PITTSBURGH, PA.- Andy Warhol’s niece—photographer and filmmaker Abby Warhola—and her partner—visual artist and filmmaker Jesse Best—are launching a $175,000 Kickstarter campaign through Warhola Films to produce UNCLE ANDY: The Andy Warhol Family Film , a feature-length documentary film about the Pop Art icon. The unique
UNCLE ANDY Kickstarter campaign will be live from March 3 to April 3.
UNCLE ANDY will pull back the curtain like never before to reveal the untold story of one of the most celebrated artists in history through the eyes and voices of those who knew him best since the day he was born, his immediate family—the Warholas of Pittsburgh. This fresh, intimate portrait of Andy’s life, work, and legacy, from humble son of a working class Steel City family to legendary artist and sovereign of the infamous Silver Factory scene, will be brought to life by siblings, nieces, nephews, and others.
“Listening to the public and media talk about my uncle while I was growing up was always so different from how my family described him around the dinner table,” Abby said. “Sure he was eccentric and world famous, but to us he was always just Uncle Andy. That’s the side of him Jesse and I aim to capture in our film—the gentle, charming, and talented Andy Warhol behind closed doors.”
Utilizing their unprecedented access to Andy’s family, Abby and Jesse have been documenting the Warholas and their memories of Andy for the past several years. They have already shot countless hours of footage for UNCLE ANDY , including rare appearances by family members who have since passed away. When Abby's grandfather—Andy’s oldest brother and celebrated artist Paul Warhola—died at age 91, the filmmakers decided to translate their archival footage into a feature-length documentary film before the valuable oral and visual histories were lost.
The many relatives who will appear in UNCLE ANDY to share their memories of Andy Warhol include, among several others:
● Paul Warhol, Andy's oldest brother, and a former scrap dealer and celebrated artist;
● Anne Warhola, Andy's sister-in-law, and wife of artist Paul Warhola;
● Paul C. Warhola, Andy’s oldest nephew, and a church pastor;
● Eve Busse, Andy’s oldest niece, and a holistic practitioner;
● Mary Lou Warhola, Andy’s niece, and Warhola family photographer and a Psanky artist;
● George Warhola, Andy’s nephew and scrap dealer, who lived with Andy and helped oversee his operations at the Factory in the mid 80's;
● James Warhola, Andy’s nephew, and a world-renowned artist, known for his contributions to MAD magazine, cover art for 300+ books, and his own children’s book, Uncle Andy's ;
● Madalen “Maddie” Warhola, Andy’s niece, and a screen printer;
● Marty Warhola, Andy’s nephew, and a scrap dealer and artist.
The $175,000 raised through the UNCLE ANDY Kickstarter campaign will cover all production and post-production expenses. In accordance with Kickstarter.com guidelines, the filmmakers have 30 days to reach their crowdsourcing goal and then move forward in creating their story. As a reward for contributing to the campaign, Warhola Films will be offering contributors the opportunity to win a visit to the childhood home of Andy Warhol for a traditional Carpatho-Rusyn dinner with his family, T-shirts, signed limited edition prints, and original Warhola family art.
