Joseph Gets Dressed

Joseph Gets Dressed is a 30-minute documentary following Joseph Herscher as he transforms ordinary household objects into an elaborate machine that will dress him from head to toe... in front of a live audience.

With the world premiere fast approaching, Joseph meticulously tests each detail of his ambitious invention. But with mishaps taking place every day, he is beginning to question whether or not it will even work.  

This film by Gemma Gracewood (Frontseat, New Artland, Dead Letters) and Corey Gegner (Howdy Montana) is an intensely detailed look at an artist deep in the process of building a delightfully bonkers Rube Goldberg Machine*, from two filmmakers with oodles of experience observing artists through a lens.

Herscher is a rising star: he's appeared at the Venice Biennale and on Sesame Street, Brain Games, CBS Good Morning. He is the son of Auckland musicians Linn Lorkin and Hershal Herscher (The Jews Brothers Band), whose music features in the film.

Joseph Gets Dressed has been entirely self-funded so far. In order to finish the film, we need to raise a minimum of an additional $10,000 to cover our post-production costs.

We are exceedingly grateful to have two wonderful matched backers: Sue and Robert Gardiner and John and Jo Gow. So we only need $5,000 from you beautiful documentary lovers. 

Your support will allow us to pay for the final edit, soundtrack, sound mix and colour grade. And if we're able to raise more than our target, we hope to develop an interactive component, in which people - especially children - can go online to discover some of Joseph's RGM-building secrets from the film.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

*Rube Goldberg Machine: a contraption that performs a very simple task in an overly complicated manner. Named after cartoonist Rube Goldberg.

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GEMMA GRACEWOOD (CO-DIRECTOR, PRODUCER) is a filmmaker, writer and musician living between New Zealand and New York. Her production credits include Frontseat (TV One), New Artland (TVNZ Heartland), Dead Letters (NZFC short), documentaries for Radio NZ New Zealand's Music 101, multiple music videos and the forthcoming interactive comedy-science series Jiwi's Machines. Gemma is a manager and member of the Wellington New Zealand Ukulele Orchestra, and a regular contributor to Metro, HOME, and Nine to Noon's The Week That Was. She is a member of Women in Film and Television in both NZ and NY.

COREY GEGNER (CO-DIRECTOR, CINEMATOGRAPHER) is an award-winning New York based cinematographer. After winning Best Cinematography at New York's School of Visual Arts, Corey went on to win the Kodak Vision Award for Best Cinematography at Slamdance (2011) for his work on Shunka, a documentary about the rural landscape of South Dakota. Corey is known for his work on Ari Maniel Cruz's independent feature Under My Nails, which won Best U.S. Feature Film at the prestigious New York New Zealand Latino Film Festival (2012). In 2013, Corey and his collaborator Matt Cascella won Best Short Documentary at The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival, for their short doc Howdy, Montana. His recent efforts includes Tony Blahd's ROVER, currently circulating festivals. As a focus puller, Corey has worked with acclaimed directors Matthew Barney and Abel Ferrara.