Today  is the start of the Beloit International Film Festival (BIFF) which run through Sunday February 17, 2013. BIFF celebrates its eighth year of promoting the power of film and this year two doc|UWM films are showing at the festival. My Way Home and Passing the Baton will be playing multiple times throughout the weekend so do not miss your chance to see both of these films as well as the many other great films. Plus, My Way Home has even been nominated for a “BIFFY” award. So, keep your fingers crossed.

My Way Home

Thursday(Feb.14):  10:00 pm –  Rotary Center  BUY
Saturday(Feb.16): 11:00 am – Rock County Historical Society  BUY
Saturday(Feb.16): 1:30 pm – Cheese People/ Nikki’s Café  BUY

Passing the Baton

Thursday(Feb.14): 10:00 pm  -  Eclipse Center  BUY
Saturday(Feb.16): 1:30 pm – La Casa Grande  BUY

If you find yourself in Beloit we hope you catch both of these great films!

Passing the Baton presents a multi-faceted view of a small organization that made a big impact on its community. The Milwaukee Striders Track Club was started to provide Milwaukee boys and girls an opportunity to build their track, academic, and civic skills through participation in a community characterized by hard work and love. For over 30 years, the Striders ran on the dedication of its founder Joe Sims and what little charitable handouts he could gather from the community. Often, he used his own money to keep the club running and to give African-American youth in Milwaukee something productive to do during their summer months. In 2009 Joe Sims passed away, but not before passing the baton to a new era of coaches and volunteers who are working hard to carry on the values and principles that helped Joe Sims turn the Striders into a premiere track club.

This feature length documentary film looks back at Joe Sims’ legacy. It follows a new generation of Striders runners, coaches, and families as they attempt to carry on the values and principles that helped Joe Sims turn the Striders into a premiere track club. Assembled from over 250 hours off footage shot by first-time filmmakers Passing the Baton comes together to present a unique look at a few generous souls dedicated to improving the lives of the youth in their community through hard work and athleticism.

DVD include:

• the feature length film
• a short video portrait of the team
• the trailer for the film
• outtake scenes

40% of each individual dvd sale goes directly back to the Joe Sims Milwaukee Striders Track Club!

My Way Home is a documentary film that chronicles a young Hmong – American woman’s journey to reconnect with her past. Born in the jungles of Laos but raised in the United States, twenty-two year old Hmong filmmaker Dao Chang wants to make films about her culture. The only problem is she doesn’t know much about it. Seeking information about the war that changed her family’s destiny and her mother who died in a refugee camp, Dao turns to her father, who protects her from the past. Desperate for answers, Dao travels to Laos in search of an aunt who stayed behind. What she finds is far from what she imagined.

My Way Home has played on Wisconsin Public Television, the Milwaukee Film Festival, and the Wisconsin Film Festival where it won the Golden Badger Award.

Libraries or universities looking to purchase either of these titles should contact doc|UWM directly for institutional pricing.

doc|UWM alumni Kurt Raether has produced Spectacle! at The North End, a film in six genres(Silent, Space, Noir, Fantasy, Musical, Independent). Written by Raether and W.C. Tank, the project was commissioned by the Mandel Group to Plaid Tuba and Honeycomb Productions for an installation at The North End.

Many other doc|UWM alumni are also involved with the project, including John Roberts, Carol Brandt, Quinn Hester, Becky Cofta, Maxwell Larsen, Ryan Reeve and David Busse. Congratulations to all the doc|UWM alum and all the other fine Milwaukee filmmakers who worked tirelessly to pull of this spectacle.

Silent directed by Andrew Swant

Space directed by WC Tank

Noir directed by Eric Ljung

Fantasy directed by John Roberts

Musical directed by Kurt Raether

Independent directed by Carol Brandt

The film will premiere tonight at The North End apartments on 1551 N. Water St from 6pm to 9pm.

Favorite Documentaries

-This American Life (TV Series)

-The Comedians of Comedy

-American Movie

-Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop

-Indie Game: The Movie

-Bill Cunningham New York

Favorite Bands

-The Books

-Netherfriends

-Nujabes

-Dan Deacon

-Los Campesinos!

-We All Have Hooks for Hands

Favorite Concert Experiences

-Kidcrash (Milwaukee, July 2007)

-Monotonix (8th Note Cafe 2007 & Bayview Legion, April 2010)

-Broken Social Scene (Pabst Theater, October 2010)

-The Books (Turner Hall, December 2009)

-Los Campesinos! & Titus Andronicus (Madison Union, February 2009)

-Bloc Party (Pabst Theatre, September 2007)

Favorite Milwaukee Places

-Koppa’s

-Collector’s Edge Comics

-Riverwest Public House

-Classic Slice (North Ave Location RIP)

-Comet Cafe

-Brewed Cafe

For more information about the Cream City Soundcheck project, visit http://creamcitysoundcheck.com/.

Jaquelyn Beaupre and Donivan Berube of Blessed Feathers

After meeting the band and putting a wireless microphone on the band’s lead singer Donivan Berube the crew began following him around the venue, getting him used to the camera, and recording him as he mingled with family, friends, and fans. Most people, even performers, are not used to have a film crew following them. 

Jon Klett filming Donivan of Blessed Feathers and a fan.

We’ve spent the entire semester documenting bands for our Cream City Soundcheck video series and at this point in the class I am confident enough with my student filmmakers that I feel I can give them a little more distance, hover a little less, and trust their instincts. While the crew was taking a break from filming I overheard Colin Perkins, a student from the class, say that he heard Donivan talking about being nervous and having a ring in his pocket. My ears perked up and I quickly began asking questions. Mistakenly, I thought Donivan and Jaquelyn Beaupre – the other half of the band – were already married, or at least engaged. I began to question my assumption and ran off in pursuit of an answer. 

Behind the scenes planning the shoot.

Not wanting to ask Donivan directly, I inquired with others who knew the band. Luckily, local filmmaker Erik Ljung was also there documenting the band. Erik and I proceeded to have an interesting conversation where we each tried to figure out what the other knew. He finally realized that my students had discovered Donivan’s plans for the night. Erik then admitted that Donivan was indeed going to propose Jaquelyn after the fifth song in their set. Taking this information, I ran back to our crew and told everyone to be prepared for the proposal. While I am sure no one on our crew was as nervous as Donivan, I could sense that everyone on our team knew the uniqueness of this moment and the importance of capturing it with our cameras. 

So much of documentary is about being in the moment and capturing that moment. It’s a certain sort of excitement you don’t get from scripted filmmaking; that uncertainty and unpredictability of life happening before your eyes. doc|UWM has gotten to film a lot of magical moments, but this is certainly one for the ages. 

Donivan pops the question.

We wish Donivan and Jaquelyn the best and congratulate them on this new chapter in their lives. We also want to thank them for allowing us to share it with us and we can’t wait until next semester when get to take them on an adventure in Milwaukee. So, that leaves us one with one big question, “Where do we go from here?”

- Ryan Sarnowski, instructor/co-producer

Blessed Feathers – Proposal – Cream City Soundcheck Special Feature (by creamcitysoundcheck)

Quoc Quan Le was born and raised in the city of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He graduated from Oshkosh North where he excelled in sports like football and track. Early exposure to photography and a close bond with friends helped him realize the beauty and joy in filmmaking which led him to UW-Milwaukee. He has interned for Food Network and Milwaukee Film.

Favorite Documentaries
-Being Elmo
-Undefeated
-Jiro Dreams of Sushi
-Bully
-Man on Wire

Favorite Bands
-The Killers
-Bon Iver
-Onerepublic
-Coldplay
-The Script
-Taylor Swift

Favorite Concert Experiences
-The Killers
-Taylor Swift
-Brandon Flowers
-Spilled Canvas
-Onerepublic
-Lupe Fiasco

Favorite Milwaukee Places
-Pabst Theatre
-Rosebud Cinema
-Kopp’s Frozen Custard
-Whitnall Park
-Lighthouse
-Miller Brewing Company

For more information about the Cream City Soundcheck project, visit http://creamcitysoundcheck.com/.

Meet Betty Allen from Seymour, Wisconsin.  She is currently a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  She started as a Psychology major but her passion for videography and editing drew her to pursue a career in film.  Her goal is to work with LGBT themed narrative and documentary work.

Favorite Documentaries

-Paris is Burning
-Spellbound
-Dig!
-Grizzly Man
-Hoop Dreams
-The Times of Harvey Milk

Favorite Bands
-Tegan and Sara
-Brand New
-Bon Iver
-The Joy Formidable
-Alicia Keys
-Death Cab for Cutie

Favorite Concert Experiences 
-Tegan and Sara/City and Colour-2009
-Silversun Pickups/Manchester Orchestra- 2010
-Regina Spektor- 2008
-The Joy Formidable- 2012
-Passion Pit- 2010
-An Horse-2012

Favorite Milwaukee Places
-Bradford Beach
-Boswell Books
-Art Bar
-Milwaukee Art Museum
-Pizza Shuttle
-Oriental Theatre

For more information about the Cream City Soundcheck project, visit http://creamcitysoundcheck.com/.

After living in Seattle throughout his childhood, Jared Harrington moved to the Milwaukee area in 2001, where he attended Pewaukee High School and graduated in 2010. He now attends UW-Milwaukee, where he studies Film and Spanish. Outside of UWM, Jared enjoys time with his family and friends, playing golf and ping pong, and rooting for the Seattle Seahawks.

Favorite Documentaries
-Sonicsgate: Requiem for a Team
-Restrepo
-The Heart of the Game
-Paradise Lost Series
-Man on Wire
-Inside Job

Favorite Bands
-Vampire Weekend
-Weezer
-Kings of Leon
-Bon Iver
-Fun.
-Death Cab for Cutie

Favorite Concert Experiences
-Weezer
-Fun.
-Death Cab for Cutie
-Motionless in White, I See Stars, Trivium & Asking Alexandria
-Lupe Fiasco
-Imagine Dragons

Favorite Places in Milwaukee
-Miller Park
-Comet Cafe
-The Safehouse
-North Point
-Ma Fischer’s
-The Eatery

For more information about the Cream City Soundcheck project, visit http://creamcitysoundcheck.com/.

Chris House was born in Milwaukee and raised in Brown Deer. He has a deep love and appreciation for all things Milwaukee, and indeed, all things Wisconsin. He tried his hand at a degree in Architecture, but after two years finally admitted it was not for him. Now an Arts Tech major, he enjoys the splendid mixed bag of subjects and disciplines. Chris enjoys also all types of nerdy things including, but not limited to, music, movies, TV, comics, video games and books.

Favorite Documentaries
-Life in a Day
-Waiting for Superman
-Exit Through the Gift Shop
-Bowling for Columbine
-Fat Head

Favorite Bands
-Nine Inch Nails
-Rise Against
-Innerpartysystem
-The Beatles
-Childish Gambino

Favorite Concerts Experiences
-Rise Against (all 3 times)
-Three Days Grace
-Weezer
-Linkin Park
-Shiny Toy Guns

Favorite Places in Milwaukee 
-The Lakefront
-The Parks
-Brewers Games
-Art Museum
-Any bar with a good drink special

For more information about the Cream City Soundcheck project, visit http://creamcitysoundcheck.com/.

Meet Martin Kaszubowski from Thorp, Wisconsin.  Martin is currently a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  He finds that he has a variety of interests inside and outside of art, but is incredibly interested in film and music.  He enjoys working with bands and making videos in the Cream City Soundcheck class.  “I certainly enjoy the combination of the two mediums and the exploration of one through the other.”  Currently, Martin is still creating his path in film, but he hopes to make a variety of works during his time at UWM.

Favorite Documentaries
-Under Great White Northern Lights
-And Everything is Going Fine
-MTV Unplugged with Nirvana in New York
-This Is Spinal Tap
-Man Bites Dog

Favorite Bands
-Arctic Monkeys
-Times New Viking
-Radiohead
-Iggy and the Stooges
-The White Stripes
-Beck
Favorite Concerts Experiences
-The Flaming Lips at Summerfest
-Pixies at Eagles Ballroom
-Dirty Projectors at Pabst Theater
-Arctic Monkeys at First Ave
-Oasis at Target Center
-Girls/Nobunny at Majestic Theatre

Favorite Places in Milwaukee
-Turner Hall
-Bradford Beach
-Oriental Theater
-Brady St.
-North Ave.
-Bayshore Mall

For more information about the Cream City Soundcheck project, visit http://creamcitysoundcheck.com/.