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The Do

The Do On My Shoulders by thedoband

The bridge is broken / acoustic version by thedoband

As far as indie rock bands go, the do (as in the first and last notes on the musical scale) kick ass! Hauntingly beautiful, disjointed yet connected, visually inspiring and engaging; they make me want to run out and film everything everywhere, edit it together and submit it to film festivals. Granted, this is something I try to do every once in awhile (I've made it my business) but it's worth mentioning regardless, because this duo transcends the urge.   From do-to-do and every note and every feeling in between, the do captures and blends both old and new into a fresh sound familiar to Paris and Helsinki.   And (because someone asked), Helsinki is in Finland.  So, who are the do?  Olivia B.Merilahti and Dan Levy.  For more information visit them at the do.

Copyright © 2009 Alyssa Polacsek, Lakota Films, LLC

Free to Good Home

(based upon the film but, not a film review)

The headline in the paper or online reads, FREE TO GOOD HOME, referring to a dog, cat or other pet desperately in need of a new home.  There are millions of reasons the present owner must find a new home for Spot or Fluffy… “We’re moving into a new apartment that doesn’t allow pets,” “I travel all the time for work and it’s not fair to my pet,” “My child is allergic,” “I’m allergic,” and the reasons pile up.  In the end, it is what’s best for Spot that matters most but, that’s not the reason behind this article.  This article is about the dangers of posting a “FREE” pet ad. 

An ad, placed with the best of intentions reading, FREE TO GOOD HOME, poses many dangers and threats to your pet’s well being.  Best-case scenario, Spot ends up in a safe, loving environment, living out a long, insanely happy life.  Worst-case scenario, Spot dies at the hands of someone ruthless and malicious.  Extreme?  Perhaps.  Unheard of?  Not at all!  There are people who seek “free” animals with the intent to do harm, make money, or both.  They are called Bunchers, a French term for Butcher.  Bunchers have their stories.  They know what to say and how to manipulate an owner into feeling as if Spot will be going to the next best home… second to their own.  It’s a tale they tell over-and-over to unsuspecting pet owners.  Next thing you know Spot is sold to a laboratory to perform who knows what kind of experiments (you’ve seen those horrible photos with prongs sticking out of animals skulls with wires tapping them).  Or, Spot is being used as bait to train other, stronger, larger dogs to fight.  Spot is beaten to death or tortured by the new owner, tied to a bumper and made to run alongside it until he collapses and is dragged to his death. And if the atrocities mentioned here aren’t disturbing enough, there are hundreds more to be told but I think the point is clear. 

Obviously, not all people responding to a free pet ad are dangerous or criminal.  But let’s say they get home with Spot and weeks or months later they decide they no longer want Spot… Spot’s not as cute anymore, Spot’s too much work, Spot keeps throwing up on the rug, Spot needs to go to the vet so, Spot end’s up at the pound.

A FREE pet is a disposable pet.  Charging as little as $25 can safeguard your pet deterring Buncher’s or other’s not serious about your pet's life.  More often than not, if someone is willing to pay something to take Spot home, it’s because they really care about Spot's well-being and they’ll probably take Spot to the vet when sick… instead of the pound.  Do NOT GIVE Spot away.  For more information contact a local no kill shelter or visit petabuse.com, petfinder.com, petrescue.com.

Copyright © 2009 Alyssa Polacsek, Lakota Films, LLC

God's Guarantee

synopsis
"Forgiving others heals the heart, but forgiving the self heals the soul.” 


A cat bell and a set of dog tags worn around Cara’s neck become daily reminders and punishment for something she did years ago until one day, while bartending on the lower east side of Manhattan, she meets Peter, a bike messenger with a gift for music and poetry.  As their unexpected relationship evolves, Cara rediscovers her own artistic talents as a painter, gradually exposing her past onto the canvas, testing fate and faith in self and each other.

overview

A feature-length film project to be shot on super-16mm color stock that aspires to be a timely, passionate story. The screenplay has done well in competition placing in the top 10 at Filmmakers Collective, Filmcontest.com and Empire Screenwriting Contest. It has been enthusiastically received at several staged reading events including AngelCiti Film Festival.  God’s Guarantee promises to be beautiful and visually stimulating on screen while retaining a raw, heart-felt aesthetic. 

Copyright © 2009 Alyssa Polacsek, Lakota Films, LLC

For Immediate Release

August 31, 2009, Manchester, VT: Alyssa Polacsek, founder of Lakota Films, LLC has returned to Manchester from New York City with her latest film, “It’s All Relative… a hilarious tale of life, death and love after seventy!”   This “who’s on first, what’s on second” comedy inspired by family and all the strange things family brings to the table, will film in and around Manchester and at Stratton Mountain September 18th – 21st.   Local actors along with several extras from the community are participating in the film.  Stratton Mountain, Northshire Bookstore, Bagel Works, Zoey’s Double Hex, Green Mountain Coffee and many other businesses, individuals and volunteers, have made local contributions.

This project is in full compliance with the Screen Actors Guild guidelines, and will be entered in upcoming film festivals.  Pre- and post-production events will be held throughout the area, and anyone with interest in these events should call or email.

Lakota Films was founded in an effort to combine Alyssa’s environmental and humanitarian interests with the arts and provide a home for her own work as well as the work of other independent artists.  It is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization and contributions in behalf of Lakota Films are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Copyright © 2009  Alyssa Polacsek, Lakota Films, LLC 

Deconstructing Mother Nature

There has been so much destruction in the past century as a result of greed, naiveté, and the sense “someone else will take care of it” that it is high-time and past-time we clean up our mishaps because no one else is going to take care of it. Mankind over-produces, misuses and mismanages in a multitude of facets (increased population, manufacturing, waste buildup, green house emissions, roadway construction, housing developments, business assembly, and much more). We interrupt the cycle of nature but fail to contemplate the potential for disaster 100 - 200 years down the line let alone 10 – 20 years. We have exhausted both natural resources and ourselves as a result of manufacturing that which improves quality of life without replenishing what we have destroyed in the process. This is not fair to our children. It is not fair to us. It is certainly not fair to Mother Nature and the other inhabitants with whom we share this planet!

The media has a responsibility to use its influential power to propagate the changes we need to make in order to survive. Though it is difficult to imagine our own extinction, recent trends in global warming, the extinction of other species, disease, and ignorance, are all cause for alarm. Through art, television, film, theatre, and music we have the ability to teach the necessary skills to amend these damages or at the very least, slow the process down.

Having worked in the entertainment industry I am familiar with the all too consuming belief “Nobody watches that stuff but we have to air it, so put it on at 3am.”  This exemplifies the cyclical path we have been on for years and this path clearly does not work.  There are very successful production companies out there.  They know how to appeal to their demographics.  They are creative.  Do the math!  Put the pieces of the puzzle together and feed the demographics’ with the idea of “how cool” it can be to clean up the mess rather than leave it for someone else; because a day might come sooner than expected when that "someone else" no longer exists.  


Copyright © 2009 Alyssa Polacsek, Lakota Films, LLC & Natural Child Blog

If the shoe fits...

I have yet to find a pair of boots that fit me properly for starters.  I have gone through every pair of boots for women sold at Adventure 16 and EMS Sporting Goods and the best boots I have discovered thus far are the Hi-Tec Banshee I purchased for $19.97 online at Campmor.  I am a salespersons nightmare when it comes to my feet.  My feet are nothing out of the ordinary, just problematic to fit and tough to prevent bruising due in-part to a high instep and the pounding they take.  This, however, does not stop me. 

I research my gear before purchasing for financial reasons as well as practicality, fit, ability to withstand stress, weight, versatility, and so on.  According to others, I am tough on gear as I leap rock to rock with a full pack on my back or scramble over boulders or squeeze through small spaces almost unnatural for the human body to pass.

In the few years that I have become a peak-bagging, mile-consuming junkie, I have summated Mt. Fuji, Mt. Whitney (winter & summer ascents) Mt. San Gorgonio (Extreme day & Weekend), Mt. San Jacinto, Mt. Baldy (winter ascent up the bowl), Palisades Glacier, King’s Canyon, Grand Canyon, sections of the Rockies, a few hundred miles on the PCT and the AT and more, all in preparation to challenge myself for Denali.  For the past year I have been researching mountaineering courses with RMI, AMS and others determined to rise to the next challenging step, Mt. Rainier clearly being thus.

I continuously strive to make a difference in this world.  I am an avid supporter of organizations such as the NRDC, Defenders of Wildlife, The Nature’s Conservancy, etc. and I am a member of The Outdoors Club, AMC, SAG, and AEA.  I have an interest in organizing a climb for charity whereby profits will go to raise awareness and protect our natural resources from further depletion and/or extinction.  I also work on films that gravitate towards humanistic causes which I further demonstrate my support by participating in marches, walks, and fundraising opportunities alike.

All of this said and done, I recently ordered a subscription to Backpacker magazine and received my first two issues as of yesterday and voila, there before my eyes was an opportunity staring me in the face to join you in accomplishing one of my said mentioned goals... to climb Mt. Ranier.  When?  


Copyright © 2009 Alyssa Polacsek, Lakota Films, LLC & Natural Child Blog