Actor Stephen Lang stepped out of the set of White Irish Drinkers to be photographed by Eugene Pierce during the production of this independent film, set in 1970’s Brooklyn.
Director John Gray chose Bay Ridge, NY to be the location for most of the 16 days of shooting. Responsible not only for the script but the bulk of the film’s financing, Gray didn’t have the pressure of a major studio looking over his shoulder but took on the responsibility for every aspect on the making of this indie drama.
Although the script did not require the creation of blue Na’vis to co-star with Stephen Lang, special effects were needed. One of the scenes includes a 3000 crowd of screaming fans at a Rolling Stones’ concert that had to be created from an actual 100 people present. That task was coordinated by Patrick Walsh from Walsh Family Media, an animation company and visual effects studio in NY.
Actors and crew of independent film industry deal with humble setups in comparison to Hollywood standards but once in a while their efforts pay off. White Irish Drinkers was just included in the official selection of the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival. The movie will come into theaters soon.
When Gene and I were digging through his negatives the other night we found some photographs he shot of Mireille Guiliano, former President and CEO of VeuveClicquot. I asked him: so what did you talk about? He said the obvious: “Champagne”.
Those who know me are aware of my dreadful cooking skills. At best, I am a well intended cook. Some dear friends even tried to assist me by giving me great vegetarian books with no avail. So when I picked up Mireille Guiliano’s books on French cooking it was common knowledge that I should just stick to some basic American classics like spaguettios and hamburgers (the veggie and frozen ones) and leave the Julia Child in me in its hibernating state.
But I couldn’t put her books down. Mireille Guiliano’s descriptions of petit-fours and croissants were only overshadowed by the prospect of using thyme, leeks, shallots and lavender on everyday cooking. Add to that the rituals of a glass of wine as a quotidian act; and off course all bubbly details about Champagne from Madame Clicquot’s cellars.
But there is more than Duck Breast ‘A la Gascone or Rack of Lamb Persillage on Mireille Guiliano’s books. Its pages intermingle french cuisine recipes with rendezvous through Paris and its sister city, New York; The routine of a business women in a field over taken by not so cavalier men; the lifestyle of meetings in multiple continents and simultaneously keeping a lasting and happy marriage; And the set example of a woman content in spite the fact she chose not to be a mother. Something this baby driven society of ours was making me believe was not possible. And how could any woman not respect a writer that dedicates an entire chapter to “Bread and Chocolate” and tell us all: savour.
Gordon Parks, Photograph - Copyright Eugene Pierce
When I received an email from artist Charles King, it was a surprise. Why would someone bother to ask permission to paint one of my photographs? If he had gotten a copy of the photo online and used it to create his painting, it would’ve been just one more copyright violation of my work to be added to a long list of small blogs, newspapers or renown magazines that have repeatedly done the same.
In the electronic age, Copyright laws that protect an artist’s intellectual property rights have become less and less effective. In addition, the recent Orphan Works Act legislation allows “good-faith” users of copyrighted material to publish any work, as long as they performed a “diligent search” but cannot locate the copyright owner. These complexities, make it a challenge for many visual artists to protect their work today.
When I discover a copyright violation, my interest is not trying to make the highest profit, but only to be paid what would’ve initially cost if it had been negotiated with me in the first place. Instead, the response is usually one of resistance, claims of ignorance of the law, and in cases of large publications or corporations, stalling tactics that make legal cases so vastly expensive that do not allow working photographers, such as myself, to pursue a fair resolve of infringements of the laws that were originally intended to protect us.
It’s comforting to know that if not as a right, permission to use someone’s work at least exist as a courtesy among fellow artists.
A typical reunion would include High-School classmates, 20 -year-old co-workers or a pious Church group. But in Lawrenceville, NJ a bar reunion made just as much sense.
Since what is learned in a bar is as important as a teacher’s lesson; the regular’s faces are seen as frequently as of your fellow workers, and the night-out can be as religious as Sunday mass, it was only natural for Cindy and John Muscente to organize such an event. They welcomed into their home, customers of the Merry-go-round. And they came. Close to 300 people gathered in memory of the bar. Many brought their families to share stories of a place that a new generation won’t get to see. At least, not as a drinking establishment. Merry-go-round housed a string of unsuccessful businesses since its closing. And it’s for now, a Chinese restaurant.
At Merry-go-round, locals young and old mixed; Jersey Rock band’s showcased their talents; and anyone could go grab a cold beer at the end of the day. The match-makings were as typical as the eventual fights which made the police show up at times. You would think that when a bar goes out of business, its clientele would move on to the next joint. But as you can see, that isn’t the case.
It used to be the St. Michael’s Orphan Asylum and Industrial School. Built in 1896, the original Home expanded over time to be a five story, 450 child capacity, stone building but was eventually deactivated in 1973, and its structure is no longer standing. This was an orphan land, having parts of its property rented to various farmers since the orphanage’s closing. In 2005, The Trenton Diocese approached D&R Greenway Land Trust proposing to preserve its acres of farmland and woods. It was a chance to prevent its 222 acres from being turned until a development. St. Michael’s land could have easily hosted from 150 to about 1.020 houses, which would have more than doubled the number of existing households in Hopewell Borough and potentially changed the lifestyle of the residents of this historic village.
But now, St. Michael’s Preserve is one of the newest farmland incorporated to D&R Greenway Land Trust. The Preserve includes farm roads as well as The Hopewell Valley Trail Run on the non-agricultural open space portions of the property that will be accessible to the public for walking, horseback riding and nature study. Its wooded areas will be preserved for conservation.
To celebrate the permanent protection of the St. Michael’s Farmland, about 30 local artists visited the preserve to register its landscape. As a result, an outdoor exhibition and art sale will take place during an inauguration event on Saturday June 12th, 2010.
Jennifer Cabral is one of the participating artists. A small selection of her prints made on Fine Art Bamboo and Sugar Cane recycled paper will be up for sale during D&R Greenway’s event. 35% of the proceeds will go to D&R Greenway Farm Trust to support its mission to preserve and care for natural and agricultural lands and historic landscapes in New Jersey. For more information and schedule visit: www.drgreenway.org
Monday. 6:00 AM. Manasquan, NJ. The ocean seems untouchable. Uneasiness settles. Its rhythms have been broken. Its permanence betrayed. Blame their neglect. Condemn their greed. But who drove the car? Who pumped the gas? Who asked for more?
