Two filmmakers originally from Buffalo have decided to hit the road by bicycle to promote a collection of films made here in the Queen City. Marc Moscato and David Gracon are taking Tough Stuff from the Buff – a collection of independent and do-it-yourself video projects shot in Buffalo – through the Pacific Northwest on a 12-stop tour. The tour stretches from July 17th through August 2nd, and will stop in places like Vancouver, Canada; Seattle, Wash.; and Portland, Ore.
Tough Stuff from the Buff is a collection of videos from the city’s little-known do-it-yourself media scene that combine filmmaking, activism and personal documentary. Buffalo’s media activism emerged in the 1970s after the New York State Council of the Arts awarded its first grant to several video collectives and media activist groups. This independent video series depicts everything from the economic situation of Main Street downtown to the passionate fan culture at Bills games to political graffiti in the city.
Gracon said he learned about independent filmmaking in Buffalo. “If Buffalo has taught me anything, it’s that culture happens from the bottom up, at the grassroots level. If nothing is happening, you can make it happen or develop a community that also wants to make it happen,” Gracon wrote in the liner notes for the DVD of Tough Stuff from the Buff.
Moscato said he hopes screenings of the film series will help people learn about the underground independent media scene in Buffalo, which has grown considerably since the 1970s because of the city’s interesting history and network of independently run initiatives. As the bike tour progresses, the series will be screened at an array of places, including bookstores, galleries and movie theaters.
The DVD of Tough Stuff from the Buff is available for purchase online. You can also find more information on the independent movie collection and the bike tour here.
(Photo: A screen shot from one of Moscato’s films, titled “Oh! Buffalo,” which chronicles a Valentine’s Day in the city.)