I am backing “Street Fighting Man” because I believe in the power of film to transform lives. I have faith in the ability of personal stories to strengthen and inspire us.

In 2010, we live in a big neighborhood. Each day, I turn on my computer and watch as the borders extend. I am connected to people across the world in new and profound ways. I am excited about this. There is much to gain from knowing about my new neighbors and this ever-evolving community. There is also, I believe, an increasing responsibility attached to this new knowledge. One part of that responsibility is sharing our stories. Another part, I believe, is listening and learning from the stories of others. One story I am anxious to learn from now is the resilience of the people of Detroit.

Many residents of Detroit are choosing innovation in place of degradation. Faced with challenges, and often cornered, they are not wallowing in cynicism, but instead constructively building their community. They are a plea for optimism in times of viral complacency and apathy. They are not ignorant. They know that the United States is in a recession better than anybody, but instead of opting for destructive attitudes, local leaders continue to develop programs to assist their neighbors. They spend their weekdays, and often their weekends, in planning meetings, formulating strategies to protect each other and the integrity of their streets. Many are responding to the challenges as a call for experimentation and creative solutions. Their collective stories are part of a larger American story; to learn about them is to learn about ourselves.

I am fascinated by the way film is mobile, a traveling artistic inspiration that can encourage people in similar situations to find solutions to improve their conditions. It becomes a dynamic resource, a motivational force that gathers momentum through the actions of viewers like you and me. A film is shown at a local YMCA. Community members apply some ideas inspired by the film in their neighborhood. Kind gestures are exchanged and lessons are learned. The neighborhood, and the individuals in it, become better as a result. That is the magic of film and art. Hopefully, the art does not end as the credits roll, but find its truest expression in the ways audiences integrate lessons learned from the film in their daily routines. I want to learn from people in the Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood. I know they have things to teach me. I want to take those lessons and utilize them to empower the place where I live.

This is why I have become a member on Kickstarter and why I am backing this project. I hope, in some small way, my contribution will help make this film and that the lessons from the people of Detroit will inspire all of us to reach a little higher.

I was lucky enough to be introduced to Andrew and his producing partner Jolyn early in their careers. I admire them greatly on various levels (including having the incredible honor of calling them friends). Their latest film 'Street Fighting Man' follows a community in Detroit, one of many middle-America communities where public services have been drastically cut. As the recession has struck our nation with a level of anxiety I have been lucky enough in my youth not to be privy to, Detroit's has evolved into a depression that may resign its citizens to a quite dismal fate. It is an important story, and I believe Andrew is well-equipped to tell it.

Andrew's last film, 'Cleanflix', made its way into the Toronto Film Festival, among many others, and was screened at the IFC Center here in New York City just months ago. Recently 'Cleanflix' was shown at the invitation-only Traverse City Film Festival founded by Michael Moore. Beachfire Pictures is being recognized for their talent in film making and storytelling, and both communities will be lucky if Andrew and his team are afforded the chance to continue contributing to these fields.

Unfortunately, as is the case in most arenas for art today, being an independent film maker is akin to vowing a self-sacrificing monk-hood. Andrew and his creative team have set up this Kickstarter account to help support the research and development phase of this project, an attempt to secure humble funds for shooting (which has already begun on their own dime). Each of us has a friend or family member in the arts, or have tried to raise money for a charitable or creative endeavor, and I encourage even the most basic support. If you can't donate, please spare a few moments of your time to post the Street Fighting Man trailer to your social networks, or email it to parties interested in social documentary film and the broader issues contemplated in this narrative of contemporary Detroit.

Had the pleasure of meeting Andrew this year at a film festival our projects were both in. Street Fighting Man promises to be great. If I wasn't in a similar position, I would fund this whole project myself. Andrew seems to choose socially relevant topics then explores the gray area in poignant, insightful, and entertaining ways. He's a filmmaker to watch, and, based on this choice of topic, his movies matter.