Home » Video Makers Choice (Page 4)

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  [Rostenkowski raw #202]

  Chicago, Chicago Politics, Dan Rostenkowski, NHPRC, Politics, Video Makers Choice

  Raw footage from the 1981 documentary “Rostenkowski,” a portrait of House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dan Rostenkowski, a powerful figure in Chicago (and national) politics. This tape captures the mood at a rally for Rostenkowski in the field house in Chicago’s Pulaski Park (which sits in Rostenkowski’s district on Chicago’s northwest side). A small boy has trouble pronouncing “Rostenkowski.” A polka band plays. At about ten minutes in, Rostenkowski enters the rally, and climbs the stage to give a speech. He says a few words, and then introduces Richard M. Daley, who is running for the office of State’s Attorney.

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  For A Moment You Fly: The Big Apple Circus

  American Way, Roots of Video, Video Makers Choice

  Documentary about a small, non-traveling circus in New York City called the Big Apple Circus. The circus features many human performers including acrobats, jugglers, tumblers, etc, but no animals. The performers talk about how much they love performing in the circus, especially this one. Movement and precision acrobatics help make this tape more than just a document about people, but more of a sensory portrait of the feel of a circus.

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  [Studs Terkel talks about Joe and Gaynell Begley]

  NHPRC, Studs Terkel, Tom Weinberg, Video Makers Choice

  A 1999 interview with Studs Terkel about Joe and Gaynell Begley’s C.B. Caudill country store in Blackey, Kentucky. The Begleys had been included in Terkel’s books Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression and American Dreams: Lost and Found.

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  This Is A Test, Part II

  Guerrilla TV, Nancy Cain, NHPRC, Outside Agitators, Performance, Roots of Video, Studs Terkel, Video Makers Choice

  Experimental program featuring the work of independent videomakers.

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  [Rostenkowski raw #204]

  Chicago, Chicago Politics, Dan Rostenkowski, NHPRC, Politics, Video Makers Choice

  Raw footage from the 1981 documentary “Rostenkowski,” a portrait of House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dan Rostenkowski, a powerful figure in Chicago (and national) politics. At a rally for Rostenkowski in the field house in Chicago’s Pulaski Park (which sits in Rostenkowski’s district on Chicago’s northwest side). The tape opens with Nick Melas, President of the Chicago Sanitary District, giving a speech. Dan O’Brien, Illinois state legislator and Democratic Committeeman for Chicago’s 43rd Ward, speaks to the crowd after being introduced by Rostenkowski. After O’Brien, an unidentified speaker, who is not on camera (the camera seems to be pointed toward the ground) urges to the audience vote the straight Democratic ticket, reminding them that: “the party is more important than any of us.” The next speaker is Lester Foreman, candidate for Circuit Court Judge. Then Morgan Finley, candidate for Clerk of Cook County Circuit Court, is introduced by Rostenkowski. His walk down the isle is reminiscent of flamboyant boxing champ, complete with wailing sirens, handshaking, and confetti. At the end of the tape, an unidentified speaker, presumably the emcee, urges the precinct captains in attendance to take the rally signs home, and then display the signs on election day.

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  Image Union: The Other M.J.

  American Way, Black, Chicago, Communities, Image Union, Skip Blumberg, Video Makers Choice, Voices of Cabrini

  Documentary about an African American man named Michael Johnson, who works on the floor crew at United Center, the home of the Chicago Bulls. (The title refers to this connection between the subject and basketball star Michael Jordan.) Johnson struggles to make ends meet on a minimum wage job amidst the pomp and circumstance of the 1996 Democratic National Convention. Through his candid reflections, one sees the struggle of many workers across the country as they are faced with limited employment options, no benefits, and no room for advancement. Some of the original footage was used in a program called “None of the Above,” which investigated Americas non-voters.

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  [Studs Terkel with Bill Veeck at Billy Goat Tavern]

  Chicago, NHPRC, Outside Agitators, Sports, Studs Terkel, Tom Weinberg, Video Makers Choice

  Studs Terkel and Bill Veeck sit down for a beer at Billy Goat Tavern to talk about Solidarity Day and the condition of unions today.

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  Cars And Owners

  Ant Farm, Roots of Video, Video Makers Choice

  Chip Lord interviews Skip Blumberg about his 1978 Plymouth Valiant. In February of 1990 Lord and friends travel to Berlin to view the Berlin Wall during its destruction.