How We Learned to Tell Authentic Stories
In this extended interview, City of Trees and Meridian Hill Pictures artistic director Brandon Kramer speaks about the film's origins and the process of discovery the MHP team undertook to tell stories that authentically convey the experiences of their subjects. Originally posted on the Kartemquin Films Blog: "Director Brandon Kramer discusses City of Trees ahead of its Chicago Premiere at the KTQ Fall Festival Nov. 3" (October 2016).
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Before My City Had Trees
These are my words and this is my journey. I am a third generation dancer. I live by a beat, and the beat keeps me moving. So walking into the opportunity to compete for a media assistant position was just another goal getting ready to get knocked down off my list.
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NFFTY Recap: Reflections from a Teaching Artist
Even after the movie ends, there’s always another strikingly beautiful moment of watching the credits roll for a film you helped bring to life. It always hits me when I see the names of all the people — participants, students, families, teaching artists, and other film advisors — who traveled together on that challenging, yet amazing journey in creating the film. As a media teaching artist and documentary filmmaker, I am reminded with every new project that documentary filmmaking is not easy; you have to let go of control, be a team player, and be ready to adapt to change at any moment during the process. It’s both stimulating and exhausting. But it’s always a joy to see my young students create. My phenomenal film students from Sitar Arts Center fully embraced those challenges last Spring and came out with a powerful and heartwarming film about the importance of community support in the face of struggle: IN THE PATH OF MY FATHER.
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A full circle to Full Frame
The best film festivals uniquely create an atmosphere that brings together the most experienced filmmakers in the craft and people just getting their start.
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Authentic Storytelling Moves People
We were drawn to documentary filmmaking in large part due to our fascination with the way documentary can move people to understand each other — and the world — in new and unexpected ways.
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MHP on the Foundation Center Blog: Building Capacity with Video Storytelling
Documentary allows honest, and meaningful visual stories to be told about real people. It sounds simple and obvious, but in practice many organizations forget this principle as they communicate with stakeholders.
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An Interview with Fly By Light producer, Hawah Kasat
This week we got to speak with Fly by Light producer (and Josephine Butler Parks Center neighbor) Hawah Kasat, about the film, why it’s significant, and reasons to attend its world premiere this Friday, May 1 at the National Geographic Society.
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Our Interview with Hard Earned Co-Director Katy Chevigny
This week we had the opportunity to speak with MHP mentor and collaborator, renowned director Katy Chevigny (E-Team, Election Day) about her experience as a co-director on the highly anticipated documentary series Hard Earned.
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Reflections from Full Frame
Last week we had the great pleasure of attending the remarkable Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham, North Carolina. It was Lance and Lindsay’s first time at Full Frame, the second time for Brandon, and the fifth(!) for MHP advisory board member Angelica Das. Now that we’re back home in DC, we’ve had a little time to reflect on just how much Full Frame represented the ideal blend of all the best things you could ask from a film festival — incredible films, a beautiful town with all programs within walking distance, delicious barbecue, and most importantly — an unforgettable sense of community.
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Kartemquin Films: Inspiring New Generations of Filmmakers for over 48 years
In the next installment in our partner spotlight series, we talk with City of Trees director Brandon Kramer about the invaluable collaboration and mentorship Kartemquin Films has provided to Meridian Hill Pictures.
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