April 25: The Maryland Morning Screen Test Presents Bryan “GRASSHOPPER” Robinson of Grasshopper Philms

Filmmaker Bryan "Grasshopper" Robinson. (Or philmmaker, if you prefer.)

Bryan “Grasshopper” Robinson takes the  Screen Test.
Wednesday, April 25, 7 pm
The Windup Space
12 W. North Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21201

Admission is free and drinks are cheap.

“No matter where you go in this city, if you’ve got a camera, some paper, you can tell a story.” That’s director Bryan Robinson’s take on making films in Baltimore.  “I get a lot of my stories just from riding through the city. I feel like I’m walking through sets.  I think, wow, I’d love to come to this area and shoot something.”

Robinson did just that with his documentary “Waterboy: A Taste of Ambition.” The 2011 film follows 7 individuals who sell bottles of water along side the streets of Baltimore City.  “I was one of those people who said I would never buy water from these guys.  Then I saw a little 10 year-old boy doing it.  I started going up to these street vendors to find out about their stories and lives.  [Those jobs] are a lot of work.  And they all have different reasons to be doing it.”

Robinson, who works as a paraeducator during the day for Baltimore City Public Schools, started his production company, Grasshopper Philms, in 2003.   The company’s produced features, animated films, music videos, commercials, and documentaries.  Robinson says that, more than anything else, he wants people to feel an intimate connection with his subjects.  “I like real subjects.  I like my work to make you feel refreshed.  I want to shift the atmosphere when I make a film.”

On Wednesday, April 25, at 7 pm, Bryan Robinson will share a few of those stories with WYPR’s Tom Hall in front of a live audience, at the Windup Space on Baltimore’s North Avenue.  We’ll screen clips of several of his films and music videos, and take audience questions.  It’s free and open to the public.

The interview will be recorded to air on “Maryland Morning” on Friday, April 27, at 9:40 am.