Help Fund Intimate DJ AM Doc With Indiegogo Campaign
Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein helped revolutionize DJing before his tragic 2009 death, but his life was also filled with tragedy and depression. Kevin Kerslake examined Goldstein’s rise and fall in the 2015 documentary As I AM: The Life and Times of DJ AM – and now fans can help fund the project’s wide release through an Indiegogo campaign featuring numerous donator rewards from the DJ’s personal collection.
Rewards include a signed Banksy art piece, titled “Jack And Jill (Police Kids)”; Goldstein’s own Daft Punk full leather jacket and replica of Thomas Bangalter’s helmet (worn in 2008 at HARD Haunted Mansion on Halloween); a dog tag-style USB drive filled with 25 DJ AM mixes (two of which are previously unheard); access to AM’s personal collections of 900-plus collector sneakers and signed albums, vintage T-shirts and art.
Contributions to the campaign will help fund the movie’s music licenses and costs of self-distribution and marketing. Proceeds from the documentary’s online, TV or theatrical distribution will benefit MusiCares, the charity for the DJ AM Memorial Fund.
DJ AM was a crucial player in the expansion of DJ culture into a major commercial movement. As I AM traces Goldstein’s life story, using never-before-seen footage, his own photos and music and an autobiographical speech from the performer. The documentary includes interviews with friends and peers, including Mark Ronson, Steve Aoki, Diplo, Jon Favreau, Dr. Drew, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Mix Master Mike and A-Trak.
Kerslake also details Goldstein’s battles with substance abuse – after surviving a deadly plane crash with Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, the DJ grappled with PTSD and survivor’s guilt, which played a role in his fatal 2009 relapse.
As I AM premiered at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival and will close out the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival on Friday, July 31st.