Long associated with mavericks and rebels in the music world, iconic footwear brand Dr. Martens has announced the line-up for the next installment of their Dr. Martens Presents: Music & Film Series, in partnership with COLLiDE Agency.
Highlighting voices that aren’t generally heard in the mainstream, the Dr. Martens Presents: Music & Film Series is proud to celebrate the tenacious musicians living in the L.A. and NYC music scenes through a series of mini documentary films that tell the stories of artists in these unprecedented times who are not only surviving, but thriving and innovating.
Filmmakers: Ali Roberto L.A. and Gabriel Gomez NYC
Music artists: Blimes and Gab, Cautious Clay, duendita, Frankie & The Witch Fingers, Lauren Ruth Ward, NEZ, Orion Sun, The Regrettes, Rosehardt, Stuyedeyed, Sunflower Bean, Tolliver
Watch the first two installments with Lauren Ruth Ward and Rosehardt here.
For the Dr. Martens Presents: Music & Film Series, L.A.-based filmmaker Ali Roberto and NYC-based filmmaker Gabriel Gomez have curated along with Dr. Martens a lineup of performers that will share their stories of resilience, determination and hope. They will explore what it takes to succeed as performers realizing their own artistic vision in the music industry. Each L.A. and NYC short documentary film created will provide an intimate look at the daily lives of working musicians and share a unique point of view as told by our filmmakers who have their own stories of resilience to tell.
Hear Ali Roberto’s thoughts on the Dr. Martens Presents: Music & Film Series here: https://youtu.be/tgafM83jubs
Hear Gabriel Gomez’s thoughts on the Dr. Martens Presents: Music & Film Series here: https://youtu.be/B9N480laxxk
2020 will be one of the most notable years of our lifetime. The opportunity to gather, celebrate, entertain and be entertained may be forever changed. Musicians and artists of all types have seen their livelihoods come to a complete halt. Many are contemplating new careers/life paths. Many are finding new resolve and purpose. The Dr. Martens Presents: Music & Film Series will showcase the ways that artists on each coast are navigating this challenging new landscape with creativity, strength and grit.
Confirmed music artists for the Dr. Martens Presents: Music & Film Series include Ali Roberto L.A. and Gabriel Gomez NYC Music artists: Blimes and Gab, Cautious Clay, duendita, Frankie & The Witch Fingers, Lauren Ruth Ward, NEZ, Orion Sun, The Regrettes, Rosehardt, Stuyedeyed, Sunflower Bean, and Tolliver.
“In 2019 we kicked off our new Dr. Martens Presents: Music & Film Series with two main goals; host one of a kind performances in unique locations for fans of music throughout New York City and Los Angeles and provide a platform for artists, both musicians and the filmmakers, to share their stories,” says Kevin Diehl, Vice President Americas Marketing at Dr. Martens. “Stories of resilience. Stories of artists that no matter how many obstacles life throws in their way they wouldn’t stop working to achieve their goals. These stories were important then and even more so now as we navigate a new reality. For the next 6 months we’ll be working with two new filmmakers in NYC and LA to document how important now, more than ever, musicians and artists need resilience to continue in this ever changing and challenging landscape. A Global Pandemic may be able to impact our ability to gather together to experience live music but, as you’ll witness in the series of films, it cannot keep us from finding creative ways to keep doing the things we love and bringing joy to others.”
“Music saved me,” says Ali Roberto. “Sure, I know there are a lot of people out there who say this, but I truly mean it. We’re facing a difficult and unprecedented time—for literally all of us—it makes sense that we’d turn to music for solace and collective experience. The hardest thing of all is to feel disconnected. I want to bring music back to people and create a platform for up and coming artists to be seen by weaving together a live performance with storytelling. And there’s no one better to do this with than Dr. Martens, the legend that’s laced up many a foot as it stomped onstage, and sparked and awakened, enlivened and impassioned, freed, salvaged, and cured countless hearts and minds.”
“I’m so lucky to be able to tell stories for a living,” says Gabriel Gomez. “I’m incredibly honored & grateful to partner with Dr. Martens and be given the opportunity to tell my own, while simultaneously featuring such talented, powerful, diverse artists in my city. I‘m nothing without my community, my friends, my people—this series features some of the many artists in my world that inspire me every day.”
ABOUT DR. MARTENS
The first pair of Dr. Martens boots rolled off the production line on the 1st April 1960. With its trademark yellow stitch, grooved sole and heel-loop, it was a boot for workers, initially worn by postmen and policemen; comfortable, durable and lightweight in comparison to its competitors at the time.
Throughout Dr. Martens history, the brand has been adopted and subverted by diverse individuals, musicians, youth cultures and tribes. These are the people who stand out from the crowd and their journey of self-expression has always been accompanied by a pair of DM’s.
The simple silhouette allows people to customize each pair; whilst on a utilitarian level their famous durability and comfort make them ideal footwear for the world of gigs and street fashion. On an emotional level, they are a flag of attitude and empowerment.
The Northamptonshire factory where it all began still exists to this day, in the village of Wollaston. A specific range of ‘Made In England’ products are manufactured here by a small, close-knit team of people schooled in traditional shoe-making and a process that hasn’t changed since our first pair six decades ago.
ABOUT ALI ROBERTO
Ali Roberto is an award winning Director / Creative Director hybrid who specializes in original short form content, concept through post. Ali spent nearly a decade at MTV as an Art Director in New York City. It truly informed who she would become as a creative – obsessed with irreverence, in love with composition, kerning typography and telling authentic stories. She continued to work in entertainment; crafting marketing and social campaigns, strategy, writing scripts, leading creative post teams and concepting short form social and A/V content. Ali brings those many years of expertise to her directing approach and how she collaborates with her clients to help elevate their vision. Her goal is to deliver beautiful and thoughtful work that shreds through the noise of social content. Like her recent work for Netflix’s Glow, which won 3 Promax awards (including the GOLD for ‘Best Comedy’) and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
Ali focuses on original short form content, social campaigns, commercials, music videos and narrative work. She prefers to partner creatively with her clients as a Director and Creative Director to see the project from beginning to end. It greatly impacts the success of the content to have a clear vision all the way through. From building a custom Vegas hotel suite with David LaChapelle for the MTV Music Awards, to demolishing a convenient store with Debby Ryan, the thrill of being in the moment, collaborating with amazing creative talent and allowing unexpected moments to create magic are just a few of her favorite things.
Ali’s charitable efforts include mentoring young students at The Ghetto Film School and working with Free The Work for women and underrepresented talent to be seen and given a voice.
ABOUT GABRIEL GOMEZ
Gabriel Gomez is a Clio award-winning director, producer, & entrepreneur born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He was a prestigious member of Brooklyn Magazine’s “30 Under 30” Class of 2018. Specializing in commercial & documentary, his work focuses on raw character, compelling compositions, and dynamic stories. He’s directed projects for H&M, CNN, Discovery Network, Columbia Records, 300 Entertainment, Mom+Pop Records, TNT, The Guardian, Refinery29, Bon Appetít, and many more. Gabriel is also the founder/creative director of Crooked Letter, an entertainment company specializing in film production & the visual branding, curation, and crafting of their roster of talent’s brands & careers. His leading talent Caleb Eberhardt AKA Rosehardt made his debut in 2019 starring in Tarrell Alvin McCranney’s Tony-nominated play Choir Boy, Crystal Moselle / HBO’s Betty, and the upcoming Ryan Coogler-produced Judas & The Black Messiah. Gabriel recently launched Crooked Letter Radio Hour, a weekly “quarantine-inspired” podcast/radio show with a variety of guests such as Zazie Beetz (Atlanta, Joker), Jeremy Allen White (Shameless, The Rental), DeVonn Francis (Yardy NYC), and many more.
