Icing American Apparel
President Obama is behind schedule on his agenda, mostly because of healthcare complications. Still, a major goal for this year is passing comprehensive immigration reform.
Under the Bush administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided businesses in order to detain and deport undocumented immigrants. Obama has moved away from raids, instead forcing companies to fire employees that have problematic I-9 paperwork.
The first major example of Obama's approach to immigration enforcement is LA-based American Apparel, a prominent supporter of legalization. ICE has made the company fire about 1,600 undocumented workers. This report shows the personal and political ramifications.
Icing American Apparel from Patrick Burke on Vimeo.
Thanks to David Cohn, Andrew Stelzer, Daisy Lin, Javier Alvarez, Aura Bogado, and Jordan Orvash.
Demo Reel
PATRICK BURKE shooter / reporter / editor from Patrick Burke on Vimeo.
Here is my resume.
I have also more than six years of experience in radio.
Michael Jackson Memorial
I recorded sound and was assistant editor on this New York Times video during the Michael Jackson memorial. Zach Wise was the DP and editor. More details and a few pictures on the Burkepost Blog.
The Present Moment
J. C. Earle practices Zen meditation in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Like his teacher, he focuses on his breath and is careful about which seeds he nourishes. Please enjoy this glimpse of J. C.'s approach to life.
The Present Moment from Patrick Burke on Vimeo.
Go to the Plum Village site for more about Thich Nhat Hanh.
RECKONER
Composed by Radiohead. Performed by The Interbeings - a virtual band consisting of Joe Lamattina on drums, Michael (henceforth Mikhail) Pessah on bass, and me on guitars and vocals. Don't forget Lisa Lamattina, who did over-the-counter percussion and videography of Joe. I shot my sections and those featuring Mikhail, and I edited it all together. Mikhail mastered the mixed audio.
The visual style of this cover video is informed by Thich Nhat Hanh's teaching that all things contain all other things. So I am you and we are both that lamp. Please enjoy while breathing in and breathing out.
RECKONER from Patrick Burke on Vimeo.
Kissing Terms
This is a chat I had with Eve Aruguete about her lesbian kissing videos. Her website is reallesbiankiss.com, but she also has had accounts on several video hosting sites. YouTube recently deleted her channel for violation of Terms, implying that lesbian kissing is pornographic or obscene.
Kissing Terms from Patrick Burke on Vimeo.
The Zell Effect
3/11/09The Los Angeles Times is eliminating another 300 jobs, including 70 from the newsroom. And the latest cuts have claimed the California section, which now only runs on Sundays. LA reporters are suing the parent company, Tribune, and its billionaire CEO, Sam Zell, over an $8 billion takeover that has jeopardized employees and landed the media giant in bankruptcy court. Patrick Burke has the story from Los Angeles.
Love Goes On
Ever endure a broken heart? These nine people share their break-up experiences and the resulting life lessons. Betrayal, jealousy, the rebound, ex-communication. This mini-documentary is recommended viewing for the recently separated, and for those interested in the human condition. Acquired by Current TV.
Big Digits, Fired Up (Live in Los Angeles)
According to the Boston Phoenix, Big Digits is the best hip-hop act around. Mac Machine and TD make party music. On their latest tour stop in Los Angeles, they played at Pehr Space on Glendale Boulevard and Echo Curio on Sunset. I directed this live video for them. Check it out. Warning: you may need to cut rugs.
FU smaller from Patrick Burke on Vimeo.
Many thanks to Christopher Otwell, who operated one of the four cameras and is generally helpful.
Ninety-Seven
This is an early, optically printed film of mine. It’s set at Hampshire College, in 1997. An emotional reflection on my family and cinematic self-representation. Cameo: Cognitive Psych Professor Neil Stillings. The music is from the Ravi Shankar and Philip Glass album Passages, which I encountered that year in Varanasi. After all that, I left a hair in the low-tech telecine machine!
