Streetwise Documentary (Mary Ellen Mark)
 

I'm know some of you here are familiar with the photographer, Mary Ellen Mark. I've been a fan of her work for a while now and have always loved her Streetwise collection but haven't really been able to find it around until now. So, I thought I would share in case anyone wanted to see

If you don't know what Streetwise is, it's a documentary on street kids in Seattle in 1983. It's non judgmental, and pretty much just tells the story. It's well worth the watch in my opinion, so get to it.

YouTube - 'Streetwise' (1 of 10)

YouTube - 'Streetwise' (2 of 10)

YouTube - 'Streetwise' (3 of 10)

YouTube - 'Streetwise' (4 of 10)

YouTube - 'Streetwise' (5 of 10)

YouTube - 'Streetwise' (6 of 10)

YouTube - 'Streetwise' (7 of 10)

YouTube - 'Streetwise' (8 of 10)

YouTube - 'Streetwise' (9 of 10)

YouTube - 'Streetwise' (10 of 10)

Here is a link to Mary Ellen Marks website, where you can view her Streetwise photographs:

Mary Ellen Mark Streetwise Book

SPOILERS BELOW

I will check this out in a second! I want to watch all back to back...

well so far i love the opening quote.

I'll download the videos and merge them into a movie. It'd be better to watch than a bunch of youtube videos

I'm on the third video now, this is great!

Some of this is gut-wrenching.

Yeah, it's pretty sad.

Seeing Dwayne is probably the worst part.

Fuck.

You must spread more reputation before blah blah blah....

Thank you for sharing this with us. More later when I can really gather my thoughts.

Hahaha, I'm glad you liked it.

I wanna break out my Rat avatar now, but I'm kind of digging the PJ at the moment.

fucking A, i started watching this-- WOW!

most repped.

More people should watch it, lazy fucks.

Oh yes!! Thank you so much, it's quite remarkable!

Rat is so small.

They were so cute together


I wish Mike was in this, but he was in some detention center or something. Rat kept talking about breaking him out.


Dwayne :(

An engaging yet thoroughly tragic documentary - a trip through friendships gained and lost, degradation and hopelessness. A big, big thanks to EMMAh for giving us all the heads-up on this.

fuckit, that was terrible. i mean good, just terrible subject. very fuckign sad. but good.

emmah, if you liked this, you might just like paris is burning. parts of it remind me a lot of this.

it's really good, you should put a SPOILER warning at the top of the page though :p

I'm seriously glad people are enjoying this haha.

What is Paris is Burning about?

it's about BALLS.


ha ha ha. seriously. balls.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_is_Burning_(film)

mostly it's grownups but some of the characters reminded me of the kids here though-- particularly venus xtravaganza.

Looks interesting. I'll see if I can find it around somewhere.

i'd recommend watching it on vhs/dvd, but if not, you can start here :D

part 1 of 11:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCp99A2Cni0

& follow the thread

--

it's really worth seeing it in a decent format though. it really misses out a lot on youtube. clothes & makeup & facial expressions etc.

Thankyou Emmah, thats was a really insightful and moving documentary, havn't seen anything quite as good as this in a long time. (Quick question though: What as Mary Ellen Mark's part in making this film, because I read it was directed by Martin Bell?) I did enjoy Mark's film still alot aswell. Once again, thanks.

Cheryl McCall and Mary Ellen Mark did a story for Time on the same kids, saw the potential for a good film, and got Mark's husband in on it (Martin Bell, I dunno if they were married then though)

http://www.maryellenmark.com/frames/stwise.html

BUMP

Tiny in '86





With her mom:


In '99 (with kids and mom)

In '03

And I forgot this one:

Jesus fuck! Her kids are sure sweet, but as for her....those pics actually shocked me. What a fucking tragedy for her and her kids....

I dunno, I really loved this film, don't get me wrong, but there were certain critisizms I had of it. I don't think it was scripted, or in any way insincere, but it was plain throughout the film that certain shots had been 'set up', and though it doesn't make the peice any less real life, in does make it seem slightly less naturalistic.

I don't get how that would be a criticism. You have to set up shots.

I've read that she has nine kids Melly :( One older article said she had five all from different dad's.

Well it something of a criticism, if you're arranging people and situations for shots then it's not exactly a purely naturalistic documentary.

You don't even have proof of that.

Such a great film, made me sad for all the characters.

I remember watching this, it is a good documentary.

Frig, I forgot to watch that today!

Tomorrow I guess.

I don't even have proof you're right, its just quite obvious in some shots. If you're literally following people around with cameras you don't have time to set up as perfect shots that appear in this film. It's no major critisizm, it's still a wonderful film regardless.

Bump, haven't been around in a few days. No power, windstorm. Really liked this movie and had alot to say on it, now I can't remember. Had a busy past couple of days with this crazy weather shit.

any other character updates?

its crazy, on youtube, most of the people leaving comments seem to be people who lived in that area in that time, or knew people there...it's kind of sad.

unless it's all lies and they are fakers.

Not enough people are commenting on this, you're all lame.

I really enjoyed it.

& Emmah, I watched it so dont we get to shag now or something?

I think some of them must be liars.

As for other updates, I don't really know any. It's possible that it I looked around some more I might be able to find some.