Top Stories New Orleans

New Orleans | James Demaria is an advertising and fashion photographer living in NYC.  The most recent work on his website is Vin Diesel’s stunning wife half-naked on the Brooklyn Bridge, so I liked him from the start.

James and a crew recently spent two weeks in New Orleans, filming a documentary on Kermit Ruffins.  James described the filming process as a “gonzo journalistic experience of trying to keep up with him [Kermit] on his home turf.”  The crew planned their visit on a typical jam-packed New Orleans weekend.  They experience everything from Kermit’s weekly Bullet’s and Vaughan’s gigs, the Prince of Wales second line, the USS New York floating down the foggy Missisippi, and many other captivating happenings.   The film features appearances by Dr. John, Irvin Mayfield, Uncle Lionel Batiste, Reverend Goat, David Simon, and others.  Kermit even gets a huge Fleur-de-Lis tattoo on his chest!

What is Treme Life about?

The project started as a film about Kermit Ruffins but has turned into so much more. It’s about the spirit of the people of New Orleans, the musicians who have worked so hard to help bring excitement as well as money back to the city. It’s also about the Treme. It’s about it’s history and current events, such as gentrification and how it is affecting a historical African-American community.

Kermit is still the main focus, as he is a remarkable man who exemplifies all that is New Orleans. He’s like a ghost of an almost-forgotten era—guys like him and Uncle Lionel Batiste, even Doctor John. When you talk to these guys or watch them perform, you can close your eyes and feel as though you’re in a movie about the time when Storyville still existed or another era that can never be duplicated once it is gone.

I saw your work last year in the Times Picayune, when Kermit visited Louis Armstrong’s home in NYC.  Did the documentary stem from that?

I have been a long-time fan of Kermit’s, from the first time I moved to New Orleans in 1994 and heard him play. Last year, I decided to get myself involved back in the New Orleans scene. I had lived there with my wife up until Katrina and have been desperate to get down at every possible chance to do photo shoots. I contacted Kermit’s long-time manager, Tom Thompson, and he set the wheels in motion. Kermit met me one night before a show at Vaughan’s, and we got along right off the bat. We did some portraits that night (and some drinking). Then he invited me over to Sidney’s in the Treme the next night to do some more (of both).

A few months later, Tom got in touch with me. He said that Kermit was coming up to NYC for a show at Lincoln Center and a trip to the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona, Queens, with writer Larry Blumenfeld. Would I like to tag along and shoot some footage? The story was to run in the Times Picayune.

So you tagged along?

I did better than tag along. I had my assistant, Wes, book a limo from his family’s company, and we picked Kermit up and headed out there in style. We listened to Pops the whole way out to Queens and all but fell out of the car at the director of the museums feet because we were so excited to get inside. (That, and there was a large supply of bud and Bud Light in the car.)  We got the grand tour of the house, and Kermit got to play his trumpet in Pop’s office. And then to the delight of the neighborhood, he stepped out on the terrace and serenaded the populace. A woman that lived next door came out with great excitement. She had known Louis. Her mother was a nurse and actually came over and pronounced Mr. Armstrong dead back in 1971. She thought Kermit was amazing and actually wanted to get in the limo with us and come party at PJ Clarke’s in NYC afterward.—and we almost brought her!  However, she was in her 80s, and it was probably better that we didn’t. The show at Lincoln Center was unreal as well. Kermit killed it.

Describe the filming process with Kermit.

This is my first film. I have been a photographer for the past 15 years and have mostly worked in the high-paced fashion and advertising world. I thought it would be fun to take the energy and chaos from that environment and try to use it to make a film about something I love. And it was chaotic. I mean, it’s New Orleans through the eyes of Kermit Ruffins. Kermit is a dynamo of energy and fun. When I left him each night, I was ready to crawl into the nearest dark hole and still felt like that the next morning. And there he’d be to meet us all, fresh shaved and in a great mood. I think the energy translates very well.

I brought some close friends from the industry in as my crew—guys that I knew would keep late hours and still do their jobs. They pulled through with flying colors. No time for hangovers when you have to chase Kermit on I-10 with his barbecue smoking behind him. We filmed over 26 hours of footage on 2 hi-definition cameras, in addition to the 5000+ stills I shot.

…And did I mention it was my bright idea to drive down from NYC so the crew could bond? By the time we hit Mississippi, no one wanted to talk, and a camera guy and I almost came to blows on the side of the highway. Next time we fly.

Where in the film-making process are you?

Right now I’m not thinking past finding the right editor to work with. Just having the website www.tremelife.com   has helped me to get some amazing inquiries from some top-notch people. Emmy winners even. People seem to think that this is a fantastic idea about a fantastic musician. And since New Orleans seems to be having another swan song, people are hot to jump on a project that takes place there.

When’s your next trip to New Orleans? Any filming left?

We’re pretty much set with the first film, but we’re hoping to come back in December for Kermit’s 45th birthday party and then again in January when he’s back in the studio.

Will the screening be in New Orleans?

I am most certainly planning the debut of this gem in the city of my dreams—maybe put a giant screen under the I-10 overpass in the heart of the Treme. Of course, Kermit would have to set up his cooker to have a really good time.

Parting words?

From my heart…I love you New Orleans.

View the trailer and find out more information: http://www.TremeLife.com