About this project
Help Finish the Yung Lenox Documentary "Live Fast Draw Yung"
$17,111
165
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE MET OUR GOAL!
We are so thankful and humbled by the support of everyone and this awesome community we have built around our film. As we say in NZ, you guys are all bloody legends!
Of course we won't turn down additional support! Every dollar we get here will continue to go into making the best film possible and getting it in front of as many people as we can.
As a thank you to all who have already pledged and encourage new people to join our community we are going to send every single backer a digital download of the Live Fast, Draw Yung book.
WE WOULD LOVE TO GET PAST 200 BACKERS - if you're on the fence, please join us!
ABOUT THE FILM:
"Live Fast, Draw Yung" is a short documentary following the adventures of 7-year-old hip hop portraitist, Yung Lenox. Since the age of 5, he’s risen to internet fame for his marker drawings of some rap’s greatest albums from Ol’ Dirty Bastard's Return to the 36 Chambers to 2 Live Crew’s Nasty As they Wanna Be.
BACKGROUND
It was a chance encounter on Instagram one day, where the nexus of this project was born. As we went deeper into the back catalog of Lenox's work there was something especially intriguing about the subject matter he was drawing. These were rap and punk records that were huge influences on us when growing up. From Wu-Tang to Minor Threat to John Hughes movies, this 7-year-old was reinterpreting our childhoods in a new way, making it fresh and exciting again. A couple of phone calls with Lenox’s Dad, Skip, later we headed out to Seattle in early 2014 to meet the artistic duo and learn more about their unconventional after school “hobby”.
Originally slated as a quick two day shoot, we quickly discovered the story went so much deeper than the pop culture facade of these images. It was really a story about a father and son and their friendship forged through creativity. Soon the two day production snowballed into six months as Lenox’s artistic career took off, and we were fortunate enough to tag along for the ride and make a film that we think is highly entertaining and incredibly meaningful to us.
WHERE THE PROJECT IS AT
Thanks to the support and effort of so many talented people we have completed shooting and editing. Our only challenges now are final finances so we can complete the last stages of the film and share it with the world. Up until this point it’s been a self-funded labor of love, but now we have run into unavoidable finishing costs that have to be met. The money we raise on Kickstarter will go directly to our final online costs - color correction, sound mix, music scoring, motion design, licensing and festival costs.
We are so close to the finish line and with your support we can realize our vision and see our film premier on the BIG SCREEN in 2015.
SYNOPSIS
Described by LA Weekly as the “foremost illustrator of rap”, Yung Lenox is a hip hop portraitist specializing in marker drawings of iconic rap albums, from Cam'ron's Purple Haze to N.W.A.'s Straight Outta Compton. He’s sold hundreds of prints, been commissioned for record sleeves, custom apparel and had his artistic debut at the Frieze Art Fair in New York. Unfortunately, Lenox did not attend that show. It was past his bedtime. He was six.
"Live Fast, Draw Yung" is an intimate and entertaining tale about Lenox and his Dad, Skip, a graffiti artist, copywriter and silent collaborator behind the Yung Lenox brand. As we bear witness to their unconventional after-school hobby, we discover an endearing friendship forged through creativity; a Dad teaching his son about coloring, shading, and the heroes of his youth. Through Instagram and press attention, what starts as a hobby turns into a lifestyle and a business. Soon, the two are hanging backstage with Action Bronson, in the studio with Kool Keith, chilling with "Uncle Raekwon", and on a plane to Los Angeles for Lenox’s first solo exhibition.
Through Lenox’s eyes and ears, the film offers an innocent and hilariously honest entry point into the often explicit and idolized culture of hip hop. It reconsiders the age old parental advisory debate and the realities of a kid growing up in an adult world. As Skip is forced to confront his intentions and parenting skills, Lenox remains unfazed. He isn’t listening to any of it. In his world, art is “medium important” as opposed to school, Legos and Minecraft. And that’s what makes the kid everyone’s favorite artist.
Starring: Yung Lenox, Skip Class, Cam’Ron, Kool Keith (Ultramagnetic
MC’s)
Running Time: 25 mins
THE TEAM
Directors: Anthony Mathile and Stacey Lee
Cinematographer: Jacob Rosen
Supervising Editor: Joe Peeler
Editors: Anthony Mathile, Matthew Charof
Production Company: M ss ng P eces
YUNG LENOX PRESS
Thanks for reading and hope you will join our effort.
Stacey, Anthony & the team.
REWARDS:
Risks and challenges
Even though we’re not sure when the film is going to premier yet, so much passion and love has already been poured into it, we feel confident we will release this film in some way in 2015.
Furthermore, you can rest assure your rewards will be received because most of them (aside from the Premier, and the custom commission) have already been created. We simply need the Yung God to wave his magic marker, sign, send and the rewards will be yours.
If you have any questions about any of the pledges do not hesitate to contact us.
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Funding period
- (31 days)