Films to promote at this years Bicycle Film Festival

This year I didn't make a film but rather I'm in one. Remember those Orange bikes DKNY put up all over the city?

Orange Bikes Take Manhattan - Bicycle Film Festival 2008
By Kalim Armstrong.
Friday May 30th - 7pm, 9:15pm and 11:15pm (same program is repeated)
ANTHOLOGY FILM ARCHIVES
32 2nd Ave. at 2nd St.
From the film maker:

"I short I made is screening on Friday in the Bicycle Film Festival. Orange bikes documents the reaction to a guerrilla marketing campaign during fashion week. Orange monochromatic bicycles appeared chained as part of DKNY's "Explore your city" campaign. The bikes were reminiscent of the Ghost Bike memorial project, white painted bikes that serve as markers where cyclists have died in traffic accidents. This film explores the backlash to the marketing campaign.

Kalim will be on hand for the 7:00pm showing.

Here is the trailer:


ORANGE BIKES TAKE MANHATTAN from Kalim Armstrong on Vimeo.

Also, on Saturday (messenger night) May 31st.
Anthology Film Archives (all films at the Anthology)

7,9:15pm and 11:15pm

Get Faster
9 minutes. Directed by Heather Muller (with camera work by Chris Ryan/Teamspider)

To help her win this years Monstertrack, Dylan looks to three local alleycat racers for advice.

GO HEATHER AND DYLAN.

Photo by Ed Glazar:



Also:

FAST FRIDAY
27minutes Directed by David Rowe

Documents the rise of the profile track bike scene in Seattle. Started by clothing designer and fixed-gear rider Dustin Klein (M.A.S.H.) the monthly bike event known as "Fast Friday" has grown into a showcase of today's most talented riders.

Trailer available on the Fast Friday website.

Getting more info about Orange bikes.

Ok, so a lot of you have weighed in on the orange bikes that DKNY thought would be such a cute way to promote cycling.

Here is a variety of the attitudes summarized by yours truly, from a lot of the various discussions I've read about.

1) Gladness. (the majority of the cycling community) That the bicycle community thoroughly responded to this issue and pointed out the following: A) If DKNY's intention was to promote cycling why didn' they tell anyone what they were up to? This lead to the NYPD even asking fellow bikers..."Hey, whats up with those Orange bikes?" B) This is just a cheap advertising gimmick that was way to closely similar to the "ghostbikes" project and that it was disrespectful. C) Corporations continue to miss the point of promoting cycling with cheap ad stunts, when they should just give away bicycles or give that same money to environmental organizations that ACTUALLY PROMOTE CYCLING, like TIMES UP, who are struggling to find a new space.

2) Indifference. (a lot of people online blogging and responding to blogs) Who cares. People blow this stuff way out of proportion and just feed into exactly what corporations want with these stunts. They spend millions of dollars researching the hip new viral world and if tons of people start talking...mission accomplished.

3) Defensive (a small minority of the bicycle community) That DKNY shouldn't be so critized after all they give money to the D.O.T. for things like free bike maps and helmets. Quit your bitching and accept these kind gifts form our beloved corporate masters.

What ever your school of thought, this blogger feels this is an important topic and exactly represents the misguided intentions of corporations that only seem to fall in the feel good green chic department and not on true sustainable goals.

I may be going on the radio this week to discuss this further.

Here is DKNY's response to an avid bikers letter to them:


DKNY is working with the Mayor's office to raise awareness of cycling as a healthy and environmentally sound means of transportation around NYC. During Fashion Week (which runs the first week of February), DKNY has placed dozens of bright orange bicycles around the city to get people thinking and talking about bicycles as a healthy and fashionable way to get
around the city. DKNY's marketing team developed the orange bicycle campaign to support the Mayor's office ongoing efforts, in a way that would draw attention to this important initiative. We also provided financial support to help the New York City Department of Transportation raise awareness of its initiative to build a far-reaching network of innovative
designed bicycle lanes and new bicycle parking facilities while stepping up education for cyclists and drivers.

We are very sorry if our well-intentioned "Explore Your City" program offended anyone.
------------------

oh, ok, why didn't you say so...its so clear now. Huh? I think I will chain up buckets of used vegtable oil all over the city to get people thinking about Bio-diesel.

Still trying to get more information, like for instance what is with that picture of the NYPD van hauling off the bikes.

Please let me know your orange bike experiences...

Thanks