February 2009 Archives
Hello!
Now is your chance to get PHYSICALLY involved with Prop 8 Films. Next week California Supreme Court will be holding the hearing to determine the validity of prop 8. There will be a lot of activity in California form supporters and opponents of the proposition and we will be there!
We need a street team to help us promote the film next week.
Next week around Olvera St. we will be documenting the Eve of Justice demonstration.
We need help handing out flyers to spread word about the film.
Second event: Date: Wednesday, March 5th
Location: West Hollywood (Santa Monica and San vicente)
Time: TBD
We need people that are enthusiastic about the subject and are willing to connect with other people that are vested in the matter. We need to find more people that are willing to support the documentary.
I'll be there. We can grab lunch and talk more!
Interested?
shoot an email over to me @ voice@prop8films.org
-jc del barco ii
Did you enjoy the Oscars on Sunday? I thought they were a bit predictable, but the new ceremony format was fun. I'm glad about a few of the Awards, but also bothered about a couple of others. Slumdog was great, but Best Cinematography? Really?
Also, I think Mickey Rourke should have taken best actor. "Milk" was a great, great film, but Sean Penn was my second choice. Penn's performance was truly touching and real. I liked when Deniro made a crack commending Penn's brilliant performance when asking how he managed to secure so many straight roles throughout his career. Ha Ha.
Penn's speech was brief and loaded with a potent message:
"I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that way of support. We've got to have equal rights for everyone."
Hollywood fought hard against the proposition, though it was still in the minority on election day. Lucas Films donated $100k t, Spielberg alone over $50k, and many others raised millions for the opponents of the election.
How do you feel about Penn's speech and Hollywood's involvement with the proposition? How do you feel about Penn referring to our grandchildren's shame?
Some are glad, some are upset.
-jc del barco ii
voice@prop8films.org
For the past couple months we have been working on a documentary about the passage of Proposition 8 in California, the proposition which eliminated the legal right of same-sex couples to marry. We decided to invest our energies in this project because we believe it's a crucial issue in the story of our generation, in the story of equal rights, and a story that has implications far beyond what we can imagine. So here we are, writing to you with a clear objective, a working website (!!) and the energy to move ahead in a mission we believe in. An important note: our team is not interested in making a propaganda piece. The goal is to uncover - in the most honest, comprehensive and poignant way possible - all the elements at play so individuals can hear all sides of the argument, consider a different perspective, come to a deeper understanding.
The situation is timely - the California Supreme Court will hold opening arguments on March 5th, 2009 in an effort to invalidate proposition 8. A decision will come down in the courts 90 days later at most. We need to get moving.
While our fundraising efforts are diversified, we are asking our community to support our efforts so we can raise the initial money we need to start production. Everyone on the Prop 8 staff is working on a volunteer basis right now. We know times are hard, but we believe a large number of individual donations will be sufficient to support our efforts. We have faith that you care enough about this issue to give. Prop 8 Films is a 501c(3) registered non-profit so all donations are tax-deductible.
Please check out our site, the blog, join us on facebook, twitter, myspace, write on the message boards, be a part of our community. Visit our donation section at:
http://www.prop8films.org
Most importantly, please forward this message or a link to our site to people in your community that are vested in this issue for one reason or another. If every single one of you gives what you can give and forwards information about the project to 5-10 people in your community, our reach will be infinite and we are confident we can raise the funds we need to take this project to the next level. Because Yes, We Can too!!!!
Thanks for your time, we appreciate your help and involvement.
-prop8films.org
In an attempt to practice a two-millennium old Christian principle, Mormon filmmaker Douglas Hunter, has truly reached out to love an outsider. Read full article here.
Douglas, Mormon father of three, lives in Pasadena and ventured out to examine the religious principles of homosexual individuals, a common outsider of Mormon communities.
He found lesbian Rev. Susan Russell in Pasadena, a convenient neighbor. With intentions of shooting a documentary to examine religious similarities between his own beliefs and a gay priest, Russell found a friend and began to support same sex marriage, stating that he could not deny those joys:
"If as a straight man I find the tools for strengthening my marriage in the relationships of same-sex couples and of a dear friend, can I deny them a fundamental right that I benefit from and cherish?" he asked. "The answer is no."
I'm curious to see how the Mormon community will react to the documentary which screens in a film festival in Pomona, Ca in April. Will they support it or shun it? Either way, I commend Hunter greatly on being brave.
I think this is a good demonstration of both sides hearing each other out. A strong microcosm for understanding. Prop 8 films supports bridging the gap and attempting an open understanding of all sides of the argument. Both supporters and opponents of Proposition 8 seem to have lost their ears and hearts. I'm not saying I agree with either side here, I just can't stand when people don't listen to each other. Democracy. It's built on talking and listening. LISTENING, not hearing. Hearing is a biological function, Listening is an engaged action.
Please listen to each other. Try walking in their shoes. Be like Russell and Hunter and be that brave. Cross a boundary into enemy territory and find a friend. It could help solidify your own beliefs.
-jc del barco ii voice@prop8films.org
Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009-
This morning hundreds of same sex couples lined up at the New York City Marriage Bureau and were turned away. Couples asked for marriage and the clerk could only offer a domestic partnership.
The couples lined up as an organized protest to advance the gay marriage rights movement during the 12th annual Freedom to Marry Week.
I appreciate the peaceful demonstration. As I mentioned last week, I think it is important to promote your political views without attacking opponents in cowardly or petty ways.
I am curious to see the effectiveness of the demonstration.
-jc del barco ii 
Good morning, California.
This just in from the Los Angeles Times:
The California supreme court has decided to hear the collective cases in a hearing being held in San Fransisco on March 5th, 2009 between the hours of 9AM-12PM. You can catch it live on the California public broadcast channel.
The trial will examine the constitutionality of the proposition and furthermore, evaluate whether the proposition can be retroactively applied to the 18,000 same sex marriages that were conducted during the window of time that it was legal in California. I wonder how Ellen and Portia feel about this.
Both supporters and opponents of the proposition have gained much support. There are 43 groups that seek to overturn prop 8, and 20 to withhold it. Combined, both sides have raised $83 Million in support of their efforts. This makes it the most fund raised social issue.
Another interesting detail about the case is that a federal judge has denied a request to keep supporter names anonymous due to harassment. People, please! DON'T HARASS. It's a democracy, not a war. I know it is a sensitive issue, but don't fight for your cause with petty attacks and hateful accusations. Fighting fire with fire only works on big screen action movies. Not neutral well informed documentaries!
Message board on its way. For now, comment here, or send an email to me at voice@prop8films.org
Stay tuned, California!
-jc del barco ii
Welcome to the Prop 8 Films blog. This blog will act as a good platform for discussion on the passing of Proposition 8 in California. Along with the film makers, I believe it is important to have an open discussion that is neutral and respectful. I feel that a lot of the good points in either side of the spectrum were lost to emotion and bumper stickers.
Let's take a step back and really look at specific points of views. Whether it is race, religion, financial status, political stance, or personal bias... let's take another look at why people stand where they stand.
The documentary that is in production through Bucks Boys will serve as a neutral inspection of the matter. Learn more at prop8films.org.
Follow us on twitter too! Facebook, Myspace, etc, all to come soon. This blog and forum will be as organic and interactive as possible. If there is something you want to talk about or see, we will deliver it.
Nice meeting you,
-jc del barco ii
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