Hope everyone is having a restful Memorial Day weekend. I know it’s given me a moment to pause and catch up with everyone. It’s been a long time since many of you have heard from me, as this past season has presented a huge move of locations, careers and life in general. The biggest news is my new job at Broadway.com shooting and editing theater news segments, mini docs, interviews, etc. We recently completed segments with Martin Short, and the first ever Broadway video blog documentary for Lestat, the new musical scored by Elton John and Bernie Taupan. There are more projects like this one to come, so keep a look out.

Thanks to everyone who put me up and gave me a warm couch to sleep on during first weeks back in NY. Carolina Paula and Dana Jerebek, Barrie Fitzpatrick, and Rose Pile and Mary O’Maley. I would be a very cold Jewcicle without you. Fortunately, my days of couch-hopping are over as I found a new apartment in Astoria, on Astoria Park, which is pretty great. Thanks to fellow Ithaca alumni Scott Mcdermott who was kind enough to lend his skills to the Ithaca College Alumni magazine, Ithaca College Quarterly, to take a few stills of yours truly for an upcoming article covering documentary makers who graduated from IC. You can check out one of the stills on my Myspace, and check out Scott’s portfolio at scottmcdermott.com. I don’t know when the article is due. Anyone out there have the new Ithaca College Quarterly? I’m not even sure they have my current address…

You also will definitely want to check out our new review on Film Threat, where our rediculous mockumentary Paul Alien (yes the one that proves Microsoft Bazillionaire Paul Allen is in FACT dealing with space aliens in order to privatize the earth). In this review, Paul Alien is described as “THE movie to watch stoned.” Now I don’t know
if I can ever match that kind of accolade again in my career.

On a personal note, one of my good friends is in a lot of trouble and can use your help. You may know my friend Josh Harper from Seattle; we met when I was organizing in at school in Ithaca at a lecture he was giving. He was touring with a documentary he made called Breaking Free, a document of political actions taken for animals back in 1999. I was so inspired by his work that I began emailing him and we soon became good friends. Unfortunately for Josh, his lectures and videos made too much of an impact and he is now facing several years in jail for giving speeches, and making media that the government finds dangerous.

Under the new legislation, the Animal Enterprises Terrorism Act makes any act causing, or conspiring to cause $10,000 in damages to animal enterprise, an act of terrorism. And yes, you guessed it, that includes speeches. Josh was convicted of this crime when the government argued that his speeches inspired others to take action damaging Huntingdon Life Sciences, a lab with a track record for illegal animal abuse, in the form of protesting, phone calls, and direct action.

Josh only has a few more weeks until his time to appeal runs out, and needs to raise several thousand more dollars in order to hire a lawyer. If you have money, or know someone who does please consider making a donation to his legal fund, or quickly spread the word today to someone who can. You can read more about the case at shac7.com.

Donations can be sent to:

Melissa Warner
5808 15th Ave NE Apt. C
Seattle, WA 98105

If you just have a little money like most of us you can buy a poster to support him at gig posters. Thanks for reading everyone! Enjoy the weekend!

It’s been a great early winter season and I wish the best for all this holiday. I look forward to seeing a great many of you over the next couple of weeks.

One of the most exciting projects to wrap this season was Feeding the Spirit, a series of shorts documenting the rich native food preparation and culture of the Samish Indian Nation in Anacortes Washington. Thanks to the Samish who made this project possible. Check back later in the week for an updated fresh reel incorporating some of this series.

I’m looking forward to be taking on a new round of inspiring projects this next quarter, but perhaps the most exciting change will be, as many of you have heard, is my relocation to New York City next week. It has been a great ride in Seattle, and I look forward to continuing work with the projects and clients in the emerald city, but new horizons wait back home in the big apple.

New York Contact info:

Cell Phone: (917) 334-5815

Updated 2006 reel featured in the work section. New website for the Splitting Hairs the documentary we shot in Germany this past fall.

Hello Friends!

Though glazed over sleep-deprived eyes I write you upon my stateside return from an adventure of a lifetime in Germany, shooting for the film “Splitting Hairs” the story of the World Beard and Mustache Championships. The shoot was a great success that brought me through 4 countries, many Medieval towns, ending with the perhaps the most seductively bizarre event I’ve ever attended.

Those news savvy Seattleites have already caught the cover story for our movie Paul Alien in the business section in the Seattle PI this past Monday but for those in the dark a direct link can be found at:

PA PI Article
PA PI Article 2

November tenth the Wonderland Project will air on PBS (KCTS Seattle) at 9pm. That was the one where I desperately tried to run after two insane world class runners breaking the record running around Mount Rainer. Lots of good drama and unreal athleticism from this Riley Morton production should keep you tuned.

I hope to see all you locals at the Trial reunion tomorrow night at Neumo’s to pay respect to Seattle’s best hardcore band of all time. I can’t wait to hang out will all of the NY kids who flew out for the show.

Thanks everyone, Until next time, I hope all your dreams come true, Save one, Big Love,

Jesse

A little story about a community and grassroots organization changing the world - The Angels Without Wings fundraising trailer has been posted in the work section. DVD’s for private screening will be available next week, as will be a separate page for the project. Love to Ed Nescot for his hard work with the interviews and Serena Moser for her continuing support.

Just posted a clip from the Snowday Bloody Snowday EPK in the Work section. Featured is a 3 minute segment of Gadzook Film’s insane Seattle zombie invasion flick. Dom, Jessica, and Faye were all great to work with and im glad we were able to make such a fun piece for them. Ryan Lull helped us illustrate the After FX comps that are just gorgeous.

Wrapping work on Coming Home: The Oral History of the Samish Indian nation. It has been an honor and an exciting journey to work with the Samish Nation to tell their stories.

Finally, I recently arrived back home after shooting the fundraising trailer for “Angels Without Wings” the story of Youth In Action Now, a gang-rescue program in Allentown PA. Thanks for everyone in Allentown for sharing their stories about a small community center with big dreams of changing the world with love, compassion and empathy for all troubled kids. Check back in 2 weeks for the edited trailer.

After months of work with the Women and Cuba Collaboration we are proud to announce the launch of their new site, a comprehensive collection of their history, news, and details surrounding their struggle. “OUR PURPOSE: To build a strong US women’s movement dedicated to ending the US government blockade of Cuba and to creating mutually beneficial US-Cuba relations; our work is rooted in the concept of universal human rights, racial and economic justice, and women’s rights”

http://www.womenandcuba.org/

Enjoy a bizarre image each week until our movie launch this summer.
http://www.paulalien.com/
We have the proof.

While I was bleeding on the side of the road after eating pavement at the largest critical mass in the states some of my friends began one of the most inspiring doc projects ive seen in a long time.

“On Friday August 27, 2004 just days before the start of the Republican National Convention, a massive police operation was underway. By the end of the night 264 people were arrested. It marked one of the largest mass arrests in New York City’s history - and the arrested had done nothing illegal.

For many New Yorkers, August was the first time they heard of what has become a monthly ritual for New York City’s bike community - a free-forming ride called Critical Mass.

Still We Ride is a documentary that captures the joyous atmosphere of this August ride before the arrests began and the chaos that followed. It recounts how this ride first started in San Francisco over 10 years ago and chronicles the police crackdown and resulting court battles in New York over the last seven months. The movie takes on issues of civil liberties, surveillance, the power of mainstream media, and the benefits of alternative means of transportation.”

http://www.stillweridethemovie.com/

We started shooting this week for Galaxaco
Films’ newest feature documentary.
All I can say is say at this point is that the subject is Paul Allen, and were
finding some shocking facts in our incredible adventure, but you’ll have to
wait until summer to find out what they are. Check
out a still from our latest interview
with Three Fingered Jack.

Ryan Lull was kind enough
to animate
this piece of my mini-jesse logo appearing
on this year’s ATR fundraising video (3
minute snippet).

This winter I will be shooting for an electronic press kit for local psychotronic
heros Gadzook Films,
covering their newest feature Sunday
Bloody Snowday, with my long lost couisn,
Dom Zook. If you are in the area please come down and play at the Fundraiser
Party!

Where: Old RedHook Brewery, 3400 Phinney Ave. North in Fremont

When: December 3rd, from 8PM-1AM

How Much: $10 to get in!

BANDS, ROLLERGIRLS, ZOMBIFIED SANTA
BEER, WINE, BRAIN JELLO SHOTS!

What more could you want?

Happy Thanksgiving!

“capacity crowd and a spectacular program created tremendous energy and raised over $100,000 at this year’s ATR Social Justice Dinner on October 16th.

Breaking last year’s record as the largest event in ATR’s 26 year history, this years Dinner drew 660 ATR members and guests. The house was packed! The event was an unprecedented success and a potent force for the progressive movement in the region.

Along with Angela Davis’s address, the evening included a dynamic video highlighting the work of ATR and its grant recipients” Read more about the event