Roots of the Tree
January 9, 2012 A few years ago, I decided to take control of my creative life. I began the research and development of a project that had begun as a screenplay idea but eventually became the documentary, “Eastern State: Living Behind the Walls.” I had been reading constantly about the troubled prison system in the state of California as well as the nation, and I became inspired to produce the film as I struggled to understand why it was is such dire straights. I believed that to understand the current state of our prison system, it was important to look at where it had begun — at one of their earliest attempts at prison reform in the United States.I was granted access to the prison archives by the nonprofit organization, Eastern State Penitentiary National Historic Site. The archives include photographs, letters and recorded personal histories. I produced and filmed location footage of the physical site, as well as a series of interviews with specialists in the fields of prison history and reform. From in-depth, on-camera discussions with experts in the fields of psychology, sociology and history, I told the story of the prison and the history of reform. My on-camera interviews with former inmates and guards, many older and dying, and of Eastern State Penitentiary further exposed the complex set of issues surrounding crime and punishment in our society.
I finished the film and screened it at conferences, symposiums and festivals. The responses I received were good, but I had spent a lot of time and effort and I wanted more people to see the film and to learn about the history of the prison and the lessons of Eastern State Penitentiary. There did not seem to be a company willing to spend the time and effort distributing the film or to connect me with the audience for my film that I was sure existed. That was when I decided to start Dark Hollow Films.
In the past two years Dark Hollow Films has nearly doubled in size, and we have been profitable since day one. The reason is that we fill a need, both for filmmakers and educators. In addition to producing documentaries, Dark Hollow provides filmmakers with a way to get their films seen by audiences who care about the subjects they dedicate themselves to documenting. Dark Hollow Films is here to support independent filmmakers, and to help them reap the rewards they deserve for their creative efforts. We promote high quality education. We are here to bring independent arts and visions to the classroom.
Happy New Year, and here’s to an exciting year of new independent films!
Tony Alosi
Folsom, CA, 2012
Unmasking “The Men’s Story Project”
December 1, 2011 This month we are highlighting “The Men’s Story Project: Building Strength, Creating Peace.” This groundbreaking film documents a diverse group of 16 men sharing life stories with unusual honesty before a standing room-only audience, with a focus on exploring social ideas about masculinity. Drawing upon her research training at the Harvard School of Public Health and her experience in public health practice, community organizing and the arts, Dr. Josie Lehrer created this replicable film and performance initiative which has been featured on CNN, received university awards, and lauded by leading scholars as “revolutionary” and “a gem.” In this post, Josie shares reasons for starting the Men’s Story Project (MSP), and some sources of inspiration. Enjoy! Why a focus on men’s stories? My interest in the area of masculinities emerged through my work in prevention and response to HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence, and through my personal experiences in helping loved ones cope with sexual assault, partner violence, and homo/transphobia. I find it deeply compelling that a major proportion of human suffering today is unnecessary, and is caused or propagated by human ideas of how we can/should treat other people – on the individual and societal levels.
Continue reading…
Reflections of the World After Dark
November 1, 2011 I met Michael McNamara at the Palm Springs International Film Festival back in January. I was blown away by his film, Acquainted With The Night, and was very excited to recently come to an agreement which allows us to handle educational distribution for this very special film in the United States. Acquainted With The Night is a powerful tapestry exploring night, in all its pageantry, ritual and mystery. It is unique in its ability to linger in the heart and mind of the viewer, something most films do not achieve. I asked Michael to write and share with us a little about his inspiration for the film. I hope you enjoy reading what he had to say:There was a blackout that affected much of the eastern part of Canada and the US in 2003. That night, friends and I gathered together, ate by candlelight, and lay-down on blankets in the middle of the city of Toronto to look up at the stars – we could see constellations that had been invisible for decades. Before light pollution, the night sky used to be a source of inspiration for poets, philosophers and scientists. And so it was for me. That and the publication of a book about the world after dark by Christopher Dewdney. We optioned the book and spent about 3 years pulling the money and resources together.
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Fall Arts and Visions News
October 9, 2011 This month Dark Hollow Films is excited about its newest and upcoming releases. North Dixie Drive is a compelling look at an American town struggling to cope with the ever growing economic woes of our time. Here’s what Jim Jarmusch had to say about it:“North Dixie Drive is an intimate and very entertaining portrait of the culture and characters inhabiting a small slice of America in the form of a traffic circle in Dayton, Ohio. I highly recommend Eric Mahoney’s film — a perfect cinematic piece of cultural anthropology.” Jim Jarmusch / Director
Another new film is New York Times Critics’ pick, They Came to Play, an emotional, humorous, riveting and multi-award-winning documentary film about competitors in an international competition for amateur pianists. Through their own personal stories and outstanding performances, these passionate musicians inspire audiences by showing how it’s possible to be reunited with your desire – whoever you are, at any age. In the International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, top amateur pianists from all over the world – ranging from self-taught to classically-trained, aged 35 to nearly 80 – convene in Fort Worth, Texas, for a week of competition, music and camaraderie at this prestigious event hosted by The Van Cliburn Foundation.
A Perfect Cinematic Piece of Cultural Anthropology
August 10, 2011 This month we are releasing North Dixie Drive, a portrait of a neighborhood in Dayton struggling to stay afloat during the Great Recession. Available for the first time ever on DVD, this is a debut documentary by Eric Mahoney, former student of Werner Herzog and our guest blogger this month. In the post below, Eric tells about his inspiration for creating this very compelling film, which was described by Jim Jarmusch as “a perfect cinematic piece of cultural anthropology.” Enjoy!← Older posts
