Image from Revue

Icarus Films, one of the best distributors of new films in NYC, has been the source for many of the most interesting films I have seen over the last twenty years. Recently I was visiting their great website and found one film more than any other that I wanted to see – Revue directed by Sergi Loznitsa. I did not get to see his earlier film, Blockade, his film about the Battle of Stalingrad, perhaps the most destructive battle in human history, but I thought that it would be great to see his compilation film showing life in the USSR during its “golden years, ” the 1950s and 1960s. I was not disappointed.

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B.J. Gudmundsson has been making films produced by the Lewisburg Shepherd Center for several years. You can see the descriptions of the films on The Patchwork Films website under “Inspiration Series.” Below is a press release for the 2009 edition about the Gwinns. Congrats B.J. on another positive film about the people of the Mountain State – most notably her first two feature films, “Out of the Storm” and “#30 – Cal Price and the Pocahontas Times.” (more…)

(LtoR) Christopher Janus in wheel chair, Dr. John Kalaras, Valerie Valentine and Xrisanthi Hess at Yeager Airport in Charleston. Ms. Hess and her husband drove Janus and his companions around Charleston and down to Montgomery

Christopher Janus, (1911-2009), born in Charleston, raised in Montgomery until the family moved to New Jersey while he was in high school, has died. His good friend Dr. John N. Kalaras e-mailed me today that Mr. Janus died on February 19th, 2009 at 3 PM. I was trying to contact Mr. Janus and his friends to tell them that Chris Sarandon, the WV-born star of the film version of Janus’ autobiographical novel, “Good bye, Miss Fourth of July” would be in Charleston on March 5th to judge a statewide poetry contest.  He would have been 98 this year. I will miss him.

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Jeff Pierson, director of Arts at The Division of Culture & History, told me at The Best of Crete recently that Beckley native son Chris Sarandon is returning home in March to judge a statewide poetry contest, “Poetry Out Loud.” I loaned him a copy of one of his best roles, as the father of Christopher Janus, in the film verson of Janus’ autobiographical, “Goodbye, Miss Fourth of July.” Pierson had never heard of the film which doesn’t surprise me. First Lady Gayle Manchin will join him as a judge.   (more…)

Sundance Film Festival 2009

by Jacob Young

Over the years, the documentary films I’ve produced and directed have inspired many other artists to create new work. There have been at least two novels, several new documentaries, and six or seven music videos all based on my programs. MTV films is about to release a new show focusing on the White family, the clan made famous by the success of my film Dancing Outlaw.      (more…)

Today I found out that one of my best friends has suddenly died – New Yorker Films. Ever since I became a film exhibitor – film librarian in 1972, I have been showing, buying, and promoting films from New Yorker Films. I even visited them in person once, and ironically, watched a film by someone not in their collection, at their film preview center. But I have been reading their catalogs like a Bible, carefully keeping them up to date, looking at them on a regular basis, knowing that what they have been doing for 43 years is what I also wanted to be doing.

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Norman Jordan spent a lot of time in Cleveland long ago. I recall that he told me that he had worked with Jules Dassin on a film called “Up Tight.” Dassin was one of the greastest post-WWII Hollywood directors, most famous now for directing “Never on Sunday” which made a star of Greek actress Melina Mercouri who latter became a political leader in Greece. While in Cleveland, a film was made ABOUT Norman called “Dead Ends, New Dreams.” While browsing the website for one of NYC’s best film houses, Film Forum, I ran across their link for a restrospective of Dassin’s films including “Up Tight.” Below is an e-mail that Norman sent me about his time working with Dassin.

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Kelley Thompson at William C. Blizzard’s Memorial Service at the WV Cultural Center, Dec. 27th, 2008

Kelley Thompson is one of the Kanawha Valley’s busiest filmmakers, recently making a film version of the Charleston Light Opera’s version of the Gilbert & Sullivan musical, “H.M.S. Pinafore.” He has also recently made a film about Charleston musician Iris Bell and many other projects. He is now starting to make a film about his friend, William C. Blizzard, the recently deceased son of Battle of Blair Mountain leader Bill Blizzard. The film will have its world premiere on May 9th, 7 PM at the 2009 WV Labor Film Festival, co-sponsored by the WV Labor History Association and South Charleston Museum.

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Wess Harris at 2006 WV Book Festival, Charleston Civic Center, October

During the last few years, I have often written about Wess Harris, the man who published “When Miners March,” saved the lost paintings of Connie West, and helped his friend William C. Blizzard enjoy the last few years of his long life. Wess will be honored on March 5th during “History Day” at the WV Legislature as a “West Virginia History Hero,” an award I received in 2006, Dr. Fred Barkey received in 2007, and Ken Hechler and Fred Armstrong received in 2008. I am so pleased that there is such an award to honor people who have done so much to save and promote the “lost” history of the great state of West Virginia. Below is the nomination that I wrote with Wess’ assistance that lead to this honor.

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Wess Harris on your left and Jim Surkamp  on your right at Rosebrake, Danske Dandridge home, Shepherdstown

Jim Surkamp is best known in the Eastern panhandle for being a county commissioner for Jefferson County. He is also an author and a prolific filmmaker, directing one of my favorite films about a West Virginian, Danske Dandridge. Several years ago he was my guest at a state library conference film event in Shepherdstown where he screened his film on Dandridge, “Immortal Essence – The Life and Work of Danske Dandridge.” (more…)