"Congratulations from The Literary Review!"
Below is an excerpt from an e-mail I sent to a good friend not too long. I guess I’m used to the stop and go nature of this film. A couple of months of intense preparation and shooting, then a … Continued
Cloning Redwood Trees?
You bet. That’s what David Milarch of Champion Tree Project has in mind. In November 2007 I went to northern California, video camera in hand, and shot the proceedings. You can read what Jim Robbins of The New York Times … Continued
I Write in the Best Notebooks
If you’ve read the About the Filmmaker page you’ll notice that I am a filmmaker and a writer. This means I have attributes of both. (I’m forgoing the deep psychological stuff for now because that’s not where this post is … Continued
"Don’t you want to make a REAL film?"
People have actually said that to me after I tell them I’m making a documentary. I’m usually rendered speechless and sometimes I can’t even manage to raise an eyebrow. Of course I know what they mean. They mean a narrative … Continued
From Concept to First Day of Shooting
I was having lunch with my friend and colleague, cinematographer Wolfgang Held (who shot Tango Octogenario), and I told him I was thinking about making a documentary. Wolfgang’s background is in documentary film, so naturally he wanted to hear more. … Continued
How Do You Find These People? Jared and David Milarch
I was at my gym riding the stationary bicycle and looking through the gym copy of the March 2004 Audubon Magazine. I came across the following sidebar: I stealthily tore it out of the magazine, filed it, and forgot about … Continued
Breaking News!
The fourth subject is interested in participating in the film. Shooting is scheduled for early August in Chicago. I’ll reveal more details as the Ts are crossed and the Is dotted. Don’t want to jinx it. But I will say … Continued
The Inspiration for the Film
I can usually pinpoint the moment one of my works was conceived. With A Life’s Work, I cannot precisely state day and date, but I can say with certainty the events that inspired it. When I was nine years old … Continued
It's Paolo Soleri's 90th Birthday
Happy Birthday, Dr. Soleri. I hope you enjoy the day.
Where to begin?
In the middle. That’s where I am in this documentary. Three out of four subjects interviewed: architect and Arcosanti’s guiding force Paolo Soleri; astrophysicist and Director of SETI Research at the SETI Institute, Jill Tarter; father and son tree farmers … Continued