Jeff M. Giordano
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patronsAbout Jeff M. Giordano
Hello and thank you so much for taking the time to visit my page and read about the independent documentaries I'm working on!
My latest film is Romantic Chorus, an 85-minute animated-documentary portrait of sexuality and romantic connections focusing on four themes: Sex, Monogamy, Fear, Technology. The film’s interviews come from across the spectrum of experience (gender, orientation, ability, and cultural background) to build a chorus of voices, delving deeper into why we seek romantic love. The film is now available to rent/purchase at romanticchorus.com !
Charles Curtis Blackwell & our team received an award for DISABILITY JUSTICE for our 70-minute documentary The God Given Talent: the Creative Life of Charles Curtis Blackwell at the SuperFest International Disability Film Festival in San Francisco (October 2020). This is the longest running disability film festival in the world!
I hope you will consider being a Patron and support independent poetic documentary cinema! Here's a summary of my Recent Documentaries.
Since 2004, I've been making documentaries and have interviewed over 170 people.
In September 2020, our 10 minute short documentary about Charles Curtis Blackwell will screen online at the Cinema Touching Disability Film Festival.
From May 15 - 17, Rain Taxi, an independent literary venue in Minneapolis presented our 70-minute documentary about blind poet/artist Charles Curtis Blackwell.
World Premiere: San Francisco Black Film Festival (2019) followed by screenings at Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival, Silicon Valley African Film Festival, 15th Poppy Jasper Film Festival, 68th Columbus International Film & Animation Festival, and International Premiere in Greece at the Documentary Festival of Ierapetra.
THE GOD GIVEN TALENT: THE CREATIVE LIFE OF CHARLES CURTIS BLACKWELL will had its International Premiere at the Documentary Festival of Ierapetra in Greece, from August 1 – 8, 2020!
Listen to Poetry by Charles Curtis Blackwell
Jeff M. Giordano: DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER for 15 Years Q&A w/ Jeff M. Giordano: Part #2 from International Premiere of PASSION IS THE MONEY from JMG Films
- Current Goal: to reach $5,000 per month (from Patrons like you), so I can devote my full-time to making motion pictures
DIRECTOR FILMOGRAPHY
- 2021 Romantic Chorus (Animated-Documentary)
- 2019 Making Up My Mind: Searching for Jimmy Lyons (Mid-Length Documentary)
- 2019 The God Given Talent: The Creative Life of Charles Curtis Blackwell (Documentary-Feature)
- 2018 Passion is the Money (Documentary-Feature)
- 2017 Charles Curtis Blackwell (Documentary Short)
- 2016 Caress Me (Narrative Short)
- 2016 Into the Light (Documentary Short)
- 2015 The Thrill Is Gone ((Documentary-Feature)
- 2014 Sutro Wants My Body (Narrative Short)
- 2014 Long-Distance Runners: A Cross-Cultural Love Story (Documentary-Feature)
- 2012 King David: Part One (Documentary Short)
- 2011 The Tao of Bear Creek (Documentary Short)
- 2008 Cuticles (16mm Narrative Short)
- 2007 Twenty-Seven Stories (Documentary Short)
- 2007 The Sheriff (Documentary Short)
- 2005 Marla and Martha (Documentary Short)
- 2004 Among Garbage & Flowers (Documentary Short)
Trailer: MAKING UP MY MIND: SEARCHING FOR JIMMY LYONS (2019) from JMG Films on Vimeo.
Jimmy's Music on Bandcamp:
Excerpt from "Searching for Jimmy Lyons" (Documentary: 2019) by Jeff M. Giordano 
My goal is to both examine modern society and preserve cultural history. It is a joy to collaborate and a victory to complete a film project. I need your help to continue to make movies! Please read about the recent film productions I've completed -- and upcoming projects I'd love to make in the near future. Even if you can just contribute $5, that's greatly appreciated and goes further than you think!
The major recurring theme in my films is a Hidden History; documenting culture and more importantly, lives -- that may otherwise get lost in the mist!
To collaborate is truly a joy in filmmaking and my editor Aaron Gwynn is an angel and it's a beautiful artistic connection we have. Here's what he had to say when I asked him for his thoughts on the editing process (since he's a prolific writer, has a deep understanding of history and fearlessness of human character of his own):
"I feel like as an editor my goal is to be the historian of the footage that you have filmed.
To take disparate elements and bring them together to tell a story that not only archives the past, but also is visually interesting and unique.
Whittling down hundreds of hours of footage into a film that is as truthful as it can be. What excites me most is digging into all the footage and creating pairings of Broll and interviews that somehow bring out something in each other. An image and a piece of audio that have no direct connection, but that manages to fit together.
I've learned that the patience and specificity to detail is the editor's most important skill. To never settle for the obvious pairings and to always experiment and try new things.
I love editing and hope I can do it as long as I am around . . . the collaboration of working with a director is something you simply can't get from writing a novel or screenplay, and it keeps me going every day."
On Editing each film, Aaron Gwynn had this to say:
PASSION IS THE MONEY
"Editing this film for me will always mean more than any other. Working with Jeff when he was at one of his lowest points -- after Vince Storti (co-producer and co-subject in the film) suddenly passed away and trying to learn how to edit on the fly while simultaneously attempting to be respectful of all those involved was fun, challenging and a little scary! In terms of the editing itself, trying to tell the story both of the artists, but also the city of San Francisco and the gentrification therein, was what we were going for: mixing the personal with the political to tell the story not just of individuals -- but of a time and place."
THE GOD GIVEN TALENT: THE CREATIVE LIFE OF CHARLES CURTIS BLACKWELL
"Charles Blackwell certainly is a character. Having met him a few times during the making of Passion is the Money, I knew intuitively that this man needed to be the subject of his own documentary! Being able to hone in on one person opened up a lot of possibilities visually for the film as well. Getting deeper into what it means to be an artist and what that looks like in the Bay Area in this era of wealth and greed and suffering, was somehow both uplifting and crushingly sad. But Charles comes through everything doing the best he can and always looking forward! I hope we portrayed that side of him."
MAKING UP MY MIND: SEARCHING FOR JIMMY LYONS
"Maybe it is with a recently-completed-bias hanging over it, but I truly believe this film about Jimmy Lyons is our best work to date! The nature of the project: searching for a man that few really knew intimately -- allowed me to spread my wings a bit in terms of the editing of the film. Trying out everything I could think of, including being my most experimental (yet) and keeping the tone of the film dark (noir-ish) and foreboding, yet also positive! A man who was an artist first and while he may not have lived an enviable life, Jimmy Lyons was undeniably true to himself as any human being can be."
NIGHTS MUSIC by Jimmy Lyons (1988): SONG from JMG Films
"Having our films to work on means a ton to me and having some success with them as well!! Feeling like we're not spitting in the wind, and have something to contribute to the world that people can connect with -- on whatever level or scale."
I've been directing independent films since 2004’s Among Garbage & Flowers and have interviewed over 80 people for documentary productions over the past 15 years.
Among Garbage & Flowers (2004: 22-Minute Documentary) Directed by Jeff M. Giordano.
Release Dates for Among Garbage & Flowers
France 2005 (Entrevues Film Festival)Lebanon 2005 (Beirut Docudays Documentary Festival)
USA 2005 (NYC Home Film Festival)
USA 2005 (Ole Muddy Film Festival)
USA 2005 (Westcliffe Digital Film Festival)
South Africa 2005 (Golden Lion Film Festival)
USA 20 April 2005 (Myrtle Beach Film Festival)
USA 26 October 2005 (Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival)
USA November 2005 (Cape May Film Festival)
Austria 2006 (Festival der Nationen)
USA 2006 (Open APPerture Short Film Festival)
USA 2006 (United States Super 8 Film + Digital Video Festival)
Cambodia 1 December 2007 (CamboFest: Film and Video Festival of Cambodia)
USA 27 September 2008 (Ava Gardner Film Festival)
USA 7 July 2010 (San Francisco LaborFest)
The God Given Talent: The Creative Life of Charles Curtis Blackwell (2019): a 70 minute-documentary will have its World Premiere at the 20th San Francisco Black Film Festival on June 15, 2019. Trailer Below... I've produced and directed a full-length documentary about Charles Curtis Blackwell (the focus of The God Given Talent: The Creative Life of Charles Curtis Blackwell), an African-American poet/painter/playwright/teacher based in Oakland, California.
- I'm seeking funding for film festival submissions of The God Given Talent: The Creative Life of Charles Curtis Blackwell and setting up Community Screenings for the movie, in addition to global screenings -- followed by Q&A's with Charles Curtis Blackwell.
June 17, 2019:
Regarding your film submission: “The God Given Talent: The Creative Life of Charles Curtis Blackwell”:
“As the lead programmer/curator for the Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival, it is my honor to inform you that your film has been selected for the Festival’s 2019 slate. This year, the second annual edition of the event is scheduled for October 2-6, 2019. We look forward to working with you during this process and having you as a partner. Congratulations!”
– Lead Programmer/Curator
“A story of survival, memories and poetry, with fine art interspersed / social justice in motion / ends powerfully with poem and music.”
Over-The-Rhine International Film Festival Screening on October 4, 2019 at 10am in Cincinnati, Ohio : : : https://otrfilmfest.org/film/the-god-given-talent-the-creative-life-of-charles-curtis-blackwell/Tickets: : :https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-god-given-talent-the-creative-life-of-charles-curtis-blackwell-tickets-69117786159The Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival is the new name and expanded vision for the successful Cincinnati ReelAbilities Film Festival which came to Cincinnati in 2011 and was launched by LADD in 2013.
In 2013, LADD Inc. began to organize the Cincinnati ReelAbilities Film Festival as a biennial celebration of the lives, stories, and art of people who experience disabilities growing it to the largest film festival in our region.
In 2018, LADD is expanding the scope of the Festival to move beyond a singular focus on disability-specific programming to focus on a celebration of our shared humanity.
The new scope is consistent with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences focus on diversifying film at every level.
Founded in 1975, LADD is a local non-profit that provides housing, employment opportunities, day programs and other life skills training for people with disabilities. LADD’s mission: guided by the belief that all people have ability and value, we empower adults with disabilities, to live, work and connect.
Our vision is to be a force for community development and ensure equal opportunity for all people of all abilities in our community.
“The God Given Talent: The Creative Life of Charles Curtis Blackwell”: will screen in San Jose, California part of the Silicon Valley African Film Festival in October 2019!!!
Assim Vivemos: Brazil's International Disability Film Festival has accepted the short 10-minute documentary I produced/directed: Charles Curtis Blackwell into their film festival! This makes 2 international screenings for the 10-minute short documentary! Most recently it the short documentary played in London, England (at the Rhythm & Views Film Festival).
Passion is the Money is a 2018 movie I co-produced/directed about a community of poets, painters, and musicians as they struggle to maintain a foothold in San Francisco, California. Once a haven for artists, the influx of workers in the technology sector has caused the city to become one of the most expensive places to live in America. Resilient, dedicated, and creative, these artists, who include a blind painter, a female bohemian, and a street poet who ran with the Black Panthers, counter gentrification with their words and images.
Filmed over the course of more than three years, the movie examines a country's urban areas in flux. By delving into the clash between art and commerce, Passion is the Money makes sense of both what it means to live in a modern city, and the role of artists.
It's a personal project that immersed me in a hidden history, which served as a springboard for more projects.
Passion is the Money (2018) from JMG Films on Vimeo.
Right now! I'm producing/directing a 47-minute documentary: Making Up My Mind: Searching for Jimmy Lyons about jazz singer/playwright Jimmy Lyons that is in post-production. Jeff M. Giordano at Jimmy Lyons Memorial from JMG Films
- I'm seeking funds to pay for production costs toward an Animated Documentary exploring Romantic Love.
- Travel Documentary Series where I trek across the globe interviewing people!
- Biopic Feature-Narrative Movie about artist Albert Pinkham Ryder (from an unpublished screenplay written by a close friend)
- Narrative Movie titled The Nightmare of the Dream
- 24-Hour Movie inspired by The Clock (2010: directed by Christian Marclay) about trash collectors/garbage workers, comprised by a montage of scenes from movies throughout cinema's history
THE SHERIFF (2007: short documentary) "Charles Curtis Blackwell" - Short Documentary (2017)
Awards for The Sheriff
Black Maria Film and Video Festival 2009
Winner!Director's Choice
Jeff M. Giordano
Provincetown International Film Festival 2008
Winner!Special Jury Award
Jeff M. Giordano
Release Dates for The Sheriff
USA 4 June 2007 (Los Angeles, California)USA 19 April 2008 (Atlanta International Film Festival)
USA 1 June 2008 (New Jersey Young Film and Videomakers Festival)
USA 21 June 2008 (Provincetown International Film Festival)
USA 8 August 2008 (Bayou City Inspirational Film Festival)
USA 22 November 2008 (Cape May NJS Film Festival)
Cambodia 26 December 2008 (CamboFest: Film and Video Festival of Cambodia)
USA 6 February 2009 (Black Maria Film and Video Festival)
USA 2 April 2009 (Florida Film Festival)
USA 4 April 2009 (Vail Film Festival)
USA 20 June 2009 (TV premiere)
USA 11 July 2009 (San Francisco Frozen Film Festival)
Lebanon 25 September 2009 (Beirut Docudays Documentary Festival)
USA 24 March 2010 (Ozark Foothills Film Festival)
USA 17 October 2010 (Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival)
USA 8 February 2011 (Lower East Side Film Festival)
Japan 14 May 2011 (Sukagawa International Film Festival)
Also, I'm a painter. My current style is abstract/primitive evocative acrylic on canvas paintings. Most recently, I've finished a series of paintings spanning the past 4 years. I will be updated the following link with photos from the series: https://www.jeffmgiordano.com/posts/jmg-paintings-...
(My paintings have been exhibited at Live Worms Art Gallery in San Francisco, California)
For my largest contributing Patrons, I would love to do an Audio Conversation Series with them about their favorite movies of all-time: exploring each film's intellectual/artistic/emotional cinematic qualities, in addition to the films impact on their lives.
I'd be open to ideas for topics/themes for more Audio Conversation Series editions in the future.
Thanks for your interest, encouragement, and any contribution you give -- as I continue my cinematic-artistic journey in life. I value the collaboration of my fan's impact on allowing me to continue to make film projects. I'm grateful for the struggle and lessons learned to always persevere.
Even if you can't donate anything and you're just curious, I hope you will find and cultivate your own creative passions fueled by your imagination and artistic commitment. It takes much courage to create and be vulnerable in the world today! May you keep the faith in your talents! And thanks for taking time to read all of this! Now, go live your life the way you want and come back soon! I will be doing Updates when inspiration strikes and when good news arrives!
Goals
2% complete
When I reach $5,000.00 per month, I’ll be able to devote 5 days per week (FULL-TIME) to my documentary filmmaking!
By becoming a patron, you'll instantly unlock access to 30 exclusive posts
1
Audio release24
Images3
Links6
Writings13
VideosBy becoming a patron, you'll instantly unlock access to 30 exclusive posts
1
Audio release24
Images3
Links6
Writings13
VideosRecent posts by Jeff M. Giordano
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