SHOWING:
9:30 pm, Sat. 9/23 @ Harbert Center
directed by Mark Woollen
* Director/producer Mark Woollen and producers Scott Mitsui and Myles Bender are scheduled to attend.
They were television sports stars of the '60s and '70s, a bigger draw than major league baseball. And then, virtually overnight, they disappeared. Now, one man has brought them all back to reclaim their lost glory!
Shot over seven years (1998-2004), JAM follows the saga of the America Roller Derby League, a group of fading Roller Derby stars who, despite the fact that they are in their 50s and 60s, are determined to make the sport a national sensation once again. At the center of it all is Tim Patten, the league's founder and impresario. Diagnosed HIV positive in 1983, Tim believes his passion for Roller Derby is what keeps him alive.
Equal parts hilarious and heart-breaking, JAM takes you into the skater's world, on and off the track. They are, as Tim says, the 'ultimate dysfunctional family.' But they live for the roar of the crowd, a few minutes in the spotlight and for a chance to recapture their celebrity status. From the on-track battles to the off-track struggle to simply let the world know Roller Derby still exists, this film shows us how the pursuit of a dream can drive people to unbelievable extremes.
Director Bio:
Sidewalk 2005 alumni with his short documentary, DRUMMER WANTED, Mark Woollen has directed music videos for The Fugees, Busta Rhymes and the RZA. He owns Mark Woollen & Associates, which has created award-winning campaigns for numerous feature films, including CRASH, LOST IN TRANSLATION and TRAFFIC.
Screens with GRAND LUNCHEONETTE, directed by Peter Siller (5 min. / USA). A short documentary of the last days of one of 42nd Street's unforgettable hot dog lunch counters.
