Dawn Porter (“Gideon’s Army”, “Trapped”) returns to the podcast for a second visit. Dawn has directed a new documentary about the legendary legislature John Lewis called “John Lewis: Good Trouble” which is now available for viewing. Using interviews and rare archival footage, the documentary chronicles Lewis’ 60-plus years of social activism and legislative action on civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health-care reform and immigration. Using present-day interviews with Lewis, now 80 years old, Porter explores his childhood experiences, his inspiring family and his fateful meeting with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1957. In addition to her interviews with Lewis and his family, Porter’s primarily cinéma verité film also includes interviews with political leaders, Congressional colleagues, and other people who figure prominently in his life. You can stream the film off Film Forum’s website. Check out the film’s website for more details.
Another friend of the podcast returns; filmmaker Martha Shane is back to discuss her latest documentary, “Narrowsburg.” which we caught up with last year at its festival premiere. Now the film is available to stream on iTunes, Amazon and Vudu. “Narrowsburg” tells the story of a French film producer and a mafioso-turned-actor who attempt to turn a tiny town into the ‘Sundance of the East.’ Persuading the townspeople that they can be movie stars, the pair create a fever pitch of excitement, launching a film festival and shooting a gangster movie. As this stranger-than-fiction tale unspools, it becomes a meditation on the power of cinema, and the fine line between dreams and delusions.
