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Hard Times at Douglass High
A No Child Left Behind Report Card
2008 Home Box Office
This classic cinema verite documentary reveals the complex realities of life at the Frederick Douglass High School in West Baltimore as the staff struggles to meet the demands of the No Child Left Behind Act. The film examines the daunting challenges faced by many of America's urban high schools that serve communities living in poverty, suffering from low student test scores, a shortage of qualified teachers and a 50% dropout rate. The documentary focuses on the brutal inequalities of minority education and provides a context for the national debate over the controversial No Child Left Behind Act.
112 min.
The Congregation
2004 National Broadcast PBS
This film profiles a progressive United Methodist church in the midst of profound change. Conflict arises over dissatisfaction with the newly appointed senior pastor. Meanwhile the church supports the lesbian associate pastor as she fights to keep her credentials as a minister. The Congregation offers a complex portrait of a church moving into the 21st century.
120 Min.
How Do You Spell Murder?
2003 CINEMAX
Inside America's prisons, 70% of inmates are illiterate. This film chronicles one year in the life of an inmate-run literacy program. As the inmates struggle to learn to read, this film explores the connection between education and crime.
40 min.
Lance Loud! A Death in An American Family
2003 National Broadcast PBS
A celebration of the life and legacy of Lance Loud as the first reality TV star and gay icon. Lance was the eldest son of the William Loud family who were the subjects of the 1973 An American Family documentary series. Lance reflects on the price one has to pay for celebrityhood and says, “Televison ate my family.”
60 min.
Children in War
2000 Home Box Office
A study of the tragic consequences of war and terrorism for the children of Bosnia, Israel, Rwanda and Northern Ireland. Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Non Fiction and Special and Emmy nomination for Cinematography, Unesco Award presented by the United Nations for outstanding achievement in television programming which best exemplifies the ideals and goals of the U.N.
108 min.
Children in War book published by TV Books and distributed by HarperCollins.
I Am A Promise: The Children of Stanton Elementary School
1993 Home Box Office
A chronicle of a year in the life of a troubled inner-city elementary school in North Philadelphia. Academy Award 1993 for Best Feature Documentary, PrimeTime Emmy Award for Outstanding Information Special, George Foster Peabody Award, Alfred I. Du Pont Award from Columbia School of Journalism, Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for First Prize in Television Reporting International Documentary and Association Award for Distinguished Documentary Achievement.
90 min.
Sweet Home Chicago
1992 BBC Omnibus England
A portrait of the birth of electric blues in Chicago with an emphasis on Chess Label recording artists such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Sonny Boy Williamson. The program includes performances and interviews with Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, John Lee Hooker, Hubert Sumlin, James Cotton and Mick Jagger.
60 min.
Doing Time: Life Inside The Big House
1990 Home Box Office
The film explores the psychological effects of long-term incarceration on inmates in the federal prison system, where rehabilitation and parole have all but been abandoned. News and Documentary Emmy Award for Best Director of Documentary, Special Academy Award Nomination Best Documentary Feature, Ace Award Best Director - Director’s Guild of America Nomination and AFVF Honorable Mention
60 min.
Police Chiefs
1989 P.O.V. series on PBS
A critical look at three of America’s leading law enforcement figures including Los Angeles Chief Darryl Gates, Houston Chief Lee Brown and Minneapolis Chief Anthony Bouza.
60 min.
Into Madness
1988 Home Box Office
A profile of three families with schizophrenic children.The documentary was critically acclaimed for its compassionate treatment of mental illness. American Mental Health Association Award
60 min.
ELVIS ‘56
1987 Cinemax
This highly regarded historical rock and roll documentary explores Presley’s rise to fame and fortune in the one year of 1956. Broadcast on Presley’s 10th anniversary of his death. Shown in competition at Sundance Film Festival. It also aired on PBS Pledge Week Special, Disney Channel and American Movie Classics. Rolling Stone Magazine called it “...the best documentary ever made on Elvis Presley.”
60 min.
American Family Revisited: The Louds Ten Years Later
1983 Home Box Office
The Loud family members reflect on their unique experience of becoming media celebrities after the unprecedented success of the PBS documentary series An American Family.
60 min.
Hooray for Hollywood
1981 ABC News Closeup
An in-depth look at how movies are made in Hollywood examining the relationship between art and commerce. Interviews with Ridley Scott directing Blade Runner, Paul Schrader directing Cat People, Martin Scorsese directing King of Comedy and Fred Ross directing Pennies From Heaven. News and Documentary EMMY Nomination for Best Documentary and a News and Documentary EMMY Nomination for Best Editing
60 min.
The Third Coast
1981 National Broadcast PBS
This film captures all the promise and problems of Houston emerging as America’s third most powerful urban center. Premiered at Filmex 1981. Silver Venus Award and a CINE Golden Eagle.
To Die For Ireland
1980 ABC News Closeup
1982 PBS Rebroadcast
The film explores the relationship between the British Forces in Northern Ireland and The Irish Republican Army and questions the methods used by both sides to fight an urban guerrilla warfare. News and Documentary Emmy Award for Best Cinematography, News and Documentary Emmy Nomination for Best Documentary, Chicago International Film Festival Bronze Plaque and Cine Golden Eagle.
60 min.
Bad Boys
1978 National Broadcast PBS TV LAB at WNET
This uncompromising program looks into the complex problems of juvenile crime and the problems these children present to our society--from the high school school yard to a maximum security detention center for boys under sixteen years.
2 hrs.
The Police Tapes
1978 ABC News Closeup
This award winning video program was the first independent program acquired for ABC News. The filmmakers edited a 50 minute version and received a News and Documentary EMMY Award for Best Documentary and News and Documentary EMMY Award for Tape Editing.
The Police Tapes
1977 WNET
This groundbreaking experimental video revealed the life of a police precinct in the South Bronx during its years of high crime. New York Chapter EMMY Award for Best Documentary, Alfred Du Pont Award, George Foster Peabody Award and a Sigma Delta Chi Deadline Award.
90 min.
Police Tapes has been acknowledged as the inspiration for Steve Boccho’s Hill Street Blues and is the documentary model for the police reality programs that followed. For more information see Biography
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