Mayor of Savannah Kicks-Off Soul in Georgia

This just in. The city of Savannah is using Soul as a rallying point for social and political action to combat a depressed economy. Savannah's Mayor Otis Johnson will kick-off the Kick-off Celebration of "Soul of a People." Mayor Johnson will share his perspective as a Mayor of a city facing economic hardships and working to provide relief for its citizens. Living history! This news and much more from our partners at Lane Library at Armstrong Atlantic State University.

The Sun Sets on an Iconic Westerner

Writer, journalist, novelist, champion of the Western, Texan, voice of Vardis Fisher in Soul of a People, Elmer Kelton wore many hats. But his most iconic role was being himself, a man who lived the life he wrote about. It was in fact Elmer's life and life's work about cowboys, settlers, and the pioneering men and women who survived and thrived through grit, will and ingenuity in the rough and rugged landscape of the frontier, that drew Spark to seek him out for the role. The idea from the beginning of the voice overs was always to match up the character in the movie with a kindred literary spirit in America today. And Elmer was a perfect fit for the part of Vardis Fisher. People have commented that Elmer has a Texan accent, and that Vardis wouldn't have had such a thick drawl, but capturing the spirit of the character rather than a spitting audio image was much more important. And Elmer nailed it. And Elmer nailed it without even trying. Because he wasn't acting. Elmer was just being himself, and that's exactly why we wanted him to do Vardis. Andrea said he was a joy to work with, that he was a consummate gentleman, and full of wisdom and a plainspoken genius. Luckily Andrea had the foresight to do a little interview with Elmer at the end of the voice over session, and it is exactly the rift between Western authors and the Eastern literary establishment that Elmer addressed. It is a riveting listen. Elmer passed away in August, at the age of 83, in Texas. He died with his literary boots on, at work on his next novel. We send his family our condolences, and hope you pick up one of his books. Happy trails, cowboy.

Blast From The Past

If you've never heard of Anzia Yezierska, she was a renowned Jewish novelist famous for stories about the life of Jewish immigrants on New York's Lower East Side in the 1920s. Her book of autobiographical short stories, Hungry Hearts, was made into a major motion picture, and her sudden rise to fame earned her the label "the sweatshop Cinderella." The film Hungry Hearts would have been lost to the ages were it not for the National Center for Jewish Film, which restored it and added it to its collection--the biggest repository of Jewish-themed films outside of Israel. And its thanks to NCJF that we were able to use Hungry Hearts in our documentary. Anzia's sudden fall from fame into poverty because of the Depression provided the perfect entry point into the story of the Federal Writers' Project, a sort of reverse Cinderella story, and we could have not brought Anzia to life so vividly without NCJF and Hungry Hearts. We owe them a debt of gratitude for preserving this invaluable part of our national history. Check out the excerpt of Anzia from Soul, and visit NCJF's site, they have an amazing collection of films and resources.

This is Susan Brandehoff, next to the poster of the traveling exhibit of the film. If you had one guess, what do you think her job title might be? Yes, that's correct, she is the American Library Association's Program Director for Traveling Exhibitions and Broadcast Media. And a fabulous program director at that. We owe you many many thanks Susan. Way to exhibit!

Visiting Dena

Since I was in town I dropped by to visit Dena Epstein. She's in the film. She's the person you hear in the very beginning recount her memory of a run on a bank during the Great Depression, and she later tells of her mother's experience on the Writers' Project in Chicago. She is among the few remaining links to that part of our national history, and her experience and memories provided a bridge to the past for us as people and as filmmakers and for the audience. I thought it would be nice to say hi. We talked and ate soup with some her friends. It was nice. Thanks for hanging out Dena.

Drunk on excitement about the screening, Al and I drove down to Harpo productions and knocked on Oprah's door. We also rang the bell, and buzzed the intercom. She wasn't available. She was washing her hair or something. So we left a polite note and then stormed Harpo's gates, unsuccessfully. Then we thought it'd be okay to plug Soul next to their sign, until we triggered the laser beam alarm system and an army of armed security guards shot us down with rubber bullets and tazed Al on the spot (not cool Oprah). Okay, that didn't happen (sorry Oprah), but it was Oprah's place, and it wouldn't have surprised me if that did happen (because people love Oprah). The point is we were ready to risk life and limb for Soul and we love Oprah.

This is Al Stein, lecturer and archivist at Chicago State University, Spark Media's man in ChiTown, and all round awesome individual. Al was the glue that held the screening together, and my tour guide to the Windy City. This is Al in one of his many moments of relentless boosterism for Soul. His energy was infectious. We even tried to get Oprah to plug the screening (see the next post) You rock Al.

In front of me sat the two scholars on the panel (more on them later) watching the film. There was a lot of laughing. I found myself laughing at parts I never realized were that funny. People came up after and said they also cried, or were choked up. It was a very emotional experience for many people. You know, its not Oscar buzz, but its just as powerful to hear things like that. But if anyone out there has some Oscar buzz for Soul, that is also something we'd like to hear about.

On The Big Screen

I've seen Soul of a People about one zillion times. But I've never seen it on the Big Screen. We did a test run of the film in the Newberry Library screening room, and man, I gotta tell you, it felt good seeing it up there in all its glory. It's a totally different experience. I can't wait till Saturday to experience it with a live audience. I don't understand how any director or actor not sit in on a screening of their own film. On second thought, they're just lying, that's how.

Newberry Screening room

My jaw dropped. This the nicest screening room I've ever seen. Just look at the chandeliers, the chairs, the columns, the hardwood floors. Did you see the chandeliers? I truly do feel honored to be given the opportunity to present the film in Newberry libary's screening room. Seriously, thank you Al Stein and Rachel Bohlmann for making this happen.

Don't forget to give Joanne a kiss

I love you Joanne. Thanks for the shirt.

Obama's Chicago

This is Manny's Coffee Shop and Jewish American deli. If you live or work in, around or near, writing about, getting elected in, trying to get reelected in, are passing through, visiting, or even just thinking about setting foot in, Chicago, eating here is mandatory. Kapish?

Welcoming Committee

This is Kevin. He was sent to welcome me to Chicago. He told me the first rule of surviving on the streets of Chicago--"perfect your mad dog dude." So we gave it a try together. We did such a good job, two innocent bystanders succumbed to panic attacks at the sight of us mugging together, which led to police, ambulance, and news reporters arriving on the scene. We made the 5 o'clock news on a segment they called "Chicago's Meanest Mugs."

Thanks for the warm welcome Kev.

A City on the Make

But seriously, I understand everyone is facing a budget crunch, but really, Chicago Visitors Bureau, you can do better than this.

From Union Station to Union Station

Man, why can't the paparazzi ever leave me alone. Ever since Soul of a People aired on the Smithsonian Network last weekend at 8 pm Eastern Standard Time, I just can't get them off me. I'm just an associate producer guys. What's that? No, I don't use Vidal Sassoon. Who am I wearing? Hollywood discount liquidators. No, that is not a Gucci suitcase dude. Will I sign your what? Okay, that's it, seriously, stop it.

Scenes from a moving train 4

Train yards on Chicago's South Side

Scenes from a moving train 3

Hey, is that a triple AAA-rated collateralized debt obligation? A mortgage-backed security? An exotic derivative financial instrument? Is that a machine that makes, like, things? This must be some kind of trash from the 20th Century.

Scenes from a moving train 2

Dawn on the Indiana/Illinois border.

Scenes from a moving train 1

This is Harpers Ferry

Chicago connection

This is Elliott Krick. He teaches film at the University of Chicago, he's a very friendly guy, and he also happens to travel with construction-grade extension chords. "No you don't, come on Elliott, who travels with something like that?" Electricity was out on half the car, my half, and Elliott's half, and Elliott just popped up with this solution. Elliott was on his way home, so in a way he was my first connection to Chicago. My first encounter with Chicago---electrifying!

All aboard

Train to Chicago premier leaving in one hour. Packing the necessaries: flip-flops, undies, the film. The screening will be at the Newberry Library in Chicago, and there's going to be a panel discussion. If you're in town, drop by, it's open to the public (click here for details). Will have plenty to report upon arrival, and probably some existential revelations about life as I will have 17 hours on the train without internet access and way too much Depression literature.

In the meantime, the production retrospective continues. Today's flashback is of the early days in the cave. Look at this face, this is the face of production. Delirium, exhaustion, euphoria. This is Wana, the associate editor and veteran Sparkista, with Andrea in the background, both attempting to marshal enough energy to give me the evil eye. I can't remember if this was late night or early morning, as it made no difference on some days, but it's definitely at a haggard moment, as neither Wana nor Andrea wanted to be photographed. Andea especially. You can see she is commanding me to Hallas with the pickchas. "hey, hey, what are you doing?" What me? "No pictures." What? This is just for me. "I don't believe you." I swear Andrea. "Okay, just don't go posting this on the internet or something. Or I'll kill ya. Kapish?" Okay, I promise.
Not.

TV on the Radio

Soul is on Fire. Bob Edwards, the first host of NPR's flagship Morning Edition, and now the host of Bob Edwards Weekend on Sirius and Public Radio International (distributing to over 100 public radio stations), featured Soul of a People this weekend in an interview with David Bradley, one of the most charismatic and eloquent writers and scholars in the film. Check it out. http://podcast.com/episode/43980057/32910/?cp=1125

The reviews are beginning to pour in. Stay tuned for more....

The picture above is of James Mirabello, the co-producer, and i, holding in our hands the final digibeta mastertapes of the final, final, final cut in the little bullet-proof bags they were delivered in to the Smithsonian Network. James's facial expression represents the shock and awe of actually reaching this unexpected moment in the production process. The imaginary thought bubble above his head should read: "oh my god, we're actually done? whaaaaaaaaa? What do we do with our lives now? What is our purpose for existing?" Whereas I'm just simply taking this opportunity to show off my fabulously spontaneous Mutton Chops, which, I swear, I did not have entering the editing cave. They just appeared on my face when I emerged from the cave peppered with little bits of tasty pretzel morsels. I really miss the cave.........the row of shiny golden statuettes in the background are the various awards Andrea Kalin has garnered over the years for her filmmaking. We are in her office, and because she is not present, we are making goofy faces. This is what happens when you leave Andrea....

The Long Awaited Moment

So the long awaited moment is about to arrive of the world, nay, Universal premier of the labor of love of many, many years. The Smithsonian Network will be airing Soul of a People this Labor of Love Day weekend (check out the trailer clicking on the gadget to the right.) 7 years in the making, 3 years in production, one year in editing and script revisions, a seemingly endless string of over-nighters in the cave, frantically digging through hundreds of hours of archival film, munching on giant pretzels, debating the cuts, killing our darlings and playing psycho ping pong barefooted at 4 in the morning while Andrea took a powernap underneath the editing console after that week's 48 marathon editing session--and that was just one mid-Spring’s Thursday night!! So in honor of this momentous mountaintop we are about peak upon, I thought it appropriate to look back at some of the highlights of the production. Advanced apologies to my friends and associates for the wild and wooly light the world will now and forever see them in.

The Making Of The Making Of

The Smithsonian Network sent over a film crew (aka, one woman cameracrew, on the right) to the "mosh pit," aka the Spark Media Production Department, aka, the Third Floor. On hand was the core production crew for Soul of a People, the editor, the director, the assistant editor, and the um, me. The walls are covered with the real story board cards we used to map out the arc of the documentary in "the cave," or editing cave. The cards say things like "Pauper's Oath," and "FDR Story: The Last President," and everybody's favorite Douglas Brinkley quote "Orgy of Americanism," which is actually in the film, and was, for a short delirious moment in a dark and midnight hour in the cave, actually considered as the subtitle for the film. Sanity prevailed, unfortunately. So, during the set up for the interviews there was some kind of audio problem with the camera. Next thing I know we have the director, the editor, and the assistant editor and the "camera crew" all trying to fix the camera for the making of. And so this picture is the behind the scenes shot of the behind the scenes shoot. Whaaaat?