There’s no Robin Leech or stories about “The Fabulous Life of…” but Wisconsin filmmaker Jim Muraco’s latest Wisconsin-related documentary gives people a look at some of Milwaukee’s unique homes. These homes may not be mansions, but Muraco is letting a few owners say “It’s My House.”
“It’s a one-hour documentary on unique homes in the Milwaukee area,” Muraco says. “Homes like the witches’ house (formerly owned by) the late Mary Nohl, Bill Lennon’s Packer House on the East Side, the purple house on 43rd and Howard, the Greendale guy who had the blue bird on his chimney…”
He also hopes to have a segment about artists that have studios in their homes.
The idea struck him out of a curiosity that most people would have.
“I got the idea because I’ve seen homes like the 43rd and Howard house and wondered ‘Who the hell lives there?’” he says.
The documentary will be narrated by mother-daughter duo Barbara Meyer-Spidell and Lauren Spidell with two special guest hosts.
“Mark Borchardt and Mike Shank of 'American Movie' will narrate the witches’ house segment, which I hope to shoot some of that footage on black & white film.”
The music taccompanying the film is also Milwaukee-centric.
“All the music in the film will be from local musicians: Pat Nettesheim, The Matchhead Rockets, Sigmund Snopek III, Lovin Kind, Orphonic Orchestra, and of course the title song, donated for free by Pat McCurdy,” Muraco says.
The theme song, “This is My House” by McCurdy, can be heard at the documentary’s MySpace page (myspace.com/itsmyhousefilm). Muraco says that he also just got permission to use the BoDeans’ “617” for this film.
Besides putting these homes on film, the featured homes will also be captured by local artists.
“All the homes will also be painted on canvas by local artists,” Muraco says. “I can’t list them all until I see the artwork, but I can say one artist, Keith Bolyard, has already painted the Packer home.”
Muraco plans to have “It’s My House” out by Christmas, but in the meantime, people can help with the project.
“People can donate $25 to the project now and when it’s complete they will get a DVD mailed to them, their names in the credits and two tickets to the premiere party at the Rosebud Cinema,” he says.
While “It’s My House” hasn’t been completed just yet, Muraco already has plans for another film, but he’s not letting out the secret yet.
“I do have another film,” he says. “I’m currently making but I’m keeping it under wraps so no one beats me to the punch. It’ll be 30 minutes and be very Milwaukee, in fact, Milwaukee is in the title.”
He does have another movie that’s close to his heart that he would like to film.
“I’m hoping to eventually make a feature film entitled ‘When Angels Cry’ based on a song by Janis Ian,” he says.
The film will be a tribute to the daughter Muraco and his wife lost last year from a rare chromosome disorder called Trisomy 9 Mosaic. He says that he and his wife are expecting their second child in March, a son to be named Jonathon James.
Originally from Des Plaines, Ill., Heather moved to Milwaukee to earn a B.A. in journalism from Marquette University. With a tongue-twisting last name like Leszczewicz, it's best to go into a career where people don't need to say your name often.
However, she's still sticking to some of her Illinoisan ways (she won't reform when it comes to things like pop, water fountain or ATM), though she's grown to enjoy her time in the Brew City.
Although her journalism career is still budding, Heather has had the chance for some once-in-a-lifetime interviews with celebrities like actor Vince Vaughn and actress Charlize Theron, director Cameron Crowe and singers Ben Kweller and Isaac Hanson of '90s brother boy band Hanson.
Heather's a self-proclaimed workaholic but loves her entertainment. She's a real television and movie fanatic, book nerd, music junkie, coffee addict and pop culture aficionado.
