Today we bury Martha Ann

Today Martha Ann, who was murdered in a drive-by shooting almost a year ago will be laid to rest next to her grandfather due to the generosity of The Detroit News readers. Since her cremation, Martha's remains have been tucked in her grandmother's linen closet due to the fact her grandmother couldn't afford to bury her.

Here's her story, which was produced last month:

At McD's with the Coon Man.

Often people ask me, both in and out of the office, what it's like to work with Charlie, one of our more enterprising reporters. It's been a mix bag, but usually ends with amazing stories and opportunities. Our last piece was on raccoon hunting with the Coon Man of Detroit. Between hunting for his lost gun and for the actual raccoon's we stopped at McD's. I was testing out a borrowed Nikon D3s and recorded this lil bit unbeknownst to the subjects.

Click here for the published story

For chair-ity

For a benefit for homeless veterans by Mercy Street, a friend/co-worker decorated a chair in a bunch of pennies (get it? "make the change"). Here's the link to the Dec. 5 event: http://www.mercy-street.com/services

Here's a photo (for those who may doubt Detroit gets magic hour):

sorry its been a while...

not just in posting, but Chicago too, found a lot of ghosts, mostly inside myself.

Untitled from Elizabeth Conley on Vimeo.

Love, faith and a piece of gum...

Before taking off for WWII and the Korean War, John would tell Annie he was just going around the block to buy some gum.

A phrase that gave her, (and maybe him too); hope, faith and peace of mind that despite being shot at and almost taken down time and again, he would return to his grade-school sweetheart. He always came home.

In February 1962, John surprised Annie with a pack of gum, for her and the kids as he left out the door to orbit the Earth. The family wasn't allowed on NASA grounds and were discouraged from watching the launch. Complications upon re-entry resulted in a NASA representative telling Annie that this time, he might not make it home.

John Glenn returned home. To this day, Annie keeps the gum wrapper in her wallet....and John at her side.

Family at the foot pedal

a very tightly edited show from the foot pedal...still think soundslide is best for this...

A quick escape...

I had a friend who would always complain about how many bags I would carry, and then how heavy just one bag would be. I would love to have the luxury of traveling light, but it is seeming less possible to do these days with video cameras, audio recorders, microphones...and nothing you want to just leave in you car. So here I am, trying to leave a hotel room 7am in one take. Had a little trouble width wise getting through the door...

Final project for FCP class

mixed video from little camera that creates sun flare ;o)and interviewed my neighbor here in Columbus, and Lynn from Lynn Nails in Ferndale...

A simple movie file...

first try to show someone a wedding book layout. I hope to use this program for a couple vacation slideshows, but can be a bit tricky if mixing it with other platforms for story-telling

movie from class

Between ning sites, twittering, facebook my long-term project and a multitude of new online programs, i've been slacking on my blog...here's my Arts853 midterm...just finished the final today, it's on my blip.tv site (yes, and there's a Vimeo channel too) I'll post it here once it's graded and it has it's debut at the Art and Tech show this Thursday on campus (my first art show...for film!)

Dell 1924-2009

When Bob gave my number to Dell Warner, a woman who wanted someone with heart willing to take a few photos for her, neither of us knew what I was getting into. What became a "few shots" became daily early morning phone calls, meetings with guys she wanted to hook me up with and a glimpse into someone who just wanted to tell every story she could and was honestly pissed off that she had cancer and her life had was expiring. She passed away today.
Here are some of my memories:
She hated the Russians in her building. "They're mean, they don't smile, they don't know art, why don't they learn English for goodness sake?"
On buttoning up her shirt before i photographed her: "Oh sure, deny me my sexuality"
On family "my sons sold my Peter Max, took my grand piano, through me in this hell-hole and tried to kill my dogs..."
On her emmys: "See those? I love awards, and that way you know you're not talking to a kook!"
Her cane: "i hate it"
Her help: "stupid"

Often you avoid the loudest, seemingly most difficult senior in the room, but Dell would not be ignored, she knew she was going down, and she wasn't going quietly. It was a characteristic i was fond of at times, i little taken aback at others. But still, you always knew where you stood with her, and i'm glad i got to stand by her for a while.
I still have a message from her on my phone (during our time together, June through Dec. she'd left a few like this): "Elizabeth, it's Dell, i'm not able to reach anyone, there's something about being walled off from the world, please, please i'm not crazy, i'm not crazy, , please, PLEASE don't think i'm crazy, PLEASE believe me, any how please in touch somehow, i love you, i've been sick since an infusion of fluids and since then my life has been hell, please, please help me, please God help me..." I pray he has and she has found peace...