Author: Andrea Leland

QUEEN OF THE SUN: What Bees are  Telling Us Directed by Taggart Siegel:   83 minutes,  Documentary 7:30 pm / St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay This full length feature documentary is a a profound, alternative look at the global bee crisis.   Taking us on a journey through the catastrophic disappearance of bees and the mysterious world of the beehive, this engaging and ultimately uplifting film weaves an unusual and dramatic story of the heartfelt struggles of beekeepers, scientists and philosophers including Michael Pollan, Gunther Hauk and Vandana Shiva. This film takes us on a pilgrimage around the world, 10,000 years of beekeeping is unveiled, highlighting how our historic and sacred relationship with bees has been lost due to highly mechanized industrial practices. The film goes on to reveal both the problems and the solutions in renewing a culture in balance with nature. Read more about the film on the website: https://www.queenofthesun.com

MILKING THE RHINO* Directed by David E. Simpson:   85 minutes, 2008, Documentary 7:30 pm / St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay Milking the Rhino examines Africa’s deepening conflict between humans and animals in an ever-shrinking world. It is the first major documentary to explore wildlife conservation from the perspective of people who live with wild animals. Shot in some of the world’s most magnificent locales, the film offers complex, intimate portraits of rural Africans at the forefront of community-based conservation: a revolution that is turning poachers into preservationists and local people into the stewards of their land. With memorable characters and spectacular locations, this film tells intimate, hopeful and heartbreaking stories of people from Kenya and Namibia.   MEET DIRECTOR DAVID SIMPSON FOR DISCUSSION AFTER THE SCREENING! David E. Simpson is a producer, director and editor who has crafted award-winning documentaries for over 25 years. His pioneering film about disability culture, When Billy Broke His Head, garnered dozens of major awards including a jury prize at Sundance and a duPont-Columbia Baton for journalistic excellence. David directed Refrigerator Mothers, about the mothers of autistic children, which won top honors at many festivals and aired on public television’s POV.  Milking the Rhino aired on PBS’ Independent Lens and screened at over five dozen film festivals on six continents.   *An On Screen/In Person program made possible by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation through the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Regional Touring Program.

PROCEED AND BE BOLD* Directed by Laura Zinger:   90 minutes, 2008, Documentary 7:30 pm / St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. is an internationally recognized printing press artist known for his socially and politically charged works of art.  At age 40 and unsatisfied with his comfortable, middle-class life, Amos traded in his computer for a printing press and his white collar for a pair of overalls. Armed with life, liberty, peanuts and a meager yearly income of $7,000, Amos cranked out a new, rebellious declaration of independence. The film joins Amos in a fascinating account of his story, while examining the pretensions and provisions of the art world. The work of this self-proclaimed “Humble Negro Printer” raises emotionally-charged questions and reveals remarkable depth beneath the bold print. By learning the rules and then choosing to break them, Amos redefines what life (and letterpress printing) can be: exhilarating and revolutionary. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE FILM / ARTIST / FILMMAKER AT THESE WEBSITES: 20K FILMS, PROCEED ,  AMERICAN CRAFT, AMOS KENNEDY JOIN DIRECTOR LAURA ZINGER  FOR DISCUSSION  AFTER THE SCREENING! Laura Zinger is the founder and owner of Chicago-based, creative content production company 20K Films. Her 2008 initiative, Proceed and Be Bold has been screened in countries around the world.  Zinger has worked for various film companies, including MGM, Pretty Pictures and MOJO, a post-production trailer house. In addition to 20K Films, Zinger works as the Web Video Producer for Milk For Thought, a new national website dedicated to connecting, empowering and supporting breastfeeding mothers.         *An On Screen/In Person program made possible by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation through the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Regional Touring Program.

CONCRETE, STEEL AND PAINT* Directed by Cindy Burstein and Tony Heriza:   55 minutes, 2009, Documentary 7:30 pm / St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay When men in a Pennsylvania state prison join with victims of crime to create a mural about healing, their views on punishment, remorse and forgiveness collide.  Finding consensus is not easy, but as the participants move through the creative process, mistrust gives way to genuine moments of human contact and common purpose. This complex story raises important questions about crime, justice and reconciliation, and dramatically illustrates how art can facilitate dialogue about difficult issues.   READ MORE ABOUT THIS FILM ON THESE WEBSITES: New Day Films   &    Concrete / Steel / Paint LISTEN TO A PODCAST WITH THE FILMMAKERS, CLICK HERE  JOIN DIRECTOR TONY HERIZA AND MURAL ARTS PROGRAM ORGANIZER JANE GOLDEN FOR DISCUSSION AFTER THE SCREENING! Since co-founding the Community Media Workshop in Dayton, Ohio in 1974, Tony Heriza has been involved in many aspects of media for social change: producing, editing, teaching and working with community organizations. His work has been broadcast nationally on PBS and featured in many festivals. He is now the Director of Educational Outreach for the American Friends Service Committee and along with his co-producer, Cindy Burstein, is an active member of the New Day Film distribution co-operative.         Since the Mural Arts Program began in 1984 as a component of the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network, Jane Golden has been the driving force, overseeing its growth from a small city agency into the nation’s largest mural program, a catalyst for positive social change and a model for replication across the country and around the globe. Read more about Jane and the Mural Arts Program here.         Interview with Cindy Burstein and Tony Heriza of Concrete, Steel, and Paint:   *An On Screen/In Person program made possible by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation through the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Regional Touring Program.

What’s ‘Organic‘ about Organic? Directed and Produced by Shelley Rogers:  59 minutes   / 2010 /   Documentary 7:30 pm / St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay What’s Organic illustrates that the organic food debate extends well beyond personal choice and into the realm of social responsibility.  It delves into the debates that arise when a grassroots agricultural movement evolves into a booming international market.  As the film moves from farm fields to government meetings to industry trade shows, we see how our health, the health of our planet, and the agricultural needs of our society are all intimately connected.  The film compels us to look forward, towards a new vision for our culture and encourages us to ask, “How can we eat with an ecological consciousness?”   JOIN THE DIRECTOR, CO-PRODUCER AND A ST. JOHN ORGANIC FARMER AT OUR POST FILM DISCUSSION! Shelley Rogers grew up in rural East Tennessee. Shelley has a Master’s degree in Media, Culture, and Communication from New York University and a Bachelor’s degree in Art History from Smith College. She has worked as a freelance Assistant Director/Assistant Camera on several independent film productions in New York City and has served as a production intern at the Media Education Foundation and in GOOD Magazine’s web video department. She believes it is our social responsibility as citizens in a democracy to stand up for our right to live in a healthy environment and have access to diverse, independent media. She maintains an urban existence in NYC by growing vegetables on her fire escape and composting her kitchen scraps. Marty Mesh started his career as an organic farmer and now serves as an advocate for organic farmers throughout the world.  He volunteered countless hours of advice and input to this film because he feels that there is great potential for the film to empower and inspire audiences to support organic agriculture. Josephine and Hugo Roller started Josephine’s Organic Greens on St. John in November 2006.  Despite island challenges of poor soil, harsh weather and cost of land, they have persevered giving St. John restaurants, visitors and residents a flavorful, healthy, local choice for organic greens and herbs.   *An On Screen/In Person program made possible by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, through the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Regional Touring Program.