Tongo Eisen-Martin

Crushing Wheelchairs, with an original screenplay written by houseless poet and povertyskola tiny gray-garcia, adapted from her award winning play of the same name focuses on the violence of homelessness, city and state sponsored sweeps, and poLice terror. The movie includes an all houseless/formerly houseless cast whose motto is: “We aren’t acting, we are living.” It was shot primarily in houseless communities (encampments) and on the streets in Oakland and San Francisco.

The twin sons of SF novelist Herbert Gold, filmmaker Ari and musician Ethan collaborate on this 'live cinema' musical drama, 'featuring The Brothers Gold and the People of San Francisco'. It begins with one extroverted brother running late to join his introverted counterpart for an audition of sorts at Vesuvio’s, across Jack Kerouac Alley from City Lights Bookstore. Soon accompanied by a third singer (Lara Louise), these quarrelsome siblings move on to a couple of equally famed local watering holes. They clomp up Telegraph Hill, engage in minor social intrigue, then finally visit Dad on Russian Hill.

"The Nature of the World" featuring San Francisco Poet Laureate Tongo Eisen Martin delves into the turbulent existence of an individual navigating through the complexities of urban life. The protagonist reflects on their struggles with poverty, violence, and familial responsibilities, all while grappling with existential questions and the cyclical nature of life. Through vivid imagery and introspective narration, the poem explores themes of resilience, kinship, and the pursuit of stability in an unforgiving world. Despite the challenges and uncertainties, there is a glimmer of hope as the protagonist contemplates the transient beauty of existence and seeks to understand the essence of the world, suggesting that such understanding might offer a semblance of heaven amidst the chaos.