ROOFTOP WEEKEND RECAP - July 4
SOLD-OUT AMERICAN BIRTHDAY BASH
Introducing Rooftop's Presidential nominee - Sparrow

Monday, July 7, 2008 | 10:21 AM

Over 800 people attended Rooftop's annual 4th of July "Un-American Films" party--which is the only word to describe the "screening" which featured two hours of free wine and beer, great food, three bands, a program of short, political films, and the best fireworks view to be found in the entire city. Despite a flurry of rain storms, the crowd was dancing on their chairs for Frances, Aleks and the Drummer and Titus Andronicus .

And the hardy crowd was astonishingly eager for the films, even as the hardest rain of the day poured down on them. A sea of umbrellas and poncho hoods cheered the 22nd Amendment , gasped at the animated music video about JFK , and thoughtfully digested the serious political statements of such films as Nicholas Bruckman's The Grey Movie and Topaz Adizes' City, with both directors in attendance.

But perhaps the biggest hit of the night was for the introduction of a new Presidential candidate--Sparrow, a bearded and long-haired poet who has run for office every year since '92. Rooftop Films, IFC and Rumur Inc. are producing a web series about the man who doesn't want you to vote for him ("Vote for the Democrat, they're good enough"), and we premiered the first episode to a rabid audience. Sparrow's hilarious less-than-a-minute bits of "Wisdom" peppered the night.

The series will air on IFC.com in September, but for those of you who want to get a jump on the campaign, check out Sparrow's pseudo-campaign commercials at www.youtube.com/sparrowforprez. I know that he's already locked up 800 votes from this show.

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