Documentary Film Fund
Donation protected
Hello my name is Ricky Kelly and this is a documentary film project that has weighed on my Heart and Mind for the past 15 years. I've been going to BLACK BIKE WEEK in Myrtle Beach South Carolina for almost 20 years and I've experienced the good and the bad...the unbelievable Racism and Police Harassment.
The idea for this documentary came to me about 15 years ago l went to the HARLEY DAVIDSON BIKE RALLY otherwise know as " The White Bike Week" , held every year the week prior to Black Bike Week. The police presence was minimal, the city seemed to role out the red carpet and businesses had "Welcome Riders" signs all around the city... However during Black Bike Week, there is an overwhelming police presence. Law enforcement use road block tactics to regulate traffic flow. And as I was leaving, going back up the highway home to North Carolina, I saw a CARAVAN of POLICEin the sum of 100 plus police vehicles from other jurisdictions coming to the beach to assist with policing the black bike week...It was a sight to see that has always stuck in my mind. CONTRAST THAT, to the almost police state that exist the following week, some businesses closing their doors on the most Profitable weekend of the year just so they won't have to deal with the Black Bikers...the Governor and city council making new laws to make people not want to come, yet its estimated that 250,000 people flock to the city every Memorial Day weekend...hotel rates skyrocket...and we are almost treated like second class citizens in this bastion of the CONFEDERATE SOUTH!
During this time that we live there is an UNREST and an almost war with the police.. I.E. Ferguson Missouri...Eric Garner NYC. Death at the hands of police has become almost common place...I want this Documentary to show the GREAT DIVIDE in AMERICA, how even in 2015 with a BLACK PRESIDENT we still face some of the same challenges that our ancestors faced, just trying to enjoy an American holiday.
Now for that reason I am reaching out to seek fianacial funding to move forward. I dont have the RESOURCES to bring this vision to fruition. But I am passionate and in need of production and financial backing..I plan to shoot approximately 12 to14 days of footage at the 2 bike rallys with the sole purpose of showing the different "experience", Weather GOOD OR BAD and hold up a Mirror to my own community for our continued acceptance of this system of racism and the millions of dollars that we continue to give to a CITY to that DOESN'T EVEN WANT US THERE!...So please join me in sharing my vision. I plan to start my shoot May 12,2015 to begin this journey.
Thank you in advance and if you have information you would like to share or get more details about my project, feel free to contact me.
Ricky Kelly
The idea for this documentary came to me about 15 years ago l went to the HARLEY DAVIDSON BIKE RALLY otherwise know as " The White Bike Week" , held every year the week prior to Black Bike Week. The police presence was minimal, the city seemed to role out the red carpet and businesses had "Welcome Riders" signs all around the city... However during Black Bike Week, there is an overwhelming police presence. Law enforcement use road block tactics to regulate traffic flow. And as I was leaving, going back up the highway home to North Carolina, I saw a CARAVAN of POLICEin the sum of 100 plus police vehicles from other jurisdictions coming to the beach to assist with policing the black bike week...It was a sight to see that has always stuck in my mind. CONTRAST THAT, to the almost police state that exist the following week, some businesses closing their doors on the most Profitable weekend of the year just so they won't have to deal with the Black Bikers...the Governor and city council making new laws to make people not want to come, yet its estimated that 250,000 people flock to the city every Memorial Day weekend...hotel rates skyrocket...and we are almost treated like second class citizens in this bastion of the CONFEDERATE SOUTH!
During this time that we live there is an UNREST and an almost war with the police.. I.E. Ferguson Missouri...Eric Garner NYC. Death at the hands of police has become almost common place...I want this Documentary to show the GREAT DIVIDE in AMERICA, how even in 2015 with a BLACK PRESIDENT we still face some of the same challenges that our ancestors faced, just trying to enjoy an American holiday.
Now for that reason I am reaching out to seek fianacial funding to move forward. I dont have the RESOURCES to bring this vision to fruition. But I am passionate and in need of production and financial backing..I plan to shoot approximately 12 to14 days of footage at the 2 bike rallys with the sole purpose of showing the different "experience", Weather GOOD OR BAD and hold up a Mirror to my own community for our continued acceptance of this system of racism and the millions of dollars that we continue to give to a CITY to that DOESN'T EVEN WANT US THERE!...So please join me in sharing my vision. I plan to start my shoot May 12,2015 to begin this journey.
Thank you in advance and if you have information you would like to share or get more details about my project, feel free to contact me.
Ricky Kelly
Organizer
Cherie Kelly
Organizer
Durham, NC
