John Paget's Blog

The most important movement of our generation turns 20

It's been great to spend this week at the twentieth Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) - the annual conference for what is the most important movement of our time.  We produced a 2-part series for CNU 20, with leaders reflecting on biggest mistakes of the past twenty years -- Confessions, and looking forward to the next twenty years -- Dreams.

Andres Duany sets the stage for the Confessions video by claiming that new urbanism is the "least unsuccessful movement of the last 20 years," with fewer mistakes, fewer things they were wrong about, fewer things to apologize for than any other.

Watch all the way to the end (after the credits) and you'll discover Buffalo gets a call out!

 

Vidler's TV: Old-timey store embraces new media strategy

Check out the weekly episodic series and youtube channel I've created for Vidler's 5 and 10, one of the last surviving genuine five and dime stores in America.

Fun stuff!

Buffalo For Real TV series

Buffalo For Real TV is an online series exploring the unique places and one-of-a-kind experiences to be found in Buffalo and Western New York.  Check out all episodes in the series at the Buffalo For Real TV youtube channel.  Collaborating with musician Nelson Starr and Ed Healy at Visit Buffalo Niagara, we produced five episodes in 2011: Beer, On the Waterfront, First Fridays in Allentown, Buffalo Bills Tailgating, and Vidler's 5&10.  Thanks for watching and look for more episodes in 2012.

"Locally Grown" complete - get it on DVD!

One of my favorite projects this year was producing Locally Grown, a 35 minute documentary about Buffalo's most beloved store, the Lexington Co-Op.  It was a privilege to meet many of Lexington's founding members and local farmers;  they offered many humorous anecodotes, and an inspiring message for all of Buffalo about what is possible when a community comes together in common purpose.  In case you missed the premiere, the DVD is now available at the store.

Buffalo: All The City's A Stage

My latest short film, produced with Theatre Alliance of Buffalo (Constance McEwen Caldwell) and Visit Buffalo Niagara (Ed Healy). Only seven minutes, but a year in production.  Thanks to those who helped on various shoots (William Bottriell, Wesley Dean, Nate Peracciny), and all the actors and artists who appear in interviews: Vincent O'Neill, Saul Elkin, Anthony Chase, Leah Russo, Adrienne Lewis, Jon Elston.

Paget Films publishes Alcatraz ex-con biography

This summer, I acquired publishing rights to and reprinted (with a new cover design by Ryan Besch) the biography of ex-Alcatraz inmate #1076, John Dekker. 

If you're touring San Francisco, look for it in stores along the Wharf.  Or, you can purchase a signed copy from my online store ....OR if you're a Kindle reader, it's also available for Kindle through Amazon.

Dekker is one of the featured characters in my documentary film Alcatraz Reunion - in fact, he kind of stole the show with one witty comment after another.  BTW, he's the only Alcatraz inmate to be seen actually smirking in his official mug shot - so we had to use it on the book cover.

Elvis Impersonator World Championships

Just finished up a week in Memphis, Tennessee, co-producing an international Elvis impersonator contest, the KING OF THE WORLD ELVIS TRIBUTE ARTIST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Our winner was Mr. Dwight Icenhower from Orlando, Florida. (Yes, he imitates the King but has the name of a President).

If you've never been to Memphis for the Elvis World Championships, you're missing out on one of the great moments in American culture.

Here are a few short highlight films I put together from the week.

Buffalo For Real TV premieres online

Check out Buffalo For Real TV, a new web series I'm producing with Nelson Starr and Visit Buffalo Niagara.  First installement went online today and is a profile of Buffalo's craft beer scene, featuring Pearl Street Grill & Brewery, Cole's, Blue Monk, Village Beer Merchant and the Adam Mickiewicz Library.

CNU Daily Show in Madison, Wisconsin

I produced an online daily TV show with First+Main Media at The Congress for the New Urbanism in Madison, WI.  Check out some interesting interviews and highlights from what I think is the most important unheralded movement in the world.  You can find all episodes of the daily show at the First+Main youtube channel.  Click here for the complete playlist.

Thanks to Notre Dame School of Architecture for sponsoring the show!

New promo film for Visit Buffalo Niagara

New promo film for Visit Buffalo Niagara, helping launch their new brand "Buffalo. For Real."

I shot this mostly in the last month here in Buffalo, New York (of course).  Script by Ed Healy at Visit Buffalo Niagara and narration by Saul Elkin.