Tag: Documentary

Arts, Movie Review

A Review of Jonathan Baker’s Film “Becoming Iconic”

By Vernon Nickerson By his own admission, relatively “new” Director Jonathan Baker wants a career in filmmaking and defines film as propaganda. So, I can only conclude from Jonathan Baker’s “Becoming Iconic” that Baker wants to become an iconic creator director. Jonathan Baker is a writer, producer and director has always been enthralled by smart storytelling and larger than life figures, taking inspiration from greats … Continue reading A Review of Jonathan Baker’s Film “Becoming Iconic”

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Arts

SEE “SUMMER Of SOUL” AS SOON AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE

By Vernon Nickerson Where were you in summer 1969? Can’t remember? Not born yet? That’s okay. I have the perfect film for where you needed to be in 1969 on the day man walked on the moon. GO SEE SUMMER SOUL AS SOON AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE! A Questlove Jam: “Summer of Soul”, Or, when the Revolution Could Not Be Televised, is more than a documentary. … Continue reading SEE “SUMMER Of SOUL” AS SOON AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE

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Arts, Movie Review

A Summer Blockbuster in Independent Film: “Skin Deep: Formulating a Legacy” Is A Serious Piece Of 2021 Summertime Fun!

By Vernon Nickerson In the new film, “Skin Deep: Formulating a Legacy”, we are reminded that while “Jersey Shore” was becoming a cultural phenomenon, an actual phenomenally talented entrepreneur and cosmetic chemistry genius was working against relentless odds and a jaw-dropping series of unfortunate events. Thanks to the star and Executive Producer Vince Spinnato, a Jersey native and proud graduate of Vineland High School, we … Continue reading A Summer Blockbuster in Independent Film: “Skin Deep: Formulating a Legacy” Is A Serious Piece Of 2021 Summertime Fun!

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Healthy Living

An Anti-Vaccine Film Targeted to Black Americans Spreads False Information

By ©Kaiser Health News When a filmmaker asked medical historian Naomi Rogers to appear in a documentary, the Yale professor didn’t blink. She had done these “talking head” interviews many times before. She assumed her comments would end up in a straightforward documentary that addressed some of the most pressing concerns of the pandemic, such as the legacy of racism in medicine and how that … Continue reading An Anti-Vaccine Film Targeted to Black Americans Spreads False Information

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Arts

Sundance Institute Documentary Fund Grants 18 Projects

Stories from BIPOC and Women Directors Are Focus of Unrestricted Support The Sundance Institute announced the latest cohort of Sundance Institute Documentary Fund Grantees. A total of $590,000 in unrestricted grant support has been provided to 18 projects in various stages including five in development, eight in production, and five in post-production. Grants are made possible by The Open Society Foundations, the John D. and … Continue reading Sundance Institute Documentary Fund Grants 18 Projects

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Introduction to the Artist

An Inspiring Interview with AJ Ali, Producer of “Walking while Black: L.O.V.E. Is The Answer”

By Vernon Nickerson Good afternoon. Today it is my honor to be in conversation with AJ Ali, Producer of a powerful new documentary that is a must-see-and-discuss event for a global audience: “Walking While Black: L.O.V.E. is the Answer”. AJ kindly allowed us to have wonderfully diverse conversation with him Vernon Nickerson: Welcome to The Art of Monteque. AJ Ali: Hi Vernon, How are you? … Continue reading An Inspiring Interview with AJ Ali, Producer of “Walking while Black: L.O.V.E. Is The Answer”

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Arts, Movie Review, Social Issues

“Walking while Black L.O.V.E. Is The Answer” – A MUST SEE FILM for Our 21st Century

By Vernon Nickerson Full disclosure: I want the planet to watch this entire documentary from beginning to end as many times as needed so that no human being in America forgets. Specifically, we must never forget the history of our current pandemic of violence at the hands of people who, once upon a time, were universally believed to keep the peace, even when everything else … Continue reading “Walking while Black L.O.V.E. Is The Answer” – A MUST SEE FILM for Our 21st Century

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Arts

Acclaimed PBS Television Series ‘POV’ Announces 34th Season, Reaffirming Public Media as a Platform for the People

Powerful points of view into immigration, economic inequality and racial justice—more than half directed by people of color and women, with a spotlight on Latinx cinema Season premieres on July 5 with CJ Hunt’s The Neutral Ground—all films available streaming with free educational resources POV returns to PBS in July with its 34th season, a slate of films that reaffirm public media’s vital role as … Continue reading Acclaimed PBS Television Series ‘POV’ Announces 34th Season, Reaffirming Public Media as a Platform for the People

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Arts

AXS FILM FUND LAUNCHES WITH A COMMITMENT TO ENSURING CREATORS OF COLOR WITH DISABILITIES HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD

Grants of up to $10,000 Per Project Starting in 2021 AXS Film Fund was founded to support documentary filmmakers and non-fiction new media creators of color with disabilities. AXS Film Fund seeks to bring visibility to this underrepresented community of creators by intervening and providing opportunities that they may not otherwise have with mainstream funding structures. Grantees will be supported in their endeavors to tell … Continue reading AXS FILM FUND LAUNCHES WITH A COMMITMENT TO ENSURING CREATORS OF COLOR WITH DISABILITIES HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD

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Arts

“SOFTIE”: For God, for Kenya, and for Family- Boniface Mwangi’s story aims for NO ONE Left Behind

By Vernon Nickerson From writer/director Sam Soko comes a powerful documentary of an underdog/longshot Kenyan political candidate that is anything but soft. The hero of “Softie”, photojournalist-cum-candidate for prime minister Boniface Mwangi may be soft-spoken, but his actions are bold, loud, and in-your-face. In a nation-state that has known continuous internal conflict since the fifth Century through two world wars, Idi Amin and Donald J. … Continue reading “SOFTIE”: For God, for Kenya, and for Family- Boniface Mwangi’s story aims for NO ONE Left Behind

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Movie Review

2021 Slamdance Film Festival Review Of “Bleeding Audio”: It Is The Holy Grail Of Alternative Punk Band biography…And So Much More!

By Vernon Nickerson Chelsea Christer’s reality drama-documentary “Bleeding Audio” will be a hot ticket for fans of fan favorite punk rockers “The Matches” as soon as tickets are available. If, like most feature length films in the COVID era, it is streamed, that platform had best be prepared to be shredded. Officially, “Bleeding Audio” is the deep, wide and multilayered story of an Oakland California … Continue reading 2021 Slamdance Film Festival Review Of “Bleeding Audio”: It Is The Holy Grail Of Alternative Punk Band biography…And So Much More!

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Movie Review

“Through The Night” Film Review

By Liisa Cohen “Through The Night”, directed and produced by Loira Limal, captured my heart and attention. Whoa! What is Love? This heart warming and deeply moving film captures the life and soul of an exceptional woman. “Through The Night” is an intimate cinema verité portrait of three working mothers whose lives all intersect at a 24-hour daycare center: a mother working the overnight shift … Continue reading “Through The Night” Film Review

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Movie Review

“Softie” Film Review

By Liisa Cohen “Softie”, a film by Sam Soko is a perfectly paced, gut wrenching account of Boniface Mwangi as we follow this photojournalist turned political activist turned MP candidate on his personal journey. Boniface “Softie” Mwangi has long fought injustices in his country as a political activist. Now he’s taking the next step by running for office in a regional Kenyan election. From the … Continue reading “Softie” Film Review

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Arts

AVA DuVERNAY JOINS AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF OSCAR CONTENDER ‘A CONCERTO IS A CONVERSATION’ NEW SHORT DOCUMENTARY FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES OP-DOCS, CO-DIRECTORS BEN PROUDFOOT, KRIS BOWERS

NEW VIDEO RELEASED OF DuVERNAY & BOWERS IN-CONVERSATION FILM TO HAVE FESTIVAL DEBUT AT SUNDANCE 2021 TOMORROWFULL FILM NOW STREAMING ON NYTIMES.COM The new short subject documentary A CONCERTO IS A CONVERSATION tells the story of virtuoso jazz pianist and film composer Kris Bowers as he tracks his family’s lineage through his 91-year-old grandfather from Jim Crow Florida to the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Directed by … Continue reading AVA DuVERNAY JOINS AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF OSCAR CONTENDER ‘A CONCERTO IS A CONVERSATION’ NEW SHORT DOCUMENTARY FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES OP-DOCS, CO-DIRECTORS BEN PROUDFOOT, KRIS BOWERS

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Arts, Movie Review

“NASRIN” Movie Review

By Liisa Cohen The opening frames had my heart pounding, the ending frames had me in tears. NASRIN is a deeply moving, heart breaking and all too real story of Nasrin Sotoudeh, an attorney, human rights activist and political prisoner in Iran. With the back drop of modern day Iran, director/ writer/producer Jeff Kaufman and cinematographer “anonymous” risked their lives to tell the story of … Continue reading “NASRIN” Movie Review

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Arts, Movie Review

MR SOUL! So Before It’s Time

By Liisa Cohen Completely captivating, “MR SOUL!” is not just a documentary about Ellis B. Haizlip and his 1968-1973 Public Television show “Mr. SOUL!”. “Mr. SOUL!” is a deeply moving, beautifully edited, must see, absorbed and cherished film about a television show that started a movement reflecting the SOUL of all black people and the man behind this push . “MR. SOUL!” showcased black and … Continue reading MR SOUL! So Before It’s Time

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Arts

JFI Co-Presents WORLD PREMIERE HERB ALPERT IS…

The Virtual Theatrical Edition features additional materials including a Q&A with filmmaker John Scheinfeld and subject Herb Alpert moderated by Grammy Museum Artistic Director, Scott Goldman! Virtual Theatrical Edition Available On Demand Starting Thursday 10/1  For Tckets Orde here  The October 1st event will be followed with a live Q&A with ALPERT and the film’s director JOHN SCHEINFELD (“Chasing TRANE: The JOHN COLTRANE Documentary,” “The … Continue reading JFI Co-Presents WORLD PREMIERE HERB ALPERT IS…

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Arts

A Year In The Life Of Jack And Yaya

By Joanna Panayi Jack & Yaya captures a year in the life of childhood best friends who grew up defying gender norms to transitioning in their twenties. Jack and Yaya grew up together as next-door neighbors in a rural area, supporting each other when they realized they were both transgender. This film highlights their friendship through present-day and juxtaposed archival videos with Jack, Yaya, and their … Continue reading A Year In The Life Of Jack And Yaya

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Arts

Sundance Institute Announces 2020 Creative Producing Labs Fellows

 Sundance Institute has announced Fellows and Advisors for the five-day 2020 Creative Producing Labs, redesigned digitally to take place for the first time ever on Sundance Co//ab. The Labs begin July 27, and is a flagship convening for the Institute’s Creative Producing Program, which champions and develops current and rising generations of independent producers across fiction and nonfiction film. Under the leadership of Creative Producing … Continue reading Sundance Institute Announces 2020 Creative Producing Labs Fellows

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Movie Review

Pot Luck film A Fresh, Versatile Perspective On The Cannabis Industry

By Joanna Panayi From Emmy-nominated and award-winning filmmaker Jane Wells, Pot Luck, is a 3 Generations production narrated by Robin Quivers. This documentary takes us on an enlightening adventure across the Colorado state, exploring the normality of the legalization of cannabis. Pot luck is an insightful analysis of the legalization of cannabis’s direct, cultural, and structural impacts on society. The documentary focuses on the pros … Continue reading Pot Luck film A Fresh, Versatile Perspective On The Cannabis Industry

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