Director Kerthy Fix

Kerthy Fix made her directorial debut with First Person Festival flick Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields and has more recently directed Le Tigre: On Tour, a concert documentary about the ultimate crush-worthy electronica punk band from New York.

What is the rock-doc director tuning into when she’s not listening to The Magnetic Fields or Le Tigre? Well, we had her put together a playlist for us with essential picks for getting through the day…

(During Breakfast for Overnighters)
Billie Holiday, Stay With Me
The XX, XX
Listen to “Heart Skipped A Beat“ by The XX

(For cleaning the house)
Tammy Wynette, Tammy’s Greatest Hits

(When having a Countrypolitan nostalgia moment)
Charlie Rich, Behind Closed Doors

(While reading)
Morvern Callar Soundtrack

(When organizing her desk)
Ethiopique Vol. 2

(On the bike ride to Manhattan)
The Men, Four Good Men and True

(When missing Sxip)
Sxip Shirey, Sonic New York

(While enjoying her early morning tea)
Labradford, E Luxo SO

(When talking on the phone to her nieces)
Rachel’s, Music for Egon Schiele
Listen to “First Self-Portrait Series” by Rachel’s

Hear Kerthy and Claudia Gonson, member and manager of The Magnetic Fields, discuss Strange Powers and the impact of The Magnetic Fields after the Philadelphia premier of the documentary on Saturday, November 13 at 5:30 PM. Click here for more information and to buy tickets.

- Laura Reeve

Maybe I’m the only one who sings in their opera voice in the shower (TMI?) but today’s doc pick is for the opera singer in all of us. More than anything the documentary is about having a dream and going for it.
Canadian singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright took a dramatic turn in his career as a pop icon when he realized a lifelong fascination by penning his very first opera, Prima Donna, between 2008 and 2009. We follow Wainwright on his creative journey, from his obsessions with opera as a child through the initial staging of Prima Donna at the Manchester International Festival in early July 2009. The film also creates a fascinating portrait of Rufus through comprehensive and revealing interviews, an impressive overview of his musical history, and a host of insights into his youth and his career. And it was just released on DVD this week!

-Tiffany Thwaites

Celebrities hate them. We secretly love the pictures they take. Magazines like People and shows like The Insider need them. The paparazzi get pictures of nearly every aspect of celebrities lives and photographer Ron Galella is undoubtedly the godfather of the paparazzi industry. Smash His Camera chronicles Galella’s 40-plus-year career as well as the balance between privacy for public figures and freedom of the press.

The 2010 Sundance Film Festival winner premieres on HBO Monday, June 7th at 9:00 p.m. If you’re like me, you might not know who Galella is by name. He famously suffered a broken jaw and five missing teeth in 1973 after actor Marlon Brando punched him outside a restaurant. His prints have been exhibited at museums and galleries from New York to Berlin.

Here’s a glimpse of the 90-minute documentary by Academy Award winning filmmaker Leon Gast.

Trivia question: What film is credited with creating the term for these unabashedly aggressive celebrity photographers, the paparazzi? Put your answer in the comments section.

-Tiffany Thwaites

So next month the First Person Salon Series presents Queer Memoir: Sticks and Stones where some of the richest, funniest, most touching stories about queer experiences will be shared by artists, storytellers and writers from Philly and New York City. But July 20th is a long ways from now. What to do if you need your queer storytelling fix?


The solution?


How about documentary shorts, a Q&A with local LGBT leaders, light refreshments and giveaways…for free! Check out “LGBT Stories” Event: A Local Documentary Screening Wednesday, June 16 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m at William Way Community Center on 1315 Spruce St. The event is a special screening of new, locally-produced, 5-minute documentaries featuring the unique LGBT stories in our local community.


For more info or to RSVP contact Kim Kunda at kkunda@mindtv.org or 215-483-3900 ext. 209. You can also RSVP by heading on over to Facebook.


-Tiffany Thwaites

There’s no better time to be a Philadelphia sports fan. The Flyers are back in the Stanley Cup, the Phillies are favorites to win the National League (again) and the Eagles are gearing up for a future with Kevin Kolb at the helm. Let’s not forget our Sixers though, they hold the #2 pick in this year’s draft. They haven’t been in the news as heavily recently, but there’s one person who could always sell seats… our beloved Allen Iverson.


Iverson Highlights



Today’s documentary pick is No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson. It’s aNetflix new release and part of ESPN’S “30 for 30″ series of athlete biographies.


The documentary takes us back to a high school Iverson destined for greatness and details how the first pick of the 1996 NBA draft nearly had his future derailed by a bowling alley brawl. Hoop Dreams director Steve James reveals the incident’s impact on Iverson’s career and hometown. He returns to Hampton, Va. to take a personal look at this still disputed incident, even after A.I’s eventual absolution. Check out the trailer.





-Tiffany Thwaites

“I’ve been on 20 story buildings and been blown 30 feet to the side. You know, like the whole rig was just blown out over the street. And I’m looking down at taxi cabs and I’m like, ok, I’m scared now.”


Thanks to favorite Slam storyteller and host Tre Rials (@nolaphilly) for the tip on Up There, a short look inside the very difficult, dangerous, peaceful, beautiful, antiquated world of the billboard painter. I’m trying to think of handpainted walls in Philly and can only think of the Arts Parlor and the wall of Mercato at Spruce and Camac. Any others come to mind?


Come across something cool in the world of memoir and documentary? Let me know and it may find its way on the blog!

UP THERE from The Ritual Project on Vimeo.

Last week we had Banksy’s stealth street art. What Banksy lacks in adorable, this week’s new documentary will make up for times four… BABIES!





Now playing at the Ritz 5! Share in the comments if you go see it!


And for a completely different feel-good video, and because now the song is in my head, and it seems like a great way to kick off the weekend, some Salt n’ Pepa.

Self-described as “the world’s first street art disaster movie,” Exit Through the Gift Shop follows the adventures of notorious street graffiti artist Banksy. Or does it? It’s by Banksy, about Banksy, but not really, as the five minute sneak peek below demonstrates. Although Banksy’s rep for hoaxes makes me wonder if this is really the first five minutes of the film. Find out for yourself this weekend when it opens at the Ritz 5.





A less cheeky intro to Banksy’s work can be found in this mini-doc by Tom Pickard.

The Philadelphia Film Society is showing a screening of the documentary Waking Sleeping Beauty on Wednesday, March 31st. As a special treat, a moderated discussion with director Don Hahn will take place afterward. Plus, the First Person Arts community is getting a special discounted price. See details below!


Hahn was a key player at Walt Disney Studios Feature Animation department during the 1984-1994 revival of Disney magic through classics like Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King. Waking Sleeping Beauty shows the vulnerable side of Disney after its series of box office flops. Through interviews, internal memos, and home movies, the documentary captures it all. Everything from the growing tensions because of ego battles, cost overruns and failed experiments to its improbable renaissance.

Here’s an interview with Don Hahn after a screening in Austin, Texas.



Check out the screening at 7:30pm on Wednesday, March 31st at the Prince Music Theater. Discounted tickets are $7.00 (regular ticket price is $10) and can be purchased one of two ways. You can click here, select the number of tickets you want, and enter promotion code fpa2010, or just mention First Person Arts at the door.


Don’t miss out on what The Los Angeles Times is calling “one of the best comeback stories in show business history.”


-Tiffany Thwaites

Nick found this interesting compilation of interviews with 82 women working in film and tv about the type of movies they would make with an unlimited budget and the women who have inspired them.


The impetus for the project was Kathryn Bigelow’s Oscar nomination and the question, “Why haven’t more women been nominated for Best Director?”. The responses reveal the wide diversity of interests and experiences of these women working in the film and tv industry. I’m curious to see what the filmmakers behind 82Women do next with the project. Ten minutes offers you just a taste of what these 82 women have to say on the topic.


For more info on the project visit www.82women.tumblr.com.


Any female filmmakers out there want to join the discussion? Let us know what you think in the comments section.







- Karina