In the early 1970s, Compton’s Communicative Arts Academy opened as a space for Black artists to explore diverse art forms, leading to the founding of the Paul Robeson Players. Named after the renowned activist and entertainer Paul Robeson, this theater group became a hub for performance, directing, and writing, uniting the Compton community and creating a lasting legacy in Black theater.

CREDIT: EDITOR

Part comedy, part social commentary, host Jesus Trejo embarks on a journey across America meeting with six rising comedians who explore the mosaic of our nation through the lens of stand-up comedy.

Extended sizzle (ONLY) for this national show, which screened at PBS' Annual Meeting in Las Vegas.

In 2018, acclaimed Broadway and film actor John Leguizamo kicked off an exploration of Latino history in his Tony-nominated play Latin History for Morons, cramming 3,000 years of history into a 90-minute one man show. Now, following his triumphant Broadway run, and prompted by a quest to discover lost Latino heroes throughout history, Leguizamo sets out on his most ambitious journey yet in the new three-part documentary series, American Historia. Co-created by Leguizamo and award-winning filmmaker Ben DeJesus, who also serves as director, The WNET Group, Latino Public Broadcasting and Latino digital media and entertainment company NGL Collective are collaborating to produce the series. A co-presentation of The WNET Group and Latino Public Broadcasting’s VOCES, American Historia is set to premiere nationwide on September 19 at 9pm ET on PBS (check local listings), pbs.org and the PBS App.

A NEW SERIES FOR PBS TERRA

Western cultures typically share the idea that there are two worlds: the “natural world” which is pristine and untouched, and the “human world” which is chaotic and changing. But all living things change the world around them to build homes, eat, and move. Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant explores how humans can think differently about the way we change the world around us.

Based on the book by Jenny Price.

This series has topped viewership numbers and click-through rates and outperformed all other shows for engagement on PBS Terra's Youtube Channels with 750,000 Views, 53,000 hours (6 years!) of WT, 3,400 Subs; It has been the most popular Terra CT post ever, with over 2,950 Likes.

In the new PBS special ART HAPPENS HERE WITH JOHN LITHGOW, actor, author, humorist, and renowned performer John Lithgow (“Killers of the Flower Moon,” “The Crown,” “The Old Man”) shares his passion for arts education by joining students and teachers at four Los Angeles organizations, diving into four arts disciplines: dance, ceramics, silk-screen printing, and vocal jazz ensemble. Celebrating how arts education nurtures and inspires the hearts and minds of students of all ages, ART HAPPENS HERE follows Lithgow as he tries his hand at singing, dancing, printmaking, and pottery, working alongside and learning from young people whose lives are being transformed by art. The one-hour special ART HAPPENS HERE WITH JOHN LITHGOW premieres Friday, April 26, 2024, 10:00–11:00 p.m. ET/PT (check local listings) on PBS, PBS.org, and the PBS App.

Major funding for ART HAPPENS HERE WITH JOHN LITHGOW was provided by John and Louise Bryson. Additional funding was provided by the California Community Foundation.

The program is produced for PBS by PBS SoCal, in association with Shore View Entertainment, The Watershed Company, Ninetythree Media, and Life & Thyme, Inc. Perry Simon, John Lithgow, and Juan Devis are executive producers with PBS SoCal’s Tamara Gould serving as Executive in Charge of Production. PBS SoCal’s Angela Boisvert is the producer.

CREDIT: EDITOR

Puppet of 10-Yr-Old Syrian Refugee, Little Amal, Learns ASL

Artbound Season 14 9m33s

Little Amal, a 12-ft-tall puppet of a 10-yr-old Syrian refugee, embarks on "The Walk" @TheWalkLittleAmal, a global tour to spread awareness about displaced people around the world. During her journey through Southern California, she learns ASL with Deaf West Theatre in Pasadena at "In the Silence," an event produced in partnership with Deaf West Theatre, Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena Playhouse and the City of Pasadena.

Through this encounter, we learn that words aren’t everything and a lot can be said within the silence. Sometimes the loudest truths have no sound.

CREDIT: EDITOR

THIS EPISODE OF ARTBOUND, LITTLE AMAL, WON A LOS ANGELES EMMY AWARD IN 2024 FOR BEST FEATURE SEGMENT.

THIS EPISODE OF ARTBOUND, LITTLE AMAL, WON A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA JOURNALISM AWARD IN 2024 FOR BEST HUMAN INTEREST FEATURE (OVER 5 MINUTES), TELEVISION.

"SoCal Wanderer" is an insider's guide to the land of sunshine. Through online articles and videos, "SoCal Wanderer" uncovers the rich culture, history and landscape of Southern California, from local neighborhoods to the outer reaches.

In our latest digital series, join host Rosey Alvero as she explores Los Angeles neighborhoods guided by women business owners of color who are trailblazers in their community. "SoCal Wanderer" is made possible by the Wurwand Foundation's key initiative to support local entrepreneurs, FOUND/LA.

CREDIT: EDITOR

Ramsess' Portraits Honor Historic Figures in Black History | Weekly Arts | KCET

Ramsess is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Leimert Park whose portrait work in textile, glass, mosaic and pen honor prominent Black figures throughout history — from trailblazing artist and performer Paul Robeson to Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court. Learn more about Ramsess' journey as an artist and get an inside look at his home studio.

THIS SERIES OF WEEKLY ART CELEBRATING BLACK ARTISTS WON A LOS ANGELES EMMY AWARD IN 2024 FOR BEST INFORMATIONAL SERIES.

THIS EPISODE OF WEEKLY ARTS, Ramsess' Portraits Honor Historic Figures in Black History WON A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA JOURNALISM AWARD IN 2024 FOR BEST NON-ENTERTAINMENTPERSONALITY PROFILE/INTERVIEW, TELEVISION.

A NEW DOCUMENTARY SERIES FOR PBS DIGITAL STUDIOS

Hip-Hop is the sound of the future and the future is coming fast. Join our host, writer, multimedia producer and professor of media arts and culture Dr. Taj Frazier as he explores the way Hip-Hop artists and entrepreneurs are reshaping and remixing emerging technologies.

CREDIT: EDITOR

THIS SERIES, HIP HOP AND THE METAVERSE WAS NOMINATED FOR A LOS ANGELES AREA EMMY AWARD IN 2021 FOR BEST INFORMATIONAL SERIES.

THIS SERIES, HIP HOP AND THE METAVERSE WON A GOLDEN MIKE (RTNA) AWARD IN 2023 FOR BEST TV NEWS DIGITAL REPORTING

ARTBOUND SEASON 13 EPISODE 6

Since the early-80s, artist Rubén Ortiz-Torres has been working as a photographer, painter, sculptor, writer, filmmaker and video producer. Often associated with the development of a Mexican form of postmodernism, Ortiz-Torres's life is a collage that explores the social and aesthetic transformations related to cross-cultural exchange and globalization.

CREDIT: EDITOR

THIS EPISODE OF ARTBOUND, A RUBEN ORTIZ-TORRES STORY, WAS NOMINATED FOR A LOS ANGELES EMMY AWARD IN 2023 FOR BEST ARTS FEATURE.

Entrepreneur, social activist and chef Roy Choi takes a journey through his hometown of Los Angeles and beyond to explore complex social justice issues in "Broken Bread," co-produced by KCET and Tastemade. Meet inspiring individuals and organizations who challenge the status quo, and are using food as a platform for activism and a catalyst for change.

CREDIT: EDITOR

ARTBOUND 11.5

At a time when pop art was finding its footing and the nation was in a state of upheaval, Sister Corita helped make art more accessible to the public. This episode charts her art practice and her effect on generations after her. Using the classroom as a tool for a more approachable way to think about art, Sister Corita has inspired and motivated an entire new generation of graphic designers.

CREDIT: PRODUCER & EDITOR

THIS EPISODE OF ARTBOUND WON A LOS ANGELES EMMY AWARD IN 2021 FOR BEST ARTS PROGRAMMING.

THIS ARTBOUND SERIES, CALIFORNIA GRAPHIC DESIGN, WON A LOS ANGELES AREA EMMY AWARD IN 2021 FOR BEST INFORMATIONAL SERIES.

ARTBOUND 11.5

At its peak, the Black Panther newspaper publication had the highest circulation of any paper in the country. Behind the its powerful illustrations was Emory Douglas. This episode follows how Douglas created a visual language that uplifted the Black community’s image of itself amid the racist portrayals of mainstream media. In doing so, they created the visual imagery of protest in the country.

CREDIT: PRODUCER & EDITOR

THIS ARTBOUND SERIES, CALIFORNIA GRAPHIC DESIGN, WON A LOS ANGELES AREA EMMY AWARD IN 2021 FOR BEST INFORMATIONAL SERIES.

THIS EPISODE, EMORY DOUGLAS: BLACK PANTHER ARTIST, WON A NATIONAL ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALISM (NAEJ) AWARD IN 2020/2021 FOR BEST HARD NEWS FEATURE.

ARTBOUND 11.5

John Van Hamersveld was the man behind the iconic "Endless Summer" poster that forever solidified the image of California with its high contrast image of a lone surfer against a day-glo background. This episode features interviews with Van Hamersveld on his design and recounts the making of the iconic poster.

CREDIT: PRODUCER & EDITOR

THIS ARTBOUND SERIES, CALIFORNIA GRAPHIC DESIGN, WON A LOS ANGELES AREA EMMY AWARD IN 2021 FOR BEST INFORMATIONAL SERIES.

THIS EPISODE, ENDLESS SUMMER, WON A GOLDEN MIKE (RTNA) AWARD IN 2021 FOR BEST TV LIGHT FEATURE REPORTING, 10 MINUTES OR LESS DIVISION - A

ARTBOUND 11.5

Melanie Cervantes and Jesus Barraza are the duo behind Dignidad Rebelde, a graphic arts collaboration that uses design to amplify the stories of people of color. They aspire to put art back into the hands of people. Taking inspiration from the work of Emory Douglas, they seek to use their art as a platform for social justice.

CREDIT: PRODUCER & EDITOR

THIS EPISODE, DIGNIDAD REBELDE: ART IS PROTEST, WON A NATIONAL ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALISM (NAEJ) AWARD IN 2022 FOR BEST SOFT NEWS FEATURE ON ARTS/CULTURE UNDER 5 MINUTES TV.

THIS ARTBOUND SERIES, CALIFORNIA GRAPHIC DESIGN, WON A LOS ANGELES AREA EMMY AWARD IN 2021 FOR BEST INFORMATIONAL SERIES.

ARTBOUND 11.5

Ernesto Yerena Montejano uses his cross-national upbringing and graphic design practice to bring attention to the issues faced by Indigenous and Brown people. Montejano produces political and social justice images using the bright colors that draw inspiration from California's psychedelic art, as well as the bright colors and geometric aesthetic of Native American and Mexican cultures.

CREDIT: PRODUCER & EDITOR

THIS ARTBOUND SERIES, CALIFORNIA GRAPHIC DESIGN, WON A LOS ANGELES AREA EMMY AWARD IN 2021 FOR BEST INFORMATIONAL SERIES.

MOUNT WHITNEY

Mt Whitney, perhaps our favorite location because of our Colorado/Norwegian roots. If you have not visited Lone Pine, Alabama Hills and the mountain itself we strongly recommend you add it to the list of must see. The summit is the tallest point in the contiguous United States and sunrise from the Alabama Hills will take your breath away. If you aren't in any shape to summit, Lone Pine Lake is a great goal for a day hike up and back.

Set alongside the Autry Garden, the California Road Trip room is a destination for rest and inspiration. Through the panoramic and close-up dual projection film, visitors are invited to discover California’s most scenic and varied landscapes and biomes. Sights include: the extreme desert climate of Death Valley, the lowest point in North America; the idyllic ocean bluffs of Big Sur and the central coastline, an exemplary feature of California's topography; the starry skies of Joshua Tree; the majestic giants of the California Redwoods, the tallest trees in the world; and the supreme elevation and jagged granite faces of Mt. Whitney, unforgivingly the highest summit in the contiguous United States, reaching 14,505 feet into the clouds.

CREDIT: PRODUCER / DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY / EDITOR

JOSHUA TREE

Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in a landscape sculpted by wind and rain. Rugged rock formations and stark cactus-dotted desert make up the habitat to a fascinating variety of plants and animals. Strong winds and dark night skies yield the kind of surreal magic you find in this low desert region.

We were both enchanted and challenged scrambling around the boulders chasing the light from sunrise to sunset. Twisted Joshua Trees silhouetted against a star-lit sky, the sounds of life all around us.

Set alongside the Autry Garden, the California Road Trip room is a destination for rest and inspiration. Through the panoramic and close-up dual projection film, visitors are invited to discover California’s most scenic and varied landscapes and biomes. Sights include: the extreme desert climate of Death Valley, the lowest point in North America; the idyllic ocean bluffs of Big Sur and the central coastline, an exemplary feature of California's topography; the starry skies of Joshua Tree; the majestic giants of the California Redwoods, the tallest trees in the world; and the supreme elevation and jagged granite faces of Mt. Whitney, unforgivingly the highest summit in the contiguous United States, reaching 14,505 feet into the clouds.

HUMBOLDT REDWOODS

California Redwood trees are the tallest trees on the planet. They have shallow root systems that extend over one hundred feet from the base, intertwining with the roots of other redwoods increasing their stability during strong winds and floods. The trees sometimes fall due to wind, but they are very flexible and usually just sway in the wind. At night you can hear them creaking over 200ft in the sky above.

Set alongside the Autry Garden, the California Road Trip room is a destination for rest and inspiration. Through the panoramic and close-up dual projection film, visitors are invited to discover California’s most scenic and varied landscapes and biomes. Sights include: the extreme desert climate of Death Valley, the lowest point in North America; the idyllic ocean bluffs of Big Sur and the central coastline, an exemplary feature of California's topography; the starry skies of Joshua Tree; the majestic giants of the California Redwoods, the tallest trees in the world; and the supreme elevation and jagged granite faces of Mt. Whitney, unforgivingly the highest summit in the contiguous United States, reaching 14,505 feet into the clouds.

BIG SUR

"The greatest meeting of land and water in the world." Where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean, a region which has no specific boundaries, rugged, isolated, mythic, California's Central coast.

The ocean mist sticks to your face, the sound of the waves frees your heart.

Set alongside the Autry Garden, the California Road Trip room is a destination for rest and inspiration. Through the panoramic and close-up dual projection film, visitors are invited to discover California’s most scenic and varied landscapes and biomes. Sights include: the extreme desert climate of Death Valley, the lowest point in North America; the idyllic ocean bluffs of Big Sur and the central coastline, an exemplary feature of California's topography; the starry skies of Joshua Tree; the majestic giants of the California Redwoods, the tallest trees in the world; and the supreme elevation and jagged granite faces of Mt. Whitney, unforgivingly the highest summit in the contiguous United States, reaching 14,505 feet into the clouds.

DEATH VALLEY

Death Valley is the lowest, driest, and hottest area in North America. Located in the Great Basin, east of the Sierra Nevada mountains. When we arrived it was 107 degrees with winds up to 65mph. To feel so physically challenged by your surroundings and the limits of what your body can handle is a wonderful and very real way to gain appreciation and respect.

The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes of Death Valley will transport you to another dimension where illusory distances grow with every step you take.

This dune field includes three types of dunes: crescent, linear, and star shaped. Polygon-cracked clay of an ancient lakebed forms the floor. Mesquite trees have created large hummocks that provide stable habitats for wildlife.

Set alongside the Autry Garden, the California Road Trip room is a destination for rest and inspiration. Through the panoramic and close-up dual projection film, visitors are invited to discover California’s most scenic and varied landscapes and biomes. Sights include: the extreme desert climate of Death Valley, the lowest point in North America; the idyllic ocean bluffs of Big Sur and the central coastline, an exemplary feature of California's topography; the starry skies of Joshua Tree; the majestic giants of the California Redwoods, the tallest trees in the world; and the supreme elevation and jagged granite faces of Mt. Whitney, unforgivingly the highest summit in the contiguous United States, reaching 14,505 feet into the clouds.

For Mabel McKay, the renowned Pomo basket weaver, traditional doctor, and last speaker of her language, her relationship with the environment was an intrinsic part of life.

Mabel was born in 1907 and passed away in 1993. Over the course of her lifetime—which nearly spanned the entirety of the twentieth century—she would have experienced an enormous amount of social and political change. Born in Lake County in the town of Nice, California and raised near Cache Creek (now the present day Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation about forty minutes south of Sacramento), she witnessed the landscape around her changing. Pomo territory is very environmentally diverse, ranging from the coastal redwood forests of the Kashaya Pomo reservation near Fort Ross to the rolling grasslands and oak groves near Clear Lake.

The Autry's newly renovated gallery for temporary exhibitions is dedicated to viewing the history of California through an environmental lens. The space opens with the Autry’s first-ever solo show dedicated to a Native American woman’s life and work. Mabel McKay (1907–1993), a Long Valley Cache Creek Pomo woman from Northern California, represents a fascinating modern figure who maintained traditional ways. McKay is celebrated not only as a master basketweaver, but also for her many roles as traditional healer, advocate for her community and the environment, and teacher who shared her knowledge of Pomo traditions worldwide.

McKay had a spiritual connection to the plants she wove into her baskets, a deep respect for the birds she used for her feather work, and longstanding ties to the cultural traditions of her ancestors. Interviewed for an article in the magazine American Indian Basketry in 1983, Mabel said: “collecting the sedge is spiritual, just like weaving the basket is spiritual.”

Widely considered to be one of the greatest California basketweavers of all time, McKay’s masterworks are highlights of the exhibition. A homey tableau reproduces McKay’s work environment, and other personal items in the exhibition include her deerskin dress, doctoring suitcase, and the lunch box she carried to her job at a cannery. The exhibition also reveals the “Life of a Basket,” introducing the many stages of cultivation, harvesting, and processing necessary to prepare materials, as well as a variety of weaving techniques used in Pomo basketry.

A wallpaper commission for The Autry Museum.

The composite images were taken 3 hours apart in a 24 hour period. Some composites, with each image requiring up to 60second exposures took over an hour to photograph.

Each tile is a still image which was captured at 4k resolution. The panoramas are 5x15 images in size, 75 tiles total, making each panorama 57,600 x 10,800 pixels with a maximum print size of 240”x 1080” or 20ft tall by 90ft long.

BREACH is the first feature documentary to reveal Iceland's illegal participation in commercial whale hunting, told against a backdrop of worldwide debates, international tourism, fierce nationalism, and political intrigue.

Narrated by Billy Baldwin

CREDIT: PRODUCER & EDITOR

100 Mules Walking The Los Angeles Aqueduct

Season 4 Episode 5 | 58m 30s

"Artbound" travels with Lauren Bon and the Metabolic Studio as they perform "One Hundred Mules Walking the Los Angeles Aqueduct," a commemorative artist action to reconnect Los Angeles to its water supply by walking the entire 240-mile route of the Los Angeles Aqueduct with a team of 100 hundred mules. The action marked the 100-year anniversary of the completion of the Los Angeles Aqueduct.

Aired: 05/08/14

Rating: NR

CREDIT: PRODUCER & EDITOR

The journey drew a line, with a string of one hundred mules, between Los Angeles and the source of its water in the Eastern Sierra. This one-month meditation was undertaken to commemorate the centenary of the opening of the Los Angeles Aqueduct in 2013. Mules were an important component of the labor force that made the building of the aqueduct possible. This action paid homage to the quiet dignity of the mule and the patient pace of its progress across this epic landscape.

Moving one hundred mules daily over a month was a huge endeavor. The logistics and teamwork drew together individuals whose unique skill set is still present in the valley where the packing industry still plays an essential role in the local economy. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power gave permission to move along the 240 miles of channels, pipes and covered ditches which was, in and of itself, an important step in allowing this kind of performative survey of this critical public utility.

Junk Dada: Behind Noah Purifoy's Joshua Tree Sculptures

Clip: Season 7 Episode 3 | 17m 9s

The Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum of Assemblage Sculpture, open to the public, illustrates the artist's vision during the last 15 years of his life.

Aired: 09/24/15

Rating: NR

CREDIT: PRODUCER, DIRECTOR AND EDITOR

THIS ARTBOUND EPISODE, NOAH PURIFOY: JUNK DADA, WON A GOLDEN MIKE (RTNA) AWARD IN 2015 FOR BEST NEWS VIDEOGRAPHY.

KCET / PBS

A look at the demise of the grizzly bear in Southern California, an animal once revered by indigenous peoples but later targeted by Europeans as a threat to safety and security.

L.A. artist Gary Baseman creates a parallel universe of stylized landscapes populated by gently feral creatures and doe-eyed maidens.

From the article Gary Baseman and Me: Critique, Correspondence, and Collaboration in the Art World by Shana Nys Dambrot

CREDIT: ADDITIONAL CAMERA, PRODUCER & EDITOR

THIS ARTBOUND EPISODE, GARY BASEMAN & ME, WAS NOMINATED FOR A LOS ANGELES AREA EMMY AWARD IN 2013 FOR BEST ARTS FEATURE.

Clip: Season 3 Episode 4 | 16m 56s

Deemed outsider art, folk art, and other similarly nondescript and fluid labels, the Watts Towers do not necessarily fit the bill for a standard definition or understanding of art. But no matter what they are called, the Towers remain a cultural jewel of Los Angeles. And within the cracks and structure of these Towers lies an unfolding story and scientific mystery of sorts.

CREDIT: PRODUCER & EDITOR

Aired: 10/17/13

Rating: NR

The history of motorcycle drag racing is a fascinating one, and in an effort to tell the complete story, never before-seen film was gathered and interviews with 17 of the sports icons (including Sonny Routt, Ray Price, Terry Vance, and Larry “Spiderman” McBride) were conducted. I shot the principle photography of interviews and brought the edit to fine cut.

CREDIT: PRINCIPLE CINEMATOGRAPHY AND EDITING

FEATURE FILM

Bulbul: Song of the Nightingale documents the life of a young Banchara girl living off National Highway 79 in Madhya Pradesh, India. Though only eleven years old, Bulbul already stands at a crossroads. The likelihood is high that her parents will soon force her into the longstanding community tradition of prostitution. Bulbul's tribe, the Banchara, have existed at the bottom of Indian society for centuries, relying on prostitution as their economic lifeblood. A continued lack of options allows this practice to persist.Bulbul's story sits at the nexus of the most pervasive and persistent social ills in today's India-sex, money, and a system of religiously sanctioned apartheid thousands of years old. The course for Bulbul's life was assumed by her parents long before she was born. In this community, a young girl is a precious commodity, as she will one day earn her family money either through a large dowry or as a prostitute. The film traces the contours of Bulbul's horizon through her relationships and encounters with the constellation of women in her immediate family and community, offering a glimpse of what might become her future.

Riot Games teamed up a community cosplayer with a professional prop maker to turn everyone’s favorite chain warden into a towering real-life monster! Here are some behind-the-scenes looks at the creation and performance of the thirteen foot tall Thresh puppet that debuted at PAX East. Cosplay on!

CREDIT: EDITOR

SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND DRAW-IN WITH HILLARY MUSHKIN

Season 2 Episode 1 | 8m 45s

Incendiary Traces ventures out on the sport fishing boat Fury for an unannounced draw-in focused on San Clemente Island Naval Weapons Testing Range.

Aired: 04/04/13

CREDIT: CINEMATOGRAPHY & EDITOR

Clip: Season 2 Episode 3 | 17m 15s

Espacio 1839 evolved out of a desire to develop a retail model for community reinvestment -- a vital step to stemming gentrification forces that often move capital out of neighborhoods. This hybrid storefront quintuples as a book/clothing/record store, art gallery, and the gleaming new broadcast booth for Radio Sombra and its growing crew of DJs.

CREDIT: PRODUCER & EDITOR

Aired: 06/25/13

Rating: NR

An exploration of the interplay between reality and fiction in a real-world setting.

A trailer for the feature documentary film's Cinematography and Historical Documentation.

In 2006 – Ondi Timoner, Vasco Nunes, and Jeff Frey produced, Nunes took up cinematography, while Timoner led directorial efforts. The multicamera shoot, with 4 verite crews, plus multiple self contained operators in the live music shows, along with a two camera setup in a trailer for interviews with Timoner rounded out the coverage that lead to 100s of hrs of material. The coverage, and a collection of archival material to be harvested - Lollapalooza, a feature-length film about the history of alternative music, politics and culture from 1990 through 2008 through the experience of America’s first touring festival would be told. 2007 was the last year of documentation with the feature project on hold, the amassed material was over 500 hrs.

CLASS PRODUCTIONS / NOW UNLIMITED

Wildness is a portrait of the Silver Platter, a historic bar on the east side of Los Angeles that has catered to the Latin immigrant and queer community since 1963.

The film captures the creativity and conflict that ensue when a group of young, queer artists of color (Wu Tsang, DJs NGUZUNGUZU and Total Freedom) organize a weekly performance party, also called Wildness, at the bar. This emergent underground interfaces with the emigrant transwomen who have long populated the venue and the Silver Platter becomes a charged forum for forging coalitions and exploring class, community, and activism.

FEATURE FILM

Flat Daddies function at the intersection of what can be imaged and imagined. For children and their families the imaged “reinforcement” is meant to provide a seamless visual transition between the endpoints of deployment.

The life-sized portraits become flattened bodies turning fathers from images into objects of affection. The image-memory is held in place but when everyday life comes to a standstill how does one picture the tensions and fears that surface when talking about death, loss or desperate times?

Cut out and pasted onto a familiar backdrop of the American home: Flat Daddy is no longer merely a sign, nor is it simply a fleshed out incarnation of one who is missing; Rather, it is suspended in between, deployed in a fractured state. The personification of war itself breathes with its own ubiquitous imagination, coloring with unfamiliar lines an altogether different picture.

Still Here NTSC/Color

Documentary

74minutes

Shining Sea Productions LLC

Copyright 2009

LOCATIONS FILMED

ALABAMA

Kelly, Alex and Lake Black

ARKANSAS

Ginny Adams

CALIFORNIA

Sherri, Mike and Shane Hutton

Michael and Michael-Alexander Little

Pat and Ken Schurman

Derek Fly

Virginia, Nicci, Sandra and Ryley Tallman

COLORADO

Jessica, Faith and Tyler Lundstrom

Sally and Cassandra Webster

Elaine Dumler

CONNECTICUT

Sandra, Louisa and Lucas Pearl

GEORGIA

Alaina and Savannah McDonald

KENTUCKY

Tammie, David and Michael Henderson

Marcella Gibson

LOUISIANA

Kathy and Sterlin Tatum

MAINE

Barbara Claudel

MICHIGAN

Nicole, Samantha, Ryan and Alyson Cadotte

MINNESOTA

Laura and Emma Cloose

Stacey, Lukas, Morgan, Ethan and Adam Bielke

MISSISSIPPI

Adrian, Ranae, Taylor, Gracie and Haley Caldwell

Calvin and Rakeshei Robinson

Samantha Wade

Holly, Madeline and Taylor Boyd

Miranda and Drew Goddard

Connie, Cailee Beth and Cora Yeilding

NORTH DAKOTA

Cindy Sorenson and Sarah Bruschwein

NEW JERSEY

Rhonda, Caroline, Trisha and Haley Dring

OHIO/SFC GRAPHICS

Eric Crockett

Gretchen Roundtree

Ryan Straube

Thomas Clark

Ryan Hertzfeld

TEXAS

Tammie, Luke and Cole Warren

Ashley and Logan Klein

Carey, Jacob, Rebekah, Stephen, Abigail

and Daniel Quick

UTAH

Amaria, Creighton, Logan, Cassidy and McCall Scovil

VERMONT

Elizabeth, Oliver, Abigail and Ethan Roy

WASHINGTON

Allison, Ethan and Esther Buckholtz

Theresa and Kaitlyn Chelberg

PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, CAMERA, SOUND, EDITOR

SUZANNE MEJEAN

MUSIC

HENRY WOLFE GUMMER AND OLIVER NEWELL

POST PRODUCTION/ON-LINE SUPERVISOR

LISA SCHOENBERG

SOUND MIX

CRAIG SMITH