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Sorry this is rarely updated.
Journeyman Pictures Distribution
GYPSY CARAVAN and AMERICAN GYPSY can now be purchased and streamed through our new distribution partner Journeyman Pictures. Cick
here for GYPSY CARAVAN and here for AMERICAN GYPSY.
To order a DVD visit the Little Dust shop.
June 2021
AG DVD release
AMERICAN GYPSY released on DVD for the first time!! Cick
here to order a DVD.
September 2007
GC theatrical release
GYPSY CARAVAN on worldwide theatrical release
Now playing in the USA, France, Nethlerlands... UK release on September 28th... then Poland, Japan and many more.
Click
here for film calendar
September 2007
In memoriam Jimmy Marks
Today, June 27th 2007, we honor the life of Jimmy Marks who died this morning after a long
struggle with heart problems and diabetes - and a long lawsuit. Jimmy Marks was featured in Little
Dust's documentary, American Gypsy. He was a man who had the courage to sing with meaning.
Washinton Post obituary
June 2007
SEE VIDEO OF OUR LATEST EVENT
A day of Rom film, music and photos
May 14th, 2005 in New York City
To play these clips you can download the latest version of
Quicktime.
Play Video
of a day of Rom film, music and photos in New York
(4 mins, 8MB Quicktime)
edited by Matt Tilley, camera by Margarita Jimeno
Slow (dial-up) connection - Video of a day of Rom film,
music and photos in New York
(4 mins, 4.5MB Quicktime)
The Decade of Roma Inclusion launched in Europe in February 2005. In New York, we arranged a day
to help raise awareness of Romani issues. Here you can see clips of the event, featuring a sneak
preview of film clips from the rough-cut of our upcoming feature documentary following the GYPSY
CARAVAN concert tour... film clips from SEARCHING FOR THE FOURTH NAIL by Romani filmmaker, George
Eli.... photos by Jan Yoors... Romani food... and panel discussion with the filmmakers, some of the
stars of the films and with Roma from New York, Texas, Romania, Macedonia and elsewhere.... This
event was followed in the evening by TARAF DE HAIDOUKS in concert at Town Hall, presented by World
Music Institute.
May 2005
Reaching out to Romani viewers...
Outreach & Education
About our ongoing outreach efforts:
While finishing the film, we're starting to develop educational materials and an outreach program.
Lucy Kaye's article on MediaRights.org tells a little about the beginning of our outreach program
for the 'Gypsy Caravan' concert tour feature documentary:
www.mediarights.org/news/outreach_journal_i_caravan/
The RECENT UPDATE on mediarights.org is by Associate Producer, Sara Nolan, and tells you about our
preparations and outreach to Romani communities for an event day with screenings of the 'Caravan'
feature documentary and 'Searching for the 4th Nail' by Romani filmmaker George Eli (Executive
Produced by Jasmine Dellal, Little Dust), combined with a Panel Discussion and an exhibition of
photos by Jan Yoors:
www.mediarights.org/news/outreach_journal_ii_caravan/
2005
PRODUCTION JOURNAL & a few quirky notes:
GYPSY CARAVAN MUSIC DOCUMENTARY
This production continues in collaboration with ITVS, the funding arm of PBS
(www.itvs.org), who came on board as a major funder
in January 2002. We've also joined forces with a prestigious sales agent, Fortissimo Films, whose
managers are Executive Producing our film along with San Fu Maltha of A-Films in the Netherlands.
BACKSTORY. In Spring 2001, when this film was still a dream, we attended a Taraf de Haidouks
concert in New York and Albert Maysles filmed it for possible inclusion in the "Gypsy Caravan"
film. "How can I ever thank you?" he said as the concert came to a close. "That was one of the
most beautiful experiences of my life." (And that's coming from a man of many many experiences!).
Some of the concert was also filmed by young New York Romani filmmaker, George Eli. The Romanian
musicians were on top form and afterwards a few of them went to an Italian diner where they met a
dozen or so American Rom who happened to drop in. By the end of the evening, we were determined to
record top Romani artists on film, and make a feature about the splendour of their music and the
reality of their lives.
ON THE ROAD. It was autumn of 2001 when World Music Institute's 'GYPSY CARAVAN 2'
Concert Tour was on the road round the USA and Jasmine Dellal trailed them with a camera...
the music was magical, the images beautiful and it was a lot of fun.
Then in December we went to Rajasthan and spent some time with the musicians of Maharaja.
Harish lives in the city of Jaiselmer, near the Pakistan border. The war there is discouraging
tourists who come to see concerts, which a lot of the village musicians depend on to support their
families. But the music is still engaging when the maestros come out to play. We also spent a lot of
time with Harish's family and learnt how he began his career and we visited the different "Gypsy"
colonies of his city. Striking snap shots: Harish riding a camel in his sequined dress and dancing
on the sand dunes. In the small village of Barnawar we visited Barkat, Bachu, Chayer and the other
Manganyar musicians of Maharaja. They welcomed us into their thatched homes and allowed us to live
with their families and hear desert music every night under the full moon.
In the spring we visited Antonio El Pipa, and his aunt, Juana la del Pipa, in southern Spain.
We were there during the famed Fer’a de Jerez, when the city is filled with horses and everyone is
celebrating flamenco. We filmed Antonio at home, with his family and at the fair with his wife and
toddler daughter. Across town, Juana's whole family gathered every day for meals, the make sure the
kids get to school, to play around on instruments and to take us to their church. Meanwhile, all the
musicians were rehearsing for an upcoming show, which Antonio choreographed with some new dancers
in his company.. this fascinating insight into the creative process took place in one of the most
beautiful rehearsal studios I could ever have imagined.
We completed all of our filming in Macedonia and Romania too.. but I'll have to write about that
later...
2002
Bits 'n' Pieces of News about Our Films and the People in them
AMERICAN GYPSY
We're happy to announce that this film won the Best Documentary Prize from the Golden Wheel
Festival in Macedonia. This is a particular honour because, as far as we know, it is the First Roma
Film Festival in the world, organized by and about Roma.
November 2002
** AWARDED BBC Radio 3 World Music Award **
presented by Johnny Depp in London to Taraf de Haidouks, Gypsy Musicians of Romania
Taraf de Haidouks' invigorating music represents the full richness of the
Transylvanian folk tradition performed in its unique Gypsy style. The
group, whose name translates as "band of brigands," first came to worldwide attention through
its participation in the award-winning film Latcho Drom, and later received accolades as part of
WMI's 1999 Gypsy Caravan Tour which toured North America. The 11-member troupe, spanning three
generations and ranging in age from 20 to 78, performs on fiddles, accordions, cymbaloms
(hammered dulcimers), bass and vocals.
2002
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Last Updated: January 2022
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