The true story of an urban phantom &

the murder capital that raised him

The eighties were a peculiar time in the history of the nation’s capital. Even before Mayor Marion Barry was caught on camera smoking crack, D.C. had acquired a nasty reputation as the most dysfunctional city in America. "The United States’ political headquarters is fast becoming the murder capital of the U.S., with more than one killing per day," London’s Daily Telegraph told readers in 1989, "It is infested with drugs the streets are patrolled by an army of beggars the city is corrupt, inefficient and extremely dangerous."

The D.C. of newspapers, however, was not always a version that residents recognized. In their new film, urban culture expert Roger Gastman and music video director Josef Pattisall take on the loaded questions of how bad the nation’s capital really was and why. Blending exclusive interviews and archival footage, these Washington natives aim to offer the most comprehensive portrait to date on this critical decade. The development of Go-Go, D.C.’s distinctive style of urban music, racial tensions, sensationalist media, crack and corruption, will all be important pieces of this story.

Thankfully, after years of hesitation, this extremely private character is ready to open up about his twisted path to stardom.

Playing tour guide through the historical journey is one of the few people who knew every block of the city during this conflicted time: graffiti legend Cool Disco Dan. The urban phantom, as the Washington Post called him, silently ruled the district during the height of the crack epidemic. Along the sides of metro tunnels, across billboards and walls in every neighborhood, his distinctive tag announced D.C. was his city. Ironically, as intrigue around his identity grew, his illegal scrawl became a unifying force. At the peak of his reign, he drew the admiration of police officers, drug lords and sheltered suburbanites, alike.

Thankfully, after years of hesitation, this extremely private character is ready to open up about his twisted path to stardom. From his unusual vantage point, he is able to slice through the layers of myth surrounding crews, Go-Go and cultural order on the streets. As the film follows him through mental institutions, warring neighborhoods and vibrant shows, he will help carry viewers straight to the heart of the real D.C.

About the Creators

Executive Producer Roger Gastman has previously produced three films, including the feature length graffiti documentary, Infamy. With deep roots in graffiti and street art, he is a trusted mediator between underground art scenes and mainstream culture. He has founded and published the highly respected pop culture magazines, While You Were Sleeping and SWINDLE, as well as more than a dozen pivotal books on urban culture. His book, Free Agents: A History of Washington D.C. Graffiti and exhibit, by the same name, was met with widespread critical acclaim.

Director Joseph Pattisall, the founder of Wraith Films, has been working in film for more than a decade. His unique cinematic vision has made him the director of choice for numerous punk, hardcore and hip-hop artists. His music videos have frequently appeared on MTV2 and BET’s Rap City and one point he produced a cable music show. Personally involved in D.C.'s graffiti's scene, he approaches the subject with astute understanding.

Producer Caleb Neelon is an author, artist, and expert on global urban culture. His investigative travels have taken him around the world, resulting in books such as Graffiti Brasil and Street World: Urban Culture from Five Continents, and a monograph of his own artwork, Caleb Neelon's Book of Awesome. He is an editor at Swindle and a frequent contributor to Print, Juxtapoz, and other art and culture publications. He is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.