his helmet cam.]
*Don’t miss Kickass Bike Film night tonight at Clinton Street Theater!*
If you haven’t been in the presence of the inimitable Reverend Phil Sano than you haven’t really experienced Portland bike culture. Rev Phil is a self-described bike culturist who’s in the middle of many of Portland’s bikey subcultures.
In addition to being a regular at Zoobomb, Critical Mass, and the man behind many events at Free Geek (his employer), for the past three years he has devoted his energy to sharing and creating bike films. He has put on dozens of bike film screenings and he has produced several DVD collections including From Portland with Bike Love.
I asked Phil why he’s so enamored with bike movies:
“Expression. Everyone is looking for creative outlets to present ideas they like. As a medium, I really dig film…I feel that as a group, bikers do some pretty amazing things. I would like to spend more time writing, but even an excellent description of a bike on fire only whet’s the appetite for wanting to see it burn.”
For Phil, movies are his way of spreading bike fun:
“I think a lot about how to communicate what is important to me. I want to create fun movies with a political message that is more subtle. My hope is that if we keep biking fun and sexy the underlying awesomeness will take root.”
So what’s Phil’s favorite bike movie ever? That would be Extinction Stinks from Vancouver BC. According to Phil it had, “really good cinematography” and was the unofficial winner at the inaugural Filmed by Bike event back in 2003.
Tonight at 9PM, Phil brings his magic to the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton) for a special night of bike films presented by the Portland Legal Defense Network and Zoobomb.
Tonight’s interesting line-up of films includes:
- The World Naked Bike Ride
- The Cutthroats: Zoobomb’s sibling bike cult from Richmond VA
- Dead Freeways
- Lloyd Center Security
- Terrifying On-ramps
- Adventures in Hitchhiking
- Trojans Imploding
In addition to plenty of cheap beer, tonight’s event will feature speakers and resources about defending your legal rights as a cyclist (a subject Rev Phil has plenty of experience with).
Reps from the Portland Legal Defense Network will inform folks about “how they can live a more hassled-by-the-cops-free lifestyle” and 10 copies of Ray Thomas’s excellent “Pedal Power: a legal guide for Oregon bicyclists” will be raffled off.
Sounds like an awesome event. Don’t miss it!
So what about the films, what is he going to do to get in trouble with the cops? Is he an acutal Revrend, or did he just get a certificate from a mail order company?
Thanks much yalls, the Kickass Biking was spectacular! Folks left with lots of info about the resources available to help you remain strong and free when dealing with those who would take your power or your rights away.
The event opened with the PLDN telling us what do to when dealing with cops (thanks it was awesome). This is not training that folks are getting in school, or just about anywhere else for that matter. More understanding of their role in society will result in safer communities.
The Portland Legal Defense Network can connect you with lawyers, provide jail support and if you have been arrested, they can help make arrangements with your work or even feed your pets!
Stu Suggarman (who is representing me pro bono in the world naked bike ride case) offered up some hella useful info and fielded some questions about what rights a cop has to search you or your possessions, what your options are when providing information.
Bike Lawyer Ray Thomas donated 15 copies of “Pedal Power”. This is a great resource to help bikers understand the law. He also regularly hosts a bicycle legal clinic. The next one is 9/20
The short videos covered a wide arrange of topics relating to bicycling: from hardcore bike punks being punished with maple syrup to trailing NYC’s fastest messengers to Cop’s footage of zoobombers going down Hellway: http://pdxk.com/news/news.html
As for the crowd, they were a little sober for my tastes, but they yelled and cheered and heckled just the same.
Ralph, perspective allows for more greater understanding. However I have no idea what you believe constitutes an “actual Reverend” or what evidence you accept towards that end. Perhaps Jonathan’s earlier post will be enlightening: http://bikeportland.org/2006/05/26/the-clown-house-celebrates-a-wedding/
If not you can come beer witness during bike church every Sunday.