Sunday, October 14, 2007

From Bowie to Bearsville, the old roadies



Inspired by a photo that Journal photographer Kathy McClaughlin took of the projectionist at Woodstock Town Hall, I sought out one of the minds behind the moving images, to learn more about what makes these folks tick, or rather, turn.

I headed over to the Bearsville Theater, where I met Jim Dodge. Jim has done projection work for some major live performances by some major folks – McCartney, Bowie, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson and R.E.M. among them.

He is from Shohola, Penn., and described himself as WFF tech guru Jeff Kantor’s “sidekick.”

Jim said at the first film fest, in 2000, he and Kantor ran the projection show, “running from venue to venue,” dropping off films.

His work at the WFF, he said, “started off as a real affection for Meira and Laurent,” he said, referring to the festival’s co-founders. “Just because of the love of what she does.”

He first met Meira at a New York film festival years ago.

He added, “I look forward to next year’s festival even before this one is over.”

He mentioned that several projectionists at the WFF come from the concert industry and the film fest serves as a reunion of sorts for these “old roadies.”

2 comments:

The Valentine Flats said...

Mr Dodge is a one of a kind gentlemen that you only read about in books. Not to mention the end all & know it all of all things Video.

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