Antonino Pasquale D'Ambrosio (born June 23, 1971), is an Italian-American author, filmmaker, producer, and visual artist.
Writing
D'Ambrosio is the author of ''Let Fury Have the Hour: Joe Strummer, Punk and the Movement that Shook the World'' (2012) and ''A Heartbeat and a Guitar: Johnny Cash and the Making of Bitter Tears.'' (2009) ''A Heartbeat and a Guitar'' was chosen by ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' as a "2009 Book of Note,", ''The Progressive'' "Favorite Book", ''The Boston Globe'', among others.
In 2010, D'Ambrosio collaborated with artist Shepard Fairey an
Jeffrey Deitchon the book ''Mayday''.
In 2013, D'Ambrosio wrote the cover story "How the Creative Response of Artists and Activists Can Transform the World" for
The Nation
''The Nation'' is an American liberal biweekly magazine that covers political and cultural news, opinion, and analysis. It was founded on July 6, 1865, as a successor to William Lloyd Garrison's '' The Liberator'', an abolitionist newspaper tha ...
.
Film and video
D'Ambrosio has produced more than 15 documentaries, films, videos, and visual art pieces. His recent film include
''No Free Lunch''starring
Lewis Black
Lewis Niles Black (born August 30, 1948) is an American stand-up comedian and actor. His comedy routines often escalate into angry rants about history, politics, religion, or any other cultural trends.
He hosted the Comedy Central series ''Lewis ...
. In September 2008, it received a notice of cultural distinction in ''Vanity Fair''.
D'Ambrosio is the producer, writer and director of the feature fil
''Let Fury Have the Hour'' The film was a
The film was received positively b
''The New York Times''an
Time Out New York's Joshua Rothkopf Indiewire, PBS's POV, ''The Huffington Post'', ''Complex'' magazine, and COOL magazine.
D'Ambrosio received support from Rob McKay of the McKay Foundation and the
Democracy Alliance
The Democracy Alliance is a network of progressive donors who coordinate their political donations to groups that the Alliance has endorsed. It has been described by ''Politico'' as "the country's most powerful liberal donor club".
Members of th ...
for production of a
documentary film
A documentary film or documentary is a non-fictional film, motion-picture intended to "document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". Bill Nichols (film critic), Bil ...
based on ''Let Fury Have the Hour'' chronicling the movement of
world citizenship
Global citizenship is the idea that one's identity transcends geography or political borders and that responsibilities or rights are derived from membership in a broader class: "humanity". This does not mean that such a person denounces or waives ...
. The film has many musical contributions from artists including
Chuck D
Carlton Douglas Ridenhour (born August 1, 1960), known professionally as Chuck D, is an American rapper, best known as the leader and frontman of the hip hop group Public Enemy, which he co-founded in 1985 with Flavor Flav. Chuck D helped creat ...
,
Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
Antibalas (Spanish for "bulletproof") is an American, Brooklyn-based afrobeat band that is modeled after Fela Kuti's Africa 70 band and Eddie Palmieri's Harlem River Drive Orchestra. Although their music generally follows the musical architectu ...
Ocote Soul Sounds Sean Hayes
Sean Patrick Hayes (born June 26, 1970) is an American actor, comedian, and producer. He is best known for playing Jack McFarland on the NBC sitcom ''Will & Grace'', for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award, four SAG Awards, and one American Come ...
,
Tommy Guerrero
Tommy Guerrero (born September 9, 1966) is an Indigenous American musician, composer, and professional skateboarder.
Early life
Guerrero was born in San Francisco, California. He is of Ohlone-native, Chilean, and Filipino descent from his fat ...
,
Boots Riley
Raymond Lawrence "Boots" Riley (born April 1, 1971), is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, rapper, and communist activist. He is the lead vocalist of The Coup and Street Sweeper Social Club. He made his feature-film directorial ...
,
Tom Morello
Thomas Baptist Morello (born May 30, 1964) is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and political activist. He is best known for his tenure with the rock band Rage Against the Machine and then with Audioslave. Between 2016 and 2019, Morello ...
,
Wayne Kramer,
Billy Bragg
Stephen William Bragg (born 20 December 1957) is an English singer-songwriter and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, with lyrics that mostly span political or romantic themes. His music is ...
and others. The film also features many of today's most creative thinkers and artists including playwright
Eve Ensler
V, formerly Eve Ensler (; born May 25, 1953), is an American playwright, performer, feminist, and activist. V is best known for her play ''The Vagina Monologues''. , author
Edwidge Danticat
Edwidge Danticat (; born January 19, 1969) is a Haitian-American novelist and short story writer. Her first novel, ''Breath, Eyes, Memory'', was published in 1994 and went on to become an Oprah's Book Club selection. Danticat has since written or ...
, scientist
Jonah Lehrer
Jonah or Jonas, ''Yōnā'', "dove"; gr, Ἰωνᾶς ''Iōnâs''; ar, يونس ' or '; Latin: ''Ionas'' son of Amittai, is a prophet in the Hebrew Bible and the Quran, from Gath-hepher of the northern kingdom of Israel in about the 8th cent ...
, novelist
Hari Kunzru
Hari Mohan Nath Kunzru (born 1969) is a British novelist and journalist. He is the author of the novels '' The Impressionist'', '' Transmission'', ''My Revolutions'', ''Gods Without Men'', ''White Tears''David Robinson"Interview: Hari Kunzru, a ...
, international human rights advocate
Jack Healey
Jack Healey (born 1938) is an American human rights activist, author and the former director of Amnesty International USA. He is best known as the organizer of Amnesty's benefit concerts in the 1980's featuring bands like U2, the Police, Peter ...
, choreographer
Elizabeth Streb
Elizabeth Streb (born February 23, 1950) is an American choreographer, performer, and teacher of contemporary dance.
Background
Streb was born and raised in Rochester, New York and, after graduating from the dance program of State University o ...
, poets
Staceyann Chin
Staceyann Chin (born December 25, 1972) is a spoken-word poet, performing artist and LGBT rights political activist. Her work has been published in ''The New York Times'', ''The Washington Post'', and the ''Pittsburgh Daily'', and has been featu ...
and
Suheir Hammad
Suheir Hammad (born October 25, 1973) is an American poet, author, actress, performer, and political activist.
Biography
She was born in Amman, Jordan. Her parents were Palestinian refugees who immigrated along with their daughter to Brooklyn, N ...
, environmentalist
Van Jones
Anthony Kapel "Van" Jones (born September 20, 1968) is an American news and political commentator, author, and lawyer. He is the co-founder of several non-profit organizations, a three-time ''New York Times'' bestselling author, a CNN host and c ...
, and more. The film's score was composed by
Wayne Kramer. The film includes original artwork from
Shepard Fairey
Frank Shepard Fairey (born February 15, 1970) is an American contemporary artist, activist and founder of OBEY Clothing who emerged from the skateboarding scene. In 1989 he designed the " Andre the Giant Has a Posse" (...OBEY...) sticker cam ...
and animation by
Seth Tobocman
Seth Tobocman (born 1958) is a radical comic book artist who has been living in Manhattan's Lower East Side since 1978. Tobocman is best known for his creation of the political comic book anthology ''World War 3 Illustrated'', which he started ...
.
In 2014, D'Ambrosio was the executive producer of ''Look Again to the Wind: Johnny Cash's Bitter Tears Revisited'', a tribute album.
In 2015, D'Ambrosio participated in the musical transmedia ''
Soundhunters
''Soundhunters'' is a transmedia musical project created by Nicolas Blies and Stéphane Hueber-Blies (aka the Blies brothers), Marion Guth and François Le Gall, broadcast on the Franco-German channel Arte in 2015 and deployed internationally w ...
'' produced by a_BAHN and broadcast on the Franco-German channel
Arte
Arte (; (), sometimes stylized in lowercase or uppercase in its logo) is a European public service channel dedicated to culture.
It is made up of three separate companies: the Strasbourg-based European Economic Interest Grouping ARTE, plus ...
. D'Ambrosio directed the film ''Speak the way you breathe'' in which he directed the musician
Luke Vibert
Luke Vibert (born 26 January 1973) is a British electronic musician and producer, also known for his work under several aliases such as Plug and Wagon Christ. Raised in Cornwall, Vibert began releasing projects in the 1990s across varied genre ...
.
La Lutta NMC
In 1997 D'Ambrosio founde
La Lutta NMCa non-profit media and film production group, the produces a range of work across diverse media.
Visual art and exhibitions
*
A Furious Heartbeat' presented by Antonino D'Ambrosio and Shepard Fairey, Subliminal Art Project, Los Angeles, CA December 2009
* ''La Terra Promessa'' Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NMC April 2009
*
This Is A Movement' (2003–04)
* ''Speak the Words the Way You Breathe'' (1999-2003)
Other work
In 2010, artist Shepard Fairey invited D'Ambrosio to contribute the official essay for his solo-exhibit Mayday at the Deitch Projects in New York City. The essay, "May Day Calling", is printed on the back of Fairey's signature "flag" print.
In 2009, D'Ambrosio was Artist-In-Residence at the Center for Contemporary Arts in Santa Fe, NM where he launched the multimedia land-art installation ''La Terra Promessa: In Sun & Shadow''.
In 2008, D'Ambrosio was featured on ''Clash: Revolution Rock'', an hour-long radio show also featuring musician
Tom Morello
Thomas Baptist Morello (born May 30, 1964) is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and political activist. He is best known for his tenure with the rock band Rage Against the Machine and then with Audioslave. Between 2016 and 2019, Morello ...
of
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine (often abbreviated as RATM or shortened to simply Rage) is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerfor ...
.
In 2006, he became
New York University
New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then-Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin.
In 1832, the ...
's Gallatin Lecturer, an honor bestowed upon a contemporary artist creating innovative and social engaging work.
In 2006 D'Ambrosio was invited to document the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign in Caracas, Venezuela at the
World Social Forum
The World Social Forum (WSF, pt, Fórum Social Mundial ) is an annual meeting of civil society organizations, first held in Brazil, which offers a self-conscious effort to develop an alternative future through the championing of counter-hegemoni ...
.
His short film documenting the experience, ''In the Land of Bolivar'', has been screened around the world. In 2005, D'Ambrosio was Artist-In-Residence in the Media Arts Department at Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus. He speaks extensively at universities and colleges throughout the country.
Bibliography
Books
* (2012)
''Let Fury Have the Hour: Joe Strummer, Punk, and the Movement that Shook the World''.* (2011). Paperback release o
''A Heartbeat and a Guitar: Johnny Cash and the Making of Bitter Tears''.* (2010)
''"Mayday: The Art of Shepard Fairey'
* (2009).
Democracy in Print: The Best of The Progressive magazine, 1909-2009.'' Contributor
* (2009). ''A Heartbeat and A Guitar: Johnny Cash and the Making of Bitter Tears.'' (NY: Basic Books/Nation Books)
* (2004)
'' Let Fury Have the Hour: The Punk Rock Politics of Joe Strummer'' (NY: Avalon Press/Nation Books)
Articles
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Publisher
* Fever Pitch. Publisher. (2004–2005)
* DISPATCH On-Line Indy News Journal. Publisher (2001–2003)
Films
* ''Let Fury Have the Hour" (2012) Writer/Producer/Director.
* ''The Bending Cross.'' (2009). Producer/Director/Writer. 95 mins.
* ''Making Waves, Breaking Walls: The Story of Radio Atlantis.'' A Project of La Lutta NMC's Youth-Artist-in-Residency Program. (2009) Executive Producer. 12 mins.
*
''No Free Lunch''(starring Lewis Black). (2008). Producer/writer/director. 7 mins.
* ''Project 843: A Documentary Series on the cultural Impact of Central Park.'' (2007–present) Executive producer and supervising director.
* ''In the Land of Bolivar''. (2006). Writer, producer, photographer, and director. 10 mins.
* ''Battlescars''. (2006). Production Consultant. 30 mins.
* ''Freedom Demo: The RNC Counter Convention.'' (2004) Producer, photographer, and editor. 25 mins.
* ''Desaparecidos: Our History Oral History Project.'' (2004). Writer, producer, photographer, director and editor. 55 mins.
* ''One Judge, One Family''. (2004). Writer, producer, photographer, director, and editor. 17 mins.
* ''The Treatment Court Story''. (2002) Writer, producer, photographer, director, editor. 15 mins.
* ''The Contract and Beyond. New York City Transit Workers Move Forward.'' (2002)Writer, producer, photographer, director, and editor. 25 mins.
* ''Road to the Contract: New York City Transit Worker's Documentary Series''
* ''Struggle for a New Contract.'' (2002) Writer, producer, photographer, director, and editor. 25 mins.
* ''Back in the Days: A Time before Crack''. (2000) Writer, producer, photographer, director, and editor. 30 mins.
* ''Once there was a Village.'' (1999). Based on the book of the same name. Producer, photographer, director, and editor. 30 mins
* ''Welfare Reform: Rollback or Removal?'' (1996). Writer, producer, photographer, director, and editor. 30 mins.
Awards
* (2009
* (2009
Center for Contemporary Arts. Santa Few, New Mexico
* (2008)
Nation Institute
Type Media Center (formerly The Nation Institute) is a nonprofit media organization that was previously associated with ''The Nation'' magazine. It sponsors fellows, hosts forums, publishes books and investigative reporting, and awards several an ...
Investigative Fund Award. Award to support investigative work on book project A Heartbeat and A Guitar
* (2006) New York University Gallatin Lecturer. An honor bestowed upon a contemporary artist creating innovative and socially engaging work.
* (2005) Artist-In-Residence, Long Island University Media Arts Department. An honor awarded to an artist producing dynamic and noteworthy new media.
* (2005) Top Non-Fiction Book Selections of 2005. Awarded by PBS to non-fiction writers who published work that could be used as an educational tool in the classroom.
* (2003) Digital-Artist-In-Residence (Given to La Lutta NMC). Awarded to emerging and established web artists working in the area of documenting the immigrant experience.
* (1999) Top Independent Media Makers. Awarded by ''The Nation'' readers to those individuals creating media that advances democracy.
* (1998) Community Service Award of Distinction. Awarded by the El Puente Center for Arts and Culture for support of youth-community public space mural initiative.
* (1998) Community Arts Grant. Awarded by the Manhattan Borough President's Office, New York City.
* (1995) Deans' Scholar. Awarded every 2 years to 20 New York University students demonstrating academic excellence, a strong social consciousness, and a vibrant creative sensibility.
External links
Interview on WNYC Soundcheck May 2011.
Antonino D'Ambrosio and Shepard Fairey featured on GRITtv with Laura Flanders May 2010.
Antonino D'Ambrosio featured on GRITtv with Laura Flanders November 2009.
Antonino D'Ambrosio featured on The Clash: Revolution Rock 2008.
Interview of Antonino D'Ambrosio by Brian Lehrer June 2008.
Antonino D'Ambrosio Live from Prairie Lights Books February 2005.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:D'Ambrosio, Antonino
1971 births
American film producers
Living people
Place of birth missing (living people)