About this project
WHAT IS STREET FIGHTING MAN?
A feature-length ensemble documentary featuring stories of survival and community action on Detroit's East side.
WHAT IS THIS VIDEO?
An early sneak peak of the film, featuring one of our main subjects, James "Jack Rabbit" Jackson.
CAN I EMBED THIS VIDEO ON MY WEBSITE OR BLOG?
Yes! Please do. Just follow this link: http://www.vimeo.com/13442176
A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON DETROIT:
Detroit Michigan has been decimated by the economic crisis. With the highest unemployment rate in the country, Motor City is dying, one neighborhood at a time. Not only are foreclosed homes boarded up and empty, so too are factories, warehouses, apartment complexes, and even police stations. Neighborhoods and communities with little resources have been left to fend for themselves as violent crime, drugs, vandalism, poverty, and hopelessness seep into the brick, steel, and concrete. At night, gangs and junkies literally take over, roaming the streets in search of drugs and money. According to one Detroit resident, "it's like Omega Man."
HOW WE ENVISION THE FILM:
Instead of focusing on the broader question of why Detroit is suffering, "Street Fighting Man" will hone in on the specific struggles of individuals as they fight for the future of their community. One man who personifies the day-to-day struggles of the East Jefferson community is James "Jack Rabbit" Jackson, a retired cop who's lived in the Chalmers neighborhood on the east side of Detroit for most of his life. With the recent closure of the local police station, Jack Rabbit has begun to fight back.
Armed with a video camera (and a firearm when necessary) Jack Rabbit cruises the streets of East Jefferson, intimidating criminals, recording evidence, and making his presence known. He's a community activist, a post-modern sheriff, and according to some, a "socially conscious vigilante." Jack Rabbit is a complex and interesting figure. He's a father, a mentor, a boyfriend, a tow-truck driver, and a deeply committed member of the community who spends 24 hours of every day in the service of his neighborhood. Every weekend, he and his partner, Keith Hines, hit the streets to protect community interests. They know who the criminals are, where they live, where they drink, and where they do business. Amazingly, Jack Rabbit and Keith have prevented all kinds of burglary, violent crime, and vandalism over the past few years. When we were in Detroit, we had the opportunity to accompany Jack and Keith on one of their patrols.
"Street Fighting Man" will also follow several other subjects in the community as they live and work day-to-day. Each character will bring a unique perspective to the story and provide different insights into the landscape, the problems, and the possible solutions. In fact, we have made contact with several people who we are interested in participating in the project, including local business owners, pastors, homeless teenagers, drug dealers, and community activists.
Our goal as filmmakers is to paint a multilayered mosaic of this fluctuating landscape using real people and real stories. Each character will inform the next, providing both interesting and challenging juxtaposition. This will help to clearly outline the problems, complicate the solutions, and strengthen the story. In essence, the film will be more truthful, more organic, and more real if the story is told by the subjects who are living it.
The film will seamlessly weave from character to character as they make phone calls, attend meetings, spend time with their children, plant vegetables, cook, shop, work, participate in community activities, patrol streets, and debate the future of their neighborhoods with friends and loved ones. By telling the stories of several different people who share varying perspectives, "Street Fighting Man" will paint a complex portrait of a struggling community in transition.
WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP:
"Street Fighting Man" will serve as an important historical record of this particularly volatile period in Detroit's history, making this film significant from a cultural, political, and anthropological standpoint. It is our hope that the film will create greater awareness and put pressure on the local government to provide public services to its citizens. Additionally, we aim to inspire, educate, and entertain. "Street Fighting Man" is a film about real people in a real place, dealing with real problems. This is a story that needs to be told and you can be a part of this empowering and important documentary.
HOW YOUR MONEY WILL BE SPENT:
Our goal of $6,500 is for preliminary expenses. This initial sum will help us get back to Detroit to film more footage as well as rent and/or purchase some of the equipment that we need for the shoot. The footage will be used to create a longer preview for large-sum investors. The funds will also pay for all the great rewards that we are offering for those who decide to donate.
PRESS:
Film Threat:
www.filmthreat.com/features/23919/
Indie Wire:
www.indiewire.com/article/dispatch_from_michael_moores_traverse_city_film_festival/
The Documentary Blog:
www.thedocumentaryblog.com/index.php/2010/07/26/kickstarter-campaign-andrew-james-street-fighting-man/
Selective Echo:
www.selectiveecho.com/slc-filmmaker-finds-a-hopeful-oasis-in-detroits-blighted-landscape/
Toronto Screen Shots:
www.torontoscreenshots.com/2010/08/05/kick-start-andrew-james-doc-street-fighting-man/
The idea for this film originally came from a great article in the Metro Times by Detroit Blogger John, called "Street Fightin' Man." He has graciously given us his permission to use the title of his article as the working title of our film. He's a great writer and I encourage everyone to read his work over at www.detroitblog.org.
James "Jack Rabbit" Jackson has also been featured in the L.A. Times:
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/26/nation/la-na-jackrabbit-20100426
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
153
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on September 4, 2010.
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For $1 or more, you'll receive a personalized thank you letter from the director.
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For $5 or more, you'll get everything mentioned above as well as a special thanks credit once the film is complete.
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For $10 or more, you'll get everything mentioned above as well as a limited edition still frame from the film. Not bad for ten bucks.
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For $30 or more, you'll get everything mentioned above as well as a special edition, pre-release DVD of the film. Be the first person to see and own a film festival hit.
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For $50 or more, you'll get everything mentioned above as well as exclusive web access to a 20 minute sneak preview of the film.
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For $150 or more, you'll get everything listed at the $50 level, have your DVD copy of the film signed by director Andrew James, and receive an honorary producer credit once the film is complete. Who knew that producing a film could be this easy?
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For $500 or more, you'll get everything listed at the $150 level, including an associate producer credit once the film is complete. Your contribution gets you a legitimate credit on an important and socially conscious documentary.
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For $1000 or more, you'll get everything listed at the $150 level, including a co-producer credit once the film is complete. Your contribution gets you a legitimate credit on an important and socially conscious documentary.
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For $2000 or more, you'll get everything listed at the $150 level, an executive producer credit once the film is complete, and vip passes to the world premiere of the film at an international film festival. This is by far the best value if you have the money. Come party with the filmmakers and get noticed. (airfare and lodging not included)
Project By
Connected as Andrew James Schleiffarth (677 friends)
ANDREW JAMES (Director, Cinematographer) is an award-winning director, editor, producer, and cinematographer. In 2009, he completed CLEANFLIX, a feature-length documentary about the short-lived sanitized film movement and the Mormon culture that created it. The often funny, and crowd-pleasing film had its world premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival where it garnered praise for its wit, dark irony, and even-handed storytelling. Since its premiere, CLEANFLIX has screened at more than 30 film festivals and screening series’ worldwide, landing the Best Documentary Award at the 2010 New York United Film Festival. The film is now available on iTunes, Amazon, Cable Pay-Per-View, Digital On-Demand, and DVD. Currently, Andrew is working as an editor on FAR BETWEEN, a feature-length documentary about the lives of gay Mormons. Andrew resides in Salt Lake City, Utah and has a BA in English Literature from Brigham Young University.
SARA ARCHAMBAULT (Producer) is the Program Director at the LEF Foundation, and a programmer and co-founder of award-winning nonfiction film series,The DocYard, at the historic Brattle Theatre. Sara has an extensive professional history in production, programming, and foundation work. She was the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, Managing Director/Producer for Ebb Pod Productions on the Emmy-award winning documentary TRACES OF THE TRADE: A STORY FROM THE DEEP NORTH, and a Producer on Christopher Lydon’s online radio show OPEN SOURCE. She advises, participates on the jury and volunteers with a number of film festivals including her work as Chair of the Advisory Board at the Points North Film Forum of the Camden International Film Festival.
KATIE TIBALDI (Producer) is a writer, director, and producer born and raised in Michigan. Over the past ten years, she has worked in professional capacities for CBS, MTV, ABC, Bravo, TBS, NBC and as a Manager for the Traverse City Film Festival. Katie has also worked on several short and feature films, including as an Associate Producer for the award-winning documentary COURTING CONDI, which screened at over thirty film festivals worldwide and had a limited theatrical release. Katie earned her MFA and BFA degrees from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in 2007 and 2004, graduating with multiple awards including Best Graduate Short Screenplay in the 2006 Fusion Film Festival. Currently, Katie is a Consulting Producer on Melanie Schiele’s short film Rockaway, a Writer/Producer on the web series, PERKS, and part of the staff of the acclaimed television drama Damages.
GREG SNIDER (Editor) is the editor of the HBO documentary feature HOW TO DIE IN OREGON, winner of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival Documentary Grand Jury Award. Greg’s editorial work on this film also won him the prestigious Karen Schmeer Award for Excellence in Documentary Editing at the Independent Film Festival of Boston. The film has been airing on HBO since the fall of 2011. Greg also edited FACING THE STORM, STORY OF THE AMERICAN BISON, a co-production of High Plains Films, ITVS and Montana PBS. The film will air nationally on PBS’ Independent Lens in April of 2012. Greg's work also includes editing THE REAL DIRT ON FARMER JOHN, winner of multiple film festival awards including the Audience Award at Slamdance 2005. The documentary feature received international theatrical distribution and aired nationally on PBS.
JOE VAUGHN (Executive Producer) is a photographer and cinematographer based in Detroit, Michigan. Joe has been capturing images nationally and internationally for nearly 20 years. Recent projects include working with Eminem, Kid Rock, Mario Batali, Elmore Leonard, The Food Network, HBO, Time Magazine, Light of Hope – Africa, Fast Company, Sports Illustrated and the Times of London.
TORBEN BERNHARD (Co-Producer)
BRADY KIMBALL (Co-Producer)
DENNIS PRZYWARA (Co-Producer, Additional Camera, Assistant Editor)
JOLYN SCHLEIFFARTH (Associate Producer)
TIM MULHERON (Additional Camera)
MORGAN MARENTIC (Promotional Artwork)
