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Hannah Jayanti

Brooklyn, NY

Hannah Jayanti is a filmmaker living in Brooklyn, combining documentary and video art to explore the world around her. She has worked on documentaries for VIXPIX Films and BBC on projects such as Rolf Harris Paints His Dream and The Agony an... view more

  1. 3 days ago
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    Hannah Jayanti
    Posted project update #12

    David Hyde Pierce Reading... and project update!

    Hello all!

    2 ways to hopefully banish the Wednesday Doldrums:

    • 1) Get updated on the progress of The Phantom Tollbooth Documentary
    • 2) Get David Hyde Pierce to do it for you.  

    Excited to report that the doc is coming together great, filled with warm and witty words from Eric Carle, Adam Gopnik, David Hyde Pierce, Jason Epstein and more!  As well as insights into our two main men - Norton Juster and Jules Feiffer - and how they came to write such an impacting book.  

    Though we anticipated finishing the film in the beginning of summer, we're extending post-production through till early fall. Good news since we were able to fit more interviews in, and are now working on exciting animated sequences, and making a kick-ass edit if we may say so ourselves.  

    We'll keep you posted on progress and share some of our favorite clips along the way. And don't forget to keep in touch through facebook, twitter, and our blog. 

    Happy Wednesday - from Milo, Brooklyn and the crew!

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  2. on April 1
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    Hannah Jayanti
    Posted project update #11

    Production Stills - Introducing our Interviewees, Part 2!

    Dear Kickstarters, 

    Second round of introductions to our wonderful interviewees (more pics/info on our blog and facebook)!

    - All the best from the crew

    David Hyde Pierce, actor, who among his many achievements, was the voice for the audio book of The Phantom Tollbooth. We talked about his father’s tendency for punning, and got to hear some hilarious voices as he read excerpts for us. More Pics Here...

    Adam Gopnik, writer and critic, who wrote the great New Yorker piece on The Phantom Tollbooth last fall, Broken Kingdom, We talked about the art of children’s literature, Liberal Arts, and why Rhyme and Reason are sexy. More Pics Here...

    Bill Harley, storyteller and songwriter, the rare adult who really understands kids and makes great songs and stories to prove it. More Pics Here...

    Leonard S Marcus, children's book historian, who wrote the Annotated Phantom Tollbooth. He helped us to contextualize The Phantom Tollbooth and locate it in Brooklyn Heights in the late 1950s and early 1960s.  A wealth of knolwedge!

    Jules Feiffer, a man who needs little introduction from us! The illustrator of The Phantom Tollbooth and Pulitzer Prize Winning Cartoonist who shares his wit, warmth and satire from everything from the cold war to hitchhiking across the country to his long friendship with Norton Juster.  

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  3. on March 8
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    Hannah Jayanti
    Posted project update #10

    Production Stills - Introducing our Interviewees!

    Dear Kickstarters, 

    We are thrilled to have wrapped production a few weeks ago and are now editing, arranging and plotting away. We wanted to introduce you to some of our interviewees with stills and highlights (more pics/info on our blog and facebook). This is the first installment (1/3), so more to come - we couldn't introduce everyone at once!

    - All the best from the crew

    Eric Carleauthor/illustrator of The Hungry Caterpillar and other beloved children’s books, and his wife Bobbie shared stories from their 35 year long friendship with Norton Juster, about their old dog named Tock, and their founding of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. More pics here...


    Jason Epstein, Editorial Director at Random House for forty years, told us his thoughts on the joy of a good story, how he never left college, and how the publishing industry is undergoing drastic changes. Oh yes, and why his dog Hamlet doesn’t quite live up to his name. More pics here...


    Martha Minow, Dean of Harvard Law, talked to us about the essay she wrote for the 50th Anniversary Edition: “The rewards of laughter come with memorable cautions against the distractions of trivia: the recognition that a sense of humor can preserve purpose and proportion, and that even the smallest “but” can topple unjustified authority.” More pics here...


    Norton Juster. Well I guess he doesn't need an introduction. But we did have the pleasure of another long interview with him in his study where we heard about his friendship with Jane Jacobs, his thoughts on education and teaching, and got to hear The Phantom Tollbooth read by the very man himself.  

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  4. on March 1
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    Hannah Jayanti
    Posted project update #9

    Missing Updates? Join us on our blog, facebook and twitter!

    Hello all!

    We've been so busy updating our FACEBOOKTWITTER and our BLOG, that we've been a bit negligent with our Kickstarter updates.  Have you missed us?  We've missed you! So keep in touch - these are the best ways:

    JOIN US ON FACEBOOK


    FOLLOW US ON TWITTER


    CHECK OUT OUR BLOG


    We have lots of exciting updates having wrapped production with some great interviews!  We'll post an update here soon, but until then - get connected!  It's the best way for us to keep you up to date on the film and all things Phantom Tollbooth related, and to hear your comments and questions.  So stay in touch - we miss you!

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  5. on December 21
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    Hannah Jayanti
    Posted project update #8

    Packing Posting Party

    Well, not a party per se.  BUT, lots of packing and posting and waiting in line, and labeling and writing and waiting in line, and snipping and taping and waiting in line (seems we weren't the only ones trying to send everything the week before the holidays!). 

    Almost all the rewards are in the mail and on their way to YOU.  

    Are you giving a Tock Doll for Christmas?  Are you putting the Certificate on your fridge?  Are you sending a greeting card out for a friend's birthday?  Whatever you do please share your photos!  Send us photos, post a comment - either on our BLOG or FACEBOOK or TWITTER (@TollboothDoc).  We want to see them :)

    Tock Dolls and Greeting Cards and Certificates should get there in time for the holidays. Books and Posters will arrive after the holidays. And Norton's puns will be sent in January as will the custom dolls. And of course DVDs and Film Downloads are not finished - but we'll get to work on that!

    Thanks everyone - have lovely holidays!  Wishing you the best from Brooklyn and The Lands Beyond

    - Hannah & The Crew

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        Lauren Fulner-Erickson on December 22

        I received my wonderful cards and certificate today- they are lovely!

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        Kathleen Sullivan on February 6

        Sorry It's taken me so long to say this, but I love the infographics print, thank you so much! I've only read the book aloud (several times), and I'm now looking forward to reading it to myself. Can't wait to see your film...
        Thanks again,
        Kathleen Sullivan


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  6. on December 11
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    Hannah Jayanti
    Posted project update #7

    Rewards in the making!

    With the holidays rapidly approaching, we are doing our best to get all the rewards to you as soon as we can!  Check out the progress...

    Website Thank Yous are up!

    Check out our shout outs to you, yes you!

    Greeting Card Screen Printing (more pics on our blog!)


    Tock Dolls!  Finished and waiting to get to us so we can ship to you! Thanks My Paper Crane :)

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  7. on November 14, 2011
    Img_4723.thumb Backer

    Hannah Jayanti
    backed a project

    3Girls Theatre Celebrates Women's History Month! by 3Girls Theatre Company

    3Girls Theatre launches its Premiere Season in March 2012 with plays, readings and events at our Celebration of Women's History Month!

    • 185% funded $11,300 pledged
    • 101 backers
    • Funded Dec 18, 2011
  8. on November 13, 2011
    Funded!

    The Phantom Tollbooth Turns 50 - A Documentary by Hannah Jayanti

    Join Norton Juster & Jules Feiffer, Milo & Tock, and many others to celebrate the now and then of the classic 1961 children's book

    • 195% funded $31,226 pledged
    • 419 backers
    • Funded Nov 13, 2011
  9. on October 31, 2011
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    Hannah Jayanti
    Posted project update #6

    Thank you video (and meet director)

    Dear Kickstarters, 

    I wanted to introduce myself, and a thank you video seemed the best opportunity. While I'm a bit better behind the camera then in front - no matter! It's worth it to be able to say hello, and convey our thanks!

    And we really hope you will keep in touch. Send us your questions, thoughts, comments, stories - we have heard amazing Phantom Tollbooth anecdotes so far, and want to keep hearing from you.  

    Happy Halloween!
    Hannah & the crew

    www.thephantomtollboothturns50.com

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        David Pugh on October 31, 2011

        I was thrilled to hear about this project and happy to be able to support it through Kickstarter. When I was in the sixth grade (in 1968-69), The Phantom Tollbooth was read to the class by our wonderful, 25-year old teacher, Mr. McCarty. I loved the book, but soon forgot about it. A few years ago I spotted it in a book store and purchased it to read to my son (who is now 10). It is now one of his favorite books and we are currently reading it again. We both are looking forward to the documentary.

        Thank you,
        David Pugh
        Baltimore, MD


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  10. on October 23, 2011
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    Hannah Jayanti
    Posted project update #5

    Favorite Character Plush Doll

    Dear all, 

    I fear I made one of our coolest rewards out of people's reach. So we're making a new level for My Paper Crane's CUSTOM PLUSH DOLL. We think this is just too unique of an opportunity to be missed out on, and we know there is a child (even one of overgrown size!) who would love a familiar friend, a new pillow, a classroom buddy - a Norton Juster  & Jules Feiffer character brought off the page and into your cuddly arms.  

    Heidi from My Paper Crane has offered to make a CUSTOM PLUSH DOLL (larger in size than the Tocks she's making) out of YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTER from the Phantom Tollbooth. It's such a unique and special reward that we can only offer 2 (as she'll be making the design and the individual doll by hand just for you!). 

    Here's the Tock doll to give you an example. And you can see more of her hilarious, sweet, and impeccably crafted work at www.mypapercrane.com)

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