Greetings, kids, from Colgate University, where the annual Flaherty Seminar (#flaherty11) has been rolling since Saturday night. Les Blank is here. Sam Pollard is, too. The theme around which this year's programmer, Dan Streibel, has built the week has so far manifested itself in Singapore, on Market Street, on the bayou. There have been sing-alongs, contra dancing, a bonfire, a performance on the ondes Martenot, and a revelation: Lillian Schwartz and her computer films of the late 60s/early 70s. Holy SHIT, people. Her films "duetted" with those of the excellent Jodie Mack.
Plus, Caroline Martel is here. Heart her.
There's also a thread of tribute to the recently deceased Ricky Leacock running through the programming this week, including examples of his shooting from the mesmerizing Jazz Dance (1954) and wonderfully hokey 1947 folk music revival doc To Hear Your Banjo Play (treat yourself and check out its credits). And did I mention the barbecue? It's about to start and I could sure use a beer -- I haven't been to bed before 3 a.m. in days and need to start cutting through the caffeine that's been the only thing keeping my systolic system from utter collapse.
I leave you with what greeted us at the start of the first full day of screening: Marvin Gaye seducing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game, directed by Sam Pollard.
