Millions of years ago, humans began documenting the world around them. They found several ways to do this. They painted on rock walls, both outside and inside caves, depicting aspects of their lives, including the animals they encountered. They carved figurines and painted their bowls and tools. They painted their bodies. When they learned language, they told stories about life from one generation to the next.
Today, among many other ways, we have film, video, and photography to tell stories and document the world around us. This book chronicles documentaries on a wide range of subjects. It reviews and reflects on these stories – their subjects, how they were recorded, and perhaps why.
If you want to tell nonfiction stories in a documentary style, you will find examples to help you choose a style and genre. Watch and study these documentaries.
If you enjoy documentaries, you will find some of the best in this book.
Our purpose is to explore the world of documentary films and other media, review and reflect on the subject, production methods, and how effectively they communicate their stories to us. Will they last as long as those paintings on the walls of caves in France and elsewhere? Time will tell. In the interim, you can decide for yourself.
A textbook for an introductory course on dictatorship at Authoritarian University, by James R. Martin. A satirical crash course in becoming a dictator.
Written in the style of a mock textbook, Dictatorship 101 – Leadership Skills for Beginners combines humor, history, and fake leadership training to illustrate how authoritarians—past and present—seize and cling to power. From Mussolini’s balcony rants to modern memes, the book breaks down the dictator’s playbook while weaving in a serialized fictional story about three ambitious climbers: a lawyer, a coach, and a billionaire-turned-politician. “Authoritarianism is no laughing matter,” Martin says, “but perhaps the best way to recognize its tricks is with satire and irony.
Author James R. Martin, an Emmy Award–winning writer and longtime local university professor, has published a satirical ‘textbook’ on authoritarian rule. What does it take to silence critics, rewrite the rules, and declare yourself the Supreme Leader of the world? According to author James R. Martin, it all starts with a good playbook. Enter Dictatorship 101: Authoritarian Leadership Skills for Beginners, a darkly humorous parody “how-to” guide. “My tenth book since leaving university teaching is a candid look at who authoritarians are and how they get there.” – J Martin.
Dictatorship 101 Authoritarian Leadership Skills for Beginners
Author: James R. Martin
Paperback: 143 pages | 6 × 9 in. | ISBN 979-8-9855287-8-7 (Amazon)
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“In a seemingly paradoxical way, the monks of Shaolin, the birthplace of Chinese Zen and Kung Fu, pursue Buddhist peace and enlightenment. The film examines the life of the young boys, monks, and others at the monastery through the year’s seasons.” Written and Directed by Hongyun Sun, Ph.D., Beijing Film Academy.” –
“Director Sun’s film showcases life in the Shaolin Monastery, the birthplace of Chinese Chan and Kung Fu. She follows several monks and a Ph.D. candidate conducting fieldwork to explore the philosophy of peace and enlightenment through martial arts. It depicts their daily meditation, martial arts practice routines, and challenges outside the temple. The film portrays the realities of their lives and unwavering commitment to their chosen path, featuring ordinary mortals instead of Kung Fu heroes or Saint Monks.”
Into the Shaolin, a feature-length documentary has finished production at the Shaolin Temple in China. Shaolin is the birthplace of Kung Fu and Ch’an Buddhism, a cultural mecca for many followers in China and worldwide. The documentary is directed by Hongyun Sun of Beijing Film Academy in China. The documentary is being screened in film festivals worldwide.
The Into the Shaolin Story
Within the ancient monastery and daily rituals, Into the Shaolin documentary delves into the unknown personal experiences of modern monks and others at the Shaolin Temple. In today’s world, where the Internet plays a prominent role, the connection between the monks of Shaolin and the outside world has changed. There are new conflicts and resolutions concerning traditional customs, Chinese Ch’an (Zen is a branch of Ch’an outside China), love, fame, fortune, and Kung Fu practice.
Xiao Shami
Heng Kun’s father died at a young age. His mother remarried, keeping his younger brother and sending young Heng Kun to Shaolin Temple to study. He became Xiao Shami, excellent at Kung Fu with the Shaolin Temple Wushu Group. The Internet brought him Into contact with his mother, who he misses. He loves his life at Shaolin but wants to explore the outside world and possibly reconnect with his mother and brother.
Shi Yanzi and Marta Neskovic
Shi Yanzi, a Shaolin Temple farmer, was born in 1978. He has been the head of the Shaolin Temple Wushu Regiment. Master Yanzi actively practices a style of farming meditation at Shaolin Temple. He organically combined farming and Ch’an culture. Four brothers and sisters in Yanzi’s family followed him to Shaolin. Shi Yanzi, Ch’an cultivates the 800 acres at Shaolin Temple year-round. He has strong notions about Ch’an Buddhism and farming.
Marta Neskovic, a 26-year-old doctoral student from the University of Belgrade in Serbia, studies at Shaolin Temple. She dresses in gray garments like the monks and students. She practices Kung Fu and learns Ch’an Buddhism and the Chinese language. At the same time, she is working on her thesis. Marta’s story is about adjusting to life at Shaolin and keeping in tune with her family and friends.
Shi Yanzhuang
Shi Yanzhuang is the general coach of the Washu group at Shaolin. His martial arts, Wei Zhen Shaolin, and performances have been praised globally. His philosophy brings Ch’an practice to the external performance of Kung Fu.
Some monks at Shaolin are orphans who find their way to the temple.
Shi Yanyong
“Who am I?” Shi Yanyong does not know his birthday, has no parents, and does not know his exact age. At ten, he followed a Taoist priest from Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau to Shaolin Temple, where the priest abandoned him. He grew up at Shaolin. Encouraged by the Abbot, he accomplished many things, from Kung Fu and meditation to poetry and living in the mountains. His life and search for identity are part of the story of Into the Shaolin.
These Shaolin residents and others have unique stories about their lives at Shaolin. They relate what it means to them, the conflicts, struggles, and who they are now. These compelling, interweaving stories reveal much about contemporary life today at Shaolin Temple. Set against the pallet of culture and history of Shaolin Temple, they paint a vivid picture few have seen.
Watching the documentary film, “ruth weiss: the beat goddess” you can’t help but fall in love with “ruth.” She is a contemporary of Kerouac, Ferlinghetti, Ginsberg, Burroughs, and others. Why is her name not familiar? You start to wonder why she has been a stranger all these years. The obvious answer is quite simple as “ruth” and the documentary will inform us. In the 1950’s women poets did not get published or given any attention. The film documents “ruth’s” life and work at the same time as it explores significant moments in social and literary movements beginning with the “beat generation.”
“ruth” in San Francisco 1950’s
“ruth weiss: the beat goddess,“ is a well-made contemporary documentary, directed by Melody C. Miller introducing “ruth weiss,” her life’s work and sojourn. It is a biography and an exploration of the world “ruth” lived in from her birth in Germany, in the year 1928 to her death in California in 2020. The narrator of the film is “ruth weiss.” Her story. It appears that she was interviewed and also filmed reading and/or performing her work with a trio of musicians when she was in her late 80’s. She is seen in the film reading her poetry at a Women’s March in 2019 at the age of 91. ”ruth” is articulate and a great storyteller. People who know about her life add commentary and insight. “Herb Caen dubbed “ruth weiss” as ‘The Goddess of the Beat Generation.”
Watch the trailer:
“ruth” read her poetry with jazz musicians early on. “In the 1950’s, she organized the first poetry readings in North Beach cafes and bars providing a platform to many poets.” The documentary reveals that she was among the very first “beat poets” reading her work to Jazz. Casual friends, she and Jack Kerouac exchanged writing Haiku poems before he became famous with “On the Road.”
The documentary uses creative imagery to accompany some of her poetry visualizing historic moments in “ruth’s” life. It has animated recreations of past events done in an artistic style by Ketai Rivera an Bijiao Liu. Certain poems read by “ruth” are heard as a modern dancer performs interpretive, moving visual imagery. Music also brings to life the poetry, while “ruth” performs with a trio of jazz musicians in many scenes or reads voice over to music. In addition to the live video the film makes extensive use of archival photographs of “ruth” and events during her life. This story is entertaining and greatly informative. Anyone interested in poetry and the social impact of the “beat generation,” must watch this film.
Melody C. Miller directed, shot, and edited this documentary which has won numerous awards. Recently it received the 2020 Maverick Spirit Award from the Cinequest Film Festival given to influential individuals who embody the independent and innovative mindset. Previously awarded to Werner Herzog, Harrison Ford, Jackie Chan and many others.
“A beautiful and atmospheric celebration of a creative soul, ruth weiss: the beat goddess will be streaming on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Tubi, Xumo, Plex, Google TV, Hulu, Kinema, Kanopy, and more from ruth weiss’ birthday on June 24, 2022, and available on PBS channels on August 28th, 2022. “
Happy Birthday “ruth weiss!”
Review by James R Martin, writer, documentary filmmaker.
Have you ever wondered why certain successful, wealthy, celebrities get to a point in their lives where they choose to take their own lives? Road Runner – A Film About Anthony Bourdain, directed by Morgan Neville might shed some light on how someone gets to this point in their life.
One Controversial issue regarding the film.
While this film uses a documentary format it has a one distracting difference. In several places it uses voice over created to sound like Bourdain created by an artificial intelligence program that learns to mimic human voices. Nowhere in the film does it mention that Bourdain’s voice is synthetic in places. A modest subtitle when this occurs could have solved any problem in this regard. It is presented in such a way that the audience might think that Bourdain said these things. Apparently, he never said these words aloud, he wrote them down, at least in one instance.
There is a false notion that real documentaries are somehow objective. Documentaries are not objective; they are subjective by default because they are made by humans. All documentaries have a point-of-view. Having an actor read voice over to narrate a film does not make it fiction because narrators are identified, and the audience knows what is being said is narration. But once a documentary filmmaker begins to “re-create” scenes, or use actors to play characters in the film, it becomes fiction. Is voice over created by AI software to imitate a character in the film using an actor? It makes one wonder what else in the film might be manipulated beyond actuality.
The Story
The documentary Road Runner begins with the fact that Bourdain took his own life on June 8, 2018, a few weeks before his 62nd birthday on June 25th. He hung himself in France while working on a new television series. Since this fact is known by all, it seems like a good idea to get it out of the way and go back into Bourdain’s past to learn who he was and how he got to this point in his life. Bourdain’s journey as a chef, television food show host, and celebrity is traced through interviews with family, friends, colleagues, and through the use of archival footage. During the one hour-fifty-eight-minute story we first meet young Anthony Bourdain who essentially begins to narrate his own life story. As time progresses the viewer gets to know Bourdain through his actions, words, family and good friends. By the end of the story perhaps there is some insight into Bourdain’s melancholy, the reason and method of ending his life.
Trailer
Road Runner, A Film about Anthony Bourdain is a strong documentary that lets the viewer get to know Bourdain in many ways. Bourdain was a talented, intelligent person who evolved over the years in different ways. We follow him through two marriages and the joy of being a parent. Later in life an affair that caused him to take a strong advocacy position publicly.
Throughout his life Bourdain seemed somewhat overwhelmed by his success even though he stepped up and learned quickly to deal with each new phase. The personality seen on the television series was the real Bourdain, but he had another private side to that personality that he shared with his close friends and family. It is clear from the beginning of the documentary that there is a romantic side to Bourdain that comes out in his writing and personal relationships. He enjoyed celebrity but in some ways like an observer of his own fame.
A Documentary Worth Seeing
Road Runner, A Film About Anthony Bourdain, directed by Morgan Neville is worth seeing. It is a well edited story that keeps pace with Bourdain’s constantly moving style of life. Over many decades Bourdain spent most of his time traveling 250 or so days per year. The film shows behind the scenes views of those days of “gathering frequent flyer miles,” as Bourdain alludes to on one occasion. For anyone who watched Bourdain on television, read his books or followed his career it offers a deeper understanding of the man and his travels. The film brings insight into celebrity, success and its impact on one person’s life.
Review by James R Martin, documentary writer/director, author.
America, first met Michelle Obama as the wife of Presidential Candidate Barack Obama and then as First Lady. Over the next eight years she became one of the most admired First Lady’s in history. This biographical documentary explores who Michelle Obama was before that time and who she has become more recently. Michelle Obama: Life after the White House is a well-made insightful story written, directed and edited by Jordan Hill, about Michelle Robinson Obama growing up in South Chicago, her education at Princeton and Harvard Law School, her law career and ultimately her meeting Barack Obama. Followed by life in the White House and life afterward. Why today she remains extremely popular and well regarded for her achievements.
Documentary film biographies may take a number of forms. Michelle Obama: Life after the White House looks at her public persona and her transition from private life to public. The documentary appears to be drawn, in part, from Michelle Obama’s book Becoming Michelle Obama. The film, like the book looks at Michelle Obama’s roots, how she found her voice and her role as a Mother and First Lady. Becoming was published in 24 languages. It was the highest selling book published in the United States in 2018. One million copies were donated to First Book an organization that provides books to children.
The documentary film Michelle Obama: Life after the White House uses past and more recent interviews with her and others. Also, public and televised appearances of Michele Obama, commentary by a number of people including journalist Ashley Pearson and Professor Natasha Lindstaedt. There is extensive use of archival photographs dating back to Michelle’s youth. She talks about the major influence of her parents and family on her and her life. How her parents encouraged her to find her path though education. Now a mother herself Michelle Obama carries on the tradition with her daughters.
Michelle Obama’s parents and extended family are middle and working-class people who passed on the value of education and work ethics. The film explores her dedication and motivations for her progress and life choices. This includes her meeting and ultimately marrying Barack Obama. At the time she was a lawyer working for a top Chicago law firm, where Obama was hired after graduating from Harvard law school himself. The film looks at how their relationship developed. Michelle is wife, friend and trusted advisor.
The documentary discovers how Michelle had to make some adjustments to her public image as the Presidential candidate’s wife and later as First Lady. It is interesting because the film shows that this transition was mostly Michelle becoming herself, educated, warm, funny at times, and sincere. Michele’s warmth and friendliness is demonstrated in one instance when even though no one is supposed to touch the Queen of England, the Queen welcomed Michelle putting her arm around her. The queen responded by reaching around to hold Michelle. Later she invited Michelle to share her car, even thought that also is taboo.
There is a good blend of interviews, photographs, and action used to tell the story. Two key commentators help narrate the story along with others who have come to know Michelle Obama. Editing is well paced.The documentary makes use of archival family photographs and other photographs to help tell the story. Also, some footage of Barrack and Michelle Obama, including his speaking at an event about Michelle that is quite moving. Michelle Obama: Life after the White House is an interesting, entertaining and uplifting, biographical documentary about a person, a confident woman who is inspirational to all, but in particular to young women who can look to Michelle Obama as a role model in their lives.
Legacy Distribution Synopsis: “Former First Lady MICHELLE OBAMA’S story has just begun. The Obama’s have remained quite busy with their new life of activism which includes their issue-oriented production company, Higher Ground, which won an Oscar for Best Documentary in 2020. Mrs. Obama’s autobiography, Becoming, has become the best-selling memoir of all time and even won a Grammy following the publication of her book. Get lost in the incredible journey of this modern-day First Lady’s story in the making.”
The feature-length biography is now widely available, including Amazon Prime: https://amzn.to/2XqTne5
DocumentaryReview by James R (Jim) Martin
James R (Jim) Martin is an Emmy, award winning producer, writer, director of film, television, video, multimedia and digital media productions. He has lectured on documentary subjects internationally. Most recently in several universities and forums in China. He directed the documentary filmmaking course at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida. He has taught directing at University of Central Florida and Film Production at Columbia College in Chicago.
Author: Create Documentary Films, Videos and Multimedia – Third Edition 2014, Actuality Interviewing and Listening – 2017, Listen Learn Share, 2018, Documentary Directing and Storytelling, 2019. Editing Documentary and Fiction, to be published soon.
Directing Credits include two Emmy nominations and an Emmy Award for PBS documentary – Fired-up Public Housing is My Home. The Chicago Film Festival Golden Plaque for Best Network Documentary for Emmy nominee, Wrapped In Steel, also seen nationally on PBS stations. Telly Award 2018, JP’s Wish documentary, Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Available in print or digital formats at Amazon and Apple.
Office and Home Tai Chi is a new book from Real Deal Press written by Yue Zhang. It introduces practical Tai Chi and Xing Qi Tai Chi designed to be practiced at the office or at home. Author Yue Zhang’s Tai Chi exercises incorporate the natural massage of acupuncture points that are known as the Meridian System in traditional Chinese Medicine. This new, beautifully illustrated English translation of Office And Home Tai Chi offers clear step-by-step instructions for each exercise in two areas.
First, five limber up sequences that will take about ten minutes to do. Second, the Xing Qi Tai Chi exercise which takes about six minutes. The author believes that doing these exercises each morning or during a break at work will keep the body fit and enhance overall health and immunity. These Tai Chi practices are very practical for those who need to work from home during health emergencies.
Clear step-by-step graphics and text
Each exercise is demonstrated graphically and includes written instructions for each of the various positions in the exercise process. These are Tai Chi moves anyone can do. Instructions that are easy to follow and remember. The moves for each exercise do not require a large space to practice. They can be done with ease in your office cubicle during a break or at home in the living room or on the patio.
Demonstration of a Limber up exercise – Office and Home Tai Chi.
Born in Shandong China, the author Yue Zhang holds a master’s degree from Shandong Normal University. He majored in Physical Education as an undergraduate and earned his Masters in Native Traditional Sports. He has excellent abilities in Kung Fu, Tai Chi, and traditional healthcare technologies.
Office and Home Tai Chi includes two parts, Limber Up Exercise and Xing Qi Tai Chi – Moving Meditation Exercise. It is a combination of physical exercise and therapy for modern people to keep fit in the office or at home.
Multiple illustrations Acupuncture Meridian System Traditional Chinese Medicine
Office and Home Tai Chi is based on the ancient Chinese theory of health care including the running laws of blood, Qi (氣)- Vital Energy Flow, and Jing Luo (經絡) system-Meridian and Collateral Channels.
Office and Home Tai Chi has removed tedious movements and kept the most important and worthiest elements. Furthermore, it incorporates Tu Na (吐納)- Breathing Exercises and Moving Meditation strengthening the muscles and bones, even nourishing the viscera (various organs in the body).
Review by
Real Deal Press – Publisher of Office and Home Tai Chi
Who is Jennifer Aniston? Is she “More Than Friends?” According to a new hybrid-style biographical documentary titled Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friends, she is quite a bit more than Rachel Green, the character she played in the long-running, ten-season TV series “Friends.” Her crucial role in Friends won her 16 Golden Globe awards, SAG, and Emmy nominations with three wins. She has had a spectacular career that includes Friends and a long series of popular, successful films. Aniston has accomplished much, but not many people and fans realize how far she has come. This film brings everyone up to date.
The documentary Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friends follows Aniston’s transition to film in ‘Bruce Almighty’ (2003), ‘The Break-Up’ (2006), ‘Marley and Me’ (2008), ‘Just Go with It’ (2011), ‘Horrible Bosses’ (2011), Horrible Bosses 2 (2013) and ‘We’re the Millers’ (2013), each with over $200 million in box office receipts. She received positive reviews for ‘Office Space’ (1999), ‘The Good Girl’ (2002), ‘Friends With Money’ (2006), ‘Cake’ (2014) and ‘Dumplin’’ (2018). Life came full circle with a return to television in 2019 on Apple TV+’s ‘The Morning Show’ where she earned two Golden Globe nominations and a S.A.G. award win from the first season. The film is Directed by Danielle Winter and produced by Dana Webber, ‘Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friendsis distributed by Legacy Distribution.
Trailer Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friends
Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friends uses interviews, archival coverage of Aniston, commentary by Dr. Jennifer Otter Bickerdike, Ashton Pearson, a voice-over narrator, clips from Friends, specific films, and action “B” roll to create a well-edited, informative, and entertaining sixty-minute introduction to Ms. Aniston’s life mainly focusing on her career. The documentary will be instructive to anyone unfamiliar with all the actor’s credits. The film offers fans of Jennifer Aniston many moments that touch on personal aspects of her life, like her two marriages and divorces. These events may have impacted her life, but to what extent is not explored beyond public speculation.
As portrayed in Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friends, Jennifer Aniston reveals a talented, funny, and sensitive actor who has worked hard for her success. Her successful role in Friends was not her first attempt at TV. Like most actors, she was not an overnight sensation. Ultimately, an opportunity presented itself. At the same time, she was offered the role in Friends and a role in NBC’s Saturday Night Live Comedy Show.
Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friends is a well-crafted hybrid documentary with a legitimate point-of-view regarding Ms. Aniston’s talent and career. This approach makes the documentary a must-see for any aspiring actor. There are many clips of Ms. Aniston talking or being interviewed at some event. These candid moments create some reach beyond the actor we see on the screen. Her interaction with the other actors from Friends feels spontaneous. Also, her appearances with actors from some of the movies she was in, like with Adam Sandler. But they are still not Ms. Aniston “off-screen.” One wonders what she is like in a more personal setting. Granted, this documentary is not that kind of vehicle. It is a promotional documentary about Jennifer Aniston and her many achievements.
The feature-length, inside story Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friends is now available on Amazon Prime. Watch now (links) on Amazon Prime | TubiTV
Review by James R (Jim) Martin
James R (Jim) Martin is an Emmy, award winning producer, writer, director of film, television, video, multimedia and digital media productions. He has lectured on documentary subjects internationally. Most recently in several universities and forums in China. He directed the documentary filmmaking course at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida. He has taught directing at University of Central Florida and Film Production at Columbia College in Chicago.
Author: Create Documentary Films, Videos and Multimedia – Third Edition 2014, Actuality Interviewing and Listening – 2017, Listen Learn Share, 2018, Documentary Directing and Storytelling, 2019. Editing Documentary and Fiction, to be published soon.
Directing Credits include two Emmy nominations and an Emmy Award for PBS documentary – Fired-up Public Housing is My Home. The Chicago Film Festival Golden Plaque for Best Network Documentary for Emmy nominee, Wrapped In Steel, also seen nationally on PBS stations. Telly Award 2018, JP’s Wish documentary, Make-a-Wish Foundation.
CASTE THE ORIGINS OF OUR DISCONTENTS BY ISABEL WILKERSON
NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER
Review by James R Martin
Caste The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson is for me, the missing link in a long search for why there is so much adversity between people in the U.S., all homo sapiens members of the human race. Reading Caste The Origins of Our Discontents has helped me to realize a fact that has been obvious, but not recognized by many. The reality that there is an ongoing, pervasive caste system in the United States, and it is the framework for much that has happened here in the last 400 years. Wilkerson traces the history of the caste systems in the U.S., India, and in Nazi Germany. She makes it clear that the terms “white” and “black” are artificial constructs that evolved to create the dominant tier and the subservient tier in the caste system of the U.S. The “them” and “us” system I believe many in the country are still trying to perpetuate at this very moment.
Caste The Origins of Our Discontent is written in a documentary style. The words create a visual and literal narrative for the reader. The writing is clear. It tells a story that creates a historical journey through time to reveal actuality that has been purposely ignored, swept aside, and disguised. The book’s point-of-view is factual, deeply researched, and stitched together with the antidotal personal experiences of the author and many others who have experienced firsthand aspects of the American Caste system based on skin color. It may be that many of the people who blend into the dominant tier of the caste system don’t realize consciously that they are part of that tier or that there is a caste system at all. But reading Caste will quickly lead to recognizing the manifestations of caste wherever they reside in this multi-tiered caste system.
Author Isabel Wilkerson compares the U.S. caste system to both the one in India and the one created by the Nazi’s in Germany under Hitler. You may be surprised to learn which system was in part too extreme for the Nazi’s to completely emulate in their early days.
Caste The Origins of Our Discomforts helps the reader understand the brutal caste system that was created while there were still colonies here in North America 400 years ago when slaves were first sold in Virginia. In order to perpetuate slavery, the slaves were dehumanized and pushed into the bottom rung of an emerging caste system. The colonists had already tried enslaving the indigenous people of the new world. But they found that the African slaves torn from homes far away were more suited for their purposes. Wilkerson writes: “The institution of slavery created a crippling distortion of human relationships where people on one side were made to perform the role of subservience and to sublimate whatever innate talents or intelligence they might have had.”
The origins of the caste system are traced beginning with slavery right through the civil war to the present time. Wilkerson examines the period after the civil war when slavery ended, yet the system still managed to keep African Americans in the bottom caste layer. The equivalent to the untouchables of the Indian Caste System. This process continues and reinforces itself not only in the south but throughout the entire country, even after civil rights and voting rights enacted. Today there are many instances of profiling by caste that are obvious when one becomes aware of the workings of the system. There are inescapable conclusions about what is happening in the United States at this moment in time.
The book reveals the multiple layers of the U.S. caste system based on artificial classifications between those who qualify as “white” and those who are deemed “black.” In between, there are layers, shades of Asian skin tones, brown tones, Latin’s, and others. For a time, the Irish did not qualify as white enough to become part of the dominant caste and Italians, especially Sicilians were designated to the black caste. In 1905 Cubans who had been uncertain how they would be classified in Tampa’s Ybor City were relieved to find they could sit in the “white” section of the streetcars.
“Wilkerson explores eight pillars that underlie caste systems across civilizations.” The notion of a caste system cannot be fully understood without looking at its use in other cultures and countries. Notably India and Nazi Germany. Using first person accounts and documented history Wilkerson examines and compares those occurrences with the system that exists in the U.S.
Caste The Origins of Our Discontents must be read to understand the history of the U.S., its politics, and the current state of affairs. It seems that the divisions in this country are mired in hostility by some of the population trying to protect the dominant “white” caste even though they themselves may not actually qualify to be on that upper-tier level. They take out their resentment and insecurity against what Wilkerson describes as “scapegoats” in the bottom rungs of the caste system. Caste The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson makes it possible to understand where we are today in the U.S. culturally and politically. Read Caste The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson.
Adam Sandler is an amazing talent. Successful actor, comedian, writer and producer. His track record over the years stands in testimony to his achievements and abilities. Adam Sandler: Funny Guy, is a 56:00-minute biography of Sandler and his films, directed by Danielle Winter and produced by Dana Webber. It should be well received by Adam Sandler’s fans. It spans and highlights his career right up to his new 2020, second production deal with Netflix.
Legacy Distribution reports, “Sandler, the boy from Brooklyn, did not need show biz connections to become a global superstar. Sandler has left his comedic mark on three decades of stage, screen and song. Adam’s lasting appeal has earned more than $2 billion at the box office. TV audiences got to know him as writer and performer on SNL during the early ‘90s. Forty-four films include Billy Madison (1995), Happy Gilmore (1996), The Waterboy (1998), The Wedding Singer (1998), Big Daddy (1999), Mr. Deeds (2002), 50 First Dates (2004), The Longest Yard (2005), Click (2006), Grown Ups (2010), Just Go With It (2011), Grown Ups II (2013), Blended (2014) and Murder Mystery (2019).”
“His 2019 dramatic role in the Netflix crime thriller, Uncut Gems, has yielded rave reviews and several prestigious awards. The Golden Globes, Grammy, Emmy and People’s Choice prizes have all taken note of his work. Adam remains a consistent favorite among fans who are comforted that they will always have a good time. “
Viewers of Adam Sandler: Funny Guy will gain insight into Sandler’s career and public persona. This happens in clips where Sandler interacts with the other actors in his films or is seen with friends. Clips with Henry Winkler, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman, Kevin James, Jennifer Aniston and others who have either worked with or know Sandler help give some depth to the biography. It makes for a good promotional bio on Sandler. But we need more than a newscaster style narrator reading facts, listing filmography, box office numbers and saying nice things about Sandler to make a documentary. Much of what is included is already known by Sandler fans, followers and filmgoers. Some of the best moments of the biography are when Sandler is shown being interviewed or speaking first-person. He is candid about his feelings. Adam Sandler: Funny Guy is worth watching but we really don’t learn much about Sandler and how he got to where he is currently. It is difficult to cover thirty years in 56 minutes. There are moments of insight into who Adam Sandler is, but not enough.
Adam Sandler deserves an in-depth documentary that looks at his career and how he has survived and achieved so much. It seems like Adam Sandler: Funny Guy, is a long trailer that leaves us wanting to know more about this talented, hardworking guy who happens to be funny. Perhaps the filmmakers were not able to go beyond a rather superficial public persona? What is Sandler like off-camera? Maybe Sandler is guarded about his private and working life? But a personal documentary-style biography needs to be more than archival clips and public events. To its credit Adam Sandler: Funny Guy does touch on Sandler’s issues with critical reviews of his films and performances. One of Sandler’s friends quotes John Cleese when talking about the critics and Sandler. Cleese is quoted as saying, “Critics, don’t even ignore them.”
Documentaries can be many things these days. But they should be more than a montage of clips and voice over narration. They always should inform and tell a story. A biographical documentary is no different. If it has a protagonist, tell his or her story. There should be a beginning, middle and end. Admittedly a good resume or CV tells a story of sorts. But a documentary should be more than a list of facts and achievements. Sandler’s actual story is about a guy who started out with no show business connections and apparently overcame a great deal of adversity to get to where he is today. What was the adversity? How did he do that? Where did he start? Who is his family? Why has he been able to achieve against these odds? What are the conflicts he encountered and how were they overcome? What does it take to get where he is at this time? What does it take to be a “Funny Guy?” It would be informative to meet Adam Sandler when he is not “on-stage.”
A documentary that might be inspirational in how to tell Adam Sandler’s story is Jerry Seinfeld Comedian. If this film was only about Jerry Seinfeld’s public biography and his deciding to resurrect his career as a stand-up comedian, after ending his hit TV show, it would be a rather narrowly focused and possibly a short story. But the documentary goes beyond this premise and explores a number of other issues and ideas about comedy, performing, career choices and just what it takes to be a comedian.
One of the interesting things about the Jerry Seinfeld documentary is the that it gives you a glimpse into the personality of the comedian or classic clown, the person who makes jokes on stage but has real human needs off stage. Jerry Seinfeld and maybe a couple dozen comics at any given time live a comfortable, successful life. There are scores of others living hand-to-mouth, trying to be funny.
Adam Sandler: Funny Guy is currently available on Amazon Prime. Fans of Adam Sandler and his films will enjoy the trip down memory lane, filmography of Sandler’s films and some moments with him.
Trailer
Review by James R (Jim) Martin – Writer, Director, Author.
Bob Woodward’s new book “Rage,” brings the reader in to the story as an observer to what I call a direct documentary on paper. Journalistic film and television documentaries have a long history beginning in 1960 with Primary, directed by Robert Drew and Richard Leacock. Primary initiated a form of documentary actuality that became known as “direct cinema” a style that brought the viewer in as an observer. This journalistic documentary style of reporting also has its roots in work by Edward R Murrow and Fred Friendly. Woodward is able to create a form of visual actuality with his format and writing.
Bob Woodward’s new book “Rage” is a journalistic nonfiction book but it fits the criteria of documentary work in all the best ways. It is based on seventeen recorded interviews done over a seven-month period (in person and on the phone) with the subject of the book, President Donald Trump. The quotes used in the narrative of the book are verbatim and backed up by recorded audio interviews with Trump, others or “dark sources” (not named sources) who have also been recorded or sourced as factual accounts. The book includes sixteen pages of photographs that give a face to many of the individuals involved in this story. Woodward has taken great pains in this work to include supporting documentation with a section of extensive notes on sources and references for each chapter and an index.
Robert Caro, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Power Broker writes on the book cover: “Bob Woodward, a great reporter. What is a great reporter? Someone who never stops trying to get as close to the truth as possible. There is no truth, we all know that. No one truth. No objective truth. No single truth. No simple truth or no one simple truth either. But there are facts. Hard facts. Objective facts. Verifiable facts. And the more facts you come up with the closer you come to whatever truth there is.”
Woodward’s style in Rage is to narrate the story with his subjective experience including facts, interviews, and additional information. This brings the reader into the room with Trump and others when events unfold over seven months in 2020 as the Trump administration faces the COVID-19 global pandemic. “Rage draws’ from hundreds of hours of interviews with firsthand witnesses as well as participants’ notes, emails, diaries, calendars and confidential documents.”
The Story
Rage begins in the oval office on January 28, 2020 when President Trump is told that there could be a pandemic that reaches the scale of the 1918 Spanish Flu that killed 675,000 Americans. “This is going to be the roughest thing you face,” said Robert O’Brien, the national security advisor to Trump. This while other cabinet members at the meeting did not think there was anything to worry about at that point. Even when, Matt Pottiner, Deputy national security advisor, said that China had already locked down the city of Wuhan, population 11 million. China was not being transparent about the virus and had refused help from the U.S. China also had stopped domestic air travel but not foreign travel. Sources said the disease was transmitted from person to person, but China did not disclose this. Trump asked what he should do? He was advised to stop foreign travel into the U.S. On January 31, Trump imposed restrictions on travelers from China. But according to the book, Trump’s attention was on other things, like the Super Bowl, rallies and political considerations.
This story revolves around conversations/interviews between Woodward and Trump either in person at the White House and background events taking place from January through July 2020. In addition, there are flashbacks to the relationships of Trump and Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coates. These episodes serve to establish Trump’s type of administration and the character of the President. But they also set the scene for how Trump does not really deal with the virus as most presidents would have.
Woodward’s style of writing pulls the reader into the story in a way that at times seems like it is the script for a film. But it isn’t fiction. It is actual events and statements that give insight into the handling or non-handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is scary to hear Trump content to have only 60,000 deaths knowing that as of late-September 2020 there will be 200,000 deaths nationwide. We also learn that Trump knew how severe the virus was. We hear Trump tell Woodward in February how bad this virus is, that it can kill and be transmitted in the air. At the same time Trump is telling the public not to worry, “it will go away and it’s no worse than the flu. Prior to release of the book Woodward released the actual recorded voice of Trump saying things reported in the book. This made the book feel even more like a documentary.
Rage is important, should be read and is well written. It gives insight into the personality and actions of Trump and many of those people around him like Jarred Kushner, his son-in-law. Woodward takes the reader behind the scenes. It is interesting to note that Trump consented to the interviews by Woodward after Woodward’s previous book Fear: Trump in the White House was not complimentary of Trump.
Reading the quotes from the interviews with Trump in the book brings them to life. A sense of Trump’s personality, fears and how he reacts to various subjects emerges. It seems that Trump wanted to let Woodward know something about himself, maybe that he was smart and understood how bad the virus was even though he tried to “play it down” to the country. There was also an aspect of Trump thinking he could charm or impress Woodward into writing good things about him. Woodward is fair in his style. He sticks to the facts and lets Trump have his say.
The book ends around in July. It is clear that Trump’s obsession for the past seven months was with getting re-elected. Many of the political things that are covered are coming to pass now, in September 2020, weeks before the election. In the end Woodward writes: “When his performance as president is taken in its entirety, I can only reach one conclusion: Trump is the wrong man for the job.”
Review by James R (Jim) Martin, writer, director, documentary filmmaker and professor.
Other books by James R Martin include Actuality Interviewing and Listening. And others available on Amazon and Apple Books.
Someone once asked a novelist, “which character in the story is you?” The writer responded, “all of them.” Inspiration for a story is fueled by life experience and knowledge of the subject. Some writers like Conrad believed that they needed to have certain experiences before they could write about them. Whatever the case it seems that it is imagination that ultimately creates the story. Gatsby In Connecticut: The Untold Story explores the notion of what influences F. Scott Fitzgerald’s living in Westport Connecticut with his wife Zelda may have had on his writing the novel The Great Gatsby.
Gatsby in Connecticut: The Untold Story, directed by Robert Steven Williams, begins in Westport, Connecticut where F. Scott Fitzgerald and his recent bride Zelda lived for a short time. Their house was a cottage adjacent to a large 175-acre estate owned by Frederick E. Lewis, a millionaire who was known for throwing lavish parties at his mansion. Since the central plot of The Great Gatsby has a similar situation, the question becomes, was this millionaire, with his lavish parties and the proximity of his mansion to the Fitzgerald cottage the inspiration for the novel? Most scholars up until now barely acknowledge that Fitzgerald lived in Westport. So the mystery is, was his living in the Westport cottage the inspiration for the Great Gatsby novel? The novel is set on Long Island, N.Y. not Westport, Connecticut. The Fitzgerald’s also lived in Great Neck, Long Island.
“Gatsby in Connecticut: The Untold Story was inspired by the 1996 New Yorker article by Barbara Probst Solomon, which unveiled her theory that the West Egg in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” was not based on an actual place in Long Island, but rather in Westport, Connecticut which held a special place in Scott and Zelda’s hearts.”
Watch the Trailer
Gatsby in Connecticut: The Untold Story presents its narrative against a wonderful backdrop of footage and photographs of the 1920’s in the New York and Connecticut areas. Visuals and music combine to create a feeling for the era and an understanding of the influences on Fitzgerald. A combination of interviews with knowledgeable individuals and narration by Keiv Dullea tells the story. The documentary features Sam Waterson who played in the 1974 Gatsby film. While exploring the main subject of where the inspiration for the setting of Gatsby may have come from, the documentary also looks at the trials and tribulations of being a writer to some extent. What factors might have motivated F. Scott Fitzgerald, to get his first novel published? Also how his relationship with his wife Zelda developed. How they may have collaborated on some of their novels.
Zelda and Scott
The story begins the summer Zelda and Scott spent in Westport Connecticut. In the process, we learn how Zelda and Scott met and ultimately married when his first book This Side of Paradise was published. After having been rejected two times by Scribner & Son Publishers it was finally accepted. Zelda and Scott got married immediately after it was published. The lived in New York City for a few weeks. They then moved to a cottage in Westport, Connecticut which is about 55 miles from New York City.
You don’t necessarily have to be a fan of the Gatsby novel, a literary or film buff to enjoy this documentary. It is entertaining and informative with new insights. The pace of the editing, as well as the period photographs and music keep things moving. Actor Sam Waterston, who portrayed Nick Carraway in the 1974 The Great Gatsby film says, “This film does an excellent job of capturing an important aspect of Westport’s literary history and it helps to establish the town’s rightful place in Fitzgerald’s legacy.”
Vision Film Synopsis
“”The untold story of the summer Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald lived in Connecticut which inspired one of the world’s most beloved novels: “The Great Gatsby”. Everyone knows the book, the films, and series, but who knows the truth? Track down the mystery millionaire who threw extravagant parties, uncover new evidence of the location and players, and dig deep to discover the real-life Jay Gatsby himself.”
“Initially I thought this was just a three-month project to document the Fitzgerald’s Westport period for the local historical society,” says director, Robert Steven Williams. “But as we dug deeper, we realized how important the Westport period was to both Scott and Zelda. Along the way, we uncovered academic secrets and a lawsuit to stop the leading Fitzgerald scholar from rewriting parts of Gatsby. Most important, we were able to bring to life an overlooked period of Scott and Zelda’s that had a profound impact on their lives including their art, the novels, their love.”
“Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald were larger-than-life individuals and director Robert Steven Williams was able to capture the excitement and decadence of the roaring 20’s in Gatsby in Connecticut: The Untold Story,” says Vision Films CEO/Managing Director, Lise Romanoff. “The history behind one of the world’s most beloved books and films, “The Great Gatsby”, is so intriguing that this incredible documentary will not only be loved by Fitzgerald and literary fans, but by anyone who has an interest in American history.”
Gatsby in Connecticut: The Untold Story will be available on September 1, 2020, on DVD from all major online retailers and on digital for an SRP of $4.99 – $9.99 from platforms including iTunes, Vudu, Google Play, Xbox, Amazon, and FandangoNow, as well as cable affiliates everywhere.
Director/Producer Joyce Marie Fitzpatrick and Director/Producer/DP Brian C. Shackelford. Editor, Brian C. Shackelford
Review by James R (Jim) Martin
Documentaries come in many different forms and styles but there are two important aspects needed for a serious documentary exploration. That its approach is based on objective reality (facts) and that it be informative. At the same time, a documentary is expected to be interesting to watch. The Color of Medicine: The Story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital meets all these criteria and also makes a significant contribution to the body of knowledge concerning the history of the U.S., the history of African American’s and the culture of the country.
The Color of Medicine: The Story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital is a topical, relevant, and important documentary film. The story is told in a warm and personal fashion by the people who lived and were part of the Homer G. Phillips Hospital over the years. Directed and Produced by Joyce Marie Fitzpatrick and Brian C. Shackelford the film makes use of archival footage and photographs, action, and interview footage. It is fast-paced and makes good use of archival material as well as first-person interviews. The documentary is being released by Vision Films in association with Flatcat-Productions, LLC and Tunnel Vizion Films, Inc.
Homer G Phillips Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri
The Color of Medicine: The Story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital brings to light the origins and history of this groundbreaking hospital that brought healthcare for African Americans in St. Louis at a time when it was greatly needed. After much controversy and delay the Homer G. Phillips Hospital opened in 1939 when much of the country still practiced segregation. It was the first public hospital fully staffed and administered by African Americans. This story has universal appeal and should be seen by everyone wishing to understand more about the evolution of healthcare and racial politics in the U.S. It is especially relevant today when we see the Coronavirus Pandemic taking a greater toll on minority communities where there are less or no public health care facilities.
The documentary constructs the story in a chronological fashion first showing the environment and conditions where Black Americans lived in a particular St. Louis neighborhood known as The Ville. The Ville was a small entirely black community where residents of varying education and economic levels lived and prospered as they would in a typical middle-class American family neighborhood. Building the hospital became the dream of Homer G. Phillips, a lawyer, and activist who lived in the Ville. Phillip’s efforts were instrumental in the hospital finally being built after the city of St. Louis delayed it for ten years. The opening in 1937 meant that African Americans in this area would finally be able to get state-of-the-art medical care and treatment. The clandestine closing of the hospital by the City of St. Louis in 1979 was a severe blow to the community. The closing was met with protest and rioting at the time.
Nurses graduating training at Homer G. Philips Hospital
During its existence, Homer G. Phillips Hospital became well known for the excellence of its medical staff and quality of care. It produced the largest number of black doctors and nurses in the world. “I was very proud to tell the story of the Homer G. Phillips Hospital because it truly is the Hidden Figures of black medicine,” says director Joyce Marie Fitzpatrick. “I hope everyone who sees this film can appreciate the contributions made and understands the disparities that African Americans and other minorities still face today during these turbulent times.”
“The film has taken away Best Documentary at Montreal International Black Film Festival, Gary International Black Film Festival, National Black Film Festival 2019 – Houston, Texas and I See You Awards 2019 – Detroit, Michigan, as well as being an Official Entry at several film festivals including St Louis International Film Festival, Reel World Film Festival, and Kansas City Film Fest International.” – Vision Films
The Color of Medicine: The story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital will be available on May 12, 2020, on digital for SRP of $4.99 – $9.99 from platforms including iTunes, Vudu, Google Play, Xbox, Amazon and FandangoNow, as well as cable affiliates everywhere. DVD purchase at $12.99 online at all major retailers.
Synopsis
“Boasting the largest number of black doctors and nurses in the world, Homer G. Phillips Hospital opened its doors in 1937 during a time in history when America still had segregated medical facilities. Through first-hand accounts, witness the controversial history of the hospital’s medical training and how it continues to affect the lives of its practitioners, patients, and community. While its founder attorney Homer G. Phillips was mysteriously killed, the hospital in his name thrived during the most turbulent of segregated times, allowing so many people of color to achieve greatness for the benefit of humankind.”
“The film features Dr. Earle U. Robinson Jr., a 2nd generation physician, and alumnus from Homer G. Phillips hospital, who not only shares his unique and colorful personal story but also that of his father’s who was one of the first 27 black graduates of this ground-breaking facility. Dr. Earle U. Robinson Jr. stated, “Before these events are lost with my passing, I want to make sure people have the opportunity to learn about such a monumental place in history. The best times I’ve had in my life were the years I spent at Homer G. Phillips.” – Vision Films
“The historical importance of Homer G. Phillips and the hospital named after him cannot be understated, especially at a time where individuals in the medical field are more important than ever,” says Vision Films Managing Director/CEO, Lise Romanoff. “We’re reminded now that illness does not discriminate, and this important film celebrates the contribution to medicine from the African American community.”
Trailer The Color of Medicine: The Story of the Homer G. Phillips Hospital
Maserati – 100 Years Against All Odds is a documentary that looks at Maserati’s history along with the history of auto racing. Maserati’s place in the auto-racing world is well known. What is not as well know is the struggle and survival “Against all Odds,” faced by the Maserati founders and corporation over the last one hundred years. The documentary’s combination of historic racing footage, first person interviews and narration informs and entertains at a good pace.
Maserati – 100 Years Against All Odds opens with images of the Maserati sailing and racing yacht under the Maserati Trident, as it surges through ocean swells, to convey the unrelenting spirit that propels Maserati. This documentary tells the human side of the Maserati legend as well as the evolution of the automobile brand.
Maserati Brothers
You don’t have to be an Italian automobile or auto-racing fan to enjoy this story beginning with the five Maserati brothers born between 1881 and 1888. While not all the brothers survived to start the building of Maserati racing cars in the early 1920’s, the family name quickly became known in Italian auto racing circles, and ultimately world wide. Shortly after they got started building and racing their creations, the First World War interrupted the momentum of the company. The documentary looks at one hundred years of innovation and the constant facing of adversity to keep the Maserati name, style of auto manufacture and racing alive. However, there were many great successes in racing, design and innovation over the years leading up to the present day.
Among interviewees, who help narrate the documentary are
Adolpho Orsi, Alfieri Maserati, Paolo Pininfarina, Sir Stirling Moss, Doug
Magnon, Harald J Wester and Nick Mason.
Maserati – 100 Years Against All Odds, a film by Philip Selkirk is a well-made corporate style documentary. It incorporates, exciting archival footage, interviews and voice over narration to tell the Maserati story. Editing by Dominik Nader is well paced and keeps the documentary moving from one event to the next. The Maserati story is one that shows what determination and perseverance can accomplish in the face of circumstances often beyond personal control.
Trailer
Vision Films presents the stunning documentary made with the participation of the Maserati organization, MASERATI: A HUNDRED YEARS AGAIN
Vision Films writes: “The name of Maserati has long been associated with both prestige and speed in the world of automobiles; Vision Films are proud to present the astounding official documentary, Maserati: A Hundred Years Against All Odds. Coming soon to DVD and video on demand in the US and Canada, this film, which was made with the participation of the Maserati organization, tells the story of the luxury car brand with incredible historical images and classic footage that will delight any car enthusiast.
Celebrate the long and storied history of one of the world’s most recognizable icons, Maserati. From humble beginnings into a small Italian garage to the coveted and luxurious automobile we know today, witness the evolution of the business, the brand, and the cars themselves over 100 years. Featuring interviews with the Maserati family, world-famous racers, collectors, and more.
Featuring interviews with Harald J. Wester (former CEO of Masarati), Nick Mason (Pink Floyd drummer), Sir Stirling Moss ( British race car driver), John Surtees (F1World Champion) and Giorgetto Giugiaro (legendary designer), this film by Philip Selkirk is a celebration of the long and storied history of one of the world’s most recognized icons. Maserarti: A Hundred Years Against All Odds will be available for the first time on DVD and video on demand on April 14, 2020.
Maserati: A Hundred Years Against All Odds will be available on digital on April 14 for an SRP of $4.99 – $9.99 from platforms including iTunes, Vudu, Google Play, Xbox, Amazon, and FandangoNow, as well as cable affiliates everywhere and to buy on DVD for $12.99 online at all major retailers.”
Documentary Review by James R (Jim) Martin
Documentary Directing and Storytelling is a great read for anyone with a strong interest in documentary or nonfiction storytelling. There are many critical reviews of documentary films and the stories they tell from a directing and filmmaking perspective.
Have you ever wondered how John DeLorean, the creator of the DeLorean sports car, ended up trying to do a huge drug deal to save his company? How did this successful, enterprising, intelligent, and popular person end up sitting in a room with a suitcase full of cocaine and the FBI? Framing John DeLorean is a unique documentary style film that may answer many of your questions and provide a memorable viewing experience. The film goes beyond the sensational aspects of John DeLorean’s life to explore who the man was.
Hybrid Documentary Style
Framing John DeLorean directed by Don Argott and Sheena M. Joyce is a hybrid documentary that creatively combines nonfiction and reenactments featuring a performance by Alec Baldwin as John DeLorean. In the documentary Baldwin is also himself, in and out of character, as he prepares for the role. The documentary combines the reenactments, Baldwin and other actors like Morena Baccarin as Cristina Ferrare Delorean’s wife, with actual characters as themselves, interviews, archival photographs and video. While this technique may blur the line between fiction and actuality it creates an informative, less subjective hybrid reality.
DeLorean Sports Car
John DeLorean
John DeLorean and the DeLorean automobile are legend. Framing John DeLorean is an innovative documentary incorporating reenactments to bring the legend into objective reality. The film goes beyond the DeLorean sports car and the drug deal to save the company. The film brings both nonfiction and fiction together to tell the story. Framing John DeLorean manages to create a space that feels like objective reality even though it uses actors to reenact many aspects of the DeLorean story. The fact that the film makes no pretense about the reenactments being reality is important. Baldwin and the other actors seem intent on staying as close to the actuality as possible.
Delorean’s Career
The film explores John DeLorean’s career in the automotive industry before he left to build his own car. Born in Detroit DeLorian earned an engineering degree before working for various automotive companies including Chrysler and Packard. He ultimately moved to General Motors where he quickly rose through the ranks. He was instrumental in bringing the Pontiac GTO to the nation.
Alec Baldwin as John DeLorean in Framing John DeLorean
Cinematography and editing are excellent. I watched the 109-minute film on a 13-hour flight to Beijing and did not fall asleep, so the pace must have been good. Don Argott shot the film with the Arri Alexa SXT and Scorpiolens Anamorphic Lenses according to IMDB. Archival footage includes the actual FBI drug bust of DeLorian as well as the reenactment.
Currently Available on Amazon Prime Rent or Purchase and some Delta Airlines flights in December 2019 .
Trailer
Review by James R (Jim) Martin
Jim Martin is a writer, director, professor and author. He directed independent feature documentaries seen nationally on PBS including award winning Wrapped In Steel and Emmy award winning Fired-Up!
On August 15, 1977, the “Big Ear” Radio telescope at Ohio State University received an unusually powerful radio frequency signal from outer space. The signal lasted for 72 seconds and contained what appeared to be intelligent code. It was stronger than anything in the background sky that night. It was a narrow-bandwidth signal like those generated by AM radio. To this day there has not been another signal from space like it detected. Many theories and explanations have been speculated on it but none ever proved.
Wow Signal, directed by Bob Dawson, explores the world of Radio Astronomy and the search for sentient life in the universe along with the origins of the Wow Signal. The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETA) is a well-known occupation of radio astronomy, however, it is only one aspect of the science. Radio Astronomers have mapped the known universe, discovered Quasars and twenty-thousand sources emitting radio frequencies in the universe around the earth.
Original print out of signal with note by astronomer.
Wow Signal traces the evolution of Radio Astronomy and looks at its contributions to the body of knowledge concerning the known universe. The story begins with pioneer radio astronomers like John D. Krause, who built homemade radio telescopes and fought to raise support and funds for the science. Krause and others were responsible for building “Big Ear” (designed by Krause), the first major parabolic flat reflector. The documentary moves from these humble beginnings to modern giant parabolic radio telescopes like the one at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bark, West Virginia. The documentary also looks at the contributions of Grote Reber who was a pioneer in developing parabolic radio telescopes. Reber’s 1937 radio antenna was the second ever to be used for astronomical purposes and the first parabolic reflecting antenna to be used as a radio telescope.
One interesting idea explored in the Wow Signal documentary is the Drake equation. The Drake equation is a summary of the factors affecting the likelihood that we might detect radio-communication from intelligent extraterrestrial life. According to Wikipedia:
The Drake equation is:
“where: N = the number of civilizations in our galaxy with which communication might be possible (i.e. which are on our current past light cone);
fp = the fraction of those stars that have planets
ne = the average number of planets that can potentially support life per star that has planets
fl = the fraction of planets that could support life that actually develop life at some point
fi = the fraction of planets with life that actually go on to develop intelligent life (civilizations)
fc = the fraction of civilizations that develop a technology that releases detectable signs of their existence into space
L = the length of time for which such civilizations release detectable signals into space.”
Parabolic Radio Telescope
“WOW SIGNAL was originally released at the Ohio History Center in Columbus, OH. Successfully orbiting around the festival circuit, the documentary was an Official selection in the Roswell Film Festival and Chagrin Documentary Film Festival, as well as selected Finalists in the Raw Science Film Festival and the Los Angeles Theatrical Release Competition & Awards (LATCA), where the documentary received Best U.S. Documentary Feature.” https://rssfeeds.cloudsite.builders/2020/01/06/embark-on-the-search-for-extraterrestrial-life-in-doc-wow-signal-this-month-vod-release/
Wow Signal is an award winning, well-made, historically important documentary. It is both informative and entertaining shedding light on a science that is often misunderstood and seen as having a low priority for funding. It uses both contemporary interviews and footage with archival photographs and film. Wow Signal makes a strong case for radio astronomy and the continued search for extraterrestrial life in the universe. The notion that “we are not alone,” and its ramifications are a strong motivation for continued research. The film is educational and highly recommended for anyone interested in Astronomy and/or the universe around us here on earth.
Trailer Wow Signal
TriCoast Entertainment will release WOW SIGNAL onto digital platforms 1/21/2020 (FlixFling, Vimeo on Demand, Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, and more).
Wow Signal Review by James R (Jim) Martin, author, director/producer
I Used To Be Normal – A BoyBand Fangirl Story, directed by Jessica Leski, is a documentary for anyone who has been a Fan Girl at some point in her life or knows someone who is on that path. This story evolves around at least three hardcore fan girls and one, more reflective, Beatles fan. Of course you might just be interested in the subject and enjoy the story.
I Used To Be Normal –A Boy Band FanGirl Story both informs and entertains giving insight into a phenomenon that has been around for a very long time. Female followers have been there for “heart throbs” singers like Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and many others before “Boy Band” groups emerged. In a casual way, I Used to Be Normal explores question of why someone might be a fan girl, by focusing on the lives of four women, of different ages, living in a western cultural context. They share in being die-hard fans of what the documentary classifies as Boy Band musical groups. To director Jessica Leski credit the film does allow some insight into the subject of Boy Bands and Fan Girls. As a documentary, I Used To Be Normal might fall into a social, women’s studies or even Salvage Anthropological category.
Elif is a young woman of sixteen from Long Island, New York. She is a passionate fan of a Boy Band Group called “One Direction.” Her Turkish Immigrant parents do not support her fandom or her life choices. There is Dara, from Sydney, Australia who at thirty-three has a second “coming out,” regarding her Boy Band obsession, with her female partner. In particular her obsession with Gary Barlow from the “Take That” band boy group. In the film she realizes she wants to be Gary Barlow. Twenty-five year old Sadia, living in San Francisco, is a first generation Pakistani-American. As a teenager she formed a fan club for the Back Street Boys and has developed an ongoing emotional bond with the group. One of the most interesting women is Susan, sixty-four, from Melbourne, Australia who talks about her being a fan, over the years, of the Beatles. But her appreciation seems to be more than an adolescent preoccupation with boys. Susan adds an analytic, more mature voice to being a fan over time and an appreciation for the music.
Having lived through the Beatles, Rolling Stones and other male groups with large fan bases, that might have qualified as “boy bands,” I can attest that some groups were admired by all genders for their musical abilities. Not to say that there weren’t hysterical young girls screaming and fainting at Beatles concerts. The Rolling Stones may not have developed as large a “fan girl” following as the Beetles. But not many people would have described the “Stones,” as cute back then or now.
DANA’S BAND BOY THEORY BOARD
One of the things that Dana, the “Take That” fan, does in the documentary is break down what Boy Bands have become. This is an important scene in the film, especially for anyone not aware of how boy bands are manufactured. While, One Direction, Take That and The Back Street Boys fit her description, it may be stretching it a bit to include the Beatles in that category. At best they may have become the original model for Boy Band’s, as we know them today. Boy Bands are groups of young men that are brought together by a producer to meet certain criteria. The average band’s life span is about five years. The group is created for the specific purpose of appealing to young girls and women. Their musical abilities are secondary and in some cases non-existent. But three of the women in the documentary, at whatever age, aware or not, don’t seem to care. The Beatles came together as a group on their own.
While the four women in the film represent a certain segment of fans, they do not represent all women. We are left to wonder if they are the exception rather than the rule. Do most young girls outgrow the emotional attachment these women demonstrate? The documentary does not really go there. Susan, the Beatles fan, reminisces about the music and the lyrics she remembers. The Beatles wrote all their own songs.
The documentary uses interviews with all of the women along with some archival footage of groups performing, often with girls emotionally reacting. As one of the girls in the film says, this experience is one that is a “rite of passage,” something they need to get out in their teen years. While the interviews are good, their use in the documentary seems excessive. In some cases they go off into the personal lives of the girls and you have to wonder why? How does this help us understand more about “Boy Bands” and Fan Girls? One of the girls graduates from High School. Two of the four women take walks on the beach.
TRAILER
There are no experts on this subject interviewed or quoted in the documentary. We view this behavior strictly from the point-of-view of the characters who don’t seem to know why they behave this way either. Will they grow into middle age still going to boy band concerts? How representational are they of women in general? In many respects it is refreshing to be able to observe and form our own opinions.
Cinematography and editing of the documentary are well done. The pace of the editing is slowed by the interviews with Elif and Sadia. These interviews feel a bit self-indulgent. But perhaps the message is that their parents unwillingness to support them in their lives leads them to substitute the boy bands for emotional comfort.
I Used To Be Normal – A BoyBand FanGirl Story is a documentary worth watching from many standpoints. It sheds some light of the phenomenon through the life experiences of some real fan girls. The film is non judgmental, it simply tells their stories from the inside looking out. It may help others realize they are not alone in their Boy Band fandom.
Review by James R (Jim) Martin
TriCoast Entertainment will release the film onto digital platforms (Amazon, iTunes, DirecTV, AT&T, FlixFing, InDemand, Vudu, FANDANGO, Sling/Dish) on Sept. 17th, 2019.
Common on social media are arguments about how “the media” or “the press” is unfair to a particular person or ideology. I’m not talking about dedicated (usually right-wing) propaganda outlets like Fox News or Breitbart, I’m thinking of the mainstream press.
No human being is “objective.” We are all subjective in our thought process. Anyone who claims to be objective proves they are not, by making that claim. What criteria do they think make’s them objective? Even all of humanities Gods are subjective.
Most journalists realize they can’t help but be subjective, so they try to use Objective Reality criteria to filter what they report, and then, decide if what they are reporting is factually accurate? For example, a politician makes a statement, it is then fact checked to find if it is “true” or “false.” This is why so many politicians do not give a straight yes or no answer. They try to “spin” their reply into some gray area. The reporter is not biased because they report a false statement. If one person is making more false statements than other people, they will get more false statements reported. A journalist is remiss if they do not report that something is not true. One wonders if liars should be allowed to reach millions of people with a lie, that then needs to be refuted. More people may hear the lie than the fact that it is a lie.
No one is claiming that the press is not subjective. The problem is how the subjectivity is handled. Only those who constantly tell falsehoods complain that their lies are being reported and that this is somehow unfair. Some politicians are clever and slide their lies into the middle of what they are talking about. So that a sentence is not really being taken out of context. It is being taken out of a bunch of spin and noise. Good journalists, listen to what is being said as well as how it is said.
For more on this subject read Actuality Interviewing and Listening, by James R Martin. Available on Amazon.com
Actuality Interviewing and Listening techniques allow the subject or subjects of a documentary or nonfiction film to tell their own story in a first person narration. Actuality Interviewing is a form of conducting interviews that relies heavily on the interviewer’s ability to truly listen to the interviewees and to know when to ask the right question. Communication occurs on more levels than what is spoken.
Many people think that they are listening to another person or a piece of music while they are also thinking about a conversation they had earlier that day or what they are going to say next. Listening requires more than basic attention to someone speaking.
Actuality Interviewing and Listening explores the connection between conducting an interview and listening on all levels. Anyone who conducts interviews or gives interviews, for any reason, will benefit from reading this book.
“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”, a new documentary film directed by Morgan Neville, is part nostalgia, part biographical and especially a socially relevant story about Fred Rogers’ and his contribution and dedication the welfare of children. This excellent documentary tells a story that is moving, informative and has a sense of humor. It seems in keeping with Mr. Rogers’ and his Neighborhood.
Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood was one of PBS’s best children’s shows. The program ran from 1968 to 2001. It has been watched by generations of children. The documentary traces the personal history of Fred Rogers and his television career from its beginnings in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There are interviews with Fred Rogers, before he passed away in 2003, his wife Joanne, sons, family, friends and coworkers.
“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” appears to be a compilation of archival footage of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, archival interviews with Fred, and others. Interviews with Joanne Rogers, his wife, and other people, adds a personal touch, when they reveal just who some of the puppets and characters in the show are based on. With all the archival material editing is important and in this case excellent, smoothly blending all elements into a well-paced ninety-four minute story. The editors are Jeff Malmberg and Aaron Wickenden.
Archival clips from the early days on television, when Fred Rogers first stared, help show his mission, of which, he never lost sight. He wanted to help children learn and to protect them the trauma the real world. There are many scenes in the documentary that demonstrate that Fred Rogers had a special talent for communicating with children. He respected children and knew how vulnerable they could be to the stresses of world events like war and death.
Fred Rogers, an ordained minister, believed that all people are unique and special in their own way. He did not teach religion or entitlement. He enabled respect and caring for self and others. “Love thy Neighbor as thy Self.”
The documentary, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” is well worth seeing, remembering and enjoying.
“In, ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor?,’ Academy Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville (Twenty Feet from Stardom) looks back on the legacy of Fred Rogers, focusing on his radically kind ideas. While the nation changed around him, Fred Rogers stood firm in his beliefs about the importance of protecting childhood. Neville pays tribute to this legacy with the latest in his series of highly engaging, moving documentary portraits of essential American artists.”
Actuality Interviewing and Listening: How to conduct successful interviews for nonfiction storytelling, actuality documentaries and other disciplines … (Documentary and Nonfiction Storytelling)
The purpose of “Documentary Directing and Storytelling,” is to offer a learning experience and an exploration into directing documentary story projects. Secondly, to offer fundamental and advanced ideas about actuality documentary filmmaking and nonfiction storytelling of all types using film, video, multimedia and other mediums. Finally, this book is a great read for anyone with a strong interest in documentary or nonfiction storytelling. There are many critical reviews of documentary films and the stories they tell from a directing and filmmaking perspective.
The best directors understand the traditions and aesthetics of the medium in which they are working. They also have an understanding of the crafts involved and may have worked at some of those jobs themselves. The focus of “Documentary Directing and Storytelling,” is on directing, but also includes information that experienced directors should know about the process of constructing a documentary story.
“I think it’s inevitable that people will come to find the documentary a more compelling and more important kind of film than fiction. Just as in literature, as the taste has moved from fiction to nonfiction, I think it’s going to happen in film as well. In a way you’re on a serendipitous journey, a journey, which is much more akin to the life experience. When you see somebody on the screen in a documentary, you’re really engaged with a person going through real life experiences. So for that period of time, as you watch the film, you are, in effect, in the shoes of another individual. What a privilege to have that experience.” — Albert Maysles
“If you want to tell the untold stories, if you want to give voice to the voiceless, you’ve got to find a language. Which goes for film as well as prose, for documentary as well as autobiography. Use the wrong language, and you’re dumb and blind.” — Salman Rushdie
“I just decided to make a movie. I had no training, no film school, but I had been to a lot of movies.” —Michael Moore
“I’m a filmmaker. I’m an artist. I’ve chosen to work in history the way someone might choose to work in still life or landscapes.” — Ken Burns
About The Author
James R (Jim) Martin is an Emmy award-winning Director, Writer, and Producer of Film, Television, Video,Multimedia and Digital Media. Professor Martin has taught Film and Video Production at Columbia College Chicago, Directed the Documentary Course at Full Sail University and taught Directing at University of Central Florida. He is the Author of Create Documentary Films, Video and Multimedia, also Actuality Interviewing and Listening and recently Listen Learn Share. He has worked as an independent producer/writer and director of national network documentaries as well as other documentary and fiction productions.
Chinese Americans boycotted a law that they had to carry photo ID’s
The Chinese Exclusion Act, a Steeplechase Documentary, airing in May 2018 on PBS, directed by Ric Burns and Li-Shin YU, looks at the history of Chinese immigrants to the US and their sixty year exclusion from becoming citizens, even when they were born in the U.S. The Exclusion Act in 1882 came after forty years of discrimination and harassment of Chinese coming to California for the Gold Rush and to work on building the Trans Continental Railroad leg, from California to Utah. In the case of the railroad, Chinese workers were encouraged to migrate to California from China. The Chinese were treated far worse than European Immigrants, like the Irish and Italians, who were also treated badly. However, European Immigrants never had an “Exclusion Act” to deal with, and complete exclusion from any path to citizenship or guarantee of basic human rights.
The Chinese Exclusion Act, edited by Li-Shin Yu mostly conforms to the same editing style seen in Ken Burns’ (Ric’s Brother) films. Archival photographs and other documentation combined with interviews with experts, historians, voice over narration, music and effects tell the story. There is an interesting use of effects in the documentary. Very subtle presence tracks are often heard under the voice over narration. This adds depth to the photographs being used and the narration.
Lim Ben and Alice Wong family standing L to R: sons Frank, Bill, Henry, Jimmy, George. Seated: Alice Wong, Lim Ben, daughter Nancy
The pace is excellent and the two-hour documentary opens up an aspect of US history of which not many people are aware. The Chinese Exclusion Act may be difficult to find in American History Books. But it is a significant part of history. The documentary makes no direct references to current anti-immigrant rhetoric, however, the similarity is obvious. By exploring this issue the documentary should help all Americans to see how history repeats itself. The documentary also reveals the deep-rooted tribalism that emboldens racist and ethnic hostility.
The Chinese Exclusion Act is an Educational documentary, about American History, Chinese American History and a clear look at racial attitudes in the US. It also examines how politics and politicians can manipulate people to turn on other people. This story is an “eye opener” about the early Chinese American experience and how it connects to the history of the country.
“This couldn’t come at a more important time in our country… because it tells a story, it tells our story. It shows what was done to our people, but it is also relevant to our present moment, and what is going on today, with anti-immigration laws and prejudices and what’s going on with the Muslim ban. They all have their roots, legally and politically in Chinese exclusion.”- Historian Mae Ngai at THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT screening.
Wong Kim Ark
An important part of the documentary looks at how Wong Kim Ark, a Chinese American born in the United States, who fought to get back into the country, after he traveled to China. In a test of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, carried all the way to the Supreme Court; the court ruled in 1898, that Wong Kim Ark had acquired U.S. Citizenship at birth. This ruling defined and supported the Amendment and established the precedent, guaranteeing that anyone born in the U.S. is a citizen.
This documentary is currently airing on Public Broadcast Television nationally in the U.S. (As of May 29, 2018)
Amazon
[amazon_image id=”B07BF2PQK8″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]The Chinese Exclusion Act DVD[/amazon_image]
“THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT” ” is a production of Steeplechase Films and The Center for Asian American Media, in association with The New-York Historical Society. The Chinese Exclusion Act has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor. Additional funding provided by The Corporation for Public Broadcasting and The Committee of 100. Major funding for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Additional funding provided by the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and public television viewers.”
CAAM’s”Who is American?” Immigration, Exclusion, & the American Dream educational and community outreach program for “THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT” PBS documentary, is supported in part, with support from the Committee of 100 and with a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
COMMUNITY/EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH | SCREENINGS | THE TEAM | NEWS | GALLERY | CONTACT | DONATE This couldn’t come at a more important time … Continue reading The Chinese Exclusion Act
Books by James R Martin
[amazon_image id=”B07DZRVBT5″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Documentary Directing and Storytelling: How to Direct Documentaries and More![/amazon_image]
[amazon_image id=”0982702361″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Actuality Interviewing and Listening: How to conduct successful interviews for nonfiction storytelling, actuality documentaries and other disciplines … (Documentary and Nonfiction Storytelling)[/amazon_image]
[amazon_image id=”0982702388″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Listen Learn Share: How & Why Listening, Learning and Sharing can Transform Your Life Experience In Practical Ways[/amazon_image]
[amazon_image id=”0982702329″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Create Documentary Films, Videos and Multimedia: A Comprehensive Guide to Using Documentary Storytelling Techniques for Film, Video, the Internet and Digital Media Projects.[/amazon_image]
“What the book ‘The Secret’ is to intention, ‘Listen, Learn, Share’ is to positive thought process and awareness.”
“Liked James R. Martin new book “Listen, Learn, and Share”. An impressive collaboration of eastern and western thinking, there is much to learn from it about the world .”
“The stated purpose of this book is to share some simple truths to help people along their life paths. The book delivers on this purpose in a clear, gentle, and compelling way, providing many helpful insights into how to think about and consider our thoughts and feelings...”
Audio Only
It’s very easy to lose or shut down your learning ability. You can’t grow or make changes to your life if you’re not listening. Without listening and learning you keep creating similar outcomes, which are not always what you desire.
It’s like the sound of a recording, a word or note, stuck on the same glitch in the track, repeating itself endlessly, unable to get passed the glitch.
You can’t reset the recording if you don’t hear the glitch. You can’t move ahead if your tires are spinning.
You need to stop looking in the rear-view mirror, while you try to drive forward.
Listen, Learn, Share is a book that will help you get unstuck. It explores this phenomenon, exposing the causes of not moving forward, as it reveals how to move your mind into the present.
A good documentary should stimulate your mind to consider questions and issues that may not have occurred to you before. Lo and Behold – Reveries of The Connected World, written and directed by Werner Herzog, does make us think and it contributes to the body of knowledge about the subject of the Internet, both technically and culturally. In fact the documentary seems prophetic, at certain times, when we consider recent revelations about the Internet being used to hack and interfere in political affairs, infiltrate power grids of businesses, utilities and governments.
This well-edited and well-paced documentary is divided in to ten areas that consider and explore ideas, personal views and issues about the Internet. First the “Early Days” and an explanation how the Internet began, what it is and what it could have been. Next, “The Glory of the Internet” a look at some interesting uses and outcomes of people connected creatively. Part three, “The Dark Side”, is a look at some of the more sinister uses of the Internet. Followed by “Life Without The Internet” and people who have learned to live without cell phones including Herzog. Part five, “The End of The Internet,” what would life be like with no Internet. Then part six, “Earth Invaders,” where we meet famed hacker, Kevin Metnick who talks about the uses of metadata and the prospects of cyber war. The Internet was not designed for privacy. In the seventh segment, “Internet On Mars,” Herzog interviews Elon Musk about his ambition to colonize Mars and bring the Internet with him. Part eight “Artificial Intelligence” looks at the role of AI and how it is tied in with Internet. The ninth segment, “The Internet of Me.” Is the Internet the worst enemy of critical thinking? Lastly, part ten covers “The Future.”
From a directing standpoint, Lo and Behold is a classically structured documentary that explores issues on a particular subject. In this case the Internet. The approach is similar to other documentary films directed by Werner Herzog in that, at times, the documentary may seem a bit theatrical. For example the use of music that seems a bit foreboding and dramatic. Herzog has a knack for finding both expected and unexpected sources for interviews. His interviews allow the interviewees to express their experiences and point-of-view. Most of the time Herzog removes his questions but at times we hear his comments or narration. There is a subtle sense of irony and humor in Herzog’s approach to storytelling. The story moves seamlessly from one topic to another using interviews with experts, people who’s lives have been affected by the internet and visual complementary action, that includes graphics and animation to help tell the story. The story, typical of Herzog, has a mix of fact, emotion, mystery and conspiracy. In this story it all seems to be based in actuality.
Herzog is able to go beyond the expected and explore issues in a way that stimulates thinking based on new and sometimes novel insights. “Lo and Behold” definitely leaves the viewer with something to think about.
Documentaries by Werner Herzog: Grizzly Man and Cave of Forgotten Dreams and others.
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Lo and Behold Available on Netflix
AMAZON (CLICK COVER BELOW)
[amazon_image id=”B01KZKMQXI” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World[/amazon_image]
Books by James R Martin
[amazon_image id=”0982702361″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Actuality Interviewing and Listening: How to conduct successful interviews for nonfiction storytelling, actuality documentaries and other disciplines … (Documentary and Nonfiction Storytelling)[/amazon_image]
[amazon_image id=”B0799P7HNJ” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ][amazon_image id=”0982702388″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Listen Learn Share: How & Why Listening, Learning and Sharing can Transform Your Life Experience In Practical Ways[/amazon_image][/amazon_image]
[amazon_image id=”0982702329″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Create Documentary Films, Videos and Multimedia: A Comprehensive Guide to Using Documentary Storytelling Techniques for Film, Video, the Internet and Digital Media Projects.[/amazon_image]
“Director Sun’s film showcases life in the Shaolin Monastery, the birthplace of Chinese Chan and Kung Fu. She follows several monks and a Ph.D. candidate conducting fieldwork to explore the philosophy of peace and enlightenment through martial arts. It depicts their daily meditation, martial arts practice routines, and challenges outside the temple. The film portrays the realities of their lives and unwavering commitment to their chosen path, featuring ordinary mortals instead of Kung Fu heroes or Saint Monks.”
Marta Neskovic, a 26-year-old doctoral student from the University of Belgrade in Serbia, studies at Shaolin Temple. She dresses in gray garments like the monks and students. She practices Kung Fu and learns Ch’an Buddhism and the Chinese language. At the same time, she is working on her thesis. Marta’s story is about adjusting to life at Shaolin and keeping in tune with her family and friends.
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