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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