MAYDAY 1971 RAW

synopsis

The material for this compilation guerrilla video was created thanks to the work of nearly thirty filmmakers who, using the then-new Portapak portable cameras, recorded from within the protest movement the mass demonstrations to end the Vietnam War that were held in early May 1971 in Washington, D.C. Footage of participants' discussions, strategy planning, and spontaneous happenings alternate with the documentation of police violence, stays at police stations, and improvised detentions. The first edited version tried in vain to get airtime on NBC, while the updated version of the original compilation adds informational subtitles for today's viewers and underscores the hope that the established order and repressive power can be overcome non-violently through solidarity and shared emotion.

“Liberate ourselves. Men and women together.”

biography

One of the world's first video collectives, Videofreex was founded in New York in 1969 with the aim of documenting, creating, and disseminating alternative culture. Its members included Skip Blumberg, Nancy Cain, David Cort, Mary Curtis Ratcliff, and Parry Teasdale. In 1971, they moved to a community farm in the Catskills, where they founded the first pirate television station in the US (Lanesville TV) and an informal media education centre. The group was active until 1978. Members of other collectives (Source Coalition, Antioch College, DC Video Center, Earthlight-Communiversity, Clearing House, TeePee Video Space Group) also collaborated to a lesser extent on the creation of Mayday 1971.

film details

director:	Mayday Video, Videofreex, Skip Blumberg
editing:	Eddie Becker, Joan Yoshiwara, Skip Blumberg