July 27, 2010 stacys
For a film on the politics of teaching evolution, who better to create our high-school study guide than two of the nation’s most accomplished Biology teachers? We first met Ken Bingman during the filming of Kansas vs. Darwin (he was one of the authors of the contested Kansas science standards) and he agreed to make a cameo appearance along with one of his classes at Blue Valley West in Olathe, Kansas. Over 18 months later, Ken saw the finished film and liked it so much, he began to use it in class as an example of science in society. We’ve stayed in touch over the last couple of years because he’s a very insightful person with a great perspective on the problems in teaching evolution, having taught Biology for 47 years.
But it wasn’t until this Spring when I asked him to write our study guide for high school science and social studies teachers that I learned the full extent of his stature and experience: Ken is a National Science Teacher of the Year, an inductee in the National Teachers’ Hall of Fame, Presidential Award Winner for Excellence in Science Teaching, a co-author of the National Science Standards, and Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher to Japan. And, he’s still teaching! (If I were in the Hall of Fame for anything, I would retire and live off my fees from autograph shows.)
Not satisfied to supply his own huge store of knowledge, Ken brought in his brother, who also taught Biology for over 30 years at high school, college and graduate school levels. He was the director and co-developer of the Inquiry Role Approach, a curriculum program for Biology Teachers and Students, published by Silver Burdette in 1974.
Jeff Tamblyn, Unconditional Films
Director, Kansas vs. Darwin
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July 27, 2010 stacys
At present we here at Marlboro Productions are translating and dubbing
Taking Root : The Vision of Wangari Maathai into Haitian Creole. As I write, Nadine Dominique, the daughter of Jean Dominique (subject of the film
The Agronomist by Jonathan Demme) is sitting here working away on the translation. The film will be used by grassroots organizations in Haiti to help their people make the connections between environmental justice, human rights and good governance as Wangari Maathai did in Kenya. The
Lambi Fund of Haiti who already has a connection with the Green Belt Movement of Kenya, will be using the film in their work.
Taking Root was shown last week at the Review Conference of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Kampala Uganda. The conference runs through June 11th.
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July 27, 2010 stacys
Special Circumstances, a documentary about a former Chilean political prisoner who returns to Chile 30 years later, camera in hand, to confront those responsible for his own torture and the death of his friends, has been nominated for a “Rockie” at the Banff World Television Festival in Canada next week. Wish us luck!
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July 27, 2010 stacys
Libraries across the country are not just ordering this documentary about a vegetarian who moves to Alaska and sets off on a search for a sustainable and ethical meal, they’re also setting up screenings and events.
One public library director simply called Eating Alaska,
“quirky Food, Inc” Others are inviting chefs, urban gardeners, homesteaders, food activists and the filmmaker to speak; sharing wild, local and artisan nibbles, and talking about food justice and the impact of the industrial food system on our bodies, families and communities. One upcoming event is at the Scranton Library in Madison, Connecticut on July 15th.
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July 27, 2010 stacys
Alice Elliott at Reframing Reality Festival in Jerusalem
Just returned from Israel. Body & Soul: Diana & Kathy and The Collector of Bedford Street shown at the ReFraming Reality Film Festival at The Cinematique.
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June 23, 2010 stacys
To say that I have been resistant to self distributing my film, would be the understatement of the year. I am a filmmaker, I make films that hopefully move or somehow inspire something, anything. I am not, however, a distributor, that is not where my talents or desires lie.
It was last summer in the midst of trying to finish my latest film, Change is Gonna Come, three years in, out of money and vowing never to write another grant application, I read Think and Grow Rich. The book suggests finding a product to sell so I can raise money, in my case to finish my film. As I pondered this, I looked around my office and sitting on my bookshelf is my product– my first film The Smith Family, ready and waiting to be sold and distributed.
I finally got it, we create films so they can be seen and utilized. And what better way than to have them seen and used in the educational market with professors asking the hard questions, and students retorting right back with even more provocative questions. Getting people talking, was the very reason we made the film in the first place.
I am doing not only Change is Gonna Come, a disservice but also all those who haven’t yet experienced The Smith Family, all the professors who can use the film in their classroom to stimulate discussion about homosexuality, religion, AIDS, HIV, family, marriage, fidelity, faith, forgiveness, unconditional love.
The responses of how this film is used in the classroom never ceases to blow my mind, from dentists to nurses, to social workers. Used in ways I couldn’t have dreamed up, affecting lives and changing perspective in ways that force me to continue telling stories.
So, if I have to devout a portion of my brain power to stretching in ways I once believed I was incapable of, to reach my goal to make a difference and affect lives, then I will write that newsletter, learn to blog and build those lists.
Because I am a filmmaker, intensely passionate about what I do, I’m learning to be an entrepreneur so others can actually experience my work and make their own choices.
Tasha is based in Venice, California where, when not lamenting or filming, she plots and plans volunteer vacations in Africa, Cuba, Thailand and other remote corners of the world.
Tasha Oldham
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June 21, 2010 stacys
At present we here at Marlboro Productions are translating and dubbing Taking Root : The Vision of Wangari Maathai into Haitian Creole.
As I write, Nadine Dominique, the daughter of Jean Dominique (subject of the film The Agronomist by Jonathan Demme) is sitting here working away on the translation. The film will be used by grassroots organizations in Haiti to help their people make the connections between environmental justice, human rights and good governance as Wangari Maathai did in Kenya. The Lambi Fund of Haiti who already has a connection with the Green Belt Movement of Kenya, will be using the film in their work.
TAKING ROOT: The Vision of Wangari Maathai tells the inspiring story of the Green Belt Movement of Kenya and its founder Wangari Maathai, the first environmentalist and first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
The film was shown last week at the Review Conference of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Kampala Uganda. The conference runs through June 11th.
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June 15, 2010 stacys
Dear Ms Oldham,
Every semester for the past 5-6 years I have shown The Smith Family. Each semester the students make the same statements “life changing”, “powerful”, ” I will never view HIV/AIDS in the same way”, the list goes on. I am using your film to help educate my students who will then go out and work with hundreds of people throughout their careers. I want you to know how powerful this has been and we may never know how many hundreds of people’s lives have been changed because of it. It has opened the eyes of many of my students.
Thank you and the Smith family for this brilliant film.
Martin McDonell
Social Work Professor
BYU-Hawaii
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June 8, 2010 stacys
Special Circumstances, a documentary about a former Chilean political prisoner who returns to Chile 30 years later, camera in hand, to confront those responsible for his own torture and the death of his friends, has been nominated for a “Rockie” at the Banff World Television Festival in Canada next week. Wish us luck!
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May 21, 2010 stacys
The contentious debate on ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ has lately seen surprising maneuvers from all sides in Washington, and ASK NOT has been right in the thick of it.
Two weeks ago, our groundbreaking and deeply personal PBS film illuminating the remarkable history, implementation and real stories behind the policy was screened on Capitol Hill to a bi-partisan group of Congressional members including Sen. Al Franken D-MN and Rep. Patrick Murphy D-PA. Three subjects from the film — Jacob Reitan (Founder of the “Right to Serve Campaignâ€), Alex Nicholson (Executive Director, Servicemembers United), and Jarrod Chlapowski (Military Consultant, Human Rights Campaign) — as well as filmmaker Johnny Symons, were present for the event.
Meanwhile, despite his previous statements to the contrary, a letter from Defense Secretary Robert Gates was leaked stating that Congressional action changing the policy at this time ”would send a very damaging message to our men and women in uniform...” The letter triggered a flurry of conflicting responses from advocacy groups, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and ultimately, the White House. Now, it looks as though an issue that had the potential to be resolved this year may remain part of our military policy until 2013 or longer.
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