lower 9 in After Effects. I’m fairly new to the program so I’m basically learning as I create. I’m making still images of some After Effects compositions. When it’s animated and in video format the camera will be flying around the room looking at all the contained items.
French online news outlet France24.com recently interviewed Director Matthew Hashiguchi and Mack McClendon for a story on the Lower Ninth Ward. It can be viewed here.
By Perrine MOUTERDE / Tony Todd (text)
The defining images of the Katrina Hurricane came from New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward: submerged buildings and stranded residents perched on the roofs of their ruined homes. Five years on, the district is still feeling the pain. It is five years since the levees broke and floodwaters spilled onto the streets of New Orleans after a storm of biblical proportions. Hurricane Katrina was one the deadliest (more than 1,800 people died) and certainly the costliest extreme weather event in US history.
New Orleans is still struggling to recover, while vast swathes of Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf coast that were laid waste face renewed uncertainty as the impact of the BP oil spill starts to be felt.
‘Ground Zero’
If there is one symbol of the devastating power of Katrina, it is the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans – Katrina’s “Ground Zero”. This district, already poor and 95% black, was almost completely submerged when the levees broke. In some places, the water was six metres deep. Hundreds, if not thousands, of buildings were destroyed. The ward produced the defining – and tragic – images of the disaster: hundreds of stranded residents sitting on the roofs of their ruined homes, waiting in the blistering heat for rescue.Five years on, three quarters of the district’s residents have not come back. Some plots have been redeveloped, but many more lie fallow, with weeds and grasses slowly taking over the abandoned buildings. “It’s very sad,” resident Mack McClendon tells FRANCE 24. “This neighborhood was the hardest hit and most of our community is still spread across the country. It’s not acceptable. “Before, this neighbourhood was like a village, it was a great community, very animated.“There were problems, the schools could have been better, but now we only have one. We have no infrastructure, no drug stores, no supermarkets, no community centres.” While much of the rest of New Orleans is getting back on its feet – the historic and popular French quarter is almost back to normal with tourist dollars begging to flow – the Lower Ninth Ward remains stuck in limbo. The authorities, having spent millions on reinforcing the levees (dykes), were unwilling to invest in a zone of the city while it was at risk of new flooding. Filmmaker Matthew Hashiguchi, has taken a special interest in the district and has produced a documentary charting its progress. “I was surprised that the area wasn’t improving at the same rate as the rest of New Orleans,” he says. “I don’t think it was intentional but other parts of the city attract more tourism. “The Lower 9th now looks like a farm. For every house that is lived in, two are vacant. In the northern end of the neighbourhood it is just grass. The hurricane is constantly on people’s minds, but they know how to live – despite all these problems people remain very positive. But this neighborhood will never be what it once was.”
New Orleans not the only victim
But New Orleans’ Lower Ninth wasn’t the only place that was wrecked by Katrina.The storm devastated a huge swathe of the south-eastern United States, destroying homes and livelihoods across Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Teacher Jimmy Wilson remembers how his house in Lamar Country, Mississippi, was in the eye of the hurricane, the epicentre of destruction around which limbs of trees “flew like torpedoes”. Two thirds of his town’s homes were made uninhabitable. “Obviously it was nothing like what happened to New Orleans,” he tells FRANCE 24. “But along the Mississippi Gulf coast there were far more deaths, far more houses destroyed. “Mississippi bore the brunt of Hurricane Katrina.” Mr Wilson says a spirit of cooperation kicked in – people looked after their neighbors and local church groups did everything they could to bring help. He also rejects the accusation that the government was slow to react to the people’s plight. “The local authorities did everything they could,” he says. “Their focus was on taking care of the citizens. And the Federal Government did everything they could to help the local authorities reach us. And how could any government have been fully prepared for a disaster like Katrina?” Close to five years after the hurricane, things had been looking up for the Gulf Coast. There were still abandoned houses in Lamar County, but the economy had rebounded and things were getting back to normal. And then came the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and with it, a new feeling of uncertainty. “Most of the economy here is based on oil and fishing,” he says. “Now the beaches are closed, the fishing industry faces uncertainties and the president has imposed a moratorium on further oil drilling.”
I Put together a short video on Beverly Kimble Davis, a lifelong resident of New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina Artist. She’s been very vocal about the killings and crimes that had been committed by the New Orleans Police Department following Hurricane Katrina. You can view more of her work at .
The Lower Ninth Ward Village will be holding a community celebration Saturday, June 4, for all of those looking for a fun way to spend the day.
The Village , which is located at 1001 Charbonnet Street in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, will be hosting live performances from local artists among other entertainment tomorrow from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
We had the privilege of talking with and interviewing Sandos “Sam” McGee, who has lived in the Lower Ninth Ward his entire life. Sam is a Vietnam Veteran who experienced Hurricane Katrina firsthand. He lost his home, many friends and was hospitalized for 1 year and 1 day after the storm. He’s lived a long, hard life and was more than willing to share his stories and experiences with us.
Throughout much of his life he enjoyed reading and drawing cartoons. Currently, He spends most of his time drawing cartoons in a Lower Ninth Ward corner store, where he’s become a familiar neighborhood face.
We decided to check out the French Market’s flea market and farmer’s market today. Despite the rainy weather there was alot of activity down near Jackson Square and the French Quarter.
While walking along Royal Street we were introduced to a talented New Orleans jazz band called, The Smoking Time Jazz Club. They had great energy and drew a huge crowd in the street. Matt purchased one of their cd’s for $10 so we could take them back home with us.
Also on the streets were protestors against the massive oil spill in the Gulf. The crowd rallied against BP and encouraged boycotting the corporation as tourists rode by in horse-drawn wagons.
Yesterday evening we had the pleasure of meeting Beverly Kimble Davis. Davis lived in the lower ninth ward many times throughout her childhood and adult life. She said the ward has a special place in her heart; she even chose the neighborhood as the place to raise her children. Her fondest memories are those spent on the front porches chatting with her neighbors and wandering along the levee under the stars at night.
Davis works full-time at Dillard University but is an avid Katrina artist in her hours off. With no formal training, Davis creates paintings that not only display the horrors of Hurricane Katrina and the days following, but provide factual and historical details through text. Her style of artwork is very unique; it was very interesting to learn more about her as a resident of New Orleans and an artist.
Leo Gant and Donna Williams (formerly Gant) grew up in the lower ninth ward as the son and daughter of a preacher. Their father, Pastor William C. Gant Sr., became the 7th leader of the Battle Ground Baptist Church in 1955 and served until 1986. Floodwaters from Hurricane Katrina destroyed the church and scattered church membership all over the United States. Members now meet at a separate location but strive to rebuild their church. Leo and Donna shared their memories growing up with their father and the values he instilled in both of them. They shared interesting stories about getting baptized in the Mississippi River at the age of 12 and collecting mulberries.
We interviewed and hung out with Stanley Stewart today at his home and auto body shop. It was a sweltering 95 degree day but it didn’t stop us or Stanley from working.
As filmmakers we are trying to use our resources to help those in the lower ninth ward. Since we are both on tight budgets, making a monetary donation to nonprofit organizations and individuals is nearly impossible. However, we can help others spread the word about their mission and culture through short documentary videos online.
So that’s exactly what we are doing. So far we have completed two short videos featuring longtime residents of the lower ninth ward. We hope through the power of the internet these videos will reach those who can help this part of New Orleans that is the last to receive help.
To watch the video about The Lower Ninth Ward Village and their efforts to be a strong center for the community click here.
To hear about the House of Dance and Feathers click here
We interviewed Ronald Lewis, a longtime resident of the lower ninth ward, last Thursday. Lewis is the founder, curator and director of the House of Dance and Feathers. The House of Dance and Feathers honors the cultural traditions of the Mardi Gras Indians and Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs of New Orleans, with an emphasis on the social and cultural history of the Lower Ninth Ward.
Lewis shared memories of his mother’s home cooking, fishing as a child, meeting his wife for the first time and recalled the first time he ever picked up a needle and thread when he began following the Mardi Gras Indians.
Lewis is a well-known figure in the media and has been featured in NPR broadcasts as well as in Dan Baum’s book “Nine Lives: Mystery, Magic, Death, and Life in New Orleans.”
We filmed inside a house that was full of musical instruments and equipment. It was a big house that looked like it was used for band rehearsal. There was a number of hymnals laying around, so we figured it was probably a rehearsal space for a church choir. Rooms were full of items. There was clothing, books, records, guitars, drums and speakers. We only stayed inside the house for a little bit of time because fleas were constantly jumping onto our legs. I think we took about three shots, then left.
Mack at the Lower Ninth Ward Village is starting this project to figure out where his former neighbors in the Lower Ninth Ward are. He wants to know where they are, if they want to move back and why they haven’t moved back. Elaine and I will be making a video for the Village about this project in the hopes of reaching other residents of the Lower Ninth Ward that have been displaced and want to move back.
The strings on the map all lead to a city where a former resident is currently living. The color of each individual string indicates the status of each resident, whether they have moved back, want to move back or don’t want to move back.
Thank you to our friends, family and supporters for donating to The Lower 9 Documentary. We raised a little over $6000 from all of you and are very grateful to have your faith and support. I’ll be updating the website soon to include all who donated. In the meantime, here’s a video.
We just rented an apartment for the summer in the Holy Cross neighborhood. Our landlord has been very helpful and lenient on our time frame, so we’re both pretty glad to be able to get a place in the Lower Ninth Ward. I was told there’s some families and people around, but not all that much populated.
We’re working with Lee Strauss on a new soundtrack for the trailer. He’s a fellow Boston resident that has brought some great music to the project. He wrote a 6-7 minute piece for the trailer that is a great starting point for the film. Take a look at what he did.
We’re also still in our fund raising campaign with KickStarter. We’ve raised $2325 so far. We need $8000 to receive any of this funding. So help if you can. All donations are tax deductible.
From Interactive Media CzarRichard Smyth I learned about a video game based on Hurricane Katrina. You can play it here.
There’s a big “movement” to use video games as an educational tool. Since kids and people play them so much, maybe they can be used to teach as well. I’m not sure if video games can be as strong as a book or documentary about education. The term “game” already implies a certain lightheartedness that most likely won’t be taken seriously. But I guess if it can include lessons and information beneath the guise of fun and games, then it is teaching.
Our KickStarter campaign is going well. We’ve raised $1,875 in a week, which is pretty good. Our goal is $8,000, if we don’t reach that amount in 37 days then we receive nothing. A percentage of any money we raise will also go towards Common Ground Relief, and we’re really hoping that we can also support their organization. If you can help, please do. Donations are 501 c3 tax deductible. $20 goes a long way.
There is a campaign to build a new football field at George Washington Carver High School in the Upper Ninth Ward. Their goal is to raise 1.85 million and are currently at $1,275,206.00. Check out their page HERE.
I was able to meet Dan Baum, the author of “Nine Lives: Mystery, Magic and Life in New Orleans” a few weeks ago. He wrote about New Orleans for The New Yorker shortly after Hurricane Katrina and returned for a few months to write this book. I just bought “Nine Lives” and will be diving in as soon as possible. Click the image to learn more about Dan Baum and the book.
I found this interview of Fats Domino from 2006. I don’t know if he was able to move back into the Lower Ninth Ward, but his outlooks on the situation seemed very uplifting and positive. Check out the video here.
I’d like to set up a Youth Photo Program this Summer in the Lower Ninth Ward. I think art and photography is a great and beneficial activity for kids to have. It’d give them an outlet and allow them to be creative. I wish I had that sort of program at my school when I was a kid, but art and creativity was not something that was emphasized. The program would also get the kids out doors, not that they would need an excuse. It’d be amazing to see what kids would create. I’m going to make this happen.
Co-Director Elaine McMillion recently attended a Trombone Shorty concert in West Virginia. She captured a little bit of the performance. Take a look here. Trombone Shorty will also be playing at this years Bonnaroo Music Festival in Tennessee.
Historic Green began their March 9-March 19 event in the Lower Ninth Ward, in which thousands of volunteers come to the area to work and improve the neighborhood.
Here’s some reasons why you should volunteer.
WHY ATTEND HISTORIC GREEN? We can think of a few good reasons
Restore, Preserve, Sustain – it all sounds good, we know, but there’s something really special going on here. Get hands-on experience with sustainable design and preservation. Make a difference to families in need. And help us green an historic neighborhood on a scale never attempted before – the nation’s first carbon neutral community.
We can think of at least 10 good reasons to join us:
It’s a resume builder: volunteerism attracts the right sort of employer/school/company.
Gain valuable AIA Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and Professional Development Hours (PDHs).
Learn new skills – whether it’s eating crawfish boil for the first time, or how to mesh sustainability with historic construction/deconstruction/renovations).
Make a real, tangible difference in the lives of people.
Support an economy still devastated from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Meet people, make new friends.
Hear some of the best music in the world!
Eat some of the best food in the world!
The experience will make for more than a few good stories.
What else are you going to do with your spring break?
Help Holy Cross is doing a good job at covering it. Keep up with them to follow the progress.
Common Ground Relief has just agreed to be our fiscal sponsor. We’re about to start a fund raising campaign to help fund production. We’ll be encouraging individuals and businesses to donate to our film, in which a percentage will go towards Common Ground Relief. KickStarter.com has invited us to be part of their fundraising network. So once everything is in order, we’ll be doing some raising of funds!
