I remember talking with Chris Stelly and I remember this reporter asking if he could sit in and listen. But I had no idea that I would be profiled so prominently! Just goes to show- always watch out what you say.. ha ha..
“As Lily Keber turns the page of her small notebook, the dark blue-green lines of a tattoo peek out from under the sleeve of her peach cardigan. Professionalism meets creative expression right here in the state’s office of Entertainment Industry Development. The young filmmaker reads off a list of luminaries she has interviewed already for Bayou Maharaja, an ambitious documentary in her command that tells the story of James Booker, the flamboyantly talented piano-playing wild man of New Orleans. Harry Connick Jr., Dr. John and more, she says at a rapid clip.
“Too bad you couldn’t get Hunter Thompson,” says Chris Stelly, director of the state’s office of film and television and interim executive director for all of Louisiana Entertainment since his former boss, Sherri McConnell, left for the private sector last summer. “[He coined] the term ‘Gonzo’ journalism from a James Booker song.”
Stelly is a fount of knowledge on music, film and Louisiana history. As a teenager he worked as a projectionist at a movie theater, and he gave tours of the Capitol during the Foster administration. Keber is meeting with Stelly and his assistant director of film, Amanda Hafford, to discuss the progress of her project and to gain clarity on the popular tax-credit program that has boosted Louisiana to third in the nation in film and television production. There is also the new Louisiana Filmmakers Grant Fund Program designed to aid indigenous artists with lower-budgeted projects, and Bayou Maharaja could potentially benefit from either program, depending on the total budget.
And back and forth they go, discussing budgets and if David Brinkley can fly in from Houston for his interview, broadcasting options and film festivals, and other hurdles ahead for Keber.
“I’m trying to make it so that the American public at large will get who Booker is,” Keber tells Stelly. “Right now he’s like Louisiana’s little secret.”
Louisiana Entertainment, a division of Louisiana Economic Development, is pleased to announce the winners of the Louisiana Filmmakers Grant Program. The program, designed to support Louisiana’s indigenous independent filmmakers, attracted many talented applicants from diverse backgrounds. The state of Louisiana has awarded over $138,500 to the top eight contenders.
Lily has completed principal photography and is in early post production phase. Simultaneously, she is fund raising to cover her editing expenses.
“I first heard him on a juke box and could not believe I never heard of him before or that there was no film about him. I started the project not knowing a whole lot about him. What is harder is the fact, that I am not a musician and so it is has been a steep learning curve.
Currently, I’m slogging through transcriptions, doing boring stuff like syncing audio and figuring out how to tell this complicated story.”
Mairzy Doats is hard at work on Bayou Maharajah, a feature documentary on New Orleans piano genius James Booker. Check out this 4 minute fundraising trailer, then visit http://kck.st/9tPF0Q to see how to donate and get involved in the film.
For the past year, I’ve been the official videographer for the CrossRoads Institute- a youth-led educational theatre corps in New Orleans. Below is a sampling of some of the videos I’ve made for them.
Filmed at the live recording of Walking Through Heaven’s Gate. December, 2008. Zion Hill Baptist in the Treme, New Orleans, LA.
Camera and editing by Lily Keber.
Lily is a co-founder and media trainer for New Orleans Video Voices, a women-led collective dedicated to expanding media literacy across the Gulf South. Below is a sampling of videos we’ve produced..
Editing by Lily Keber. Camera by the Sustainable Communities Network and New Orleans Video Voices. Nov 2010.
In July 2009, Lily and New Orleans Video Voices teamed up with the Iberville Boys & Girls Club to teach basic documentary video skills. The result of this short, intensive workshop speaks for itself- playful and giggly, but rife with the violence and grief of their community. Made possible with funding from Transforma Project.
After an exciting couple months of travel and teaching, Mairzy Doats is ready to start showing some new work. Below is the first of several short pieces about the current situation on the ground in Gaza
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A short film chronicling the impact of incarceration on families in Gaza. With over 11,000 Gazas held in Israeli prisons, it is difficult to find a family who has not been affected. For over three years, no family visits have been allowed, and communication is difficult, often impossible. Shot in June 2009. Produced by Jordan Flaherty and Lily Keber.
