Description
Meet the Filmmaker: George C. Stoney, Producer
“Wasn’t That A Time”
Date: Monday, August 29, 2011
Location: NY NATAS, 1375 Broadway (between 37thand 38thStreets), Suite 2103
Reception: 6:00-6:30 PM ~ Program: 6:30-8:00 PM
*Free to NY NATAS Members!
$15 for those without current NY NATAS membership
If you're fascinated by the McCarthy Era, ”Wasn’t That A Time!” is a documentary about blacklisting in the entertainment industry. It’s a documentary about how The Weavers (Pete Seeger, Ronnie Gilbert, Lee Hays and Fred Hellerman) sold out Carnegie Hall when they had their reunion celebration there. You will be thoroughly entertained and uplifted by four people who obviously love what they are doing - lifting their voices in song and spreading their message of tolerance throughout mankind. Lee Hays - the brains behind the group and behind the movie - knew he was dying as he assembled his cohorts for one last get-together at his farm, which turned into an incredible reunion at Carnegie Hall. The voices may waver, but the emotions are more powerful than ever. Ronnie Gilbert's duet with Holly Near about "The Disappeared" in Chile ("Hay Una Mujer") will raise the hair on the back of your neck. Pete Seeger and Fred Hellerman never sounded better. All of the voices belting out the title tune during rehearsal even surprise the singers - there's a sudden silence when they finish like they can't believe what they've just sung. And if these 'modern' versions of "Good Night, Irene" and "If I Had a Hammer" don't get you singing along, you haven't a musical molecule in your body. This movie deserves the highest praise; it is simply magnificent! It's a classic to be shared with friends and family alike. For people who say "I just don't like documentaries," this will change their minds.
George C. Stoney, Producer of this film, recently celebrated his 95thBirthday. He is a professor of film and cinema studies at New York University(NYU), and a pioneer in the field of documentary film. Stoney directed several influential films including “All My Babies “ and “How the Myth Was Made.” He is considered as the father of public-access television. With Red Burns, Stoney co-founded the Alternate Media Center in 1972, which trained citizens in the tools of video production for a brand new medium, Public-access television. An early advocate of democratic media, Stoney is often cited as being the Father of Public-access television. Today, Stoney sits on the Board of Directors for the Manhattan Neighborhood Network(MNN) and is active in the Alliance for Community Media(ACM). Each year, the ACM presents "The George Stoney Award" to an organization or individual who has made an outstanding contribution to championing the growth and experience of humanistic community communications.
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED DUE TO BUILDING SECURITY. ALL NAMES MUST BE ON GUEST LIST.
Please RSVP via email info@nyemmys.org to reserve a seat.Use film title “Wasn’t That A Time” in subject line of email. Space is limited.
Please RSVP via email info@nyemmys.org to reserve a seat.Use film title “Wasn’t That A Time” in subject line of email. Space is limited.
Produced & Moderated by Sumner Jules Glimcher.