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Belle

Belle

Fiction Film (2004)
35mm • 16 min. • color

Quietly shocking in its frankness
– Film Threat


Belle is a subversive fable of old age and beauty. The film was made with a community of 80 – 93 year old women whose participation as actors and advisors shaped the heart of the work.

 

Please also see Ethel, Cusp, Bruce

Belle premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and aired on IFC.

Additional screenings include the IFP Film Market, Hamptons Film Festival, Women in the Directors Chair and the Woodstock Film Festival.

Belle was made with the generous support of the Jerome Foundation and NYSCA.

Writer/Director Ruth Sergel • Producers Pamela Griffiths • Nicole Franklin • Maya Montañez Smukler • Associate Producers Jude Calder, Mei Szetu • Director of Photography David Griffiths • Editor Lora Zaretsky • Music Michael Montes • Costume Designer Suzanne Kelly • Production Designer Paul Weathered • Sound Editor Al Zaleski • Title Design Steve Tozzi • Mr. Fix-it Manfred Reiff • Production Manager Carolyn Hepburn

Belle: Ethel Greenbaum • Ladies of the Boardwalk: Marion Baker, Hope Bernstein, Goldie Gold, Blanche Schreiber, Ruth Shapiro, Susan Spielman, Ruth Vogel • Pablo: George Valencia • Cashiers: Jennifer Poe, Jennifer Vilette • Gas Station Attendant: Juan Molinari • Dandy: Nathan Farb • Hussy: Deborah Schwartz • Store Customers: Kate & Lola Buncher, Robert Castanos, Sylvia Cattan, Denise, Sarah & Sylvia Grazi, Shannon Mincieli, Christopher Trudeau • Gas Station Customers: Kristen Carey, Molly Lariccia, Manfred Reiff • Boardwalk: Marsha Gildin, Franklin Perkins, Marilyn Silverman • Belle’s Neighbor: Shirley Seligman • Belle’s Son: Michael Shulan • Secretary: Vera Zelen • Pablo’s Wife: Candice Coke

Special thanks to Fay Greenbaum.

coming soon…

Belle premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and aired on IFC.

Additional screenings include the IFP Film Market, Hamptons Film Festival, Women in the Directors Chair and the Woodstock Film Festival.

Belle was made with the generous support of the Jerome Foundation and NYSCA.

Writer/Director Ruth Sergel • Producers Pamela Griffiths • Nicole Franklin • Maya Montañez Smukler • Associate Producers Jude Calder, Mei Szetu • Director of Photography David Griffiths • Editor Lora Zaretsky • Music Michael Montes • Costume Designer Suzanne Kelly • Production Designer Paul Weathered • Sound Editor Al Zaleski • Title Design Steve Tozzi • Mr. Fix-it Manfred Reiff • Production Manager Carolyn Hepburn

Belle: Ethel Greenbaum • Ladies of the Boardwalk: Marion Baker, Hope Bernstein, Goldie Gold, Blanche Schreiber, Ruth Shapiro, Susan Spielman, Ruth Vogel • Pablo: George Valencia • Cashiers: Jennifer Poe, Jennifer Vilette • Gas Station Attendant: Juan Molinari • Dandy: Nathan Farb • Hussy: Deborah Schwartz • Store Customers: Kate & Lola Buncher, Robert Castanos, Sylvia Cattan, Denise, Sarah & Sylvia Grazi, Shannon Mincieli, Christopher Trudeau • Gas Station Customers: Kristen Carey, Molly Lariccia, Manfred Reiff • Boardwalk: Marsha Gildin, Franklin Perkins, Marilyn Silverman • Belle’s Neighbor: Shirley Seligman • Belle’s Son: Michael Shulan • Secretary: Vera Zelen • Pablo’s Wife: Candice Coke

Special thanks to Fay Greenbaum.

coming soon…

Cusp

Cusp

Fiction Film (2000)
35mm • 25 Minutes • Color

Lays bare the growing pains of a
12 year old girl -New York Times

There is an electric moment for girls as they leave behind the bold egoism of girlhood for the shaky dislocations of adolescence. Cusp is a fiction film created with a group of 11-12 year old girls hitting the wall of early adolescence. The sensory overload that girls experience is expressed by the use of bright, deeply saturated colors and fluid camera movement.

 

Please also see Bruce, Belle.

Cusp premiered at New Directors/New Films (MoMA) and aired on IFC.

Additional screenings include Clermont-Ferrand (European Premiere) Women Make Waves (Asian Premiere), the UN (for the Special Session on Children) and dozens of other festivals worldwide.

Writer/Director: Ruth Sergel • Producers: Pamela Griffiths, Claudia Sidoti • Director of Photography: David Griffiths • Editor: Lora Zaretsky • Music: Michael Montes • Costume Design: Suzanne Kelly • Production Design: Paul Weathered • Line Producer: Susan Forrest • Title Design: Steve Tozzi

Alice: Sophie Mascatello • Mother: Marlene Forte • Eliza: Hannah Goldwater • Lila: Gina Maria Paoli • Becca: Audrey Gelman • PJ: Dylan Weathered • Sam: Jerry Hildebrandt • Lainey: Ashley Brichter • Candy Store Clerk: George Valencia • Candy Store Girl: Giselle Forte • Ring Vendor: Alex Furth • Happy Family: Kate, Seth & Lola Buncher • Screaming Couple: Elizabeth Canavan, Jared Shaw • Eliza’s Mother: Claudia Sidoti • Sam’s New Girlfriend: Aimee Gallin • Teacher: Beverly Crick • Kung Fu Boy: Brian Dolphin, Nicholas Forrest-Reynolds • School Kids: Elizabeth Aguilar, Eliot Aronson, Chris DeLoach, John DeLoach, Anna Gribetz, Kate Gribetz, Antonella Lentini, Francesca Lentini, Zach McDonald, Arianne Moore, Matt Moore, Claudia Maria Perez, Lucia Reynolds, Aliza Stone, Nick Turner

coming soon…

Cusp premiered at New Directors/New Films (MoMA) and aired on IFC.

Additional screenings include Clermont-Ferrand (European Premiere) Women Make Waves (Asian Premiere), the UN (for the Special Session on Children) and dozens of other festivals worldwide.

Writer/Director: Ruth Sergel • Producers: Pamela Griffiths, Claudia Sidoti • Director of Photography: David Griffiths • Editor: Lora Zaretsky • Music: Michael Montes • Costume Design: Suzanne Kelly • Production Design: Paul Weathered • Line Producer: Susan Forrest • Title Design: Steve Tozzi

Alice: Sophie Mascatello • Mother: Marlene Forte • Eliza: Hannah Goldwater • Lila: Gina Maria Paoli • Becca: Audrey Gelman • PJ: Dylan Weathered • Sam: Jerry Hildebrandt • Lainey: Ashley Brichter • Candy Store Clerk: George Valencia • Candy Store Girl: Giselle Forte • Ring Vendor: Alex Furth • Happy Family: Kate, Seth & Lola Buncher • Screaming Couple: Elizabeth Canavan, Jared Shaw • Eliza’s Mother: Claudia Sidoti • Sam’s New Girlfriend: Aimee Gallin • Teacher: Beverly Crick • Kung Fu Boy: Brian Dolphin, Nicholas Forrest-Reynolds • School Kids: Elizabeth Aguilar, Eliot Aronson, Chris DeLoach, John DeLoach, Anna Gribetz, Kate Gribetz, Antonella Lentini, Francesca Lentini, Zach McDonald, Arianne Moore, Matt Moore, Claudia Maria Perez, Lucia Reynolds, Aliza Stone, Nick Turner

coming soon…

Chalk

Chalk

Public Intervention (2004 – present)

On 25 March 1911 the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire  took the lives of 146 workers, mostly young immigrant women and girls, and galvanized a movement for social and economic justice.

Each year since 2004, on the anniversary of the infamous blaze, volunteers fan out across the city to inscribe in chalk the names and ages of the Triangle dead in front of their former homes. The chalk will wash away but the following year we return, insisting on the memory of these lost young workers.

If you would like to participate in Chalk 2017 let me know!

Please also see See You in the Streets, Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition, Gaza Ghetto.

Coming soon.

Alchemy of Light

Alchemy of Light

Interactive Installation with Live Performers (2010)

Alchemy of Light melds 19th century illusionism with current interactive technologies to depict the life of the legendary magician Torrini as a parable from a time when our lives first became mediated by machines.

In the 19th century the legendary Torrini, always at the forefront of technological development, was reknowned for his astonishing illusions. One evening during a performance he accidentally killed his own child. Torrini spent the rest of his life vainly trying to conjure back his lost family. Alchemy of Light guides the audience through a series of 7 interactive installations which use live and virtual encounters with representations of the Torrini family to explore the seduction and limits of technology.

Please also see: Magic Box, Boo!

Al

Al

Interactive Documentary (2005)

A portrait of homeless artist Alfred Carlo based on his stories and paintings. The audience moves physical objects which reveal and manipulate documentary video of Al’s multifaceted life as painter, vet, raconteur and man of the street.

 

Please also see Ethel, Turing Machine

Al was presented as a work-in-progress at the Troika Ranch Live-I Workshop at 3-Legged Dog in New York.

Al was presented as a work-in-progress at the Troika Ranch Live-I Workshop at 3-Legged Dog in New York.

Bruce

Bruce

Fiction Film (1998)
35mm • 3 Minutes • B&W

A duet for camera + dancer that challenges expectations of grace and disability.

The film features dancer Bruce Jackson and the song “We Are….” by Dr. Ysaye Maria Barnwell. Performed by Sweet Honey in the Rock on Sacred Ground.

Please also see Cusp, Belle.

Director/Cinematographer: Ruth Sergel • Editor: Juliette Olavarria • Production Design: Paul Weathered • Assistant Director: Kate Sergel Buncher • Camera Assistant: Tricia Clark • 2nd Camera Assistant: Peter Gabriel • Gaffer: Eric Neason • Best Boy: Alexi Williams • Stills: Pamela Griffiths • Props: Dominic Toto • Sound: Tim Mangin • Catering: Claudia Sidoti

Dancer: Bruce Jackson

Bruce premiered at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival and aired on PBS. Selected screenings include National Museum of Women in the Arts, The Place (London), Passages (Milan), Exploratorium (San Francisco), El Infinito (Mexico), American Dance Festival, Toronto Worldwide Shorts, General Roca Festival (Argentina) and dozens of other festivals worldwide.

Lyrics for We Are… by Y.M. Barnwell ©1993:

For each child that’s born
a morning star rises
and sings to the universe
who we are.

We are our grandmothers’ prayers.
We are our grandfathers’ dreamings.
We are the breath of our ancestors.
We are the spirit of God.

We are
Mothers of courage
Fathers of time
Daughters of dust
Sons of great vision.
We are
Sisters of mercy
Brothers of love
Lovers of life and
the builders of nations.
We are
Seekers of truth
Keepers of faith
Makers of peace and
the wisdom of ages.

We are our grandmothers’ prayers.
We are our grandfathers’ dreamings.
We are the breath of our ancestors.
We are the spirit of God.

For each child that’s born
a morning star rises
and sings to the universe
who we are.

WE ARE ONE.

Photographs by Pamela Griffiths

Director/Cinematographer: Ruth Sergel • Editor: Juliette Olavarria • Production Design: Paul Weathered • Assistant Director: Kate Sergel Buncher • Camera Assistant: Tricia Clark • 2nd Camera Assistant: Peter Gabriel • Gaffer: Eric Neason • Best Boy: Alexi Williams • Stills: Pamela Griffiths • Props: Dominic Toto • Sound: Tim Mangin • Catering: Claudia Sidoti

Dancer: Bruce Jackson

Bruce premiered at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival and aired on PBS. Selected screenings include National Museum of Women in the Arts, The Place (London), Passages (Milan), Exploratorium (San Francisco), El Infinito (Mexico), American Dance Festival, Toronto Worldwide Shorts, General Roca Festival (Argentina) and dozens of other festivals worldwide.

Lyrics for We Are… by Y.M. Barnwell ©1993:

For each child that’s born
a morning star rises
and sings to the universe
who we are.

We are our grandmothers’ prayers.
We are our grandfathers’ dreamings.
We are the breath of our ancestors.
We are the spirit of God.

We are
Mothers of courage
Fathers of time
Daughters of dust
Sons of great vision.
We are
Sisters of mercy
Brothers of love
Lovers of life and
the builders of nations.
We are
Seekers of truth
Keepers of faith
Makers of peace and
the wisdom of ages.

We are our grandmothers’ prayers.
We are our grandfathers’ dreamings.
We are the breath of our ancestors.
We are the spirit of God.

For each child that’s born
a morning star rises
and sings to the universe
who we are.

WE ARE ONE.

Photographs by Pamela Griffiths