The Tijuana Project: Showing in a film festival near you!
January 26, 2010
John Sheedy’s documentary, The Tijuana Project, is being accepted to film festivals across the country right now. If you hear of it coming to a city near you, watch it! What a great story about families living inside the Tijuana municipal dumps.
Click here to read a story I wrote about the film and its directors.
Click here to listen to a radio interview I did with the film director.
The transcript of the piece is below:
Durango filmmaker finishes a film about kids living in the Tijuana dumps by Kinsee Morlan Durango, Colo. DJ INTRO: A DURANGO FILMMAKER PUTS THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON A DOCUMENTARY THAT TOOK MORE THAN TWO YEARS IN THE MAKING. THE FILMS TELLS THE STORY OF FAMILIES LIVING INSIDE A MUNICIPAL DUMP IN TIJUANA, MEXICO. KSUT INDEPENDENT PRODUCER KINSEE MORLAN HAS MORE.
NAT SOUND: MUSIC, KIDS PLAYING IN DUMP.
KINSEE MORLAN: JOHN SHEEDY SPENT PART OF HIS CHILDHOOD IN DURANGO, BUT HE EVENTUALLY FOLLOWED HIS FILMMAKING CAREER TO FAUSTO GONZALEZ, A SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD IN TIJUANA WHERE FAMILIES WORK AND LIVE IN THE CITY’S DUMP. AFTER FINISHING “EL INMIGRANT,” A FILM ABOUT THE MURDER OF A MEXICAN IMMIGRANT, JOHN WANTED TO STAY AWAY FROM BORDER POLITICS FOR AWHILE AND DO A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT KIDS. BUT AN AUTHOR IN SAN DIEGO TOLD HIM ABOUT THE TIJUANA DUMP AND ALL THE KIDS LIVING IN SUCH A DIRE SITUATION AND JOHN SET OFF TO AT LEAST HAVE A LOOK.
JOHN SHEEDY: I THOUGHT ABOUT IT FOR AWHILE AND I COULDN’T RESIST GOING DOWN AND AFTER ONE DAY OF GOING DOWN AND SEEING THIS GIANT MASS OF GARBAGE LOOMING ABOVE TIJUANA WITH THESE CLOUDS OF SEAGULLS OVER HEAD AND PROBBLY FIVE OR SIX HUNDRED PEOPLE IN THERE I JUST COULDN’T RESIST GOING BACK, I JUST COULDN’T BELIEVE PEOPLE WERE LIVING IN AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE THAT SO…
KINSEE MORLAN: SO JOHN TOOK HIS CAMERAS AND EQUIPMENT DOWN AND STARTED SHOOTING A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT A FAMILY AND A FEW OF THE KIDS LIVING AND WORKING IN THE DUMP. HIS LENS SWOOPS IN ON THE MASS OF WORKERS WADING KNEE DEEP IN GARBAGE TO GATHER RECYCLABLES AND, EVENTUALLY, HIS CAMERA IS TAKEN OVER BY THE KIDS WHO PERHAPS GET THE MOST STARTLING FOOTAGE THEMSELVES OF THE DRUG USE AND THE CHOP SHOP, WHICH ARE BOTH GOING ON RIGHT OUTSIDE THEIR DOORS . JOHN’S FIRST DAY IN THE DUMP WAS ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO, AND THIS WEEK THE YOUNG FILMMAKER SAYS HE’S READY WITH A DIRECTOR’S CUT. IF HIS CREW CAN JUST RAISE A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY, HE SAYS THE FILM WILL BE COMPLETELY DONE WITHIN A MATTER OF MONTHS. BUT THE DIRECTOR’S CUT IS PRETTY CLOSE TO WHAT PEOPLE WILL END UP SEEING, AND JOHN EXPLAINS HOW THE FILM ENDED UP TAKING SHAPE.
JOHN SHEEDY: THE TIJUANA PROJECT IS THE STORY OF THE KIDS IN THE TIJUANA GARBAGE DUMP AND IT’S A PROFILE OF SIX OF THOSE KIDS. A DAY IN THE LIFE, OR IN THIS CASE, A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF THESE KIDS. THEY’RE ALL BETWEEN 9 AND 13. IT’S A BIT OF A COMING OF AGE STORY. WATCHING THESE KIDS GROW UP IN THIS ENVIRONMENT AND WORK IN THE DUMP AND THEIR STRUGGLES THEY WENT THROUGH, THE DRUGS THEY’RE UP AGAINST AND ULTIMATELLY THE HOPE OF A SCHOOL THAT WAS BUILT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO THE VIEWERS AREN’T LEFT HANGING.
KINSEE MORLAN: THERE IS A BIT OF A SURPRISE ENDING, THOUGH, THAT NOT EVEN JOHN PREDICTED. ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH MAKING THE MOVIE, THE CITY CLOSED DOWN THE DUMP IN FAUSTO GONZALES AND MOVED IT ABOUT THIRTY FIVE MILES AWAY. WHEN WATCHING THE FILM, YOU EXPECT THE FAMILIES TO FIND BETTER JOBS OUTSIDE THE DUMPS, BUT AS THEY EXPLAIN IN THE FILM, THE FACTORY JOBS PAY A LOT LESS THAN THEY MAKE BY RECYCLING THE GLASS AND METAL THEY CAN FIND IN A DAY. IT’S A BIT HEARTBREAKING, BUT THE WORKERS HIRE A BUSDRIVER TO TAKE THEM TO THE NEW DUMP OUTSIDE THE CITY SO THEY CAN CONTINUE THEIR WORK.
JOHN SHEEDY: THAT REALLY OPENED MY EYES, THAT HERE WITH NAFTA GOING THROUGH AND AMERICAN COUNTRIES SETTING UP FACTORIES, MANY OF THESE DUMP WORKERS HAVE WORKED IN THESE FACTORIES AND HAVE FOUND THAT THEY’RE GETTING PAID $10 A DAY MAYBE AT THE MOST WHEREAS IF THEY CAN WORK AT THE GARGABE DUMP THEY MIGHT AVERGAE $20-$25 A DAY WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT BETTER MONEY IN MEXICO AND IT’S MUCH BETTER THAN WORKING IN FACTORIES.
KINSEE MORLAN: AND YET AS JOHN SAID EARLIER, THERE IS A BIT OF HOPE IN THE FILM. A VISIT FROM A NEW YORK TEACHER ENDED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BRAND-NEW SCHOOL FOR THE KIDS IN THE DUMP.
JOHN SHEEDY: DAVID LYNCH, AND HE’S NOT THE FILMMAKER, HE’S THE OTHER DAVID LYNCH AND HE WENT OU WITH A CHURCH GROUP IN 1981 AND VOWED HE’D NEVER GO BACK BECAUSE THE PLACE SMELLED SO BAD. BUT AS THESE TYPE OF LIFE-CHANGING PROJECTS GO HE COULDN’T RESIST GOING BACK. LITTLE BY LITTLE HE KEPT COMIGN BACK AND HE WOULD LAY OUT A BLUE TARP AND TEACH CLASSES. AND ULTIMATELY HE GOT ENOUGH DONATIONS TO BUILD A SCHOOL…..PART WAY THROUGH THE PROJECT WE DID AN ART WORKSHOP. SO IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF ONLY WORKING IN THE DUMP.
KINSEE MORLAN: CASE AND POINT IS FELIPE, WHO GREW UP WORKING IN THE DUMP AND IS NOW A TEACHER AT DAVID LYNCH’S SCHOOL. HERE’S A PIECE OF FELIPE’S INTERVIEW FROM THE FILM.
FELIPE: I STARTED IN THE BASURA, THE GARBAGE, WHEN I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD. BY SIX, I WAS WORKING THE DUMP. COLLECTING FOOD, GLASS, PLASTICS. DO YOU LIKE WORKIGN WITH DAVID LYNCH? YEAH, I LOVE IT. I LOVE WORKIGN WITH THE KIDS AND THAT’S WHY I’M HERE.
KINSEE MORLAN: JOHN WILL BE HOLDING A PRIVATE SCREENING OF THE FILM THIS SUNDAY AT THE ABBEY IN HOPES OF RAISING SOME MONEY TO HELP PUT THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THE FILM. FOR KSUT PUBLIC RADIO, I’M KINSEE MORLAN.
DJ OUTRO: TO FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT “THE TIJUANA PROJECT,” VISIT WWW.TIJUANAPROJECT.ORG OR TO ATTEND THIS WEEKEND’S FUNDRAISER, CALL JOHN SHEEDY AT 970-259-7614.
La Mezcalera presents NaCo Posada Navideña, Jueves 17 de Diciembre
December 16, 2009
NaCo
Posada Navideña
JUEVES 17 DE DICIEMBRE
EN LA MEZCALERA SALON DE BAILE
Desde Monterrey El Dj Internacional:
*TOY SELECTAH*
De la disquera MAD DECENT, reconocido por sus colaboraciones y remixes con
Diplo, Morrisey, M.I.A, Calle 13, Vampire Weekend y muchos mas ! ! !
Ademas:
DJ CHUCUCHU!!
El Emperador de la Cumbia.
30 INVITACIONES DOBLES DISPONIBLES HOY MARTES EN LA MEZCALERA
Al ordenarle un trago al bartender pidele tu invitacion
TAMBIEN DISPONIBLES EN
-TIENDA NaCo. TIJUANA MACROPLAZA (TEL: 625-08-37)
-PLAZA RIO TIJUANA @ LAGATITA TEL: 684-02-30
! ! ! REGALOS Y SORPRESAS ! ! !
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Upgrade! Tijuana
December 12, 2009
Upgrade! Tijuana son reuniones mensuales de artistas visuales, músicos, programadores y gente interesada en el desarrollo y promoción de la cultura electrónica.
Evento gratuito.
Sabado 19 de Diciembre
6 to 8 pm.
@ Protolab
http://upgrade.dreamaddictive.com
Artistas Invitados:
Elle Mehrmand
is a performance/new media artist and musician who uses the body, electronics, video, photography, sound and installation within her works. She is the singer and trombone player of Assembly of Mazes, a music collective who create dark, electronic, middle eastern, rhythmic jazz rock. Elle is currently an MFA candidate at UCSD, and received her BFA in art photography with a minor in music at CSULB. Elle has received grants from UCIRA and Fine Arts Affiliates. She is a researcher at CRCA and the b.a.n.g. lab at UCSD. Her performances have been shown in Los Angeles, Tijuana, Montreal, Dublin, San Diego, Long Beach, San Fransisco and Bogotá, Colombia.
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Zach Blas
www.zachblas.info
is an artist and writer working at the intersections of networked media, queerness, and the political. he is particularly interested in activist art that addresses the methods and styles in which technologies, bodies, and capital impact, reconstitute, and proliferate assemblages of sexuality, gender, and knowledge, alongside the potentials and possibilities of reshaping these assemblages as well as reconfiguring un/human modes of agency and resistance. zach is a phd student in literature & information science + information studies at duke university. he holds a mfa from the design | media arts department at the university of california los angeles, a post-baccalaureate certificate from the school of the art institute of chicago in the art and technology studies department, and a bachelor of science from boston university in film and philosophy.”
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Christopher Head
gubbish.org
Christopher Head is a MFA candidate at the University of California San Diego. His practice is focused on the application of experimental technologies and art to address issues at the intersection between virtual, public, and social spaces. Christopher’s work often engages computer games, data visualization, and issues of software production.
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Telefono: (0152 – 664) 686 1610 y 686 6318
Dirección: Blvd. Agua Caliente # 10535Edificio Gallegos Planta Baja.Fracc. Aviación, Tijuana, B.C. Mexico.C.P.22014
Awesome Mexican Graphic Design
December 8, 2009
Check out Estudio Zoveck. Quirky, creapy, swirly.
Check out Organika. Clean, crisp, dreamy, organic.
Turista Libre
December 8, 2009
Mr. Derrik Chinn. Photo by Kelly Davis
Tijuana equals inspiration for more than just me. My buddy Derrik Chinn lives in Tijuana and is currently doing a project by the name of Turista Libre.
One trip to Tijuana with Turista Libre and I promise you will understand why so many love the city of Tijuana.
Turista Libre Links:
San Diego invades Tijuana
October 30, 2009
Event: SAN DIEGO INVADE TIJUANA
What: Club Party
Start Time: Saturday, November 7 at 10:00pm
End Time: Sunday, November 8 at 4:00am
Where: LA MEZCALERA
To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=166124419164&mid=15424d6G492310c2G11edb07G7
LA LOTERIA HALLOWEEN PARTY @ LA MEZCALERA
October 30, 2009
|
Acompañanos este 31 de Octubre al parison retrotetrico de La Mezcalera con la musica de: CHICA COMETA, RAFA DRO y CHUN KOOL Premios a los mejores disfraces inspirados en La Loteria Mexicana. Los Esperamos |
Publico y privado / public and private
October 18, 2009
* “Transferencia” is a series of interventions in the
*“transferencia” es una serie de intervenciones en
private and public space through the interaction
el espacio público y privado a través de la
with the inhabitants of the Colonia Federal in
interacción con los habitantes de la Colonia Federal
Tijuana Mexico and “Colectivo 4″ to produce 8 “Art
y el “colectivo 4” para producir 8 “Casas Arte”
Houses” seeking to establish a communication link
buscando establecer un vínculo de comunicación a
from talks related to the informal roots and length
partir de pláticas informales relacionadas con el
of residence in the neighborhood and transform
arraigo y la antigüedad de residencia en la colonia y
homes into works of art and that way create a
transformar casas habitación en obras de arte y así
living relationship with the community.
crear una relación viva con la comunidad.
The artists group “Colectivo 4″ is formed by
El “colectivo 4” está formado por Alejandro
Zacarias Alfredo Gutierrez Daniel Alejandro Lizardo
Zacarías Alfredo Gutiérrez Daniel Castellanos
Hernandez Castellanos, this project is being
Lizardo Hernández, este proyecto está siendo
documented by Irina Georgieff.
documentado por Irina Georgieff.
The event will be broadcast in streaming (live)
EL evento será retransmitido en streaming
SUNDAY 18 OCTOBER 2009 at 4:00 PM
(directo) DOMINGO 18 OCTUBRE 2009 a las 4:00
courtesy www.revistaentrelineas.blogspot.com
PM cortesía www.revistaentrelineas.blogspot.com
for those who can not attend or want to see us
para todos aquellos que no puedan asistir o nos
from …. lithuania? madrid? cd Mexico? L.A.? san
quieran ver desde…. lituania? madrid? cd méxico?
pancho? Greenland?
L.A.? san pancho? groenlandia?
La Casa Del Tunel Tijuana opens another excellent show
October 15, 2009
“The Candy Store” (La dulcería): Dispensing Truth
October 13, 2009
An installation created by Artist/Collaborators, Debby and Larry Kline
For La Casa Del Túnel: Art Center, a new cultural center in Tijuana that formerly housed a smuggling tunnel.
Exhibition opening on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 7PM (PST)
Refreshments and music at “la terraza cafeEcoverde”
Round table Discussion Saturday, November 7, 4:00 PM. (The discussion will include the artists, a pharmacist, a physician and an advocate for medical marijuana)
Smuggling or snuggling? Anything goes in “The Candy Store” (La dulcería):, an installation that simultaneously attracts and repels viewers, exposes the inherent conflicts in the international healthcare industry, and the legalities and illegalities in the world of pharmaceuticals The Candy Store is a retail space that houses “inconsumable products” made out of controlled substances (e.g. tobacco Teddy bears and Vioxx ceramic candies) adding meaningful visual spectacle and humor to the dialogue surrounding healthcare issues and bridging boundaries between art, science, sociology and activism. It continues what Warhol began by blurring the lines between art and commodity and builds on the notion of Claes Oldenburg’s store (1961) with the addition of a socially conscious message that can effect political change.
The pharmaceutical/health care industry system in America is dysfunctional. While large segments of the population go without access, the privileged are over-medicated, sometimes relying on pharmaceuticals as treatment for conditions once held as normal variations in personality and temperament. Those without medical access must seek alternative methods, crossing the borders of Mexico or Canada in search of affordable drugs. Many on fixed incomes must choose between life-saving medications or food, shelter and clothing.
Americans are led to believe that pharmaceuticals in the US are superior to those made in neighboring countries. The unfortunate truth is that the US has removed many medicines from the market that were supposedly tested for safety and efficacy.
“The Candy Store” (La dulcería): addresses this trend toward self-medication by allowing consumers to purchase inconsumable objects (talismans or placebos) made of their medications of choice. As viewers become participants, each draws on their own experiences in the quest to remain healthy and productive. Viewers will also identify with the quick fix society, the irony of talismans made of ceramic and medicine, placebos as metaphors and tobacco toys designed to entice young patrons. Many of the medicinal ingredients are based on the artists’ own experiences. Larry was prescribed two medications which were released for consumption and later found to be unsafe and sadly, Debby’s brother died from abusing prescribed drugs that were easily available and purchased through the internet. The addiction occurred as a result of his back surgery and pain medicine that was initially ordered for him by his physician. Unfortunately, these family tragedies are reflective of larger societal ills. Consider school children medicated to conform to acceptable standards who will likely find it difficult to cope without drugs/medication later in life.
The venue at La Casa Del Túnel: Art Center is an apropos location considering the hordes of US citizens who cross the border to save money on less expensive prescription medications. The added facet of a drug-smuggling tunnel transformed into a cultural venue transformed into a drug store makes the project even more significant, meaningful, timely and edgy.
Saturday, November 7, 4:00 PM. A roundtable discussion will address the questions raised by the exhibition. The discussion will include the artists, a pharmacist, a physician and an advocate for medical marijuana. The discussion is free and open to all members of the bi-national community.
Contact: Artists, Debby and Larry Kline
760.432.9436
Website: www.jugglingklines.com
Contact: La Casa Del Túnel: Art Center, Luis Ituarte in Tijuana 664 682-9596/231-9686 en los EE.UU. 323 574 9197
This is to invite you to the exhibiton Tijuana/San Diego: Cooperation and Confrontation at the Interface, where we will presentMediaWomb, a Cubo Project made in collaboration between Camilo Otiveros, Giacomo Castagnola, Nina Waisman, and Felipe Zuniga.
Los invito a la exhibicion Tijuana/San Diego: Cooperation and Confrontation at the Interface donde estaremos presentandoMediaWomb, proyecto creado en colaboracion con Camilo Otiveros, Giacomo Castagnola, Nina Waisman y Felipe Zuniga.
Gallery Hours: Monday – Friday, 11am-5pm
University of California, San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093
Map & Directions: http://atkinsonhall.calit2.net/directions/
