Providing
Affordable Video Production to Nonprofits, Documenting Indigenous Cultures and Empowering the
Disenfranchised
David Thompson
Secretary/Treasurer
WHAT YOU CAN
FIND AT THIS WEBSITE
LOOKING BACK
Transitions was founded as an act of desperation by
"outdoor" artist/musician Johnny Allen Shaw in 2005 as a way to
tie his talents and education together and build a business
model he could flourish with --- regardless of whether he had a home or
not.
HOMELESS DVD DISTRIBUTION
PROGRAM
The people that are in "Big Fat" movies have a limited
right to distribute our films - in this case, homeless people holding up DVDs on
the corner instead of a cardborad sign and keeping half of the profit. We give
them a DVD up front and, if they come back with $5, we step them up to two
DVDs...
So far, Allen Lang, star of both "Big Fat" movies is the
champion.
ON THE ROAD WITH TRANSITIONS
Homeless Distribution will go on the road to other cites,
creating jobs for the otherwise unemployable, setting up accounts at record
stores and rental outlets, lecturing about homelessness and DIY marketing and
making movies about the experience the whole time. Another version has members
of the cast attending film festivals, but that's another story.
MORE
OF WHAT WE DO
As we travel from place to place, we visit the local
artisans, street vendors and farmer's markets, selling movies, setting up
websites and e-commerce sites. That's what
we did for Michael Thomas
and many others. When we've made enough
money to get by, we turn to nonprofits like emergency shelters and offer our
sevices for little or no fee. Computer repair, upgrade, web presence and
marketing overhaul are often what we help with.
HOW THE "BIG FAT" MOVIES WERE MADE
The movies were made
with a Pentium 4 laptop and a consumer camcorder while sleeping in an open
garage with the electronics under my head. I shot the footage according to the
light and what was happening around me and I edited and encoded by pluging into
external, electrical outlets on the UC Berkeley campus over the course of a
year.
I shot commercial videos
for charities and musicians to cover maintenance and media and then let the
movies build themselves in-between.
ON PRODUCING YOUR OWN, DOCUMENTARY DVD
-
1.) Assume you're going to have to do
everything yourself and then learn how to do it.
-
2.) Start planning
on a new computer while the current one's still alive.
-
3.) Don't use DVD
or MPEG cameras. I like tape.
-
4.) Minimize the
need for...anything. For example, try to use natural daylight as much as
possible.
-
5.) Don't ask
permission so much. There's an implied message when you bring out a video
camera; filming will probably start happening soon. Don't point it at the
subject, but don't ask, either. Let the subject ask you, "Are you going to
film me?" and reply, "I was thinking about it..."
-
6.) Outsource your
printing
-
7.) Replicate 1000 DVDs, but print your inserts gradually
so you can continue to add reviews.
LAST OF THE BIG FAT HOMELESS BERKELEY MOVIES?
Shooting has already begun for "LBFHMB" and there will be lots of laughs
for everybody. It's sure to be a doosey.
Clockwise: Dave, Bliss & friends, Peter Park and David Thompson. Hate Man (below)
Hot Rod on rhythm section
"Genius Lost" was an alpha test that led to MBFHBM. It's a CD of drum circles and other street music.
"Teddy" the Telegraph Ave. Turkey of '05. Remember him?
Master Rudy pours through ancient texts.
This is all I own. If I can't carry it, I don't want it. Clockwise: Timmai and Mbutu.
Breakfast Jamming at the Santa Cruz Farmer's Market.
Planet demonstrates his theraputic "psycho-screaming". Clockwise: "Barrel" Brent, Alan.
Clockwise from top: Craig the Wonder Squirrel, Mud,
"I'm sick and tired of all the blankety-blank!"
The Sourmash Kids and Ras Solomon
Cornflake Chris Singing at sunset
VOP (vope). Some kids playing at an open mic. We made a video for them.
Pink Cloud prepares to do a complete flip.
ARE YOU HOMELESS? DO YOU THINK
YOU CAN DO THIS?
If so, print these
pages and take them to a gigantic church and tell them, "I want to make it the
way Johnny did, by starting with a cheap laptop and making free videos for poor
churches. Here's the proof that it works. Will you help me earn what I
need somehow?" If you're honest, cast your net wide enough and continue to
struggle, the equipment will come.
Mario's School of Urban Self-defence
johnnyallenshaw@hotmail.com
Kevin Kmetz and freinds on Shamisen
"Standing room only" takes on new meaning.
CLICK ON EITHER "BIG FAT"
MOVIE LOGO
I barely managed to save these people from a hostile umbrellla!
Thanks to everyone
who's helped me find my way, especially Master Rudy for his
hospitality, Lisa for her patience, Patrick for his inspiration and
Robbie for showing me how bad it can get.
Thanks to the Cal State East Bay Small Business Development Center for financial consultation.
Thanks to Tom White of the Social Enterprise Reporter for your personal involvement and contributions.
Thanks to Phillip Arca of the Society of St. Vincent DePaul's.
Thanks to Julian Walker for his generous contribution that made the computer systems possible.
And, of course, God Almighty is on top of it all. Thank You.
Buffalo Souljourn #92 or 93
