Jun 30, 2010
Wow. What a great Fiesta. I finally walked the Greasy Pole on Friday this year. I can’t even put the experience into words, but it’s definitely given me renewed vigor on the documentary. There is an incredible story to be told here and we’ll probably start a round of interviews up within the next month. Keep your eyes peeled for the Greasy Pole Documentary team and Viva San Pedro!!!
Aug 24, 2009
I know how it is, I have over 100 hours of video tape from the moments in my life that I have stashed away in a pile somewhere. I keep telling myself that I’ll comb through it and recapture those old memories one of these days. Well, for those of us associated with the St Peter’s Fiesta, and especially the GREASY POLE, that time is now. You may have the most perfect, wonderful, pivotal video sitting in your basement or garage and not even know it. Please let your GREASY POLE video see the light. Yes, it would be great for us, the filmmakers. But more importantly, your help will be for the community in Gloucester, by contributing to the social history of one incredible event. Ask your friends and neighbors to start digging. I will personally reimburse people for postage if they send a video by mail to my address: Emile Doucette – 29 Linden St Apt 1, Salem, MA 01970. Thanks.
Jul 20, 2009
I hope everyone enjoyed these videos from this year’s Greasy Pole… I think we need a break after all that work. Let me put it this way: the original documentary was only 7 minutes. Eight Days of Greasy Pole clocked in at around 30 minutes… way more work than we anticipated, but it was a hell of a lot of fun.
One of the best parts of these videos was the music. Good music elevates a piece of video to a whole new level, so I’d like to take a moment to thank the excellent musicians that created original music for Eight Days of Greasy Pole:
Brian Wright - My good friend and composer. The man with the accordian. He composed music for videos 4 & 6, and wrote 3 of the musical themes in the original documentary.
Marlon Doucette – A songwriting and guitar virtuoso, my brother composed music for videos 1 & 3. He also accompanied my mother’s violin on video 8.
Patricia Doucette - My mom plays the violin beautifully and her carefree style embodies the Fiesta spirit. She can be heard on video 8, and plays 2 themes in the original documentary. Her infectious laugh can also be heard just before the start of the ending credits of the original documentary.
Leon Doucette - My brother is a talented visual artist and musician. He plays accompanying guitar on the theme song of the original documentary, and he has designed several graphics for us (including a sketch of the greasy pole that will be put on t-shirts in the near future).
Willie Alexander – A living legend, it seemed more than appropriate to use his song, “High Tide Heroes” (written by Willie & Billy Loosigian), on video 7. Thanks, Willie.
Jul 20, 2009
The last day of eight days of greasy pole has us following Stew McGillivray’s great walk on Sunday
8 Days of Greasy Pole: VIDEO #8: Stew McGillivray Sunday 2009
Click to Watch!
Jul 17, 2009
It hurts when you hit the pole…
8 Days of Greasy Pole: VIDEO #7: Hard Hits
Click to Watch!
Jul 16, 2009
Today’s video shows us a glimpse of what went into the making of the original seven minute documentary that we made back in March
-Mike
8 Days of Greasy Pole: VIDEO #6: Behind the Scenes
Click to Watch!
Jul 15, 2009
8 Days of Greasy Pole: VIDEO #5: Beach Court
Click to Watch!
Jul 14, 2009
8 Days of Greasy Pole: VIDEO #4: Saturday 2009
Click to Watch!
Jul 13, 2009
The third installment of eight days of greasy pole has us delving into how the pole is greased.
8 Days of Greasy Pole: VIDEO #3: The Grease
Click to Watch!
Jul 11, 2009
The second installment of Eight Days of Greasy Pole has us interviewing Steve Russo about his great walk on Friday this year.
8 Days of Greasy Pole: VIDEO #2: Russo’s Walk
Click to Watch!