July 8, 2016
by Corinna Mantlo | Jul 8, 2016 | MFF 2016, Parties, Submissions |
MFF: Raw and genuine, Richie Pan’s America the Series was first started in collaboration with the late Richie Panarra, tattooist, motorcyclist and artist. Can you tell us a bit about how you first became involved in this project?
PM: I make a living working in reality TV. Once or twice a year, I’d end up in South Jersey and go visit Richie, and sometimes get tattooed. As we became friends, we often talked about making a real motorcycle or tattoo show. One focused on the true characters that shape both cultures everyday, not manipulated drama. In April 2015, we decided to try something and see where it led.
MFF: What did you learn about Richie’s impact on the motorcycling community and the tattoo industry?
PM: It was very personal. Richie touched the lives of a lot of people in both communities. He was also somewhat of a historian for both. He had an immense respect for the people who came before him.
MFF: And what did you learn about his love of his panhead, Viola?
PM: He frequently said that Viola was the coolest bike in the world. And she might be. There are details for days on that panhead. Mixed matched parts, missing bolts, and seemingly random customizations. It may be his best work of art.
MFF: Anything new you learned from a production or direction standpoint?
PM: This was a really small project; just me and the person I was interviewing for most of it. I feel like that intimacy made it easy for the guys to open up. They lost awareness of the camera and just talked. The challenge of this was letting go of the way things are normally done. I recorded audio straight to the cameras, didn’t use monitors, or crew members to manage either. For safety, I ran 2 cameras, a wide and a tight, right next to each other. Each camera had separate audio. For the most part it worked out, but I would definitely make sure I could monitor audio next time.
MFF: Favorite memories filming on location?
PM: Shooting Tommy Granger at “The Church of What’s Happening.” Richie loaned me his Street Glide so I could ride over with him, Cindy, and Joe Fessman. Tommy and Richie’s dynamic was perfect, they had us laughing the whole day. We drank beer and ate hot dogs while we shot. It was the last interview Richie did and a day I’ll never forget. Richie left behind countless friends and contemporaries. It was incredible hearing people’s memories about him in Richie Pan Forever. Do you have any favorite sound bites or shots from the film? Fat Bob didn’t want to go on camera. I had asked early on and he wasn’t into it. He stopped by while I was interviewing Von Rothinfink. After a couple of drinks, he agreed to tell a couple of stories, and I got a little more out of him. Including the last clip of the film. That clip gets a tear from me every time.
MFF: Any production or direction challenges you’d like to cite?
PM: The huge one was losing my co-producer. Richie was not only on-camera talent, but a creative partner in the project. His passing not only changed the trajectory of the project, but the impact it would have. No doubt it would be an even better series if he were here to put his fingerprints on it.
MFF: What inspires you? What keeps you creating?
PM: Watching people do their own thing is super inspiring to me. For this project, The Motorcycle Film Festival was hugely inspirational.
MFF: Do you ride yourself? If so, what are your earliest memories of motorcycles?
PM: Yes. I ride pretty much everyday. When I was a pretty young kid, I had a neighbor who was a biker. He’d kick his bike over and the whole complex would shake. I couldn’t get enough of it.
MFF: And what do you ride these days?
PM: My everyday ride is an ’86 Softail with a narrow glide front end. It’s gotten me from coast to coast as well as all over LA for work. I also have a 1980 Shovelhead stroker in a jammer frame that was built by Alex Lopez and company at Born Free Cycles in Burbank, CA.
MFF: What are some of your favorite motorcycle films?
PM: Choppertown: The Sinners, the El Diablo Run movie, and Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man.
MFF: Favorite annual moto events?
PM: Annual: Hazzard County. Biannual: El Diablo Run
MFF: Will you be attending this year’s Motorcycle Film Festival?
PM: I never know where I’m going to be. My professional life is a little crazy that way but I would really like to.
MFF: What’s to come from Pete McGill?
PM: Only time will tell. I have a few other ideas and things I’ve spoken to people about. My business as a lighting designer and flying coast to coast to spend time with my children keep me pretty busy, but I hope there will be time.
MFF: Any MFF exclusive you’d like to share with us? Something that folks don’t know about your work or process?
PM: I try to let people finish their thoughts. It makes it harder to get concise sound bites, but being genuine is more important to me. Sometimes that means the final edit has a lot more of my voice in it than it should.
Please join Cine Meccanica & Indian Larry Motorcycles Thursday, July 14th 2016 at the Coney Island Brewery for the NY Premier of the film Richie Pan Forever.
Cine Meccanica is organized by MFF Founder Corinna Mantlo. It’s been a long standing home to everything from historic unknown films, to the worst of ‘B’ movie biker trash, to world premiers. Don’t miss this opportunity to see the film on the big screen while it’s in consideration for the 4th annual MFF.
Event sign up here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1178993532151856/
Follow Cine Meccanica on Instagram: @cinemeccanica
October 15, 2014
by corinna | Oct 15, 2014 | MFF 2014, Parties |
The 2nd Annual MFF: Recap!
We can’t believe it’s over! During the many months of planning and preparation it seemed like the 2nd Annual Motorcycle Film Festival would never arrive, and just like that, it’s a wrap! We are so happy to report that the event blew away our expectations, and we sincerely hope that all in attendance would agree. Here’s a recap of the event, along with pictures if you weren’t able to take part in the action:
Wednesday afternoon saw our tireless MFF Pit Crew Volunteers get to work setting up for the evening’s opening Pre Party Art Show, hosted at Genuine Motorworks, curated by judge Stacie B. London. A chance for VIPs, Judges, and Staff to meet and mingle before the first screening of the week, we had exhibits and pieces on display from the MFF family, including Paul Cox, Paul d’Orleans, Ultan Guilfoyle, JP, Chris Logsdon, Lorenzo Eroticolor, Amos Poe, Buz Ras, and our very own founder Corinna Mantlo.
After perusing the excellent works and enjoying tasty libations from our friends at Sailor Jerry & PBR, the party shifted venues right across the street to The Gutter, where the week’s screenings and after parties would be held.
Screened in front of a sold out, standing room only audience (a theme that would run through the weekend), Take it to the Limit (1981) officially kicked off the the films, with director Peter Starr on hand to answer questions and regale us with stories.
Thursday afternoon found the founders and Judges brunching at Park Luncheonette (a much loved MFF tradition after working so closely together for months by phone). Meanwhile, attendees from all over the world enjoyed the beautiful weather and local surroundings.
Thursday’s Screenings began at 6:00pm and were once again shown to full house audiences! Thursday featured the Best of Festival winner in Daniel Rintz’s Somewhere Else Tomorrow.
Friday began with a fun brunch for all our VIPs hosted by Bar Matchless, allowing another opportunity for the judges, filmmakers, staff, friends, and family to get to know each other a little better. With visitors from Italy and South America, and Australia, as well as a couple who rode their Honda Trail 90s from Oregon (you really DO meet the nicest people on a Honda…follow their travels HERE, and Anna Grechishkina who found out about the MFF just that morning from a friend in Chicago, while on her travels all the way from the Ukraine on a KTM (check out her story HERE), not to mention the dozens of filmmakers who traveled from all over the world to be here with us. brunch was a great way to spread the motorcycle love!
Screenings began at 2:30 and closed with the North American Premiere of On Any Sunday, The Next Chapter.
The lights came up for a brief set-change, then back down for the after party, featuring DJ Nosebleed, followed by the seductive and flirtatious music of vintage Triumph riding Julia Haltigan and the musically eclectic Dr. Sick. We highly recommend checking them all out!
Saturday was an beautiful day on N14st. The Ride & Repeat was set to get your very own bike portrait taken by Ryan Handt Photography, and the delicious pizza from Park Luncheonette never stopped. The entire block was lined with bikes and it was a blast. It was also our heaviest day for screenings, the first block including Drue Pennella’s The Badger: Made in Trenton, winner of this year’s People’s Choice Award and then the Judge’s Pick for Feature Narrative for Shooter & Whitley by Laura Stewart.
The early evening screening block of Shorts featured two more winners: Django by Jim Demuth and Posy Dixon took the win for Experimental Pick and Vincent Black Lighting, a delightful animation in the shadow puppet style by Cat Bruce won for Short Narrative.
Our final screening block of the weekend was to feature two more Judge’s Picks in the short No Ordinary Passenger by Cabell Hopkins for Short Documentary followed by Todd Huffman’s Penton: The John Penton Story for Feature Documentary.
Riding the tide of excitement following our final screening, we segued directly into our Awards Ceremony. Speeches, applause, and tears were doled out, as were the trophies (made this year by our own co-founder Corinna Mantlo of Via Meccanica, and Buz Ras of Seattle Speedometers) and beers for everyone else!
Saturday night’s after party featured the musical stylings of DJ Sommer Santoro, the soulful, heavy, psychedelic boogie band The Golden Grass, and roots and blues rock high-energy Daddy Long Legs.
The screenings a wrap, Sunday marked the final day of the event and the Closing Party hosted by Lady Jay’s. Beverages, BBQ, handshakes, stories and swapped contact information was in abundance as the weekend winded down.
To perfectly cap the weekend, Kate Morris provided a live reading from her script for the upcoming Michael Schmidt film Going to Fugle, in which she shares her own journey as a young female journalist riding cross country with an outlaw MC. It should be noted that Kate went from a self proclaimed “20 mile a day rider” to piloting a Harley Davidson 48 with some hard-core fellows from LA to XXX. The reading from her script perfectly describes the freedom of the road, and all the emotions that can go along with it. We can’t wait to see more from this project!
And just like that, it was over. New friends and family from as close as the next block to as far as over oceans shook hands, exchanged hugs and went their separate ways. We hope to keep in touch and see you all again. Spread the word and watch this space, because we have more in store, as NY is only the first stop for the MFF this year. Keep those wheels and cameras rolling.
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors, especially Honda Powersports, for their support. Without Honda and our other sponsors, this would not have been possible.
And finally, we want to thank all of you. It is only because of the films made and submitted by you, watched by you, and loved by you that there is an MFF at all. You are the MFF. Thank you.
-Matt ‘Howl On Wheels’ Howell and The MFF Crew
September 28, 2013
by Jack Drury | Sep 28, 2013 | MFF 2013, Parties, Schedule, The Films |
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Well, yesterday was amazing! We picked up Stacie bright and early. threw her in the Ural Sidecar rig and headed over to see Chris at Jupiter’s Motorcycles to get her on a Beemer. Look how excited she was when she found out we pulled off a GS650 for her!
Over at Over The Eight, David Browning of E3 Motorcycles and photographer for Iron & Air had the awesome ‘Ride & Repeat’ set up and snapped folks pictures as they rolled in (just wait til you see the actual portraits, not my iphone shots)…Look at that cute couple!
The Vintagent By The Selvedge Yard
(The Vintagent, photographed by The Selvedge Yard)
The ‘Ride & Repeat’ is set today 5-6:30pm at Saint Vitus, and will be again tomorrow from 3-7pm. Come get your picture took!
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(Ryan Handt Photography)
The first screening of the first ever, first annual Motorcycle Film Festival was a huge success. We were so proud to stand on stage with 3 out of 5 of our international panel of judges: Paul, JP, and Stacie, in front of a packed house to watch The Spare Parts Company, and Why We Ride.
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(Ryan Handt Photography)
We were thrilled to have, up from Philadelphia, the subject and the filmmaker of The Spare Parts Company present for a Q&A after the films. Such interesting stories. Thanks guys.
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After the screening we rode over to Lone Wolf to see Hector’s Pets, The Tough Shits, and The Andy Animal Family Band. I know I’m biased, but holy shit that was an amazing after party!
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The bands rocked (check them all out), and the house was PACKED!
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In between sets, Lucky winner Naomi won the MFF raffle bag valued at $2000+. It included 2 Motorcycle Safety Foundation vouchers to attend their Basic Rider/Advanced course, a gift certificate for Indian Larry’s Motorcyles, Motocross boots from metro Racing, a directional wallet from Cotterpin Gear and so much more. Don’t miss tonight and Saturday night’s raffles!
…Ok back to the MFF (i’m writing this from a corner at Saint Vitus). See you at the flicks!
September 26, 2013
by Jack Drury | Sep 26, 2013 | MFF 2013, Parties |
MFF PreParty
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Thanks to everybody who came out tonight for a killer Cine Meccanica kickoff to the 1st Motorcycle Film Festival! We had a great crowd tonight and we’re super stoked for tomorrow’s first official screening. Great bikes, great people, and an awesome movie (yes Paul, I really am glad you finally got me to see the Loveless) set the right tone for the rest of the week. Having our friends Stacie London and Paul “the Vintagent” d’Orleans in town was just extra epic icing on the massive cake of radness.
Anyways, a few quick housekeeping notes for tomorrow’s screening of The Spare Parts Company & Why We Ride as well as the afterparty at Lone Wolf with the Andy Animal Family Band/The Tough Shits/Hector’s Pets in Bushwick. First, huge thanks to all of our VIP Pass Holders for helping us get the festival off the ground! Without your support, this never could have happened. Just a heads up though, in order to ensure your seat at all screenings, you must be there ahead of time and in line. Our ticket sales day of will be based on number of VIPs in attendance. So get there ahead of time to grab that good seat. THIS GOES FOR ALL SCREENINGS!
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2nd, the after-party tomorrow has some really epic bands and we’re stoked to announce a $2 beer special brought to you by our friends at PBR and Lone Wolf. But get there early because it only lasts for a little while. [Editors Note: WHOA HOLY CRAP KENT JONES, DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING AT THE NY FILM FESTIVAL JUST MENTIONED A “FILM FESTIVAL ABOUT MOTORCYCLES” ON NPR! WE’RE BIG TIME NOW BABY!]
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Finally, we’ve got an amazing raffle tomorrow night valued at a hair over $2000 with killer prizes from a bunch of our great sponsors. Tickets are 1 for $5 and 5 for $20. Stay tuned for a post in the AM with more info.
And now I’m completely exhausted.
See you at the flicks!
