In 2003 and 2004 Johanna "Joe " Lee and I made a short mini documentary called "Jo's Story,Stayn  Alive".  It is a 9 min. video based on some interviews we did together. Video/Computer supreme guru Hannah Chauvet and many students and teachers at Berkeley City College helped me produce this video. Without their help, it would have not been completed!  The videe celebrated its premiere at the Independent Film Festival at Belladonna in 2004.
It was also shown at screenings at the Parkway Theater and the El Cerrito Theater
and smaller venues like Changemakers Books & Gifts and more recently at The Space.
It was acknowledged at the Berkeley Media Film Festival for an award in excellence
for a mini documentary. 
Jo was so honest and open to tell her story to me.  I wanted to give her an opportunity
to tell a little bit about her life on the streets, her battles with mental illness, alcoholism,
and homophobia.  It was an eye opener to the many people who saw this film.
Jo was very proud of her story and always wanted to do a satirical comedic film with me.
We did shoot plenty of footage in her home in Sonoma County and had a lot of laughs
together.  
Sadly, Jo-Joey-Johanna Lee died in October, 2009 after a long  battle with mental illness, drug addiction, and major mismanagement by the "systems" that did not appreciate her brilliance, humility, wacky sense of humor, child-like-warrior two-spirited nature.  During her last few months, Joey spent many days in intensive care,hooked up on machines, struggling to breathe.  She lost her home, Section 8 housing privileges and was forced to live  and survive on the streets again. Joe dealt with several major physical disabilites with her major organs beginning to fail.
 
Joe Lee passed peacefully in the arms of her dear friend V Kingsley...she had daily love & support
from Artemesia.  Even though  Ardys  and Thyme helped her immensely with housing in the past, Joe found solace  in a hospice in Santa Cruz during her final days.
She was loved by many and she loved big in return by so many people. She always had a loving heart and a forgiving nature.


I will remember her always for her fun loving spirit and her amazing insights on life and human nature, her love of animals, and that mane of crazy red Viking hair! RIP  YOU ARE STAYN ALIVE !!! Love and miss u, Joey.....

"Jo's Story, Stayn Alive" Premiere at Belladonna, Berkeley, Ca
Copies of this DVD are for sale. $25.00 per copy.  Please contact me at rocknfranny@gmail.com

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Jo was so proud of  all of  our work in this film so  when I received this in Berkeley, I gave her a copy of this and she hung it in her room.  Although Jo was so talented and creative, she was seldom recognized in this life time.  Finally,
some people in finally knew what her close friends all along!