All Videos Tagged funny (Valley Art Share) - Valley Art Share

"NEARER MY GOD TO THEE": Filmmaker encounters John of God

2009-03-15T02:09:01.818Z

Marc Israel had been filming his life for a decade, including hitchhiking & street-performing adventures, love connections, and ongoing mental struggles. Then, in 2004, a series of near-plagues occurred one after another: a severe case of lovesickness after a failed long-term relationship, an invasion of ants, followed by moths, into his apartment, physical injuries including two massive earaches, a frightful accident concerning his private parts, and, finally, the sudden loss of function in his arms due to tendonitis. Deep in despair, Marc by chance came across a T.V. documentary on the internationally renowned "Miracle Man" healer, John of God, and quickly booked a flight to Brazil. What follows is an exploration of the Self, via encounters with the mysterious and controversial John of God, his community of pilgrims and self-styled spiritualists, the sacred ceremonies of the Fulnio Indians, the jungles rife with strange life, all of which are interwoven with ghostlike flashbacks drawn from years of constant video self-surveillance. Through images both real and surreal, conversations with friends, visits to doctors and therapists, intimate video journals, detailed probes into the natural world, and the editing process of the film itself (also documentary fodder), Marc's pathology and innate wisdom often coemerge to provide surprisingly humorous and lighthearted moments of relief.

"Nearer My God To Thee" is a feature-length award-winning film that has played at film festivals around the world. Visit www.myspace.com/marcisraelfilms for more information.

A BALANCING ACT: Kombucha / Museum / Contest / Travel Documentary

2009-03-15T02:08:35.726Z

"Delightful & enormously entertaining...An amazing & meaningful gem!"- Davy Rothbart, This American Life

In the middle of a suicide mission, Marc Israel becomes intoxicated with a "rebirth of wonder" after imbibing copious amounts of mind-altering Kombucha tea. Thus begins an epic & often hilarious quest investigating a mysterious international motorbike balancing contest. Lean into the world, via Israel's roving camera, & rub intimate eyeballs with a medley of renegade personalities. Get to know Austin's Museum of Natural & Artificial Ephemerata and its eccentric curators, who spend all their time covering the museum in bottle caps & catfood tins. Venture to Iowa City, where the charismatic Optimist Club founder Skutter performs his one-man-show "A Piñata in My Heart" & lectures at the University on a balancing contest in Vietnam. Hop a freight train with Skutter to L.A. and discover a self-described "towel-face artist" who can make your bath towel resemble Whoopi Goldberg within minutes. Lastly, catch a plane to Thailand, hitchhike through Cambodia, finally arriving in Vietnam where a motley assortment of bikers get ready to balance boxes, refrigerators, & entire families on the back of their humble bicycles & mopeds! For more info go to www.myspace.com/marcisraelfilms

"A Balancing Act" - winner of BEST COMEDY DOCUMENTARY at Atlanta International Documentary Festival, Opening Night Film at Montezuma International Film Festival, Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival, and Atlanta Docufest.

Also an Official Selection at:
Film Pop Montreal, Rome International Film Festival, Jacksonville Film Festival, Thin Line Film Fest, ReelHeart International Film Festival, Slow Film Festival, Connecticut Film Festival, Utopia Film Festival, Sweet Onion Film Festival, Hells Half Mile Film & Music Festival, Montana Independent Film Festival, S.N.O.B. Film Festival, Northampton Independent Film Festival, Filmbiance, Mid-Valley Video Festival, Bare Bones International Independent Film Festival, Renderyard Film Festival, Over The Top Fest, Seattle True Independent Film Festival

"BARKLEY THE CAT" - Marc Israel Music Video!

2009-03-15T02:07:52.410Z

'm super happy to offer up for your viewing pleasure (or displeasure - ya can't please 'em all, folks!) my first ever music video, made in honor of the 2nd anniversary of my cat Barkley & I. Enjoy this bit o' free entertainment brought to you by the good folks at Phenomenal World Cinema, where "if something happens, it's worth filming" (take it up with our PR person if you don't like the motto).
For a better quality viewing experience of this video, go to: http://www.vimeo.com/1381222
Yours truly,
Marc
www.myspace.com/marcisraelfilms
www.myspace.com/marcisraelmusic