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Messenger
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Directed by Gary Beeber Written by Gary Beeber Produced by Gary Beeber Genre Runtime: 26 min Release Date: August 2007 Filmmaker's Website Send to Friends |
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Plot Outline
Take a ride with Kamikaze, New York City’s most legendary bike messenger and world class character. Be part of the action and learn the street wisdom he’s gleaned about work, women and the meaning of life from his 25 years on NYC's streets.
The film, which was shot in various locations throughout New York City, shows Kami on his daily rounds making deliveries, and philosophizing about life as a messenger and other subjects. The interviews introduce his boss, his coach for his amateur baseball team, and those who earn their living working the streets of Manhattan.
The film shows the hardcore side of Kami, riding like a bat out of hell up 6th Avenue, as well as a kinder, more gentle Kamikaze at home. He puts Martha Stewart to shame as he gives us a private tour of what he likes best in his refrigerator, and we meet his dog Dukie. At the end of the film, Kami let’s us all in on the meaning of life.
Awards
WINNER, Best Documentary Short, Staten Island Festival, 2007
WINNER, Best Documentary Short, Coney Island Film Festival, 2006
Reviews
Chris Erikson, NY Post
ARTISTS MAKE MOVIES: MONTAGE, COLLAGE, COLLISION
"Gary Beeber's documentary "Messenger" captures the spirit of New York from a 25 year perspective as we follow legendary bike messenger Kamikaze through Manhattan's mean streets. Part rebel, part philosopher, part missionary, our hero never lets anyone or anything thwart his mission to deliver." "Beeber's montage sequences are striking and potent, his editing devices compelling and precise."
-Marion Wolberg Weiss
Dan's Papers
9-31-07
Filmmaker Notes
Kamikaze, who just turned 50 has been working the streets of New York City for over 25 years as a bicycle messenger. There aren’t many left who’ve been working as long as he has. There’s something different about him, he tends to stand out. Before I actually met him, I found him to be scary, almost alien, but over time, I found him quite charming.
He has a good sense of humor, and he’s funny. Not that he looks funny, he’s just funny. There were some scenes that I had to shoot several times because I laughed so hard I couldn’t keep the camera still. No doubt, he’s a bad-ass, it would be a real mistake to get in a fight with him, but he’s also a good guy.
Whatever he does, including playing baseball (he plays right field for the amatuer league Brooklyn Dodgers), he does with pride and integrity. New York City is a very tough place to earn a living as a bike messenger, and the traffic is dangerous. Kamikaze just had a bad accident, which he will recover from. This brings it up to 102 career accidents.
I’ll close with a quote from Kami: “I hope that man upstairs likes this film, if not, fuck ‘em.”
Castlist
Kamikaze
Music
John Plenge (ToneFactory)
Cinematographers
Gary Beeber
Film Editors
Gary Beeber
Matt Press (additional editing)
Screenings
Official Selection, Directors Chair Festival, 2007
Official Selection, Bicycle Film Festival, Chicago, 2007
Official Selection, Action On International Film & Video Festival, 2007
Official Selection, da Vinci Days Festival, 2007
Official Selection, Nickel Independent Film Festival, 2007
Official Selection, Bicycle Film Festival, NYC, 2007
Official Selection, Indie Can Film Festival, 2007
Official Selection, Ybor Festival of the Moving Image, 2007
Official Selection, THE BEFILM Underground Film Festival, 2007
Official Selection, Staten Island Film Festival, 2007
Official Selection, Longbaugh Film Festival, 2007
Official Selection, Garden State Film Festival, 2007
Official Selection, Memphis International Film Festival, 2007
Official Selection, DC Independent Film Festival, 2007
Official Selection, 24fps Short Video & Film Festival, 2006
Official Selection, Charlotte Film Festival, 2006