DEPECHE MODE: 101 20TH ANNIVERSARY

Hard to believe that today marks the 20th anniversary of Depeche Mode's concert at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. That show was the culmination of not one, but two wild bus tour across America - one convoy with the band, and one with a group of teenagers who'd won a dance contest to see their favorite band play their final show on the US tour. It was an amazing journey for everyone, and one of the greatest music experiences we've ever had both as fans and as filmmakers.


Watch some concert footage from the June 18, 1988 Pasadena show:

CONGRATULATIONS, AL FRANKEN

We would like to extend our congratulations to Al Franken on receiving the Democratic Party's endorsement. Franken is now the Democratic nominee for the US Senate race in Minnesota.

Click HERE to see an interview with Franken from NPR/Twin Cities Public Television.

NPR also has a cool, interactive map HERE that covers all of the 2008 US Elections. See how your candidate's doing in every state.

And, of course, check out the official AL FRANKEN FOR SENATE website.

REMEMBERING BO DIDDLEY

Like all of you, we were very sad to receive news of Bo Diddley's passing on Monday. Bo continually took the concept of being a "self-made man" one step further - as the New York Times put it, he "invented his own name, his own guitars, his own beat and, with a handful of other musical pioneers, rock ’n’ roll itself."

In 1969, D A Pennebaker went to Toronto to film the Sweet Toronto Peace Festival, which featured the 'fearsome four' of rock'n'roll: Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard - and a surprise performance by John Lennon's brand-new Plastic Ono Band. The resulting film became known as Sweet Toronto (Keep On Rockin'). Bo's electrified performance at the start of the film, getting the crowd moving and shaking. Getting them rocking. To us, that's what Bo was all about: spreading the pure joy of rock'n'roll.


Go here to read the full NY Times obituary for Bo Diddley.

1PM and 2 AMERICAN AUDIENCES @ HARVARD

1 PM


If you're in the Boston area this week, the Harvard Film Archive will screen two films made by D A Pennebaker, Richard Leacock, and Jean-Luc Godard: 1 PM and 2 AMERICAN AUDIENCES. These rare films capture a unique view of New York in 1968, a highly politicized time. We hope you'll take advantage of this great opportunity to see them at the Harvard Film Archive's new series, "Godard, Gorin, Garrel and the Grin Without a Cat."

MORE INFO, TICKETS, AND DIRECTIONS FOR: "Godard, Gorin, Garrel and the Grin Without a Cat."

PRESS RELEASE

May 2, 2008
We would like to respond to some erroneous statements made today about our film, THE WAR ROOM. These statements alleged certain remarks to Mickey Kantor that simply are not true. The transcript of the scene in question confirms this.
-Chris Hegedus & D A Pennebaker


"THE WAR ROOM" TRANSCRIPT:

GEORGE AND CARVILLE
Indiana, we're ahead.

JACQUELINE
Indiana!

GEORGE
Kentucky.

CARVILLE
Kentucky is five. Michigan is eleven, New York's done.

GEORGE
Holy shit, we're pulling away in Ohio.

CARVILLE
Oklahoma we're up.

GEORGE
Tied in Texas.

CARVILLE
Tied in Texas. It looks good. Now let's just say that. I like the text here.

GEORGE
Can you beep Wendy please? Looks pretty good. Looks pretty good.

MICKEY
Look at Indiana. Wait, wait. Look at Indiana. Forty-two, forty. It doesn't matter if we win. Those people are shitting (oh, excuse me) in the White House. How would you like to be... Look at Texas, go down to Texas.

CARVILLE
Even.

MICKEY
Yeah. Thirty-nine, thirty-nine.

CARVILLE
Perot's kind of holding, isn't he?

GEORGE
He held.

MICKEY
Yeah, he held. His numbers held. I'm sort of surprised, frankly.

FOND FAREWELLS & HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS

We're very sad to announce the passing of our close friend and collaborator, Nina Schulman, last week to metastatic breast cancer. An Emmy-award winning film editor, Nina was our editor on MONTEREY POP. Here is her obituary in the New York Times.

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Norman Mailer

On April 9th, we joined celebrities, close friends, family members and fans for a tribute to Norman Mailer's life and work. The memorial was held at Carnegie Hall and it was a beautiful and moving celebration of one of America's liveliest, most intelligent, and fascinating personalities. Norman was a great friend and a rare talent. You can read more about the touching tribute here.

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Bob Dylan

In happier news, we'd like to congratulate Bob Dylan on winning a Pulitzer! Dylan received a Special Citation for "his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power." He is the first rock'n'roll musician to be honored with a Pulitzer. For more information on this award, please visit thePulitzer Board or Forbes Magazine.

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Richard Leacock

And last but certainly not least, our longtime friend, collaborator and partner Richard Leacock will be honored at the 2008 Hot Docs Festival. Hot Docs will be honoring Leacock with an Outstanding Achievement Award Retrospective. The Festival, now in its 15th year, is held in Toronto and is North America's largest documentary film festival. For more info on the 2008 festival, an online schedule, and online ticket sales, please visit the official 2008 Hot Docs Festival website.

MOF

Flora Lazar, Chris Hegedus & D A Pennebaker in front of the Palais de l'Elysee

In January, Chris Hegedus, D A Pennebaker and Flora Lazar filmed French President Nicolas Sarkozy present the awards for the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France, a competition held every four years to determine the best chefs in France. Last fall the trio followed various chefs as they trained and competed for the MOF. The film is currently in post-production. Check back for more information on the MOF film over the next few months.

In the meantime, you can learn more about the MOF Competition and MOF chef Sebastien Cannone, who is featured in the new film, by listening to this Chicago Public Radio podcast.