Parts 1, 2 & 3 at YouTube = http://youtube.com/solaricomm
A FILM IS BORN
I spent the better part of 1983 making a documentary film called The Measure of America, which was released in 1984.
In the decade prior, my wife Cam and I had been producing audio/visual marketing for a lot of corporate clients. In the course of doing that we met and photographed and interviewed hundreds of working people at every strata from machine operator to CEO.
What was striking to me was what good people these were and how hard they worked and how much they loved their jobs! This was not the picture of America I had picked up in college or through the hippie days of the 1960s. Neither was it the image of America as portrayed in the media.
In fact, through the 70s, one would be hard pressed to find anything positive about America anywhere!
Most schools had been taken over by a “psychology” that was fully dedicated to examining, exposing and promoting the flaws in humanity, not its rightness or goodness. And a major target of this black PR campaign was the country itself and all of its values and accomplishments.
I finally resolved to do something about this - to fill the void. With the financial backing of the wonderful CEO of a manufacturing conglomerate called VSI Corporation, I embarked upon this film project.
WHAT NO DIGICAM?
Strangely enough, it was shot in 16 mm and edited using a system of cutting and splicing together pieces of celluloid motion picture film. In those days, there was virtually no such thing as small format video or computerized editing, much less digital anything. (Kids, all the phones were wired to the walls!)
The film got some recognition and some play. It sold to city school systems, universities and various patriotic groups, was a Finalist in the American Film Festival and it was given an Award of Excellence from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. On the 4th of July it was featured on the local PBS affiliate, KCET. In a couple of years the film had run its course and it was retired from circulation.
911
Then the country was attacked on 9/11/2001, and I was asked to screen the film for a gathering of friends. It seemed everyone could use a patriotic boost. Soon after that, a distributor asked me to re-release it in video, which I did with the help of more friends. I performed some minor editing and changed the title to, simply, AMERICA!
Now, in the age of YouTube, I have decided to release it again on the Internet. To satisfy YouTube’s length requirement I have divided it into three sections, each about 8 minutes long.
GROUP EFFORT
Despite the funny hair styles and vintage automobiles, I think you will agree that the ideas are as relevant as ever, for it is a film about ideas, as voiced by American working people – some of whom you may recognize.
In fact, some of you who are reading this are in the film! Thank you very much! And others of you helped make it! You know who you are. For example, it features a hauntingly beautiful original score by Geoff Levin and Steve Bach.
May I recommend, for the full effect, that you watch the film in its entirety. The emotional impact is cumulative and just about guaranteed.
Here is the link to Parts 1, 2 & 3 at YouTube = http://youtube.com/solaricomm
Happy July 4th! Enjoy!
My2senseworth
