About this project
New Mo' Cut: David Peoples' lost film of Moe's Books
$8,735
80
New Mo' Cut: David Peoples lost film of Moe’s Books is a short documentary chronicling the surprising discovery at the Berkeley dump of a 16mm film of Moe Moskowitz at the opening night party for his legendary Telegraph Avenue bookstore in 1965.
Kevin Laird, a recycler working for Urban Ore, found the film canister and managed to deliver it into the hands of Moe's daughter Doris who didn't know of its existence or origin. Soon after the film is digitized and put online, Doris discovers the filmmaker is Oscar-nominated screenwriter David Peoples. The two-minute, forty-six second workprint is a time capsule of Berkeley and a peek into Peoples' early documentary film explorations before gaining notoriety as a screenwriter rewriting Blade Runner, earning an Oscar nomination for Unforgiven and co-writing 12 Monkeys with his wife, screenwriter Janet Peoples.
New Mo' Cut: David Peoples lost film of Moe’s Books recalls one of Telegraph's larger than life characters, while musing on books, filmmaking and reclaiming history from the waste stream.
Featuring
- Doris Moskowitz, Owner, Moe's Books
- David Peoples, Screenwriter
- Janet Peoples, Screenwriter
- Kevin Laird, Artist
- Gibbs Chapman, Projectionist, BAM/PFA
- Alice Schenker, Moe's Books party guest
- Dan Knapp, Founder & President, Urban Ore
- Michael Mascuch, Associate Professor, UC Berkeley
Watch David Peoples' lost film on YouTube:
I grew up in Berkeley loving its cafes, used record and book stores. Although I never knew Moe Moskowitz I'm charmed by how he found his way back to his daughter and their iconic Telegraph Avenue bookstore through a found film that turned out to be made by the co-writer of Blade Runner and 12 Monkeys. It's an uncanny story, a diamond in the rough, a Berkeley fairytale about used books, film and recycling. I couldn't resist making a short movie about it or the challenge of raising funds for it on Kickstarter. I hope you'll join me in bringing New Mo' Cut to the big screen.
Siciliana Trevino
Michael Coleman
- Berkeley/Emeryville production crew
- Reward fulfillment
- Kickstarter fees
Kickstarter is a dynamic way to finance a film project and invite the public to be a part of local independent filmmaking. Approximately 90% of your contribution stays in the community, funding the last few days of interview filming in Berkeley as well as fulfilling the locally-based rewards. Up to 10% goes to Kickstarter and associated fees.
Receive a Moe's canvas tote when you pledge $25 or more:
Check out #Berkeley's holiday gift guide sponsored by Buy Local Berkeley:
- New film will tell the story of salvaged Moe’s Books film
- Blade Runner Screenwriter made long lost film of Moe's Books
- Film of famous Moe's Books party found at Berkeley dump
- Berkeley's Moe's Books honored with historical plaque
Moesbooks.com
Quirkeley.com
Risks and challenges
With your backing New Mo' Cut will be completed by the end of June in time for festival submissions. Your contribution allows me to finish shooting the remaining interviews and start editing. I'm confident this project is going to be a success based on my production work over the past year on a Berkeley video series for my Quirkeley YouTube channel and website, featuring 42 local, fresh and organic videos to date.
I can't wait to share New Mo' Cut with all the project backers, the city of Berkeley and beyond. Thank you.
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Funding period
- (31 days)