Filmmakers Support Occupy Wall Street and the Occupy Movement Around the World.
In 2012 the Occupy movement was an international socio-political movement against social inequality and lack of "real democracy" around the world. The movement’s primary goal was to advance social and economic justice and new forms of democracy. The movement had many different iterations with local groups often having different focuses. Today, just as back at the beginning the movement's prime concerns are how large corporations (and the global financial system) control the world in a way that disproportionately benefits a minority, undermines democracy, and is unstable.
The website was just one iteration of the Occupy Movement. Content is from the site’s 2012 archived pages.
Initially I was in the thick of the Occupy Wall Street Movement camping out in Zuccotti Park, that was located in New York City's Wall Street financial district. The occupiers received global attention and spawned the Occupy movement against social and economic inequality worldwide. I had to leave before the NYC police forced the protesters out of Zuccotti Park on November 15, 2011 to help my parents with their relocation. But I was there for the most part living the resistance. Met a lot of very interesting and significant people, some camped out, some offering services or music, or healing, and I noticed a lot of press. Kind of an existential carnival. One evening, I spotted a familiar face from my web dev days, Bob Sakayama, of TNG/Earthling. He had dragged over a bunch of guys in suits - he was the guest speaker at a forum on Google penalties and the risk of relying on search results. He then tricked them into visiting us - they would def not have come otherwise. I'm not sure they got our message or even understood the issues at play, but glad they got a first hand view instead of what's on tv. By the time my parents were relocated, Zuccotti Park was just a park with business people from the nearby office buildings just wandering by. The protesters, the huge police presence, and all the gawkers, sight seers, and media people were gone. However, a movement had been born and the ripple effected are still being felt today.
Jump ahead to 2020. Still in NYC but have settled down with my own family. Protests are still roiling not only NYC but across the US with the powerful Black Lives Matter movement. Plus we are in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Live goes on in the strange world of Covid-19. I have attended some of the protests in Lower Manhattan where we live, but with working at home, helping "home school" our young children, and dealing with just getting all the mundane things that need to get accomplished each day, I am not out there as frequently as I would like. Oops. Got to jump. Time for a video chat with a client. I thought 2012 was crazy, but compared to the present situation is seems in hindsight 2012 was a less fraught period.
A Trip Back to Circa 2012
Started by Toronto producer Sarah Goodman, 134 filmmakers from Canada and the U.S. have signed a petition and created Occupy Filmmakers "to show solidarity with the Occupy Movement," according to a press release issued Wednesday afternoon. James Schamus (Brokeback Mountain), Jennifer Baichwal (Manufactured Landscapes), Peter Lynch (The National Parks Project), and Avi Federgreen (One Week) are among the producers and directors who have put their names on the petition, which voices support for the worldwide Occupy movement. Read the petition at:
Upcoming Events and Flyers
- May 8, 2012 – Occupy Film, Shorts from the Movement
Space 15 Twenty, Los Angeles
8:00PM, Free
- May 16, 18-19 – The Peoples Film Festival, New York City
Opening night May 16 @ Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, 2180 Third Ave.
Festival May 18-19 @ Maysles Cinema, 343 Malcolm X Bvld.
More information about screenings can be found on their website.
Do you have a occupy/film-related event coming up? Drop us an email at occupyfilmmakers@gmail.com with the subject line “ATTN: Events” and we will try and get it on the calendar for you.
We, the undersigned filmmakers and all who will join us, support Occupy Wall Street and the Occupy Movement around the world.
Adrienne Amato, director of A Brief Life
Alan Black, director of Jackpot
Alan Folsom, screenwriter of The Six Million Dollar Man
Alan Zweig, director of Vinyl
Alex Lisman, director of TVACdotCA
Alexandra Halkin, director of Living Juarez
Ali Kamanda, director of Salay
Ali Kazimi, director of Continuous Journey
Andrea Cohen
Andy Robertson, editor of We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists
Angela Tucker, director of (A)sexual
Ann Rose, producer, former Sundance Channel EP
Annette Manguard, director of Into The Night
Arnold Schulman, writer of Love With the Proper Stranger
Avi Federgreen, producer of One Week
Barbara Green, director of Tashi Jong: A Traditional Tibetan Community in Exile
Barry Greenwald, director of The Experimental Eskimos
Begonya Plaza, screenwriter of The Persistence of Memory
Bill Douglas, director of Anthology of T’ai Chi & Qigong: The Prescription for the Future
Bill Siegel, co-director of The Weather Underground
Bob Boldt, director of It Was 40 Years Ago Today - CDNC68
Bob Yothers, director of Tourne-cave
Brant Kantor, producer of Foreign Letters
Brenda Kovrig, director of Relativity
Brian McKeown, producer of Human Cargo
Brian Stockton, director of My Dinner with Generation X
Carlo Guillermo Proto, director of El Huaso
Charles Lofton, director of O Happy Day
Charlie Phillips, marketplace director of Sheffield Doc/Fest
Charlotte Glynn, director of Rachel Is
Charlotte Lagarde, director of Heart of the Sea
Chris McDonald
Christopher Toussaint, director of Free Energy: The Race to Zero Point
Connie Field, director of Freedom on my Mind
Crystal Kingston, director of Reading the Signs
Daniel Sollinger, producer of California Winter
Daniela Franchi
Danielle DiGiacomo, producer of Best Kept Secret
David Adkin, director of Debt Trap
David Bellinson, co-director of Code 33
David Risk, director of Legends of the Court
Deb Ellis, director of Howard Zinn: You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train
Donal Mosher, co-director of October Country
Donald Goldmacher, co-director of Heist
Dustin Lane, director of The Purest Blue
Duygu Eruçman, director of Sokak Sokak
Earl Katz, director of Hacking Democracy
Elisa Paloschi, director of Embracing Voices
Eric Morris Eskenazi, director of Meshuggeneh
Florencia Davidzon, director of the Marching Quixotes
Garret Savage, editor of My Perestroika
Gary Marcuse, director of Waking the Green Tiger
Geoff Arbourne, director of Tin Town
Gilda L. Sheppard, Ph. D, director of Women Together as One
Gisèle Gordon, director of The Tunguska Project
Grace Lee, director of American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs
Gregory Whitmore, director of Kabul Transit
Hal Hartley, director of The Girl from Monday
Harold Crooks, co-director of Surviving Progress
Heather Croall, director of Sheffield International Documentary Festival
Helene Klodawsky, director of No More Tears Sister
Howard Gertler, producer of Shortbus
Ian O’Brien, director of No Name, Difference
Igor Drlijaca, director of Woman in Purple
Ingrid Kopp, editor-in-chief of Shooting People
J. Robinson Wheeler, director of The Krone Experiment
James Greer, screenwriter of The Spy Next Door
James Schamus, writer and producer of The Ice Storm
Jared Varava, director of Tumbleweed!
Jason Cortlund, writer/co-director of Now, Forager
Jeanie Finlay, director of Sound It Out
Jeanne Crépeau, director of La Fille de Montreal
Jeff Feuerzeig, director of The Devil and Daniel Johnston
Jeffrey Paull, co-editor of Dead Time
Jen Peel, director of Seattle: Icons – Proof They Rocked
Jennifer Abod Ph. D, director of The Edge of Eachother’s Battles:
The Vision of Audre Lorde
Jennifer Baichwal, director of Maufactured Landscapes
Jeremy Pikser, screenwriter of Bulworth
Jesse McKeown, writer of Da Vinci’s Inquest
Jessica Mae Stover, director of Artemis Eternal
Jessica Wolfson, director of Radio Unnameable
Jim Donovan, director of 3 Saisons
Joan Carr-Wiggin, director of If I Were You
John Christou, producer of Sorry, Rabbi
John Walker, director of A Drummer’s Dream
Josh Olson, screenwriter of A History of Violence
Julia Halperin, director of Now, Forager
Julia Kwan, director of Eve and the Fire Horse
Julie Perron, director of Lucie, Timeless Fighter
Julien Nitzberg, director of The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia
Justine Shapiro, producer of Promises
Karen Harnisch, producer of We Ate The Children Last
Karen X. Tulchinsky, director of Ms. Thing
Kathy Wazana, director of They Were Promised the Sea
Katie McKenna, co-producer of The Take
Keirda Bahruth, director of Bob and The Monster
Kevin McMahon, director of Waterlife
Khadijah Ford, director
Kit Thomas, director of Burning Down Tomorrow
Larry Kamerman, director of At the Top of My Voice
Laurie Simons, co-producer of The Healthcare Movie
Laurika Harris-Kaye, director
Linda Blackaby, Cinema Projects
Lisa Gildehaus, co-director of Almost Home
Lisa Jackson, director of Savage
Lisa Martin, director of Live the Life I Love
Lisa Menzel, director of Thinking Speed
Liz Marshall, director of Water on the Table
Lorin Wertheimer, writer and producer of Speedie Date
LumiDocs Collective, creators of Gritos En El Cielo
Lydia Justice Stec, director of Sexual Assault in American Culture:
Stories of Strength and Courage in the Real World.
Madison Cawker, director of Lady Bare Knuckles
Maggi Carter, producer of Voices of Palestine
Magnus Isacsson, director of Art in Action
Manara Nivron, director of Next Stop, Life
Mandy J Rose, CollabDocs
Marian Evans, director of Sister Galvan
Marisa Olson, director of The One that Got Away
Mark Achbar, director of The Corporation
Mark Rabinowitz, producer and co-founder of IndieWire.com
Mark Ratzlaff, director of Voodoo
Mark Slutsky, director of Sorry, Rabbi
Mark R. Elsis, director of Love is Our Answer
Mary Thomas, co-director of El Burrito
Mascha & Manfred Poppenk, directors of Grown to Detroit
Mathieu Roy, director of Surviving Progress
Matthew Kohn, director of Call it Democracy
Matthew Pillischer, director of Broken on All Sides
Maureen Gosling, producer of Blossoms of Fire
Maureen Herman, producer of The Justice Tour
Meena Nanji, director of View From a Grain of Sand
Meerkat Media Collective
Michal Goldman, producer of At Home in Utopia
Michael Chandler, director of Knee Deep
Michael Galinsky, cinematographer of Battle for Brooklyn
Michael Goorijan, director of Illusion
Michael Hoolbloom, director of Lacan Palestine
Michael Palmieri, director of October Country
Michael Waglay, co-director of El Burrito
Mike Leggieri, director of Look Out
Mindi White, producer of The Priests
Mona Nicoara, director of Our School
Myriam Verreault, Co-director of West of Pluto
Nancy Kates, co-director of Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin
Nancy Schwartzman, director of The Line
Natalie Johns, director of Music for RAIN: Dig For Fire
Nicholas Lea Bruno, director of Ironlak
Nick De Poncier, producer of Manufactured Landscapes
Nilesh C. Patel, director of Brocket 99 – Rockin’ The Country
Nimisha Mukerji, co-director of 65 Red Roses
Nova Ami, director of Say I Do
Patricio Henriquez, co-director of You don’t like the truth, 4 days inside Guantánamo
Paul Donahue, director of In The Land of Milk and Honey
Paul Haggis, director of Crash
Paul Lovelace, co-director of The Holy Modal Rounders… Bound to Lose
Peter Brauer, producer of Second Skin
Peter Lynch, director of Project Grizzly
Peter Switzer, director of The Door
Pierre Hébert, director of Place Carnot-Lyon (Places and Monuments-2)
Pratibha Parmar, director of Alice Walker: Beauty in Truth
Ray Keller, director of Generosity
Richard Brouillette, director of Encirclement: Neo-Liberalism Ensnares Democracy
Richard Weiner, producer of Searching for Orson
Robert Arnold, director of The Key of G
Robert Greene, director of Kati with an I
Rosalie Bellefontaine, director of The Mayor of Tent City
Rosemarie Reed, director of The Path To Nuclear Fusion:
The Story of Lise Meitner and Otto Hahn
Rosemary Rawcliffe, director of Women of Tibet: A Quiet Revolution
Sarah Goodman, director of When We Were Boys
Sarah Zammit, director of Life Inside Out
Sebastian Funke, director of Djambo
Sheila Canavan, producer of Knee Deep
Sidney Peck, screenwriter of Cinema Profound
Simonee Chichester, director of Chichester’s Choice
Stephane Goldsand, director of Leap Before You Look
Stephen Bell, director of The Quartering Act
Steven Gillis, director of This Wrestling Life
Suki Hawley, co-director of Battle for Brooklyn
Susi Newborn, executive director of WIFT NZ
Sylvia Schedelbauer, director of Sounding Glass
Tamás Wormser, director of Travelling Light
Terrie Samundra, director of Kunjo
Terry Sterrenberg, co-producer of The Healthcare Movie
Tess Girard, director of A Simple Rhythm
Thomas Sieben, director of Distanz
Titus Nachbaeur, director of Trans Human
TJ Martin, co-director of Undefeated
Vanessa Renwick, director of Charismatic Megafauna
Velcrow Ripper, director of Scared Sacred
Walter Miale, producer of Deadly Mistakes?
William Gazecki, director of WACO: The Rules of Engagement
Winsome Brown, director of The Violinist
Xandra Castleton, writer of Full Grown Men
More Background on OccupyFilmMakers.com
Occupy Filmmakers emerged as a dynamic intersection of the film community and the Occupy Wall Street movement, representing a collective effort by filmmakers to amplify the movement's message and promote social and economic justice. While the OccupyFilmMakers.com website itself serves as an archive of the group's activities, understanding the broader context of Occupy Filmmakers requires delving into the historical backdrop of the Occupy movement, the role of art and media within social activism, and the specific contributions of filmmakers to this particular cause.
Historical Context: The Occupy Wall Street Movement
The Occupy Wall Street movement began on September 17, 2011, in Zuccotti Park, located in New York City's Financial District. Sparked by widespread discontent over economic inequality, corporate greed, and the perceived influence of money in politics, the movement quickly gained momentum, spreading to cities across the United States and around the world. Inspired by the Arab Spring uprisings and other global protest movements, Occupy Wall Street sought to challenge the status quo and demand systemic change. Protesters camped out in public spaces, organized demonstrations, and used social media to disseminate their message. The movement's decentralized structure and diverse range of concerns allowed for broad participation, but also posed challenges in terms of articulating specific goals and maintaining long-term cohesion.
Art and Activism: A Powerful Combination
Throughout history, art has played a vital role in social movements, serving as a means of expression, communication, and mobilization. From protest songs to political posters to street theater, art has the power to capture the emotions, ideas, and aspirations of a movement, making it accessible to a wider audience and inspiring action. In the context of Occupy Wall Street, art became an integral part of the movement's identity. Artists created banners, murals, and installations in occupied spaces, transforming them into vibrant centers of resistance. Filmmakers documented the protests, capturing the stories of participants and sharing them with the world. The use of art helped to create a sense of community and solidarity among protesters, while also challenging the dominant narratives promoted by mainstream media.
The Genesis of Occupy Filmmakers
Occupy Filmmakers emerged as a direct response to the Occupy Wall Street movement, recognizing the potential of film to amplify the movement's message and reach a broader audience. The group sought to bring together filmmakers from diverse backgrounds and genres to create and distribute films that explored the themes of economic inequality, social justice, and political corruption. Occupy Filmmakers originated through informal networks of filmmakers who were sympathetic to the Occupy movement. These individuals may have connected through social media, film festivals, or activist circles, recognizing a shared desire to use their skills to contribute to the cause.
Activities and Initiatives
Occupy Filmmakers engaged in a variety of activities aimed at promoting their message and supporting the Occupy movement. These activities included:
- Film Screenings and Festivals: Organizing screenings of films related to the Occupy movement and broader social justice issues. These events would have provided a platform for filmmakers to showcase their work, engage in discussions with audiences, and build solidarity within the film community.
- Production and Distribution of Films: Supporting the creation and distribution of films that documented the Occupy movement, explored its themes, and promoted its goals. This may have involved providing funding, technical assistance, or distribution channels for filmmakers.
- Advocacy and Outreach: Using film as a tool for advocacy and outreach, engaging with policymakers, community organizations, and the general public to raise awareness about social and economic justice issues. This may have involved creating short videos, public service announcements, or educational materials.
- Collaborations and Partnerships: Working with other organizations and movements to amplify their message and build a broader coalition for social change. This may have involved collaborating with labor unions, environmental groups, or human rights organizations.
Themes and Focus
Occupy Filmmakers focused on a range of themes, including:
- Economic Inequality: Examining the widening gap between the rich and the poor, the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few, and the impact of economic policies on marginalized communities.
- Corporate Power: Investigating the influence of corporations on government policies, the role of corporate greed in economic crises, and the environmental and social consequences of corporate activities.
- Political Corruption: Exposing corruption in government, the influence of money in politics, and the erosion of democratic institutions.
- Social Justice: Promoting social justice for all, including racial justice, gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and immigrant rights.
- Grassroots Activism: Highlighting the power of grassroots movements to effect social change, showcasing the stories of activists and organizers who are working to build a more just and equitable world.
Audience and Reach
The target audience for Occupy Filmmakers included:
- Supporters of the Occupy Movement: Individuals who were already engaged in the Occupy movement or sympathetic to its goals.
- Social Justice Activists: Individuals who were working on other social justice issues and interested in learning more about the Occupy movement.
- Film Enthusiasts: Individuals who were interested in socially conscious films and documentaries.
- Students and Educators: Students and educators who were studying social movements, politics, and film.
- The General Public: The broader public who may have been unaware of the Occupy movement or its goals.
Occupy Filmmakers sought to reach this audience through a variety of channels, including film screenings, festivals, online platforms, social media, and community events.
Cultural and Social Significance
Occupy Filmmakers contributed to the cultural and social landscape by:
- Amplifying Marginalized Voices: Providing a platform for filmmakers from marginalized communities to tell their stories and share their perspectives.
- Challenging Dominant Narratives: Challenging the dominant narratives promoted by mainstream media and offering alternative perspectives on social and economic issues.
- Promoting Dialogue and Debate: Fostering dialogue and debate about important social and political issues, encouraging critical thinking and civic engagement.
- Inspiring Action: Inspiring individuals to take action on social justice issues, whether through activism, advocacy, or simply by becoming more informed and engaged citizens.
- Documenting a Movement: Preserving a record of the Occupy movement for future generations, providing valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of social change.
Impact and Legacy
While the Occupy Wall Street movement itself eventually waned, its impact on the political and social landscape has been significant. The movement helped to raise awareness about economic inequality, corporate power, and political corruption, paving the way for subsequent social movements such as Black Lives Matter and the fight for a $15 minimum wage. Occupy Filmmakers played a role in this broader movement by using film to amplify its message and inspire action. The films produced and distributed by the group likely continue to be screened and studied today, serving as a reminder of the power of art to challenge the status quo and promote social change.
Challenges and Criticisms
Like any social movement, Occupy Filmmakers likely faced a number of challenges and criticisms. These may have included:
- Lack of Resources: Securing funding and resources to support film production and distribution.
- Internal Disagreements: Navigating internal disagreements and conflicts within the group, given its diverse membership and decentralized structure.
- Media Coverage: Dealing with negative or dismissive media coverage from mainstream media outlets.
- Repression and Surveillance: Facing repression and surveillance from law enforcement and government agencies.
- Maintaining Momentum: Sustaining momentum and engagement over the long term, as the initial fervor of the Occupy movement waned.
Occupy Filmmakers represented a unique and important intersection of film and social activism. By bringing together filmmakers from diverse backgrounds and genres, the group sought to use film as a tool for amplifying the message of the Occupy Wall Street movement and promoting social and economic justice. While the group may no longer be as active as it once was, its legacy lives on in the films it produced and distributed, and in the broader movement for social change that it helped to inspire. Understanding Occupy Filmmakers provides valuable insights into the role of art and media in social movements, the challenges and opportunities of collective action, and the enduring power of film to challenge the status quo and promote a more just and equitable world.