'Our School' By Carroll Gardens Documentary Maker To Open In Dumbo For Week-Long Run

Our School teaser from Mona Nicoara on Vimeo.

Our School , an award-winning documentary on the segregation of Roma (Gypsies") in Romanian schools by Carroll Gardens documentary film maker and human rights activist Mona Nicoara will be opening at the reRun theater in Dumbo, Brooklyn between January 18-24

The movie is not only beautifully shot, but is also a moving tribute to the Roma people, who have historically endured much hostility and persecution and continue to face discrimination.
Here is a synopsis of the movie:

Alin, Beni, and Dana, three Roma ("Gypsy") children from a small Transylvanian village, are among the first participants in an initiative to integrate the ethnically segregated Romanian schools. In 2006, they set out from their dead-end segregated school for the city, optimistic for education and new friendships with Romanians. Their hopes and innocent optimism quickly sour as they meet with low expectations and further isolation. 

Shot over four years, this tender vérité story touches on issues ranging from institutionalized racism to public education and intractable poverty, culminating in an outrageous finale that cements the Roma children's struggle in the annals of egregious human rights violations. 

Our School premiered in the US at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, went on to over 60 festivals across the globe, enjoying long runs in Romania and Switzerland. It was awarded the Grand Jury Prize at SilverDocs 2011, Best International Feature at the 2012 Human Rights Arts and Film Festival in Australia, and the Grain de Cinéphage award at the 2012 Films de Femmes, and it was nominated for Best Eastern European Documentary at the 2011 Silver Eye Awards and Best Romanian Documentary at the 2012 Gopo Awards.

To get more information on Our School and to get your tickets, click here.

reRun theater is located at 147 Front St, one block from the York stop on the F train.
There will be a Q&A with director Mona Nicoara after each 7:30pm and 12:30pm screening.



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"Dreamboats Collective": Four Emerging Photographers At DUMBO's Umbrage Gallery

I just got an invite to an opening at DUMBO's Umbrage Gallery, which features the work of the four emerging photographers who make up the "Dreamboats Collective". I hope I'll be able to catch the show. Hope you will too. Below is some information:

Umbrage Editions presents the work of Dreamboats Collective, a new agency specializing in fine art and editorial from four young photographers—Adam Golfer, Joe Leavenworth, TJ Proechel, and Daniel Shea—who founded and direct the collective collaboratively.

As a group, Dreamboats adds to the growing disambiguation between working personally and working editorially. Members of the collective, who met at Maryland Institute College of Art, are primarily engaged in contemporary fine art and social documentary practices, but their professed intention is to circumvent the traditional photographic establishment to create a self-sustaining network of distribution and support for the creation of new photographic works. The works selected for the exhibition are from each artist’s recent body of work: Adam Golfer’s series, Kin*, Joe Leavenworth’s Pictures from Home, TJ Proechel’s Dream House, and Daniel Shea’s Untitled (Baltimore).

The exhibition will be on view from November 5th through December 22nd, Monday through Saturday 11–6 pm, and, as a special holiday feature, each artist will make available a limited edition 8”x10” and 11”x14” affordable print series (ranging from $35 to $200) for sale at the gallery.

Umbrage Gallery is at 111 Front Street, Suite # 280, DUMBO, Brooklyn

For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Asking

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Picture Of The Day: Rooftop View Of Dumbo

Credit: Guest Photographer Max Kelly

The view
in the early evening,
on a roof
in DUMBO

For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Asking

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A Moment In Time: Dumbo Lunch Line

On Monday In Dumbo


She looked at her watch
and noticed with astonishment
that it was already lunch time.
She should have known.
A long line had formed
next to the Rickshaw Dumpling Truck.

017, originally uploaded by pardonmeforasking.

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A Shout-Out To "Mikey's Hook Up" In Dumbo

Sometimes, one receives such friendly and expert customer service at a local business, that one is compelled to recommend the place to others.
My Apple Mac Book has had some problems lately, and though I was not crazy about doing without it for a few days while it was being fixed, (after all, I am a blogger) I knew that I had to do something.
I was going to take it to the Apple store in Soho, but could only get an appointment four days later, which was rather annoying. My son suggested I take the computer to Mikey's Hook Up, an authorized Apple dealer and repair center at 70 Front Street in Dumbo. I am glad I did.
Matt, one of the technicians there, has been incredible, going out of his way to address all of my computer's little quirks and issues. I know that my little machine is in the best of hands.

Just thought you may want to know, dear Reader. It's always nice to support a Brooklyn business, especially one that treats its customers with respect and professionalism. If Dumbo is not convenient, Mikey's has a second location in Williamsburg. And did I mention that they have a ping-pong table in the middle of the store? Oh, and they sell new Apple computers and accessories, too.

How about you? Did you have any pleasant experiences at a local business lately? Would love to know!








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A Moment In Time: Please Adopt Me!

He looked like any other dog,
out for a walk with his owner,
on the cobbled streets of Dumbo,
were it not for his bright orange coat
with the words:
"Adopt me!"

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Blue Barn Pictures Captures The Creation Of Water Street Mural In Dumbo

Photo by Max Kelly

You have to take a moment to watch this video. My friends at Blue Barn Pictures filmed artists Craig Anthony Miller,Cam, Demon 202, Tron, John Breiner and One 9 of the 303 Collective during four days, as they were painting an incredible mural on Water Street down in Dumbo. Then, they compressed the footage into a one minute video. The effect is amazing.

Mural on Water Street from Blue Barn Pictures, Inc. on Vimeo.

If you feel inspired by the video, you may want to take part in Blue Barn's

HD Documentary Field Production A 3-Day Hands-On Intensive Course

While most courses are limited to teaching basic fundamentals, this course equips you with the knowledge and hands-on skills to go out with confidence and create your own documentary pieces.

The course begins with classroom work that prepares you to handle a variety of situations in the field, focusing on HD workflow, Lighting Techniques, Audio, Basic Editing in Final Cut Pro, Interview Techniques, Creative Style, and Professional Etiquette.

Students go out and direct, shoot, and edit their own 60-second documentaries in a real-life setting using the latest Canon HD cameras and Final Cut Pro for a public showing on the final day of the course.

This Canon sponsored course is taught by production company professionals in a small class size, and normally costs $1000, but special discounts are offered to IFP members at $650 per student.


Course Dates: Friday, June 19th - Sunday, June 21st

For more information or to sign up for the course please contact:

Blue Barn Pictures, Inc. phone 718.852.1403 email training@bluebarnpictures.com

Or visit our website at: www.bluebarnpictures.com/home/training



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Tonight, Gelf's 'Media Circus' In Dumbo

This is where I am going tonight. An interesting subject and impressive panel, its free AND its in Brooklyn!
More from the host, Gelf Magazine

Introducing Media Circus, a new monthly speaking series from Gelf held at JLA Studios in DUMBO, Brooklyn—only one subway stop away from Manhattan! We'll be covering the media industry from the inside out with speakers from a different field every month.
The inaugural event is devoted to media critics and how the press covers and consumes itself, especially in tough times. As the media is headed off a cliff, these are the people narrating the free fall.
You can read interviews with our featured speakers Jeff Bercovici, media critic for Portfolio.com; noted author and media writer Seth Mnookin; and Hamilton Nolan, Gawker's media critic. The work of local artists will be on display as well.

More on the event and directions, click on Gelf Magazine

For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Asking

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Taking Pigs For A Walk in Dumbo

A Saturday In Dumbo.

Dogs are so passé, dear Reader.
Those in the know have found that pigs are the new pet of choice.
Yes, pigs.
The pot-bellied kind
With bright pink leashes.
Fashionable, no?

~~~~~Update~~~~
I got an email from the owner of these two lovely ladies. Turns out he is an avid Pardon Me For Asking reader and got a pleasant surprise when he saw "his girls" on this site. How cool is that!

He writes:
"The bigger one is Cholula and the other is Runtly. They are about 16 months old each and are fantastic pets. My wife always wanted a pig and I am allergic to cats and dogs so it made sense for us. They are super smart and extremely affectionate. We couldn't imagine not having them in our lives."

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