the-negro-artist-documentary

Image courtesy of Seven TImes

A unique opportunity is coming to Jefferson on Saturday of a documentary that was put together in less than one year and has already been selected for a film festival. 

Nik Heftman is the director, editor and one of the producers of “The Nergo Artist” which is a documentary about the life story about Caleb “The Nergo Artist” Rainey. He says Rainey is a well-known slam poet, as well as being the guest speaker at the most recent edition of Ekphrasis in Jefferson this past Sunday, and his film was most recently selected for the Culver City Film Festival in Los Angeles, California where Heftman is originally from. Heftman tells Raccoon Valley Radio he first met Rainey at the Okoboji Writer’s Retreat two years ago where he became a fan of how he used poetry.

“When I heard Caleb speak at the retreat, I mean just like everybody else, I was drawn to him. Anybody who has seen him perform knows the power of his work. That guy can literally move a room. It’s one thing to call a piece of art ‘moving’ but his work is literally moving, like you see the room shift when he speaks.”  

Heftman hopes people take away the main message of the documentary, making the world a better place.

“The truth is you don’t have to be any of the people in the film to make the world a better place. You can take active steps to make the world a better place in your own way and to address topics or sensitive issues in your community. You know, you don’t have to be a poet, or a documentary filmmaker to make a real effort in making the world better and help people understand each other.”   

Additionally, there is a morning workshop from 10am-noon in the movie theater’s business center, followed by a lunch that is served from noon-1:15pm and then there are remarks and some poetry performances at 1:30pm with the screening of the documentary after that. Individuals who are interested in being a part of the “A Day With Caleb ‘The Negro Artist’ Rainey’ can reserve their spot to the free event by texting 515-370-4002.