Documentary filmmakers frequently encounter a dilemma: how do you know when to say, “production is over.” You can always shoot more, especially now with video. For Grey Gardens, a film I reference frequently, the Maysles shot more than 70 hours … Continued
In previous posts, I wrote about other people and projects I considered for A Life’s Work and why I chose four subjects instead of three or five or twenty-seven. But neither of those posts address why I chose these four … Continued
A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in. – Greek proverb Thanks to the awesome Kate Hill Cantrill for sending it my way. And here’s an in-depth article on the … Continued
Here’s a clip I put together just for Arbor Day. The bulk of this clip was shot on our first visit with the Milarchs in 2007. (Please pardon my little artsy interlude which was shot elsewhere.) This is one of … Continued
In your Sunday New York Times, an article on Archangel Ancient Tree Archive’s efforts. On your monitor, a segment from the documentary, A Life’s Work (in post-production), featuring David Milarch of AATA (then known as Champion Tree Project). And while … Continued
Dear Filmmaker, Actually, this question didn’t start that way. When I first sit down to interview someone for A Life’s Work, I have a few things I mention before I ask the first question. One of those things is, “If … Continued
I recently went to my doctor and we got to talking about A Life’s Work. He asked me if I knew Cicero’s treatise, On Old Age. I didn’t. He paraphrased a passage about trees. “Oh, that’s good,” I said. “I’m … Continued
What were the most viewed posts on the A Life’s Work blog? Glad you asked. The list is a little misleading, because some posts have been up for a lot longer than others, and so naturally will have more views. … Continued
That’d be 105. Click here and here and here. Other numbers: 8/16-18/2010. Hours spent in a car and plane: 32. Hours spent looking at, thinking about, filming trees at 10,000 feet or more altitude: 20. Number of cameras lugged on … Continued
I became interested in including the Milarchs and Champion Tree Project in A Life’s Work after I read that they had cloned the Methuselah tree, a Bristle Cone Pine that is the oldest known living thing on the planet. In … Continued