Last fall, we told you about #BeRobin: The Movie, a documentary about comedian Margaret Cho's 2014 homeless outreach initiative, which she undertook after the death of her friend Robin Williams. The performance tour kicked off at Haight and Ashbury and made stops around the city, with Cho and her friends collecting money and goods to give to the homeless in Williams' honor.
Filmmaker Kurt Weitzmann, a longtime Haight resident, tour guide, and comic, ran an Indiegogo campaign last year to cover the cost of editing, color correction, festival fees and music publishing rights for the documentary. As part of the campaign, Second Act held a special fundraiser pre-screening of #BeRobin, and this Thursday, Weitzmann will return there to screen the completed film for the first time.
After the screening, Weitzmann will lead a panel discussion with Ken Newman, a musician and activist; Paige "O", who is featured in the film; and Doug Ferrari, a comedian who Robin Williams helped to pull out of homelessness. Ferrari will also perform a short comedy set.
With this new screening, Weitzmann hopes to raise enough money to send the #BeRobin crew to the Chicago Comedy Film Festival.
The response to the film has been great so far, he told us via email. "We have done quite well on the film circuit. We have been an official selection in six so far, and [we] won best documentary at the Sacramento International Film Festival."
Weitzmann is working on securing a limited run for #BeRobin at the Mission's Roxie Theater later this year, but for now, he's thrilled to be back at Second Act. "We LOVE Second Act! Jack Rix has been on Haight Street for over 40 years ... I moved to the Haight in 1986 and have so many great memories of watching many a film at the Red Vic!"
He says the film wouldn't have been possible without contributions from the community. "Funding a film is quite a process. This film was made on a budget of love, sweat and tears. So many people have helped. When people see the film, their first response is almost always 'How can I help?' I think the film really does inspire."
