[Five Day Bicycle Race raw: We Meet Carter]

This video contains raw footage shot for "Five Day Bicycle Race," a project comprised of live in-studio commentary and taped edited coverage of the 1976 Democratic National Convention in New York City. Produced by independent videomakers calling themselves The Image Union (including many members of TVTV and Videofreex), it aired on Manhattan Cable for three hours per night for five days during the convention. This video features a "meet and greet" with presidential hopeful Jimmy Carter at the Americana Hotel in Manhattan

00:00Copy video clip URL This tape begins with a blue screen.

00:24Copy video clip URL Fade into a shot of a window. Videomaker Skip Blumberg tests the equipment before bringing it out into the field.

00:39Copy video clip URL Cut to a shot of a “Meet Jimmy Carter” advertisement. The presidential hopeful is making an appearance at the Americana Hotel later in the day. The videomakers gather footage of two different advertisements for the event.

01:36Copy video clip URL Cut to footage of a traditional Chinese dance performance outside of the New York Hilton. We watch as two children in a dragon costume perform for the audience while other children perform a percussive number.

02:49Copy video clip URL Cut to a shot of an Uncle Sam impersonator dancing next to a group of musicians performing a piece on the steel drums. A large crowd watches the lighthearted musicians. The camera operator then moves on to gather footage from around the event.

04:54Copy video clip URL Blumberg interviews Franklin Burke, an Uncle Sam impersonator. Burke talks about why he likes Jimmy Carter, remaining in the Uncle Sam persona the entire time. In the middle of the interview, another Uncle Sam asks Burke if he could take a photo with him. He decides to do a dance instead and is obviously very enamored with the camera. The other Uncle Sam eventually gets angry at Burke for not taking a photo with him and walks away.

07:53Copy video clip URL Blumberg explains the premise of the program for the camera. He and the other videomakers are going to try and meet Jimmy Carter face to face when he makes his appearance at the Americana Hotel later in the day. Blumberg swiftly treads through the large mass of of people in attendance.

08:38Copy video clip URL Cut to a shot of a fundamentalist Christian holding up a sign in protest. Blumberg comments on the woman. The camera operator then gathers more footage from around the area. The streets are filled to the brim with supporters. Blumberg talks about some of the questions he would like to ask Carter. Blumberg and the camera operator continue to gather footage from around the area.

10:50Copy video clip URL Blumberg holds a mock interview with a picture of Jimmy Carter. They continue to gather footage from in and around the event.

11:25Copy video clip URL Cut to footage from within the Americana Hotel. Hoards of attendees crunch together at the request of the law enforcement officials in the hotel. Blumberg tries to get some information out of a police officer about Carter’s arrival, but the cop doesn’t give him an answer. Blumberg also speaks with a woman about why she’s waiting to see Jimmy Carter. She explains that she’s not truly committed to Carter and that she doesn’t know how she feels about him. At this point Carter is running late by nearly half an hour. Blumberg again tries to ask a few police officers about Carter’s arrival and is quickly shot down and told to move away. The scene gets more chaotic as time goes by. At one point Blumberg sees Carter’s media adviser Barry Jagoda and tries to get his attention, only to be shot down. He and the camera operator continue to wait for Carter. This lasts for several minutes.

20:03Copy video clip URL We hear some minor cheering and clapping in the distance as Carter arrives at the hotel. Those in attendance remain tightly packed in the lobby as he slowly makes his way through the ground level floor. The anticipation builds as Carter gets closer and closer. Carter’s family walks through first, followed by his staff, and then Carter himself. Blumberg actually gets to shake his hand as he quickly passes by. The camera operator captures the aftermath of the scene–the many people in attendance sprawl through the entire lobby, making it nearly impossible to get out.

23:51Copy video clip URL After finally getting outside, Blumberg and the camera operator gather footage from outside of the entrance to the hotel, still a chaotic mess.

24:26Copy video clip URL Tape ends.

 

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