The Filtered Excellence: October 24, 2013
Bob Geldof once asked us, “Where is the filtered excellence!?” It’s right here. Here are this weeks picks of what to WATCH, what to DO what to TRY what to READ what to LISTEN TO and more:
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WATCH THIS:
Seduced and Abandoned. Filmed during the Cannes Film Festival, “Seduced and Abandoned” is a documentary that shows the cold hard world of what it takes to find the money to produce a movie. The film is directed by and stars James Toback, who along with Alec Baldwin, filmed their pitches, interviews and meetings with the producers and money people who are needed to get a film project off the ground. It’s the collision of art and creativity meeting the reality of the money making side of the movies. “Seduced and Abandoned” premieres Monday, October 28th on HBO at 9pm Eastern.
Birth Of The Living Dead. Today, the zombie industry is a multi-billion dollar franchise that has its hands in film, TV and literature. But its roots were planted over 45 years go when George Romero co-wrote and directed Night Of The Living Dead. Shot in Pittsburgh on a shoestring budget, the film is now a cult classic, grossing over $30 million dollars worldwide and signaling a new birth in the horror film genre. Director Rob Kuhns talks with Romero, cast members, critics and fans about the making of the film and its impact on the film world. Loaded with archival footage, photos and clever use of animation, Birth Of The Living Dead is a fascinating look at a crucial movement in cinema. Birth Of The Living Dead is in theaters now and also available on Itunes.
The African Americans: Many Rivers To Cross. Written and presented by noted Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, this 6 part series on PBS looks at the African American experience over the last 500 years. As with his previous explorations of culture, Gates dispels and confirms certain stories about slavery, reveals the crucial roles African-Americans played in the development of the United States and countries around the world, and what does it mean to be a person of color today. Gates’ journey takes him to Africa, the Deep South, to Washington D.C. for the swearing in of Barack Obama as the first Black President of The United States. A well-researched, balanced, yet complex look at a people and its culture. The African Americans: Many Rivers To Cross will air a new episode each Tuesday through November 26th.
The MLB 2013 World Series Continues. Baseball’s Fall Classic heads to St. Louis for games 3 and 4 starting on Saturday, October 26th. After an intense first two games in Boston, the Cardinals host the Red Sox. It’s the power pitching of the Cardinals versus Boston’s big bats as the teams with the two best regular season records in baseball continue to go head to head. Game 3 coverage starts Saturday at 7:30pm Eastern on FOX.
30 For 30: This Is What They Want. The latest in the ESPN 30 For 30 series continues with “This Is What They Want”. The documentary focuses on tennis star Jimmy Connor’s and his improbable run at the 1991 U.S. Open. Well past his prime, at nearly 40 years old, Jimmy Connors walked into the U.S. Open in 1991, ranked 174th in the world and 8 years removed from any Gram Slam victories. Finding his form once again, Connors worked his way into the semi-finals. The film also shows what a controversial figure Connors became in the tennis world. “This Is What They Want” airs Tuesday, October 29th at 8pm Eastern on ESPN.
American Experience: War of the Worlds. PBS documents the 75th anniversary of Orson Welles’ “War of the Worlds” broadcast that caused a panic the night before Halloween. The film explores the state of the country at the time and how so many people could be convinced that America was facing an all out Martian invasion. “American Experience: War of the Worlds” airs Tuesday, October 29th at 9pm Eastern.
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READ THIS:
Americana: The Kinks, The Road and The Perfect Riff by Ray Davies. In the latest book from the lead singer for the Kinks, Ray Davies writes about his fascination with America and how its culture influenced his life and career. The book also features Davies’ frustration with the country that he fell in love with after the Kinks were banned from playing in the states and when he experienced a near fatal shooting. It’s a first hand account of a British band coming to invade America and what they found when they got here.
- You can order Americana: The Kinks, the Riff, the Road: The Story
on amazon.co
Never Play Music Right Next To The Zoo by John Lithgow. A perfect read (and listen) for kids, this is the latest children’s book from Tony Award winner and Oscar nominee John Lithgow. The book is beautifully illustrated and tells the story of what happens when zoo animals take over an orchestra. As an added bonus, the book also contains a CD of John Lithgow performing the title song “Never Play Music Right Next To The Zoo” with a full band. It’s hard to imagine something this sweet came from the man who portrayed the Trinity Killer on Dexter.
- Order Never Play Music Right Next to the Zoo
at amazon.com
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LISTEN TO THIS:
Traces Of You by Anoushka Shankar. The 7th album by the critically-acclaimed, Grammy nominated sitarist is also her most personal. The passing of her father, Ravi Shankar, cast a huge shadow over the sessions, but Shankar, working with noted producer/composer Nitin Sawhney put together an extraordinary 13 song cycle that celebrates and carries on his legacy. Traces Of You also features the first time collaboration with Shankar’s sister Norah Jones on three tracks including the first single, ‘The Sun Won’t Set’. The pairing is sublime and one can only hope that a duets album will happen sooner than later. Traces Of You is a true ‘world music’ album with sounds of the East merging effortlessly with country, electronica, and classical. Shankar’s extraordinary virtuosity on full display throughout – especially on ‘River Pulse and the eight minute blowout ‘Chasing Shadows’. If you are looking to expand your musical horizons, this is an album worth checking out. It’s one of the year’s best. Traces Of You is available now through Amazon, Itunes and all digital music outlets.
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DO THIS:
NEW YORK CITY: Zoe Strauss: 10 Years. The International Center Of Photography through January 19th, 2014. Between 2001 and 2010, Zoe Strauss, a self-taught photographer and political activist, held exhibitions of her work on an 1-95 overpass in South Philadelphia. Her photos showed economic hardships featuring the people in her community that were most affected. She would later expand to feature her work on billboards and public meetings to give a face to the Great Recession. The International Center Of Photography is presenting her first career retrospective. It’s a startling look at those who got left out of the American Dream, yet still struggle to attain it. Zoe Strauss: 10 Years will be on display at the International Center Of Photography through January 19th.
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK: The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From The Sidewalk To The Catwalk. From the man that gave the world Madonna’s cone-shaped bra, comes the only East Coast exhibition dedicated to Jean Paul Gaultier. The iconic French fashion designer’s work is showcased in a multi-media exhibition featuring sketches, stage costumes and film. The display features Gaultier’s rise from the streets of Paris to an influential force in fashion. The exhibition begins Friday, October 25th at the Brooklyn Museum at the Morris A. and Meyer Schapiro Wing and Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Gallery.
PHILADELPHIA: Capture The Moment: The Pulitzer Prize Photographs. The National Constitution Center in Philly hosts the largest collection of Pulitzer Prize winning photos in one exhibition. The collection reflects on the nation’s joyous moments and hardships captured on film and what an important role photo journalism plays in our society. Photos in the collection include the Marines raising the flag at Iwo Jima and Babe Ruth’s number being retired at Yankee Stadium and many others. The exhibition is going on now through the end of the year at the National Constitution Center.
AUSTIN, TEXAS: The 2013 Austin Film Festival. The 8 day Austin Film Festival kicks off this weekend featuring plenty of panels, screenings and parties, after all, it is Austin. Some of the highlights of the film festival’s 20th year include conversations with Susan Sarandon, Jonathan Demme and Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan. Plus, Will Ferrell is expected to crash the festival during the week.
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