As many of you know, I’m helping Jane Weiner with her Kickstarter campaign for RICKY on LEACOCK

As of this posting, we have five days remaining and close to $15,000 left to raise. I’m helping Jane because Ricky Leacock was such an inspiration to me. While I never met him, he was one of the leading pioneers of the documentary field – he is the actual link from Flaherty to today’s documentary legends and to those just becoming documentary filmmakers. He was one of the pioneers in developing and using smaller cameras, synching their sound and in thinking about how technology impacts documentary form. He is (along with many others) one of the people who contributed to today’s culture, where anyone can pick up a camera and become a filmmaker.

I’ve seen a rough cut of this film, and I think Jane and her team are making an incredible tribute to him. One which will stand on its own as an important film, but that will also be an important historical document which will be crucial to film schools, film history and as a result, the future of the field.

Jane just posted an update to the campaign with video of comments made by Ed Pincus, Michel Negroponte, Ross McElwee and Mary Jane Doherty at the MIT Leacock memorial on June 11, 2011. It’s a great video to watch with lots of great comments on why Ricky Leacock was so important. I also recommend you read her post on Ted Hope’s blog, it’s a really inspiring post, and several people have left comments saying as much themselves.

I highly recommend checking out the Kickstarter campaign and considering making a donation. Even if you can’t make a donation, please help spread the word. I want Jane to be able to finish this tribute, and I hope you will help us reach her goal – $25,000 by January 1st at 3:09pm est. Visit. Pledge. Share. Repeat.