HUNNTINGTON — Huntington Public Access Television (Comcast Channel 20) will air Michael Moore’s latest film, “Slacker Uprising”, at 8 and 11 p.m., Monday, Sept. 29. (more…)
Jacob Young is one of WV’s greatest filmmakers. He has produced a slew of great films, most famously “Dancing Outlaw.” Recently Frostburg University honored him with a showing of several of his films including “Point Man for God.” (more…)
Chuck Taylor, SCM projectionist, with the gizmo that saved the day
During the last two years, Ken Hechler, director Russ Barbour, producer and cinematographer Chip Hitchcock, executive producer Barbara Winters, a group of researchers at the Marshall University Libraries, myself, and many others has been working on a two-hour documentary about Hechler called “Ken Hechler – In Pursuit of Justice.” Ken told the director last December that he didn’t want to see the film until it had captions, given that he is hard of hearing.
Barbara Winters, executive producer, with Ken Hechler in front of SCM La Belle Theater. Winters grew up in Charleston and used to attend films at The LaBelle Theater
Ken Hechler told me on Sunday, the day after the SCM La Belle showing of his two hour film, “Ken Hechler - In Pursuit of Justice,” that the event was a “major success.” More than 70 people plus two of the three local TV networks showed up to enjoy a film about WV’s greatest public servant.
Ken Hechler, after giving a speech at the Truman Library and lecturing at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, traveled to his birthplace of Roslyn, Long Island to introduce a showing of his new film at the Bryant Library. More than 50 people attended including at least one person interviewed in the film and several people who remembered his parents. They did NOT show the film with captions, but did provide ear plugs for people hard of hearing - like Ken himself. He will be introducing the film on Saturday, September 20th, at the South Charleston Museum La Belle Theater, hopefully with captions. There is no admission, and there will be a birthday cake to celebrate Ken’s 94th birthday. The film is available for sale for $19.95.
Marcy Brenner and WV filmmaker Ray Schmitt
Ray Schmitt traveled from Mathias, Hardy County, WV to Ocracoke on the NC coastal islands to present his newest film, “Dead Girl Walking.” The film was shown on Friday, September 12th, at 7:30 PM. It was standing room only. After the film was shown everyone stood and gave them a standing ovation. He told me, “I have never experienced anything like that.” Four local newspapers carried stories about the film and the subject of his film, Marcy Brenner. Below is one of the local newspaper stories about the film. Another published by the Island Free Press is here. You can watch a preview of the film here.
The South Charleston Museum and The West Virginia Labor History Association will be presenting the Kanawha Valley premiere, and only the second showing of the film since its world premiere at Marshall University in April 2008, of Russ Barbour and Chip Hitchcock’s 2-hour documentary “Ken Hechler - In Pursuit of Justice.” It will be shown on Saturday, September 20th, 2008 at 7 PM at The La Belle Theater. Admission is FREE.
State Film Office hitting the road with community-oriented workshops
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The West Virginia Film Office will host community-oriented workshops that will help counties and municipalities become familiar with what to expect when filming occurs in their communities and how they can become known as a “film- friendly” location. (more…)
Steve Gilliland, 2007 WV filmmaker of the Year, with wife and WVFFF president Kevin Carpenter
CONTACT: Kevin Carpenter, Festival Director , WV Filmmakers Film Festival kevincarpenter1@gmail.com (304) 545-3043
2008 WV FILMMAKERS FILM FESTIVAL: WILD & WONDERFUL MOVIES The 9th annual West Virginia Filmmakers Film Festival will be held October 3-5, in
Sutton, WV at the Landmark Studio for the Arts. The festival is a juried showcase of works created by a variety of West Virginia film and video artists. (more…)
Maria Gunnoe in Times Square
David Novack great new feature documentary about West Virginia, “Burning the Future - Coal in America,” will be broadcast on WVPBS on September 18th at 9:30 PM. The film premiered at two commercial theaters in NYC and LA and was shown on the Sundance Channel. It was also shown by the WV International Film Festival last spring. Novack worked extensively with OVEC, especially Maria Gunnoe who is featured in the film. Everyone in WV should see this film, especially all of the coal industry people who apparently are unaware of the total destruction MTR is doing to the homes and lands of thousands of our fellow West Virginians. The scene with Gunnoe in Time Square is truly haunting, and I for one think of it every time I turn on a light, or a computer, or use any electricity.
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