abel raises cain blog

ABEL RAISES CAIN's Alabama adventure (cont'd)

2011-02-15T12:38:00.000-08:00

My dad and I had no idea that we were about to discover paradise just a few short miles from the Piggly Wiggly. It was our second free day while on tour and so I had booked us a room at a bed and breakfast I found online. I knew right away that I had picked a gem as soon as we drove down the windy road to the Quaint on Brooklyn Bed & Breakfast.
Taking in the sight of this idyllic inn perched on a hilltop overlooking a beautiful farm, we were greeted by a funny little dog, named Burt, followed by his owner, Don.
Well, Burt was just the opening number as we would soon meet the rest of the animal cast, consisting of peacocks, bunnies, horses, and ducks. It was magical. When I described the place to my friends, they thought that I was either severely dehydrated and lacking fluids or hallucinating.
From the front porch the following morning, I watched the sunrise and soaked in the sight and sounds of the farm animals waking up. The haunting cry of peacocks rose above the clucking hens and muted clamor of the ducks while Burt barked at the resident horses.
Now I've never been a horse person. But on that particular morning, with the mist rising, all alone on the farm with just the animals and me, I felt like I was dreaming when I wandered over to an open grassy area in my pajamas and two beautiful honey-colored horses galloped toward me. Startled at first because there was no fence separating us, my instinct was to "play dead." And so I stood still as they took turns sniffing me, their giant fluttering nostrils tickling my hands. I soon relaxed into the newfound friendship with a giddy glee. The sense of trust was mutual. And from that moment on, my life would never be the same.
On the road again, it was hard to leave paradise. My dad and I were already reminiscing about the delicious home-cooked dinner Don and Carmen made for us the night before. What memorable folks, and what a cool place. Definitely worth a return trip to Alabama!
Although we were on a tight time crunch, this didn't stop me from pulling over to snap a photo of an old cafe sign, rusting but still standing proud along the desolate Alabama state road.

My dad was watching the clock and getting nervous. We didn't want to keep the crowd at the Jules Collins Smith Museum waiting.
It turned out to be a fun screening, attended by students and older folks alike. Special thanks to Scott Bishop and Debbie for hosting us. And to the eager and inquisitive bunch of students I had the pleasure of meeting afterwards, you guys were an inspiration and truly made my night!
Waking up the next morning, I peered out the window through blurry eyes. The view from our hotel room of the Auburn University campus was a continuation of the dreamlike experience I seemed to be having while exploring the South. In my half-sleep state, all I could see was a beckoning castle amidst the clouds at dawn. Tupelo, MS was our next stop, marking the halfway point of the tour. Was Mississippi ready for the weird world of Alan Abel and the man himself? We would soon find out.

Location:Auburn, AL

[The above entry was originally posted on the Southern Circuit - Tour of Independent Filmmakers blog on 2/15/11]

ABEL RAISES CAIN heads to Alabama

2011-02-14T10:30:00.000-08:00

Crossing over into Mississippi, we were treated to the most unusual rest stop experience. A massive NASA Lunar Excursion Module loomed atop stilts over the parking lot (apparently this was the only trainer that the crew of unlucky Apollo 13 ever used). Inside the welcome center were dozens of elegant stage-lit ball room gowns, oil paintings and matching velvet-roped staircases that spiraled to nowhere. Everything was so grand, yet bizarre. As we were leaving with our free coffee, my dad reported that the men's room smelled like a dead raccoon. I guess there's always a spoiler.
Alabama creeped up faster than we expected, along with nightfall. As soon as we pulled into Fairhope, a quaint coastal town on the Gulf, an eery feeling sunk in that it might be Christmas year round here.
There are Christmas displays in store windows and all of the trees are lit up downtown as if the holiday season is just around the corner...even though it's mid-February.
In Los Angeles, people leave their decorations up all year long, even in the blaring summer months. This may also be customary in Fairhope, but I'm afraid to ask anyone. It's as if we've stumbled onto the film set of Groundhog Day (except it's Christmas), Pleasantville and an episode of the Twilight Zone all wrapped into one!
The streets are completely empty. I imagine we're being watched and listened to, even in the quiet of our upstairs room at the Church Street Inn. This could be due to the portraits that perpetually stare, with eyes following your every move. Of course, these two hung near the bed where I slept.
The door to the bathroom creaks so loudly, I feel like Mr. Bean trying to dampen the sound of it. There are signs everywhere telling you what to do and how... "Leave this light on," "It is necessary to read this book upon arrival," "Flush as you go." It makes one a bit paranoid about breaking the 'rules' and then wondering what happens as a result.
While Nina, the host, was lovely (she runs the inn on behalf of the owners), I must say I'm pretty sure the place is haunted. I woke up to what sounded like the familiar strain of "It's a Small World After All," sung by little girls, far off in the distance through a tinny megaphone, followed by the echo of a domineering woman barking orders. I don't know if I imagined this strange snippet of audio or not. It was so fleeting and creepy. I really felt the need for us to get moving and on the road already. I was getting the willies.
On the way to Andalusia, AL, I was in hog heaven over the visual feast of oddities, relics of the past and the marquees that beckoned you to do things, like "Honk if you love Jesus." This was one of my Valentine's Day favorites...
While my dad went into the Piggly Wiggly, I amused myself by capturing the famous pig pointing to a 'sausage sale' sign. He's unknowing of his inevitable demise.
I love the sweet ironies of life! Just as much as I love being on the road and spending time with my crazy dad.

Location:Auburn, AL

[The above entry was originally posted on the Southern Circuit - Tour of Independent Filmmakers blog on 2/14/11]

ABEL RAISES CAIN in Lafayette, LA

2011-02-12T13:32:00.000-08:00

It doesn't seem possible that we've already spent a week on the road. Cypress swamps, anti-evolution billboards and hundred foot tall crosses marked the beginning of our trek to Lafayette from New Orleans.
We expected a large audience at our screening in Lafayette at the Acadiana Center for the Arts, as I had heard that 1000+ people would be attending ArtWalk and circulating throughout the building earlier in the day.

The plan was for my dad and I to go directly to ArtWalk so that we could pass out postcards and help publicize the film to folks as they meandered about. But after a day of driving, and our faster-than-the-speed-of-light trip through New Orleans, we were pooped and wanted to relax a bit before the screening.
So we napped and then had a lovely dinner at Belle's Bistro, just down the street from the arts center. When we arrived at the venue, we were warmly greeted by a bubbly, talented funny young woman and aspiring filmmaker, Crystal Place, our host for the evening.

I always go into screenings with a bit of trepidation. The gnawing question as pre-stage jitters set in, "Will people show up? Are they going to get the humor? Will they fall for the prank at the end of the film?"

I looked around and noticed that the lobby was completely empty, with no sign of the anticipated swarms of people we had hoped to see.
One peek inside the theater and I knew we were in trouble. Only a few seats were occupied. If it had been a smaller venue, it wouldn't have mattered really. But the meager turnout was accentuated by the fact there were a LOT of seats to fill, 300 to be exact! It seemed that the screening of ABEL RAISES CAIN was one of the best kept secrets in the city of Lafayette!

When we were first alerted by South Arts that we had been invited to tour with our film, my dad and I brainstormed the possibility of pulling a prank to help spread the word. But pulling a prank isn't as easy as putting a banana peel on the sidewalk...there is actual planning and pre-production along with recruiting people to help, setting up 'protests,' building a legitimate looking website (a la The Yes Men) and alerting the media. We just didn't have enough time or manpower.

Back in the 70s, my parents 'paid' people with hot cocoa and donuts to stand in line in the cold outside of the movie theater where they were screening their film. It attracted so much attention that they packed the house every night without fail.

But this was forty years ago and modern media consumption in the digital age has totally altered the habits of cinema goers, even those who consider themselves die-hard film junkies.

On with the show, my dad and I had a great time talking with the folks who came and answering their questions. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. And it was by far the coolest space we've ever screened the film. The projection and sound were both excellent. Special thanks to Dennis Thibodeaux, Crystal, and the staff who came to the screening!
While ABEL RAISES CAIN may continue to operate under the radar, we certainly have South Arts to thank for seeing the film's potential and for helping us share my father's life work with new audiences. People are even more overjoyed when my dad comes out from behind the curtain to appear as a surprise guest!

[The above entry was originally posted on the Southern Circuit - Tour of Independent Filmmakers blog on 2/12/11]

ABEL RAISES CAIN in New Orleans

2011-02-11T10:38:00.000-08:00

I'm typing this blog entry with one finger, just as I have my other posts. This broken iPhone may be persnickety at times but, oh boy, when it works, it's magical. I think I slept well last night, but I'm not sure. I'm sitting with my coffee listening to a song bird chirping outside the kitchen window while my dad snores in the other room. And wherever we go, so goes the sound of that train somewhere off in the distance.
We stayed in a cute apartment that we sublet for the night. The Ursulines Retreat was on a beautiful tree-lined street in Bayou St. John. Eileen Julien of the New Orleans Afrikan Film Festival arranged the whole thing. A special thanks to Geoff and Karley for taking in two weirdos. It truly was lovely!
Our less than 24-hour stay in New Orleans was a tease of sorts. Like when you're starving and all you have is a tiny crumb to savor, I had never been to this city before. And it's impossible to explore its vast depth and rich history in so little time. From the bits and pieces I saw on this trip, it was a feast for the eyes. I fell in love with the colors and the architecture and the people we met. But there is so much healing to be done, aside from all the rebuilding.
The deep sadness and loss is beyond palpable. I was overrun with emotion as we transversed the city. Any which way you turn, the devastation is evident. Immense wealth clashes with poverty. Wrecked stores flank rebuilt ones. There is definitely a sense of hope, despite the tragedy, as members of the community whom we met remain strong and proud.

It was an honor to be welcomed by our warm and gracious hosts, Eileen Julien and Joseph Gaye. They are passionate about film and promoting the arts. They founded the New Orleans Afrikan Film Festival together. Their son, Lat Joor Awa, made an indelible impression on me. I could have spent hours talking and laughing with him. He was hilarious and charming and unlike any other 9-year old I've ever met. My only regret is that I didn't take a family portrait of this dynamic trio!

The screening at the Cafe Rose Nicaud was a hit. Thank you to the Gambit Weekly for promoting the event. A packed house usually guarantees a rowdy response to my father's antics. That's the fun part of playing the film to a live audience... laughter can be contagious!
My mind was blown when I realized that we weren't just screening the film inside the cafe. The image was simultaneously blown up and projected onto the building across the street! Outdoor speakers carried the sound so that passersby could watch and listen, too. It was crazy, brilliant, funny and another unprecedented presentation of ABEL RAISES CAIN!
Thank you so much to Ken and Melba Ferdinand, owners of the Cafe Rose Nicaud, for opening their doors to the weird world of the Abels, Bernard Productions for their fine technical support, and to Eileen and Joseph, who felt like old friends even after one meeting. It was a memorable night in a vibrant and eclectic city. And we will be back...
That's a promise and not a threat.

Location:New Orleans, LA

[The above entry was originally posted on the Southern Circuit - Tour of Independent Filmmakers blog on 2/11/11]

ABEL RAISES CAIN in Orangeburg, SC

2011-02-10T12:51:00.000-08:00

When you're on tour and crossing state lines on a daily basis, it's easy to lose track of time and place. Every morning, my dad wakes up and asks me, "Now, where are we again?"
We're having fun driving around listening to big band music on satellite radio. The swinging old tunes from the 1940s follow us everywhere. Many of them take my dad back to the days when he was on tour playing drums as a teenager. Over the first few bars of Count Basie's "Jumpin' at the Woodside," he turned to me and remarked that he's only played that song 150,000 times.

I relished the irony when "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition" came on because it seems there's no shortage of churches and gun shops along the back roads of the South.
Dilapidated structures are especially eye-catching to me. I know we're on a tight travel schedule, but I feel compelled to pull over and document their sad beauty.

The problem is that I'm experiencing some technical difficulties. The dying battery in my camera (which is actually an old iPhone that I inherited from my boyfriend and co-director, Jeff) only holds a charge for 30 seconds. So this adds a certain excitement and sometimes frustration to the journey. I have to jump from electrical outlet to car charger and remain plugged in if I want to grab more than one shot.
When it's not possible for me to stop the car or recharge, the abandoned gas stations, crazy billboards and colorful landscapes pop out at me and then blur as they grow distant in my rearview mirror.
When we arrived in Orangeburg, SC, of course we were lost. Google Maps can either be dead on or deadly. Luckily, we found our way to the museum director's house where we were staying that night, but we still managed to take the scenic route.

Ellen Zisholt's home is loaded with old radios, sculptures, paintings, masks, knick knacks and other cool stuff. I loved the room that I stayed in.
I admired Ellen's artistic taste and vision. She had the idea to screen films in the Planetarium itself at the I.P. Stanback Museum & Planetarium. Another unique presentation of the film while on the South Arts tour, ABEL RAISES CAIN screened on a domed ceiling! Audience members reclined horizontally while viewing the film. I was mesmerized by the image that wrapped in such a way that, when there was any sort of camera panning motion, it seemed as if the room was spinning. It was like a ride at the amusement park!
The Planetarium was packed almost to full capacity at about 85 attendees. Ellen and her colleagues (students, faculty and staff) went out of their way to make the event a success, including a post-screening party with punch and nachos.

But the night wouldn't have been complete without a trip to IHOP. I haven't eaten at one of these since I was a teenager. This wasn't just any IHOP... a few months back, a famous food fight occurred here between two women and someone shot video of it that went viral. We would have gone to Applebee's, but on Thursday nights, they turn it into a nightclub and supposedly hundreds of people wait on line to get in. It sounds unbelievable, I know.
Truth is stranger than fiction as we travel deeper into the South!

Location:Orangeburg, SC

[The above entry was originally posted on the Southern Circuit - Tour of Independent Filmmakers blog on 2/10/11]

ABEL RAISES CAIN at The Morris Museum of Art

2011-02-09T11:07:00.000-08:00

You know how they say a picture is worth a thousand words? The opposite applies to a picture of the Rosemary Inn. You cannot do justice to this magnificent structure within the confines of two dimensions. The stately home with its grand columned entry and ornate wood-paneled interior was unreal and the latter would certainly make any beaver drool.
We stayed at Lookaway Hall, the mansion across the street from Rosemary Inn. Both 'houses' have a rich history and the story of their loving resurrection is as interesting and entertaining as the inn's two owners, Kelly and his wife, Diana, who went out of their way to make us feel at home.
Earlier in the day, we were racing against the clock to make it from Greenville, NC to Augusta, GA in time for the screening. It was something like 7 hours of driving time. My dad and I were delirious and suffering from car fever by the time we arrived at the museum. It was somewhat surreal when we pulled into the museum lot and noticed next door a perfectly preserved 1950s TV station, a relic of the past frozen in time.
I'm finally viewing ABEL RAISES CAIN through fresh eyes, from a more conservative viewpoint. Taking a look around at the older adults gathered to see the film, I wondered if my fears of offending another audience in Georgia would come true. My dad and I are like "The Gong Show" meets Lenny Bruce during the Q&A sessions. I never know when he's going to take it over the top and if we'll be escorted off stage as a result.

All in all, the reception to the movie was positive, although I did see one man with a sour expression hurrying out the door afterwards. The weird world of the Abels was perhaps a bit TOO weird for this particular gentleman. But the museum director, Kevin Grogan, seemed to be enjoying himself when I peeked over at him during the screening. That meant we were in the clear and wouldn't be arrested after all!
It's fun to show the film to college kids one night and then baby boomers and active seniors the next and receive an almost identical response (one that's filled with laughter).

My dad and I celebrated the evening with cold pizza and long hot baths in giant tubs in our respective rooms at the inn. On the road again in less than 24 hours, Orangeburg, SC here we come!

Location:Augusta, GA

[The above entry was originally posted on the Southern Circuit - Tour of Independent Filmmakers blog on 2/9/11]

ABEL RAISES CAIN in Greenville, NC

2011-02-08T09:42:00.000-08:00

Flying from Atlanta to Greenville shaved a few years off my life. The turbulence was so severe, we dropped what felt like forty stories in a matter of seconds. Some people screamed. My dad was seated three rows behind me. I looked back at him and it seemed like he was actually enjoying the terrifying ride!
I'm kind of relieved that the remainder of the tour consists of mostly driving. Flying is for the birds!

I knew the day was going to present various challenges when a TSA agent painstakingly removed every single item from my carry-on luggage (including undergarments), one by one, with creepy blue rubber gloved hands. It was the box of 'Abel Raises Cain' DVDs that aroused suspicion. Apparently we're setting off alarms everywhere.
At last, we made it to Greenville, NC. On our way through the outskirts of town, we passed a string of abandoned cabooses covered in graffiti and a Hooters on the corner of Hooker Road (seriously). From our hotel room, we could see the Wal-Mart across the street. It looked strangely beautiful to me for some reason, I had to capture an image of it.
I decided to give Michael Crane a quick call to let him know that we had arrived safely (without a parachute) in Greenville. Last minute arrangements for my father and I to speak before a class of graduating ECU media students proved to be successful. We teased a clip from the film and spent a little over an hour discussing my dad's pranks and independent filmmaking.
The screening of ABEL RAISES CAIN at Speight Auditorium on ECU campus started with a few digital mishaps that ended up transforming into one of the most artistic presentations of our film I have ever seen...our movie played in stereovision! Truly unprecedented, the image was double projected onto one large screen!
It was a small lively crowd consisting mostly of students and some members of the community. Overall, the audience reaction to the film was great. I almost want to say that the stereovision enhanced the viewing experience!

After the screening and Q&A, my dad was interviewed by a reporter from the ECU campus paper and we had fun saying goodbye to everyone (a special thanks to Mike Dermody and his students, especially Morgan, Lauren and Megan for all of their help).

Once we were all packed up, I treated my dad to a root beer float at 'Sup Dogs, the local watering hole. Next stop, Augusta, GA. Let's hope we don't offend any more Georgians!

Location:Greenville, NC

[The above entry was originally posted on the Southern Circuit - Tour of Independent Filmmakers blog on 2/8/11]

ABEL RAISES CAIN on the road

2011-02-07T12:12:00.000-08:00

Our visit to Hapeville turned out to be quite memorable indeed. Between Eileen the innkeeper's funny personality, her infectious laugh, and the delicious food she prepared for us, I could have easily parked myself at that B&B for a few more days. I found it incredible that despite its proximity to the city and the airport, Hapeville, GA seemed almost caught in another era.
I'm a romantic at heart. I love old billboards, soda fountains and the sound of distant trains approaching in the night. Hapeville has all of these things.

Before skipping town, we met with Teresa Hollingsworth, Senior Program Director at South Arts, to sample some local cuisine. She took us to Mary Mac's, the only remaining Southern tea room in the city.
Everyone from Lena Horne to James Brown and Tim Conway to Lester Maddox has eaten here (I was mesmerized by all of the wall photos). I've decided that my new diet will only consist of fried green tomatoes from this point on. I have been deprived, you Southerners are so lucky.

Superbowl Sunday means absolutely nothing to me, I'm sorry to say. My dad, on the other hand, is glued to the tube. It's really difficult to avoid football on this particular day, but I try my best. I took the opportunity to visit with dear old friends who live in the Atlanta area as well as pay a visit to the King Center, where I spent some quiet time alone. While my best friend is camera shy, her little funny hound came out to greet me.
Goodbye, Georgia. We'll be back.

Location:Hapeville, GA

[The above entry was originally posted on the Southern Circuit - Tour of Independent Filmmakers blog on 2/7/11]

ABEL RAISES CAIN stops in Hapeville, GA

2011-02-05T18:00:00.000-08:00

The tour has officially begun and I assure you, it's already off to an adventurous start! First, I would like to thank South Arts for making this experience possible. Taking the film on the road and introducing new audiences to my dad's work brings me great joy. I can only hope that it's reciprocal!

Today it seemed like an eternity before we escaped the maze that is called Atlanta airport (the guy wasn't kidding when he said to "cross the bridge to the train that will take us over the water and through forest" to get to the car rental desk) AND the extended travel sequence didn't end there. An accidental scenic route added an additional hour or more to what would have been a 3-mile trip had I not been directionally challenged!
You can imagine the beautiful sight for sore eyes the Maison LaVigne in Hapeville, GA was after a day-long journey.

While I'm really looking forward to our two-night stay here, I will confess I'm a little disappointed that our screening at the church was canceled. It turns out that my father's pranks surpass borderline offensive and are genuinely offensive. It wasn't the fault of the naked animals. My dad clothed these back in the 50s and 60s when he ran The Society for Indecency to Naked Animals.
In fact, it was the Sex Olympics and All Nude Choir that caused 'Abel Raises Cain' to be pulled. Out of context, these things sound mildly lewd to be sure. But they were scenes in my mom and dad's satirical film, called 'Is There Sex After Death?' My parents were poking fun at the sexual revolution back in the early 70s. But their movie was mistaken for pornography and they faced unique challenges distributing it as a result. They were perpetually censored and it's quite interesting to find ourselves in a similar situation forty years later. But it's completely understandable, as the screening WAS to be held in the town's historic church!

My disappointment stems from the fact that the community of Hapeville was not allowed to see my dad's story on the big screen. I think the folks here really would have enjoyed it. For the most part, people are moved, inspired or amused by my parents and their pranks. But truthfully speaking, their satirical humor CAN be a little over the top at times. I guess it's dependent upon the context and the lens through which the humor is viewed. For me, the weird world of the Abel's was always normal!

Location:Hapeville, GA

[The above entry was originally posted on the Southern Circuit - Tour of Independent Filmmakers blog on 2/5/11]

'Abel Raises Cain' TOURS THE SOUTH!

2011-02-01T14:30:00.000-08:00

We are happy to announce that ABEL RAISES CAIN has been selected to participate in the South Arts Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers! Jenny will be traveling with the film throughout the month of February 2011.

For detailed info regarding the screenings, please see ABEL RAISES CAIN Southern Circuit Tour. The final Tour Dates, Venues & Locations are:

Tuesday, February 8, 2011
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC

Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Morris Museum of Art
Augusta, GA

Thursday, February 10, 2011
I. P. Stanback Museum & Planetarium
Orangeburg, SC

Friday, February 11, 2011
New Orleans Afrikan Film and Arts Festival
New Orleans, LA

Saturday, February 12, 2011
Acadiana Center for the Arts
Lafayette, LA

Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art
Auburn, AL

Thursday, February 17, 2011
Tupelo Film Commission
Tupelo, MS

Monday, February 21, 2011
O'Keefe Cultural Center/Anderson Museum of Art
Ocean Springs, MS

Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center
Birmingham, AL

Please come out and see the film as it was meant to be seen... with an audience where laughter can be infectious! For further info, please visit: Abel Raises Cain Southern Tour 2011

April Fool's Day is Alan Abel's National Holiday

2010-04-01T14:59:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if this happens to anyone else, but I received this strange email not too long ago:
"Hi Jenny, I was a friend of your dads. Asked me if I wanted to buy the caboose....wanted me to storm the Phil Donahue Show as a terrorist...other stuff....this may seem like a stupid question, but, did your dad die and when? Thanks."

The problem with planting your own obituary in the New York Times prematurely is that nobody knows for sure what the truth is. This was my father's intention. His way of achieving immortality. Thanks to IMDB, emails of this nature are somewhat frequent.

My dad made me eat hair when I was a kid, claiming it was high in protein. He thinks that mothers who breast-feed babies in public are committing indecent acts with their 'naughty nipples.' He formed the KKK Symphony Orchestra to promote a kinder, gentler Klan, founded Omar's School for Begging for those who need cold hard cash and fast, and he promoted Euthanasia Cruises for folks who want to expire with others in luxury.
Yep, that's my dad. Where the fantasy ends and reality begins, no one knows for sure. One thing I do know is that fifty years later, Alan Abel is still cited for concocting one of the most famous pranks in history, The Society for Indecency to Naked Animals, in 1959.

Alan and Jeanne Abel celebrate 50 years together!

2009-09-10T19:05:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to imagine what it would be like to be married to the same person for 50 years. It's rare, in this age of soundbytes, to even want to listen to the same person for more than 30 seconds, let alone be with them day and night for 5 continuous decades. With the Abels, it's either true love or complete insanity. Or both. After rethinking that, I believe that being 'crazy' has kept them young. Their relationship centers around a deep friendship combined with a creative partnership and a hauntingly similar sense of humor (which is sick, I might add).

So 9/11/09 is my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. I thought it would be fun to pretend that they've known each other all of their lives, starting from when they were little up to the point at which they first met. I compiled this series of photos in honor of their celebration. Is that weird? Yes, but what do you expect from an Abel?

Happy Anniversary, mom and dad! May you have many more happy and weird years together!

photo by Nikki Audet

Abel Raises Cain on Amazon VOD

2009-07-17T20:05:00.000-07:00

I almost spit coffee all over my computer screen when I saw our movie on the Amazon VOD home page this past week. Amazon is spotlighting ABEL RAISES CAIN through a major PR campaign initiative headed by Indieflix. I knew it was coming...some sort of Summer Indies promotion, I was told. But I really didn't expect to see our documentary sandwiched in between Religulous, Grey Gardens and Man on Wire. I'm not just name-dropping well-known documentary titles here, I promise. I'm pointing out the fact that it's the ultimate form of acknowledgment to even be on the same page as these other films.

It's like I took an 11-year nap and only dreamed about crazy mutated things and making a movie about my parents. And then I was quickly dumped into an awakened state in 2009, thrust before a computer monitor only to find that our film is in the top 100 VOD titles and # 13 in Independent Film. Feeling bewildered, I can't help but wonder, Is this movie about my silly parents really being viewed at this high a level? Or are the numbers rigged like the lottery? I mean, we're potentially talking about thousands and thousands of eyeballs.

The bad news is that the spotlight only lasts so long. People consume what's on their plate. And then back to the musty closet filled with cobwebs we go. Yes, it's sad. But like my father used to bang into my head when I was younger, "Jennifer, nothing good lasts forever." These words still haunt me.

How do we stay afloat and in the minds of viewers in an attention-deprived society where there is so much media to consume? It helps to have a tireless, competent and transparent distribution company on our side, this much I know (Thank you, Indieflix). Subject matter is important, too (Thank you, Alan Abel). Having a supportive partner in crime is also invaluable (Thank you, Jeff Hockett). And I guess the fact that I refuse to give up this race that lacks a defined finish point helps (Thanks again to Alan Abel for passing down his gumption genes).

hulu's spotlight on ABEL RAISES CAIN

2009-05-14T14:44:00.000-07:00

If anyone wonders where the hell we've been and what we're doing...my dad is in the middle of a hoax campaign (still yet to be revealed) and writing his autobiography, also called ABEL RAISES CAIN (we stole the title), I'm working on combining my dad's site with our film's site - the first phase has launched but it's still a MAJOR work in progress. And Jeff and I are continuing to self-distribute and split up the rights to our documentary. The company that's handling our US Digital Distribution, INDIEFLIX, helped us get onto hulu and this week, hulu is spotlighting our movie.

You can check out the Abels guest blog on hulu and there is also an interview that my dad and I did together, if you enjoy reading our babble!

Without a doubt, hulu is the biggest thing that's ever happened to our small indie movie. We edited this thing in our one-room apartment, and we never thought we would make it this far, so Jeff and I are finding this experience to be extremely surreal. The fact that they're advertising our documentary in the animated banner section without any money changing hands or a major studio backing us, is beyond crazy.

We have Indieflix to thank for this, as well as Lance Weiler, Arin Crumley and the people at hulu who happened to like my dad's story enough to give the film a bit of a push.

Below is the full feature. Please feel free to embed and share with anyone who might take an interest in my slightly demented family!

A letter to Barack Obama from Yetta Bronstein

2009-01-14T11:47:00.000-08:00

January 14, 2009
Hon. Barack Obama
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

PLEASE HOLD UNTIL ARRIVAL (1/21/09)

Dear Mr. President,

As a follow-up to my previous letter, I would like to offer you a few good ideas free of charge, Mr. President, for changing our country. This is no squid pro squid, so here goes:

1. Since Oprah raised the bar by giving everyone in her audience a new car, how about bailing out GM, Ford and Chrysler, only if they give every American family a new hybrid car? Including illegal aliens. Why alienate them further?

2. I understand it costs our government $40,000 a year to house, feed, guard and rehabilitate each of the 2.2 million people in prison. Then give them seven days in which to be adopted by an American family or be put to sleep. The money saved would eliminate our trillions in debt and provide the empty prisons for housing the homeless, soon to be in the millions.

3. Abolish income taxes. Instead, the entire family weighs in on or before April 15th and pays $5 a pound for each member of the family, including pets, and other occupants. The aggregate total from 300 million people would exceed an income tax total. This method also diminishes the obesity problem, except for the filthy rich.

4. Take Congress off salary and put them on straight commission.

5. Place truth serum in the Senate drinking fountain and install a mental detector in both houses of Congress.

6. Require all doctors to publish their medical school grade averages in the telephone book. An A+ doctor could certainly be trusted for brain surgery.

7. SAT tests should be given to all members of the Electoral College.

8. Allow guns in homes but decrease the velocity of bullets by 98%.

9. Charge $5,000 for a marriage license and $5 for a no-fault divorce.

10. Same sex marriages would become legal nationally and hermaphrodites should be allowed to vote twice.

Thank you for your consideration of my ideas, Mr. President. I ran for President myself in 1964 and 1968, losing both elections by a landslide. You can read all about it in my book, The President I Almost Was.

Sincerely, Mrs. Yetta Bronstein

will sex sell? - Alan Abel @ the Bloor Cinema in Toronto 12/7/08

2008-12-03T14:30:00.000-08:00

Our Canadian distributor, films we like, has set up a special day of screenings at the Bloor Cinema on 12/7/08 to kick off our Canadian DVD release next week. ABEL RAISES CAIN will be shown along with my parents' classic mockumentary, IS THERE SEX AFTER DEATH? (1971).

View the trailer of IS THERE SEX AFTER DEATH?

Driving through New York City in his Sexmobile, Dr. Harrison Rogers (Alan Abel) of the Bureau of Sexological Investigation, searches out luminary figures in the world of sex. The legendary fake sex documentary by Alan and Jeanne Abel, "the first really funny R-rated movie ever made...outrageous and brilliant...the sexual revolution raked over the coals!" stars Buck Henry, Robert Downey Sr., Holly Woodlawn, and one-time MAD magazine writer, Earle Doud.

This is a rare exhibition on the big screen not be missed! Alan Abel will be doing Q&As after each screening. Come one, come all!

WHEN:
SUNDAY DEC 7th, 2008 - 2 FILMS for the PRICE of 1!

WHERE:
Bloor Cinema
506 Bloor St West
Toronto, ON M5S 1Y3

Showtimes:
ABEL RAISES CAIN
1:00 (PG)
IS THERE SEX AFTER DEATH?
3:00 (R)
ABEL RAISES CAIN
5:15 (PG)
IS THERE SEX AFTER DEATH?
7:15 (R)

Buck Henry wearing a wig behind the scenes with Iris Brooks...
Alan Abel and Buck Henry, both masters of the art of deadpan...
The SEX OLYMPICS contestants during an intermission...
A therapy session at the Bureau of Sexological Investigation...

abel raises cain on LINK TV

2008-11-10T12:24:00.000-08:00

I've used several analogies to describe the life of our film, ABEL RAISES CAIN. The arduous journey making it (7 years+) and our subsequent premiere and unexpected win at Slamdance, I refer to as the 'Tortoise and the Hare' period. What followed was a seemingly unstoppable but slow-paced 'Wounded Race Horse that Kept on Running.' Now I've decided our movie has taken on the form of a Giant Mutant Earthworm - It's lived beyond normal life expectancy, it keeps growing, it travels at a determined albeit wiggly pace, and it has the remarkable ability to continually regenerate itself.

Maybe this analogy doesn't work very well, but the point is...I'm happy to report that interest in my dad's story and his work continues. Last month, he spoke at MIT [Check out the Boston Phoenix article by Ian Sands]. He then traveled to the UK to lecture at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art. This past weekend, he was in Concord, New Hampshire at the S.N.O.B. film festival for the screening of his 1974 film, THE FAKING OF THE PRESIDENT. This week (11/13/08), he goes to Troy, NY [The Sanctuary for Independent Media] to host a Q&A following a screening of ABEL RAISES CAIN. Next month, he travels to Toronto for our opening and DVD release party at the Bloor Cinema.

Every time I think that things are winding down to a slow trickle, it starts pouring again. I know how lucky we are to have my dad as a film subject. I mean, you really can't ask for a more interesting person to follow around with a camera. But back to the worm analogy, it's as if the film has regenerated itself on BOTH ends. ABEL RAISES CAIN feeds interest in my father and his work - and people who read or hear about my dad want to see the movie. I am really overjoyed that it's worked out this way.

Incidentally, I think the 'b' in blog stands for babble. So without further ado, if you have not seen the documentary yet and you're interested in finding out more about Alan Abel, please tune your satellite dial to LINK TV [CHANNEL DETAILS ARE HERE] on November 16th, 2008. There are additional broadcasts on November 26th, 29th, and 30th. [ABEL RAISES CAIN AIR TIMES ON LINK TV]

ABEL RAISES CAIN is airing as part of DOC-DEBUT, a series on Link TV highlighting unique and groundbreaking international documentary films. Each week features the U.S. television premiere of a new doc, offering American audiences unprecedented perspectives on world events and culture, as seen through the eyes of individuals across the globe. The series also provides a unique outlet for films by independent directors and producers to reach a much wider international audience.

DOC-DEBUT airs every Sunday at 8:00 pm Pacific and every Saturday at 8:00 Eastern. [Click here] to SEE THE 'ABEL RAISES CAIN' program listing.

alan abel vs. AT&T

2008-09-30T15:12:00.000-07:00

I've come to the realization that my dad's performance never ends and he's "in" character more often than he's not. The following should be prefaced with the fact that we all face indignities in life, especially in the age of automation and monopolized corporate control. But my father seems to vent his frustrations in interesting ways...he emailed this to me recently:

IMPORTANT NOTICE FROM AT&T

If line is busy, please hang up and try again. If line is still busy, hang up and try again. Should line continue to be busy, hang up and press REDIAL. If you hear a busy signal, hang up and wait for five minutes. Then dial again. When you hear the rapid buzz of a busy signal, you’ll know that the line is still busy. Wait another five minutes, hold your breath and quickly dial again. You might get lucky and reach a recorded message. Or perhaps a request: Please don’t hang up. We value your call and want to service you (remember, some of our trained specialists like to give our premium services to you up the ass). You are now number 197 on the waiting list. If you hang up you will lose your place. Please be patient because we truly love our customers. Even if you defect to Verizon or one of those other carpetbagger companies, we will try to seduce you into coming back to us. There are gifts waiting for you, disgruntled customer. For example, we have 100,000 toasters from recently failed banking institutions FREE to you. Also, one-million plastic coffee cups from Bear Sterns (only two to a customer) and 50,000 electric blankets we bought from Good Will that they refused to handle (their insurance doesn’t cover lawsuits; so for God’s sake don’t have a nocturnal emission under one of them). Are you still on the line, dear customer? If so, call again and keep trying, keep trying, keep trying, keep trying (that’s a subliminal message dummy). On second thought, why don’t you try us during our lowest level of incoming calls between the hours of l:00 am and 6:00 am. But keep in mind that our office hours are 8:00 am to 6:00 pm EST. Don’t despair. If you don’t mind waiting for two or three hours, we’ll play music to soothe the savage beast on hold. Yes, spendthrift customer, you may use profanity. We understand your frustrations but we really cherish your business more. Our rates might be sneaking upward by a few pennies per account monthly, but you won’t know it for awhile. And this does ease the pain when you’re being screwed. Voila! You have reached a recorded representative in our customer service lounge. Yes, our employees may work for peanuts but they are treated like real people, not recordings. So there! If you’re still with us, please press 1 if you speak English; press 2 if you prefer Spanish, French, Italian, Hebrew, Portuguese, Creole, Romanian, Farsi or Latin. Our international operators are standing by and will handle your crisis in the order that customers are waiting on line. You would be number 937 and we estimate 13 hours for you to be heard. If you wish to nap, eat, do laundry, wash dishes, take a walk or even have sex, we’ll be happy to call you back for an additional charge of $17.50 added to your bill. Press 3 if you would like to hear some music while you wait impatiently. Otherwise, press 4 to learn of our new deals that can cost you more money but make you feel powerful because you have it all! We’re talking about call waiting, call forwarding, call interruption, call answering, call recording and call “up yours” for responding to telemarketers. Also video-phone that will allow you to be seen and to see your caller. Imagine the excitement if you catch your Aunt in the nude. Or Uncle Fred masturbating! Wow, where are the cops when you want them. Hahaha, that was a joke, customers. We like to have a little fun once in awhile. Oh yes, almost forgot. Press 5 if you would like to give up your place on line to the person behind you, also waiting impatiently. It’s a small gesture, customer, but if you do this, call again when you’re in the mood to be played with and be sure to have a nice day. Watch your road rage!

A.T.&T has what it takes, to take what you’ve got. That’s why we love our customers.

virtually fund-raising

2008-08-09T13:10:00.001-07:00

Now that From Here to Awesome (see post below) is in full swing, our movie can be streamed or downloaded at IndieFlix, Caachi, Heretic and B-side. More outlets will be added over the coming months. Please stay tuned to our FHTA page.

The cool thing about the fest is that we've worked out a favorable profit split with all of the partner outlets. So not only are we reaching a wider audience via this virtual festival, we're also sharing the returns. A filmmaker actually earning revenue directly in a festival situation is a rarity!

While we continue to market and promote ABEL RAISES CAIN, I'm asking everyone to please help us fund-raise for our next project. All you have to do is click on the image below and sign up for an OurStage account. We receive $4.00 for every person who joins! It sounds crazy, yes. But it's not a hoax, I promise. There are no obligations, you can un-tick the 'receive newsletter' box in the sign-up area if you'd like. And you don't have to do anything other than register!

Thanks to everyone in advance for your help. Our goal is $2,000.00 and so far we're at $4.00. So we definitely need all of the help we can get!

the abels are not finished yet...

2008-07-17T15:37:00.000-07:00

While all of Hollywood is scurrying around like a bunch of headless chickens, worrying about the sky falling and the gloomy fate of independent film, especially documentaries, Jeff and I have been calmly jogging along with our movie at a slow yet steady pace, ignoring the chaos around us. And it's finally paying off!

We just found out that ABEL RAISES CAIN made it into the FROM HERE TO AWESOME showcase! We were one of the top 12 features and 10 shorts programmed based on audience demand. Variety announced the news this week: (Thompson on Hollywood). So THANKS to everyone out there who voted for us! We are really excited about this unique opportunity. It is exactly the push we need to get the film out to as wide an audience as possible AND we're really looking forward to seeing where this unprecedented experiment leads us. Please stay tuned...

Also, if there are any LA folks out there who are interested in funding, creating, distributing and sustaining yourselves as filmmakers in these shifting times, please come to DIY days next week. JOIN THE REVOLUTION!

DIY DAYS | fund :: create :: distribute :: sustain
July 26th 9:30am to 7:30pm
Under Spring, 1745 North Spring #4, Los Angeles, CA 90012
For further info, please visit:
http://diydays.com/

from prankster to daughter

2008-07-13T11:07:00.000-07:00

If there was ever living proof of a weird dad, this is it. Here is a response from my father after receiving our friend request on Facebook...

"I really don't need any new friends. Nor do I want them. A day doesn't go by that someone, somehow, found me and wants to be my friend. One nerd from college days suggested we have dinner. He still has snot dripping from his hairy nose!!! Why would I want to have dinner with this shit-head, except maybe to throw up on him. But that's not my style either. So I'm going to ignore him. I'll try to behave with Jenny and Jeff as friends. But don't expect any special favors. And don't visit me if you value your lives. I have two pit bulls at the ready, an electrified fence and sink holes all over the property. Other than that you're welcome to drop by any day during August. I'll be in Europe that month. Help yourselves to the stale bagels and sour swordfish. The key is under the mat. No hot water or electricity (forgot to pay the bills) but you'll find a way to cope. If not, please take me off your list. Thanks. AA"

I received this letter from him in the mail...

"Dear Jenny, here I am writing you by snail mail, and on Father's Day. Oh well, I might NOT be your father - so your mom informed me the other day. Now it's a guessing game. Could it be that handsome man at the city dump who always helps with our garbage? He does have a bedroom glint in his eyes. Or maybe Buck Henry, who mom has had a crush on for 46 years? You do have his sense of humor. Oh well, let it pass. I'll continue to pretend to be your real father. There's nothing to be ashamed of. Love and kisses, Dad."

I definitely have my dad's eyes, so the garbage man is out of the question. But I did start thinking about Buck and my mom. I dug through my archive of old snapshots and found this photo. They do seem to be frolicking...and up to something. But it couldn't have been too serious since, presumably, it was my dad taking the photo.

My father and his aliases have mailed off some crazy stuff to me over the years. I have saved every single note, drawing, card, letter, court document, editorial and article he has ever sent. It's not a pack-rat thing, although my family has been known to hoard. It's not mere sentimentality. I just happen to think my dad is pretty fucking funny. The microphone and spotlight are always on, even when he's writing a letter. Or appearing in public. My dad claims he just happened to be wearing this T-shirt to a recent screening of Tim Jackson's Radical Jesters (Photo taken by Maureen and Dennis Jackson).

the reviews are coming, the reviews are coming

2008-05-17T14:07:00.000-07:00

When I tell people that we're self-distributing, their response is similar to that of expressing condolences or acting as if we were just diagnosed with leprosy. The idea of filmmakers taking control of their creative work is not unprecedented. However, straying from the norm and exploring alternative paths to distribute a film is still pretty strange to some folks. Well, in the spirit of my dad, we're going against the grain. We didn't play by the rules when we were making the documentary, so why should we start playing by the rules at this stage of the game?

The DVD is still getting additional mentions and positive reviews that we're pretty excited about...you can click on the logos to skim, peruse or read in depth some of the coverage:

a little push from the press

2008-04-02T20:06:00.000-07:00

In the past month or so, we've been fortunate to receive some pretty good media coverage! Considering that we're self-distributing and we don't have our own press agent, exposure like this is really precious to us...

Slate.com posted our first official DVD review by Joe Keohane (click the pic to read the article):

Also, this past weekend (before April Fool's Day), Brooke Gladstone of NPR interviewed my dad and I on On the Media:

Here is the audio clip from that segment, called "Prank Calling":

Finally, David Nanasi wrote this nice review ("Biting Back at the Media") on the PBS | POV blog (click the graphic to read to the post):

So, please stay tuned as this crazy journey continues...

taking the world by storm?

2008-03-20T11:03:00.000-07:00

My dad and I finally returned from an adventure-filled journey to Spain and I'm not sure where our travels will take us next. I guess it depends on the next invitation that we receive in our inbox from a far-away place. In the beginning (or I should say, at the end, when the film was in the can and we started doing festivals), I was hesitant to screen our documentary anywhere that we couldn't physically be. So, whatever travel expenses the festival couldn't pay for, we picked up the difference. I don't regret those expenditures. Although, in retrospect, it seems silly or maybe downright crazy. But, at the time, I was so attached to the project. I couldn't bear the thought of NOT being there during those early screenings. I have finally recovered from this addiction, although my dad has the bug still, even after three years!

He is always up for attending screenings and he, of course, loves adventures. His suitcase is already packed, ready to go. Unfortunately, we did not make it to Belgrade, Republic of Serbia or Guangzhou, People's Republic of China or Athens, Greece. But at least our movie made it there, which means, by default, that we were there in spirit!

The Influencers

2008-02-26T06:09:00.000-08:00

My dad and I are taking off for Barcelona in a few hours. He's gargling in the bathroom right now...somebody sneezed on him last week and he's recovering from a bad cold.

We've been invited to attend a festival in Spain called The Influencers. It's a three-day event "devoted to surreal, controversial and visionary examples of mutation in media and entertainment, modified digital technologies, and radical experiments with the public of global communication." Where does my dad fit into this crazy description? Somewhere between infiltration and manipulation of the media with a healthy dose of satire (and sometimes toilet humor) mixed with performance art.

Past years have included guests such as the Yes Men, Joey Skaggs, DJ Spooky, and the Reverend Billy. It should be cool, interesting, weird and fun. ABEL RAISES CAIN is screening with Spanish subtitles!

I never imagined that we would one day travel to Spain together, let alone as a result of a movie that I would spend close to a decade toiling away on about his life. This documentary is somewhere between a wounded horse that keeps running the race and a wandering prostitute. We can't stop it, it just keeps going and going, and it gets around. I just told my friends in New York recently that we should enjoy the ride while it lasts. I know that my dad is having the time of his life. I can't help but to think this is all leading somewhere positive. And along the way, my dad's story is spreading to corners of the world I never thought possible.

where do we go from here?

2008-01-17T18:09:00.001-08:00

Throughout this whole crazy trip we've been on with the film, somewhere deep down inside I knew that we would be okay...that it wouldn't matter whether or not we landed a distribution deal the first year of our festival circuit run. We had heard about shady deals and unhappy filmmakers. And in the back of my mind lurked all the negative stories that my parents had told me about how they got screwed over by their past distributors (for their film, Is There Sex After Death?). Also, I felt pretty strongly that my dad's story was timeless and that somebody would eventually come along and see the potential in our documentary.

It's pretty ironic that the digital age enabled Jeff and I to make our film, but also threw a monkey wrench into the works of all the major motion picture companies. Studios began floundering and scrambling to catch up with the new technology while their stronghold in the industry began to crumble. In turn, their slow demise is what's allowing independent filmmakers to self-distribute their work.

I just read in MovieMaker magazine that 20,000 new independent films are produced every year. We're lumped in there somewhere along with all of the other filmmakers like us who edit movies in their living rooms on Macs equipped with Final Cut Pro. Also in this mix are the major's subsidiaries like Sony Pictures Classics and Warner Independent. Although I have never understood how a multi-million dollar budget film can be considered independent. Okay, I'm starting to sound like Andy Rooney from 60 minutes...

We've remained truly independent, licensing to a few foreign TV channels on our own and holding onto the remainder of the rights to our film - and we ultimately control the path that ABEL RAISES CAIN takes.

So now what? We have to be clever and take advantage of the networking opportunities that the internet age has to offer. There are several independents making waves right now and we have been keeping our eyes on them. Lance Weiler (Head Trauma), Arin Crumley and Susan Buice (Four Eyed Monsters), and M Dot Strange (We Are the Strange) are four filmmakers who have pioneered unbelievably innovative paths in terms of distributing their work.

These guys, collectively, have started up a new online discovery and distribution fest called From Here to Awesome. Their mission is "to create a direct connection between filmmaker and audience...FHTA attempts to create multiple revenue opportunities for the festival filmmakers by providing a platform that enables distribution across multiple outlets - mobile, online, living rooms and theaters. Filmmakers retain all their rights and choose how to price their work."

Filmmakers are encouraged to submit a 3-minute video explaining why their film is "awesome" and deserves to be seen by a wider audience. So, Jeff and I have spent the last week preparing our submission video. Here is the fruit of our labor:

http://fromheretoawesome.com/abelraisescain/

If you are reading this now, please follow the above link and click on the big button that says, THIS FILM SEEMS AWESOME! You'll be led to a screen that allows you a chance to vote. Please help us even further and spread the link of our video as widely as humanly possibly (MySpace, Facebook, Blogs, etc).
Filmmakers who make it to the top ten are showcased during the month of April at participating venues throughout the world. This could be really instrumental in terms of us finally reaching our audience! Thank you, everybody!

as a matter of principle and pride

2007-12-22T20:26:00.001-08:00

From my own experience, and from watching my parents struggle with money, it seems that most filmmakers and artists pay a hefty price in order to maintain their creative freedom. Trading financial security for total control of one's work sounds crazy to many people. But, the truth is...that selling out and/or handing over the rights to another person or entity in power doesn't necessarily mean the artist will become wealthy, by any means. Creative accounting will ensure that the artist never sees a fair share.

When I started this blog, I asked my dad to send me some funny thoughts, anecdotes or anything he wanted to write about. One of the first stories he emailed just happens to relate to this very subject:

When Christmas time rolls around, I think about 'Santa and the Doodle-li-Boop,' a children's novelty song I wrote during the fifties. Art Carney recorded it for Columbia Records. His popularity on 'The Honeymooners' helped sales. Then one day I received a phone call from Jackie Gleason's agent, Bullets Durgom. Gleason offered to highlight my song on one of 'The Honeymooners' shows, but with one condition: he wanted to be listed as a co-writer.

I asked my friend Len Levinson, a writer with Variety, and he said it was a common practice for this kind of deception involving a celebrity. Len urged me to go for it because I would earn thousands more in royalties. "Johnny Green is listed as co-author of 'Body and Soul' but he never wrote a note," he said. "His status as a well-known radio conductor helped earn millions for that song over the years and Green got half the money. You should swallow your pride and give in to Gleason," Len added.

I thought it over for a few days and declined Gleason's offer, as a matter of principle. My $30,000 in royalties for the year might have been $300,000 if Carney had performed it on television's top rated show. Several years later when I had to sell a pint of blood to pay for dinner, I thought wistfully of Jackie Gleason's ultimatum.

I must be a chip off the old block. I have been overly protective of our work, just as my parents have been overly protective of their projects over the years. They had the opportunity to sell out many times, but they couldn't bear the thought of someone else running with one of their ideas and taking the credit.

Although we were never officially offered a distribution deal, I will admit that there were some pretty big companies fishing around, wondering what our plans were for the movie. It was flattering and somewhat surreal, but mostly it was Hollywood B.S. I steered clear of the sharks because I didn't want anyone tampering with our work. Jeff and I wanted full control over what went on the cutting room floor and what stayed in the film. My gut feeling kept telling me that we needed to do our own thing. If we wanted the film to have a happy healthy life, WE must nurture it, not just hand it over to some studio and hope for the best.

It's such a gamble, though! You never know what's going to happen or what's on the other side of that decision. Are you going to regret it later? I guess that's part of the game. Maybe selling out would have been the best thing I could have done for the film! ABEL RAISES CAIN could have been in Blockbuster Video stores everywhere! But we probably would have been very unhappy, we wouldn't have seen a dime... and it would have meant giving up control over a personal film that I care deeply about.

My dad's story continued...

Another Christmas anecdote I'll never forget occurred during the eighties outside Grand Central Station in New York City. It was mid-December, snowing, icy, windy and 20 below zero. An elderly man with two loaded shopping bags was gingerly crossing the street heading into the station. His pace was too slow, the light turned green while he was half-way across and an impatient taxi driver blasted his horn, shouted obscenities out the window, then nudged the old man with his bumper.

The oldster could only tip toe a few inches at a time on the icy surface. The cabby kept pushing him until he slipped and fell. Both shopping bags split open, spilling Christmas-wrapped packages everywhere. Traffic backed up on 42nd Street for several blocks, horns blowing. Several good samaritons picked him up, along with his packages, while the irate cab driver jumped out of his taxi.

Talk about road rage! He stuck his finger in the shaken man's chest and shouted, "You dumb son-of-a-bitch! Why didn't you stay at the home and then die?'

The oldster suddenly came to life, pulled out a pistol and ordered the shocked cabby to spread eagle on the taxi hood and put his hands behind him. He then flashed his ID as a retired NYPD detective. A patrol car came down Vanderbilt Avenue, perpendicular to 42nd Street, the two officers ran over, and were appraised of the situation. One handcuffed the cabby and the other parked his cab on Vanderbilt to unravel the gridlock.

A large crowd of onlookers, including myself, broke into applause and cheers when the cops put a very dejected cabby in their patrol car for a trip to the station. His passengers had long since leaped out of the taxi and disappeared.

I always carry two extra plastic shopping bags folded up. I gave them to the detective for his Christmas gifts and he was grateful. I congratulated him on his action and offered to carry them to his train. He wished me a Merry Christmas and declined my help. Probably as a matter of pride.

alan abel uncensored?

2007-12-09T19:39:00.000-08:00

I was visiting with my parents recently and I decided to do an impromptu interview with my dad about the film, its future and the blog. Here is what transpired:

JENNY:
So, dad. Here we are. We finally have a blog, a forum for you and I...

ALAN:
...to blab.

JENNY:
Yes, you can blab on the blog. But more importantly, you now have a platform to say whatever you'd like. No holds barred. Don't be too dirty, though, please. We may have visitors who enjoy your antics but don't appreciate toilet humor.

ALAN:
Okay. Well, I guess I'd like to start off by saying that the last three years with the documentary has been an adventure. It's like going backpacking in Europe, skiing, bungee jumping, hang-gliding and skydiving all at once. I received the same thrills by seeing the documentary play at various film festivals around the globe and experiencing all of the accolades and admiration that people expressed through applause, cheers and standing ovations. NO amount of money can buy that. You can't. We got it and it didn't cost us a thing. Well, not for Mom and I, at least. It did cost you!

JENNY:
Yes, dad. But it's been worth it. Except for the time I excitedly flew home with a copy of the rough cut to show you and mom back in late 2004...and you ripped it to shreds! You really seemed to dislike it. You guys were extremely critical. You handed me five pages of notes! Do you remember? I was devastated. THEN, less than a month later, I got the call from Slamdance telling us that we had just gotten in. And you were ecstatic!

ALAN:
Oh, we didn't mean to be critical. And it wasn't that we disliked it. We were just kind of wondering if this was the way it should go. Because we have been in a state of stupor all through the years, trying to figure out how to make the story of my life work...we couldn't find 'the hook' as they say. We had flirtations with a few names like Cary Grant and Dustin Hoffman, Woody Allen…and they all expressed the same dismay after awhile when they realized the overwhelmingly vast collection of source material that we've amassed over the past half-century. Literally, there are hundreds of hours of tapes and films and audio reels, plus over 10,000 press clippings, thousands of letters, photographs...all of this stuff is in storage in trunks and boxes.

This is the stuff that you and Jeff had to dig your way through and figure out not so much what to use...but what not to use! And that's a problem. But you guys did it!

JENNY:
What would you like to tell everyone?

ALAN:
Mom and I are going to do a documentary on you called 'Daughter Dearest.' What you and Jeff did was a magnificent embarrassment. By that, I mean you photographed everything. We let it all hang out and you caught every nuance. The camera was above us, in front of us, behind us. I thought I was getting a colonoscopy for crying out loud!

JENNY:
Yes, dad. I know that's your favorite joke. But remember, I wanted to give people a true glimpse into the weird lives of the Abels! This included showing a shot of you sitting there in your underwear. Let's all be glad that I didn't include the scene where you mooned me. But let's get serious. Where do we go from here?

ALAN:
I think there should be a sequel! ABEL RAISES CAIN part 2. You can use all of the material that you weren't able to fit into part 1 and you can include the stuff that even I have forgotten about. You could easily have another 80-minute documentary.

JENNY:
We'll see about that, dad. I don't know if I'm ready for another ten-year project. I was actually wondering what you think about the larger picture.

ALAN:
Oh. Well, I think we should get a divorce from one another and go our separate ways...find another family to adopt us. You go with one family. I'll go with another. And then five years later, we can meet up and find out how everything is going.

You know, we actually could have sold you when you were six months old. At that time, the going price for a baby was $40,000. But we thought about it for 4 or 5 minutes and decided to keep you. And in retrospect, we're glad we did. It worked out quite well. Although we could have used the money at that time!

I think that our future lies in remaining creative...not looking back, not worrying or agonizing over what could have or should have been. We want to dig out the trunk full of ideas that we have been collecting over the years and bring them to life...funny ideas that would still live today.

JENNY:
I know that you and mom are enjoying this renewed interest in your work. Isn't it surreal to see your life flash before you on the big screen?

ALAN:
It is surreal. I think...Who is this guy? How did he do all this stuff? Wait, did I do all this stuff? Oh, I couldn't have been so brazen to pull off these stunts. How could I have ever pulled that off?

I've seen screenings of ABEL RAISES CAIN 50 or 60 times. I look forward to every screening because every audience is different. It's kind of like doing a show on Broadway. Going out there like it's the first show, hearing people laughing and applauding...and doing a Q&A after the screening, which is a favorite task of mine...is very exhilarating and it's very gratifying. And there is more to come, because the documentary has great legs.

JENNY:
You have great legs.

ALAN:
No I don't. My legs give out.

JENNY:
Do you have anything else you want to say?

ALAN:
Everybody should really obtain the DVD! Is that okay, can I plug it? Go to abelraisescain.com and you'll find...

JENNY:
But people already found us through abelraisescain.com!

ALAN: Okay. Well, then scratch that last part. No, I don't have any final things to say, except...Are you ever going to get a life?

JENNY:
Very funny, dad. How about 'Up Yours?'

ALAN:
No, I would never say that in the blog. People can misinterpret these things and we don't want that.

JENNY:
Well, you're going to be uncensored in this blog. You're allowed to let it all hang out, just like in the documentary...figuratively and literally!

the tortoise and the hare

2007-11-25T13:47:00.001-08:00

Well, we finally did it. There were a ton of naysayers along the way, including my own parents! And it only took nine years to do it. But here we are! Jeff and I finally finished production on the DVD and I'm staring at boxes of them as I type. It seems weird to be at the end of this journey...but in many ways, this adventure is just beginning, since we're self-distributing the movie. My friends probably cringe at this notion, because I've already invested close to a third of my life in this project and, frankly, I think they're tired of hearing about it.

Jeff and I are continually subjected to the question, 'When are you going to be done with this film?' and 'Why don't you guys move on to the next project?' Well, first of all, we're deeply in debt. So we can't even think about making another film until we have more to eat than the dried up garbanzo bean that we found behind the stove last week. Secondly, anyone who knows me will attest to the fact that I don't do anything half-assed. I usually go for the whole ass...I've pretty much done everything myself on this film from fundraising, researching, shooting, logging, promoting, negotiating, etc. How could I walk away now, when I've worked so hard up to this point?

Ever since we premiered ABEL RAISES CAIN at Slamdance in 2005 and unexpectedly won the Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary, I swear that this film has taken on a life of its own. There were so many unexpected twists and turns, high points and moments of desperation. We made mistakes along the way, but we also made wise decisions that I'm happy for now. No, we never received a 6-figure distribution deal (as my parents had hoped), but my dad DID receive an 800-person standing ovation at our HOT DOCS premiere in Toronto, and that was priceless.

So, taking this film on the festival circuit has been one of the best experiences of our lives. We truly had no idea that this documentary would do as well as it has, so far. BUT now the hard work has just begun...because self-releasing a film is one of the scariest, riskiest things Jeff and I could do, especially when we're looking for things to eat behind the stove.
-jenny