Interview with Josh Berman

TV Interview!

Josh Berman, director of the film "Full Circle"

Interview with director Josh Berman of the film “Full Circle” by Thane 10/17/23

It was great to interview Josh Berman, who directed this movie. Many people will find it inspirational. The film demonstrates how people can continue to thrive, even if their life turns out completely different than what they expect.

We apologize for any confusion during the interview…due to circumstances beyond our control, we were given some wrong information about Josh and his experiences (not his fault).  Well, these things happen! We hope you can go see this movie, which comes out soon.

 

MORE INFO: Official Site  Trailer

Falco Ink, Abramorama Presents Full Circle "Full Circle" poster

Opening in NY October 20th
Opening in LA, Canada & Additional US Cities Beginning October 27th
*World Premiere – 2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival*
*Feature Film Award Winner – 2023 Wasatch Mountain Film Festival*
*Official Selection – ​​2023 Telluride Mountainfilm*
Directed by: Josh Berman
Featuring: Trevor Kennison and Barry Corbet
Produced by: Conor Smith and Roy Tuscany
Executive Produced by: Andrew Tiner, Kevin McNeely, and Rosemary NcNeely

Faced with a traumatic injury that renders you permanently disabled; how would you reinvent yourself? In 2014, Trevor Kennison’s life was forever altered by a broken back – for worse and for better, in equal measures. Barry Corbet, an intrepid skier, mountaineer, explorer, filmmaker, and Jackson Hole legend, broke his back in a helicopter crash in 1968.  Frustrated by a pre-ADA culture that did not accept or support the disabled, Barry reinvented himself, becoming a seminal leader in the disability community. Full Circle follows Trevor on a path towards post-traumatic growth in parallel with Barry, 50 years later.  Their stories mirror each other, connected through time and space by common locations and motifs; injuries in the Colorado backcountry, rehab at Craig Hospital, fame in Jackson Hole; but also, through their shared resiliency and refusal to let their passion for life be limited by their injuries. Full Circle is an unblinking examination of the challenges of Spinal Cord Injury, and a celebration of the growth that such tragedy can catalyze.

Bringing the ethos of the film into practice Primetime Emmy-nominated composer Mark Crawford (“The Social Dilemma”) chose to work with musicians living with disabilities for the live instrumentation of the score. Mark assembled an all-star team, including Grammy-winning guitarist Eric Howk of Portugal. The Man, world-renowned jazz pianist Justin Kauflin, percussionist Jason Barnes, trumpet player Patrick Henry Hughes, virtuoso violinist Brian Krinke, and members of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, with orchestrator Jeff Kryka preparing the score. Additionally, Eric Howk wrote and recorded a custom song for the credits of the film, titled “What I Am.”  Very much autobiographical, the song brings Eric’s voice into the film in more ways than one, speaking directly to his life experience as a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair.

JOSH BERMAN

Director/DP – Josh Berman started his career in the New York City production scene while earning a degree in Film from Dartmouth College. Josh followed his passion for snow sports to Colorado and has been directing award winning outdoor and action sports films for the past two decades. His background in action sports uniquely equipped him to tackle the challenges of shooting with Trevor in complex and dangerous snow environments.

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Josh Berman, director of the film "Full Circle"

 

Interview with Simon Frederick, Eunice Olumide and Jidenna

TV Interview!

Simon Frederick, Eunice Olumide and Jidenna

Interview with Simon Frederick, Eunice Olumide and Jidenna of “The Outsiders?” on YouTube by Suzanne 9/23/21

The Outsiders? TCA Panel
Simon Frederick, Director
Eunice Olumide, Actress, Model & Broadcaster
Jidenna, Recording Artist & Producer
2021 Virtual Tour Los Angeles, CA September 23, 2021
© 2021 YouTube Originals. All rights reserved.

This was an interesting panel. I hadn’t seen the series ahead of time, so I wasn’t sure what to ask. I did think of some things to ask, eventually, as the panel continued.

The first journalist asked Simon Frederick how he decided which artists should go in his documentary series.

He said that Jidenna was someone that he wanted to speak with for a long time because of his song “Classic Man” and that he was born in Nigeria but lived in America, which sparked a “cross-cultural conversation.” The other panelist, Eunice Olumide, has had a great influence on Scottish culture; she has a bill going through Parliament that will mandate black history to be taught in schools in Scotland. He praised her, “I’ve always said that Eunice will make a great politician one day because in Scotland she has been able to affect Scottish culture in a way that Black people just don’t do.” He pointed out that both are brilliant people under 40 that have created things that never existed before. He said they were “owning Black culture in a way that, not only is inspiring to us as Black people, but actually inspiring to all of us as human beings.”

Olumide talked about the bill, which started as a petition to the Scottish government. She felt there was not enough being taught about “the significant contribution of African people, African diaspora to the west not only to the UK, but to the western world in general.” She loves that their documentary talks about “trauma porn” (which is focusing on the negative things that have happened to black people in history). She believes that it’s better to focus positive things that have happened, “to ensure that we are educating and archiving the huge, and tremendous, positive contributions of people of color to the world today.”

Another reporter asked the panel whose shoulders they stand on, and how they are building up their own shoulders so that others in their community can stand on theirs.

Olumide credited her mom, and performative activism done by Afro-Caribbean people. She mentioned that she was awarded a British MBE. She admited, “I was quite unsure about whether I wanted to receive that or not because of Britain’s history concerning the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism. And one of the things that actually my mom highlighted to me was that I needed to also understand the vast and extensive history and background of all of the people that came before me. And I needed to also understand that it’s about archiving and making sure that we are documenting historically the contributions of people of color, of African people, to the world.”

Jidenna agreed with what she said and then added his opinion. He said that he did stand on the shoulders of his late father, and he talks about him in this documentary series. He told us that he was “the first African to produce a commercially-produced PC in our history, in Sub-Saharan African history. And he did that in the 80s in the same time that Gates and Jobs were building their computer franchises. It’s not a history that people know.” He maintained that many stories of black history and narratives have been taken away from its people, so this series is making sure that “we are etched into history and we are telling our stories.” He complimented Frederick that this “might be his best work yet.” He remembers that his father advised him that life is like a relay race, “The most important thing is not you running, but the baton which you are not allowed to drop or you will be disqualified.” Not only is he standing on his father’s shoulders, “but what’s immediately important are people like Eunice, are people to my sides who are in my generation and my peer group, because I think our generation is one of the most amazing generations that’s come in the last hundred years.” He told us that “our fight … is to create more space for different archetypes of African descent and for us across the Diaspora to hear each other’s stories where previously a lot of the film that you’ll see in the last 100 years were exports from the U.S. So you’re getting predominantly the Black American experience, but you’re not getting as much of the Caribbean American or the First Gen African. You’re not seeing as much of the films that are coming out of the UK. You’re definitely not seeing what’s coming out of France, but now because of the internet, Wi-Fi, Instagram… we’re seeing experiences not only in Europe, in America, but definitely in Africa. And, finally, thank God, we have a world that views Africa as much cooler than it was before, and I don’t think we’re in a trendy era, and we’re knowing that now, and I think Simon is capturing that worldwide: the new, global Black experience.”

Frederick added that he stands on the shoulders of his parents. He wouldn’t be where he was today without his mom’s “love and encouragement… [when you grow] up as a young, Black child you’re told that education is key, and if you’re drawing and painting and doing stuff like that is you’re soon told not to do that, because you’re never going to have a career and all they’re trying to do is keep you safe.” He has his father’s stubbornness, which is what made him keep going with his music. He also credits those who came before him, such as “Sir Harry Belafonte,” whom he met for a lengthy interview. It changed his life because “it solidified why I do what I do and the importance of doing what I do, of telling stories, of putting a humanity in Black storytelling that’s always been there, but it’s been taken away from us. But, also, following in the footsteps of people like the great Gordon Parks, who a photographer, a filmmaker, a musician, a renaissance man. I am trying to follow in his footsteps and continue his tradition for storytelling in both moving and still imagery.”

For my question, I referred back to what Jidenna said about us not seeing so many African or international works. I pointed out that because of the pandemic, people here in the U.S. (and probably other Western countries) are watching more of that and asked whether he thinks that will continue once we’re out of the pandemic.

Jidenna replied, “Yes, absolutely. That’s a keen observation, and I can tell you Eunice and Simon, you probably don’t realize this as much unless you’ve been stateside, because I believe the question is aimed at the U.S. market. Really, my whole upbringing, I was one of the few people that was able to watch overdubs and subtitles. So many times, you hear people like, “Oh, it’s got subtitles? Oh, I don’t want to watch it.” Or it’ll be like, man, unless it was like a kung fu flick, they don’t want to see the slight latency in the overdub. Right now, to your point, people were tired of just watching whatever their regular show was so they’re exploring a lot more, and there’s a huge demand, and I’d love to see the numbers on it. So the beautiful thing is that some things with the pandemic that may have seemed short-lived will be long-lived. It’s not just long COVID that’s going to be the byproduct of the pandemic. It’s going to be the new cultural interests, I think, in the world. It was the first time that the U.S., in our lifetime, that the U.S. was included in a plague. We often have the benefit of the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and presidents that are a little bit smarter than our previous one. But in this case, we were part of the world and it forced us to be, and that’s why you have an interest in films from abroad. I definitely think that this is something here to stay, and people are working hard to produce more films that can still cater to the U.S. market, so we’re right on time with that.” I wanted to add to that there are many foreign TV series available to us more now, too (not just films).

Enjoy the documentary!

MORE INFO:

Trailer  Watch it here!

This new six-part docuseries from visionary filmmaker and photographer Simon Frederick brings to life the Black experience through stories and personal anecdotes of a seminal cast of young Black actors, musicians, creators, artists, and personalities that are shaping popular culture as we know it. “The Outsiders?” challenges notions that anti-Black sentiment is a national or regional issue, weaving the cast’s experiences into a cohesive set of themes that underscore the universal nature of what it means to be Black around the world. The cast’s revealing truths and untold stories are tragic, thought-provoking, and inspiring. From the YouTube Black Voices fund, “The Outsiders?” premieres globally on October 4.

From director and photographer Simon Frederick, comes the next installment in his portrait documentaries, untold stories of young Black visionaries shaping our future. In raw, real, and deeply personal conversations, you’ll hear 41 creators, musicians, artists, authors, athletes and more discuss topics like equality, structural gaslighting, and social media.
Guests include, Mo Gilligan, Phillip Youmans, Munya Chawawa, Alex Scott, Fenn O’Meally, Niko Omilana, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Elladj Balde, Alicia Garza, Jidenna, Campbell Addy, Eunice Olumide, Ncuti Gatwa, George The Poet, Candice Braithwaite, Kailand Morris, Shaun Ross, Clara Amfo, Amanda Seales, Sophie Duker, Jidenna, Taylor Richardson, Jamal Edwards, MNEK, Chanel Ambrose, Tinashe, Suli Breaks, and Julie Adenuga.

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"The Outsiders?" poster

Primetime DVD Review: “Nova: Saving Notre Dame”

DVD Review!

"Nova: Saving Notre Dame" DVD cover

“Nova: Saving Notre Dame” Review by Suzanne 2/10/21

I don’t watch the “Nova” series regularly, but when I do watch it, I always enjoy it and learn a lot. This is a very good episode about the Notre Dame fire in 2019 and how they’ve been repairing and rebuilding it. It’s very interesting because it uses art, engineering, architecture and more. Of course, all of these series are very educational, but they’re also fascinating.

I grew up Catholic, but above and beyond the religious aspects of Notre Dame is the fact that it’s a major historical building. The documentary does talk a bit about the historical aspect of the cathedral as well as what’s going on in the modern world. It’s only an hour long, so it won’t take much of your time. Check it out if you have an interest in France, Notre Dame, or art restoration.

Buy this DVD

MORE INFORMATION:

THREE NEW DRAMAS FROM MASTERPIECE 
ON DVD & BLU-RAY THIS FEBRUARY 
FROM PBS DISTRIBUTION

Below is a listing of the upcoming DVD/Blu-Ray releases from PBS Distribution slated for February.Every purchase helps support public television for all.

  • NOVA: Saving Notre Dame – 2/16/21

Genre: Documentary
Run Time: 57 min. on 1 disc – DVD
SRP: $24.99

When the Notre Dame cathedral caught fire in April 2019, Paris came very close to losing over 800 years of history. Now engineers are in a different race against time: to rebuild the roof and secure the medieval structure.

NOVA GOES INSIDE NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL

AS RESTORATION TEAMS FIGHT TO SAVE THE MEDIEVAL MEGASTRUCTURE AND PRESERVE ITS HISTORY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

NOVA “SAVING NOTRE DAME”

Premieres Wednesday, November 25 at 9 p.m. ET/8C on PBS

pbs.org/nova|@novapbs

(Boston, MA)—On November 18, 2020 the PBS science series NOVA, a production of GBH Boston, will premiere SAVING NOTRE DAME, a one-hour special examining the challenges  of restoring  Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris after it took on extensive damage from a devastating fire in 2019. As the world watched in horror last year, the Gothic masterpiece became engulfed in a fiery inferno, and Paris came perilously close to losing an 850-year-old treasure. The film tells the story of the fire and the race to stabilize the structure and stave off a total collapse.  Watch the trailer here.

SAVING NOTRE DAME follows a team of architects, engineers, scientists, and master craftspeople, as they work to read the minds of the original builders and rediscover the lost history of the structure. Using new technologies, including an innovative 3D digital map of the complete structure, they race to preserve what remains while setting out to restore one of the world’s most precious landmarks.

The film explores the intricacies of Notre Dame’s architecture and the medieval craftsmanship that created the iconic structure. One year after a powerful fire ravaged its timber and lead roof, the structure is still perilously close to a collapse. The special gives viewers an inside look at the fire itself and the incredible effort to stabilize the teetering walls. Once they’re secured, a restoration project begins: Teams prepare to rebuild the oak roof and fallen spire and save the centuries-old stained glass, all while  preventing rain from pouring in through  gaping holes in the limestone vaulting—and working amid the toxic lead contaminating the site and 550 tons of melted scaffolding threatening to collapse at any moment. NOVA joins scientists as they determine their reconstruction plans and whether the key to a successful restoration lies within the structure of the cathedral itself.

“We are thrilled to be able to tell the inside story of the dramatic rescue  of Notre Dame,” said NOVA Co-Executive Producer Chris Schmidt. “In the first days after the fire, no one was sure whether the huge bell towers, walls, or flying buttresses would remain standing. The exhaustive process of diagnosing the damage and embarking on the restoration of the great cathedral relies on new technologies and medieval craftsmanship alike.”

“It was a great privilege to gain such rare access to shoot inside the cathedral during this important recovery period,” said Director Joby Lubman. “To be able to spend so much time inside Notre Dame and witness this unprecedented effort was deeply moving and truly humbling.”

In the absence of firsthand information about the original construction of Notre Dame or the craftspeople who built it, these new studies of the cathedral’s materials and engineering provide a unique opportunity to unlock its secrets. To secure the iconic structure, experts began an unprecedented collaboration between architects and scientists to meticulously analyze the impact on centuries-old materials and to develop a restoration plan.

The film follows Chief Architects of France’s historic monuments Philippe Villeneuve and RĂ©mi Fromont as they gather data and formulate a plan.  After securing the walls of the cathedral with giant timber frames and preventing a potential collapse, the experts are able to begin work inside to gain a complete picture of the damage and formulate a decontamination and restoration protocol.

The team faces unimaginable challenges: removing lead stains from precious stained glass windows, sourcing  limestone from the original quarries beneath Paris to match the properties of the original vault stone, and recreating the complex timber framework using medieval tools and techniques similar to those used in the original construction.

Navigating a perilous environment inside, Claudine Loisel, a glass scientist, focuses on restoring the cathedral’s most fragile wonder—its famed stained glass. While the glass masterpieces remain intact, they were subject to ‘thermal shock,’ forming micro-cracks in some panels. They were also showered with toxic lead dust emitted when the lead roof burned—further complicating an already complicated project. To remove the vaporized toxic metal without further damaging the glass, Loisel develops a decontamination plan that employs a precision vacuum cleaner, followed by painstaking application of distilled water using simple cotton balls to remove any residue. To guide them, the team invented a novel use of x-ray spectroscopy to determine the exact number of gentle wipes required  to lift the lead off the glass, without damaging precious paint.

High overhead the damage to the stone vault and roof present one of the greatest threats. Here the work is treacherous and the stakes are high—since the total collapse of the vault would likely cause the walls of the cathedral to give way as well. In order to stabilize and restore the vault, experts must identify limestone with identical properties as the centuries-old blocks already intricately locked  in place. Geologist Lise Leroux studies the stone to find its origin, leading her to the quarries deep beneath Paris, now commonly known as the Catacombs, where she is able to match micro-fossils found there with the samples from the vaulting stones in the cathedral. This discovery allows the team to properly source the limestone that will fill the holes in Notre Dame’s ceiling.

With the  timber framework of the roof destroyed by the fire, the team also faces the challenge of recreating the network of beams created by medieval carpenters. Timber scientist Catherine Lavier identifies markings on burned beams that enable her to use tree-ring analysis to decode the age and origin of the oaks used originally. A team of carpenters employing medieval tools and techniques to restore a French chateau in the countryside provides hope that the skills still exist that will make it possible to rebuild Notre Dame’s lost roofing in the original style. No original plans survive, but by a sheer stroke of luck, RĂ©mi Fromont had already created a 3D scan of the complex roofing structure back in 2014, which promises now to provide the data they will need to bring it back exactly as it was before.

Mindful now of the fragility of the great monument, a parallel restoration effort is also underway—as Remi and others gather the data they need to create a groundbreaking 3D digital twin of Notre Dame to protect against ever again risking the loss of the secrets and memory of what some call “the heart of France”.

SAVING NOTRE DAME premieres Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at 9 p.m. ET/8C on PBS and will be available for streaming online and on the PBS video app.

SAVING NOTRE DAME is a NOVA Production by Windfall Films Ltd. (part of the Argonon Group) for GBH Boston in association with BBC. Director is Joby Lubman. Producer is Alessandra Bonomolo. Executive Producer is Carlo Massarella. Executive Producers for NOVA are Julia Cort and Chris Schmidt. NOVA is a production of GBH Boston.

National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Draper. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the David H. Koch Fund for Science, the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.

About NOVA

NOVA is the most popular primetime science series on American television, demystifying the scientific and technological concepts that shape and define our lives, our planet, and our universe. The PBS series is also one of the most widely distributed science programs around the world, and is a multimedia, multiplatform brand reaching more than 55 million Americans every year on TV and online. NOVA’s important and inspiring stories of human ingenuity, exploration, and the quest for knowledge are regularly recognized with the industry’s most prestigious awards. As part of its mission to make the scientific enterprise accessible to all, NOVA is committed to diversity and inclusiveness in all its work, from the production process to the range of stories we tell and voices we feature. In addition, science educators across the country rely on NOVA for resources used in the classroom as well as in museums, libraries, and after-school programs. NOVA is a production of GBH Boston; more information can be found at pbs.org/nova, or by following NOVA on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

About PBS

PBS, with nearly 350 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches nearly 100 million people through television and nearly 28 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. Decades of research confirms that PBS’ premier children’s media service, PBS KIDS, helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality educational content on TV – including a new 24/7 channel, online at pbskids.org, via an array of mobile apps and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.

About GBH

GBH is the leading multi platform creator for public media in America. As the largest producer of content for PBS and partner to NPR and PRX, GBH delivers compelling experiences, stories and information to audiences wherever they are. GBH produces digital and broadcast programming that engages, illuminates and inspires, through drama and science, history, arts, culture and journalism. It is the creator of such signature programs as MASTERPIECE, ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, FRONTLINE, NOVA, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, Arthur and Molly of Denali, as well as WORLD Channel and a catalog of streaming series, podcasts and on-demand video. With studios and a newsroom headquartered in Boston, GBH reaches across New England with GBH 89.7, Boston’s Local NPR¼; CRB Classical 99.5; and CAI, the Cape and Islands NPR¼ station. Dedicated to making media accessible to and inclusive of our diverse culture, GBH is a pioneer in delivering media to those who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind and visually impaired. GBH creates curriculum-based digital content for educators nationwide with PBS LearningMedia and has been recognized with hundreds of the nation’s premier broadcast, digital and journalism awards. Find more information at wgbh.org.

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The opinions in these articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TVMEG.COM or its other volunteers.

"Nova: Saving Notre Dame" DVD cover

Primetime DVD Review: “Ken Burns: Here and There”

DVD Review!

Ken Burns: Here and There DVD cover

“Ken Burns: Here and There” Review by Suzanne 1/31/21

I’ll admit that I’m not a big fan of documentaries, but I find this one particularly boring. It’s mostly just Ken and some other people talking about the town of Walpole, NH, where he’s lived since 1979. He goes on and on at length about how great living in a small town is and how important he feels it is. There are some mentions of his documentaries, too, of course, but the majority of the movie is not about that.

There isn’t very much about his family, aside from his talking about how much he loves his daughters. Seriously, it’s tedious. You’d have to be a Ken Burns groupie, or a fan of Walpole, to want to sit through this unbearable (and mercifully short) show. Perhaps they should have had Burns himself make the doc because his are not boring.

This is less than an hour long, and there are not features or specials. At least it does have an option for closed-captioning, unlike some PBS DVD’s.

Buy this DVD

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THREE NEW DRAMAS FROM MASTERPIECE 
ON DVD & BLU-RAY THIS FEBRUARY 
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Below is a listing of the upcoming DVD/Blu-Ray releases from PBS Distribution slated for February.Every purchase helps support public television for all.

  • Ken Burns: Here and There – 2/2/21

Genre: Biography
Run Time: 57 min. on 1 disc – DVD
SRP: $24.99

KEN BURNS: HERE & THERE

Premieres on PBS Stations Beginning November 28

– New Documentary Reveals the Man Behind Acclaimed Documentary

Series Including The Vietnam War, Baseball,

The Roosevelts, The National Parks and the Upcoming Hemingway  –

Credit: Lisa Berg

KEN BURNS: HERE & THERE is a poetic and personal look inside the legendary filmmaker’s life and four-decade career. Footage of Burns at work and at home, interviews with close collaborators, and the profound observations of Burns himself provide illuminating insights into the man. KEN BURNS: HERE & THERE is part of special programming premiering on PBS stations beginning Saturday, November 28, 2020 (check local listings).

Burns reveals his life’s path, from struggling young filmmaker to award-winning director and producer of some of the most acclaimed historical documentaries ever made, including the Academy Award-nominated Brooklyn Bridge in 1981, The Civil War, Baseball, Jazz, The National Parks, Country Music and The Vietnam War.

The importance of belonging, community and a sense of place emerge as themes in his life. He reflects on his own geographic touchstones, from the Brooklyn Bridge to the tiny town of Walpole, New Hampshire, the safe harbor where he arrived in 1979 and has lived and worked in “splendid isolation” since. Residents and friends attest to the town’s influence on the filmmaker and vice versa.

“My films all focus on the importance of place in our lives,” said Ken Burns. “As Dante shows in his kind and generous film about our work, small-town New Hampshire is critical to who we are as filmmakers, even as our team has expanded to include editors and filmmakers in other parts of the country. I’ve been very fortunate to work and live in a town that has embraced our filmmaking as part of its fabric. I am so happy to have a chance to share this story and am hugely appreciative of the attention the film has brought to our art and town.”

Behind-the-scenes video gives an inside look at the filmmaker’s process and attention to detail, from sound mixing to scoring sessions with musicians like Yo-Yo Ma to recording the voices of Edward Hermann, Josh Lucas, Paul Giamatti, the late Eli Wallach and others as they bring characters to life. Writer Duncan Dayton speaks movingly of their decades-long relationship as partners and friends.

Burns believes that film has the power to inspire people to action. He relates the impact of a New York Times story about an Idaho family who came to the city and walked the Brooklyn Bridge because “they’d seen a documentary on public television” about it. And the joy he felt when the U.S. Secretary of the Interior called to report that attendance had increased by 15 million visitors after The National Parks aired. “That was more than a third of our audience,” says Burns, “who got up off their duffs and went out and did something.”

KEN BURNS: HERE & THERE is a Hooligan Film Productions & Phantazma Pictures film in association with Rhode Island PBS. The film is directed and produced by Dante Bellini, Jr. The director of cinematography and editor is Eric Latek. Original music score and sound by Mauro Colangelo. Lighting and additional cinematography by David Zapatka.

PBS special programming invites viewers to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; hear diverse viewpoints; and take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. Viewer contributions are an important source of funding, making PBS programs possible. PBS and public television stations offer all Americans from every walk of life the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content.

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The opinions in these articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TVMEG.COM or its other volunteers.

Ken Burns: Here and There

TV Classics and More DVD Guide

Page 6 – TV Classics and More

Click on the title to get information about the DVD and to buy it from Amazon. com!

These make great gifts for your favorite TV or movie fan and helps out our site!

Ernie Kovacs DVD coverErnie Kovacs: The Centennial Edition Happy 100th Birthday, ERNIE! To celebrate the 100th birthday of television’s original genius, this collection combines the previously released volumes of groundbreaking, rule-breaking, surreal and charmingly silly comedy of Ernie Kovacs. Included are over 22 hours of decidedly offbeat entertainment from across his many television shows and specials, all of which showcase an utterly unique sensibility that has influenced such comedy institutions as Monty Python and SNL. Featuring: Episodes From His Local And National Morning Shows; Episodes From His NBC Prime-Time Show; Kovacs On Music; Five ABC TV Specials; The Color Version of His Legendary Silent Show, Eugene; His Award-Winning Commercials For Dutch Masters Cigars; Short Films, Tributes, Rarities; 18 Bonus Sketches Featuring Many Of His Most Beloved Characters; 3 Complete Episodes Of His Offbeat Game Show Take A Good Look; A Pony For Chris: His Rare TV Pilot For Medicine Man Co-Starring Buster Keaton; The Lively Arts Featuring The Only Existing Filmed Solo Interview With Ernie Kovacs; and 2011 American Cinematheque Panel

The Beverly Hillbillies: The Official Fifth Season Season five of The Beverly Hillbillies finds the sturdy Clampett The Beverly Hillbillies 5th Season DVD coverclan — Jed (Buddy Ebsen), Elly May (Donna Douglas), Jethro (Max Baer Jr.), and Granny (Irene Ryan) — still retaining their mountain-grown values and essential decency despite Jed’s millionaire status and the family’s luxurious Beverly Hills surroundings. Two of the season’s best plotlines are characteristically manifested in story arcs, spread out over several successive episodes. In the first, Jed is targeted for blackmail by a pair of slick con artists, played by Leon Ames and Gayle Hunnicutt. This is followed by a farcical escapade in which Granny forces a trained gorilla (actually a costumed stunt man, played by George Barrows) to take over the chores at the Clampett estate. Otherwise, season five follows the pattern established in season four of enlivening the traditional Beverly Hillbillies nonsense with choice guest-star appearances. Veteran comic actor Charles Ruggles makes a return appearance as Mr. Farquhar, the skirt-chasing father-in-law of Jed’s banker Milburn Drysdale (Raymond Bailey). Gloria Swanson plays herself in another episode, wherein the Clampetts, acting under the misapprehension that Swanson is broke, bankroll her “comeback” in a brand new silent movie (and no, William Holden did not write the screenplay). And in the episode “The Indians are Coming,” John Wayne makes what must have been the best-publicized “surprise” guest appearance in TV history! But perhaps the most memorable of the guest-star turns is contributed by the voluptuous Joi Lansing, cast as the wife of country singer Lester Flatt. In “Delovely and Scruggs,” Mrs. Flatt is given a Hollywood screen test, with Jed’s bumptious nephew Jethro Bodine (Max Baer Jr.) launching what he hopes will be an illustrious Hollywood career as the test’s director. The Beverly Hillbillies closed out its fifth season on CBS as America’s seventh most popular TV series, indicating that the corn pone-comedy well had not yet run dry!
Cast & Crew: Buddy Ebsen – Jed Clampett; Irene Ryan – Daisy `Granny’ Moses; Donna Douglas – Elly May Clampett; Max Baer Jr. – Jethro Bodine; Raymond Bailey – Milburn Drysdale; Nancy Kulp – Jane Hathaway; and Harriet MacGibbon – Margaret Drysdale.
Specs: Details: Format DVD; Studio Paramount; Flags Suitable for Children; Language English; Release Date 10/02/2018; Region Code 1; Aspect Ratio 1.33:1; Subtitles English; Rating TV-G; Sub Genre Comedy of Manners, Sitcom [TV]; and Themes Fish Out of Water, Rags To Riches.

Outer Limits Season 2 Blu-ray DVD coverThe Outer Limits: Season Two Newly Re-Mastered in HD! The entire first season – 17 Episodes. A four-disc set that controls over 15 hours of transmission from the 1964-1965 series. Guest stars include William Shatner, Adam West, Leonard Nimoy, Robert Duvall, Robert Culp, Eddie Albert, Patrick O’Neal, Dabney Coleman and Robert Webber.
SPECIAL FEATURES: 17 Episodes and 2 Alternates Episodes – All Newly Mastered in HD; THE UNKNOWN – the alternate cut of “The Forms of Things Unknown” intended a pilot for a show that was never broadcast – with an optional audio commentary track by Dr. Reba Wissner; PLEASE STAND BY – the alternate cut of “The Galaxy Being” was the pilot episode shown to ABC executives which later became THE OUTER LIMITS – with an optional commentary track by Film Historian Eric Grayson; AUDIO COMMENTARIES: – SOLDIER by Film Historian David J. Schow; – COOL HANDS, WARM HEART by Film Historian Craig Beam; – BEHOLD ECK! by Film Historian Reba Wissner; – EXPANDING HUMAN by Film Historian Reba Wissner; – DEMON WITH A GLASS HAND by Film Historian Craig Beam; – CRY OF SILENCE by Film Historian Gary Gerani; – CRY OF SILENCE by Film Historian Reba Wissner; – THE INVISIBLE ENEMY by Film Historian Craig Beam; – WOLF 359 by Film Historian Craig Beam; – I, ROBOT by Film Historian David J. Schow; – THE INHERITORS: PART 1 by Film Historians Gary Gerani and Steve Mitchell; – THE INHERITORS: PART 2 by Film Historians Gary Gerani and Steve Mitchell; – KEEPER OF THE PURPLE TWILIGHT by Film Historian David J. Schow; – THE DUPLICATE MAN by Film Historian Tim Lucas; – COUNTERWEIGHT by Film Historian Reba Wissner; – THE PREMONITION by Film Historian Tim Lucas; 12 TNT PROMOS with Robert Culp, Harlan Ellison, Martin Landau, Cliff Robertson, William Shatner and Leslie Stevens; DAVID J. SCHOW – Showtime Interview; THE OUTER LIMITS PHENOMENON; PENN & TELLER TNT Host Segments; CLIFF ROBERTSON – THE GALAXY BEING – Full TNT Interview; JOSEPH STEFANO – Full TNT Interview (64:07); JOANNA FRANK – ZZZZZ – Full TNT Interview; TNT Interview with Casting Director Meryl O’Loughlin; ANTHONY LAWRENCE Interview; CREATURE FEATURES with DAVID J. SCHOW; The Museum of Television & Radio’s William S. Paley Television Festival – The Outer Limits – March 10, 2000 – with guests David M. Schow, Robert H. Justman, Lou Morheim, Conrad L. Hall, Martin Landau, Joseph Stefano (73:09); PROJECT UNLIMITED – Commentary by David J. Schow; WHAT’S NEW ON ABC? – 1963 Promo with Edie Adams; 5 TV SPOTS; and THERE IS STILL NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR TELEVISION SET – Booklet Essay by David J. Schow.

Alice: The Complete Eighth Season Alice’s eighth season starts with a bang as a distant relative of Jolene’s (Celia Alice the Complete Eighth Season DVD coverWeston) comes visiting, straight from Hazzard County! Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke) himself arrives, with Enos (Sonny Shroyer) in tow, and faster than you can say “Beau and Luke Duke,” he’s tricked Mel (Vic Tayback) out of his beloved diner. Good thing “good ol’ gal” Alice (Linda Lavin) has a plan to get it back. Florence Henderson stops by as Sarah James, the singing-star girl of Mel’s dreams, who stuns the staff when she sweeps him off his feet. Martha Raye makes a number of return visits as Mel’s mom, Carrie, while the staff gears up for a big event – Vera (Beth Howland) gets hitched to her boy in blue, local cop Elliot (Charles Levin)! This 3-disc, 24-episode collection contains the entire eighth season, including the seventh-season-produced episodes Jolene Lets the Cat Out of the Bag and Vera’s Secret Lover, which aired in season eight.

Hey Arnold the Complete Collection DVD coverHey Arnold!: The Ultimate Collection Keeping your feelings a secret is so last decade! Now, for the first time ever, you can shout your love from the rooftop of the nearest boarding home with Hey Arnold!:The Ultimate Collection, featuring all 99 stories from the show, Hey Arnold: The Movie and Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie!
What are you waiting for? Move it, Football Head! Bonus Content Includes: Hey Arnold! The Pilot; Original Claymation Short: Arnold Escapes from Church; Drawing Arnold; The Jungle Movie: Table Read; and Unboxing the Original Jungle Movie Development Art.

The Time Tunnel: The Complete Series Blu-ray All region BR release for the 1st time. New 5. 1 surround soundTime Tunnel Complete Series Blu-ray DVD cover mixes provide an extraordinary new depth to the audio. A 1080 HD 1:33:1 spec. Digitally enhanced to significantly improve the picture quality & increase depth of field, making it far superior to the existing DVD. All 30 episodes to be restored to their original uncut format & broadcast order. Packed full of bonus material including the original unaired pilot, interviews with the cast, the TV movie from 1976, the unaired 2002 TV pilot and more… Will contain a brand new booklet, written in association with the world s most prominent & knowledgeable Irwin Allen devotees, The Irwin Allen News Network. Special Features: Original Unaired Pilot Episode (HD Version) 2002 Unaired TV Pilot Time Travelers TV Movie Cast Interviews Irwin Allen s Behind-The-Scenes Home Movies UK Edit (No Audio) Promotional TV & Radio Spots Visual Effects Camera Test (No Audio) Stills Galleries. Tech Info: VIDEO*: 1080P HIGH DEFINITION 16×9 1:33 / COLOUR AUDIO*: ORIGINAL MFahrenheit 11/9 DVD coverONO + NEW 5. 1 / ENGLISH *FEATURE EPISODES ONLYTech Info: VIDEO*: 1080P HIGH DEFINITION 16×9 1:33 / COLOUR AUDIO*: ORIGINAL MONO + NEW 5. 1 / ENGLISH *FEATURE EPISODES ONLY

Fahrenheit 11/9 Hailed as “Michael Moore’s most powerful film yet” (Sophia A. McClennen, Salon), Fahrenheit 11/9 is a provocative and comedic look at the times in which we live. It will explore the two most important questions of the Trump Era: How the f**k did we get here, aShakespeare Uncovered Series 3 DVD covernd how the f**k do we get out?

Shakespeare Uncovered: Series 3 Series 3 includes six films with new hosts as they weave their personal passions with history and analysis to tell the stories behind the stories of Shakespeare’s famous works.: Much Ado About Nothing (Helen Hunt); The Merchant of Venice (F. Murray Abraham); Measure for Measure (Romola Garai); Julius Caesar (Brian Cox); The Winter s Tale (Simon Russell Beale); Richard III (Antony Sher).

The Invaders Complete Series DVD coverThe Invaders: The Complete Series Architect David Vincent (Roy Thinnes) has stumbled upon a terrifying secret
aliens from a doomed planet are infiltrating the Earth! After witnessing their spaceship land, Vincent tries to warn the authorities, who believe he’s crazy or have already been compromised by the Invaders, who take on human form. As Vincent learns more about the aliens and their plans to take over the earth, he becomes their greatest threat. Now a target of the aliens, our hero, along with believer and millionaire Edgar Scoville (Ken Smith), races to stop the invasion and save the human race. From the producers of The Fugitive, Cannon and Streets of San Francisco, The Invaders, The Complete Series, features all 43 episodes of the The Jackie Gleason Show: In Color DVD coveroriginal, suspense-filled series, plus special features and commentary by the series creator.

The Jackie Gleason Show: In Color From 1966-1970, Gleason, everyone’s favorite working-class hero, entertained enthralled audiences across the country with his eponymous TV Variety Show featuring hilarious sketches, celebrity guest stars and much more. Taped in beautiful Miami Beach, The Jackie Gleason Show delivered an unforgettable gallery of characters Gleason himself created and fine-tuned, including his most indelible and legendary creation — Ralph Kramden — as he and Art Carney revived their Honeymooners roles (with Sheila MacRae and Jane Kean added as the new Alice and Trixie), all presented in glorious color for the first time.

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