free to be you and me
I was hanging out with Jona the other day talking about a video project and trying to express an idea when the wonderful film "Free To Be You And Me" came to mind. Released in 1974 and conceived by television actress Marlo Thomas, Free to Be... was originally a record album of songs for children that expressed the importance self confidence, tolerance, and equality. The record proved to be a hit, so a couple years later Thomas teamed up with several other artists and celebrities, including Alan Alda, Mel Brooks, Harry Belafonte, Roberta Flack, and a young Michael Jackson, to re-create the album as a film. The cinematic version of Free To Be You And Me was about 48 minutes long and aired on television. Both the film and record feature a series of vignettes, many of them songs, all revolving around the theme of growing up and accepting yourself for who you are while accepting those around you as well. Classic segments include the "William wants a doll" animation that tells the story of a five year old boy who more than anything wants a doll for his birthday, and professional football strong-man Rosey Grier singing a tear-jerking rendition of "It's All Right To Cry" (while displaying an amazing guitar playing style!)
I was too young to have any understanding of television in 1974, but I remember seeing Free To Be... in grade school several times while growing up in the suburbs just outside of Denver. I remember seeing it at least once a year, and imagine that the school district I attended must have owned a film print that was kept in constant circulation (quick side note: I think that I was probably of the last generation of students that watched classroom movies on 16mm film, but that is for another blog...). I recall us students having a bit of a love-hate relationship with the film. We had all seen it so many times that we knew many of the songs and sequences by heart, and the film's "feel good about yourself" theme was admittedly a little dorky, so there was always a certain amount of a rolling of the eyes when we'd find out we were going to have to sit through its 45 epic minutes once again. "Why do we have to watch that movie AGAIN???" But once we all got past the initial "I'm too cool for this movie" posturing, I think everyone would really get into it. The catchy songs, fun animations, the resonating themes, and the ever so funky "Sisters and Brothers" segment would always reel our attention in and keep up attentively sitting on the floor Indian style for the duration of the screening. (another side note: do grade school kids still sit on the floor 'Indian style'? is that politically correct? was/is that term widely used?)
Free To Be You and Me was re-released last year on DVD, and upon watching it for the first time since I was in grade school, I found myself holding back the tears as memories that had been dormant in the back of my head for over twenty years re-surfaced. While it was definitely un-cool to admit that you liked Free To Be You and Me back in grade school, watching it as an adult made me realize how much I loved it. I found that I remembered the words to most the songs, and as each new segment started up I'd catch myself saying "oh, I remember this, this one is my favorite!" But of coarse it brought up bad memories as well, as the various messages in the film were easily turned into ammunition by the playground bullies. I recall once in fifth or sixth grade getting a little too upset during recess and bursting into tears, at which point the bully-of-the-moment came up to me, put his hand on my shoulder, and started singing "it's all right to cry" with a perfect, irony laced pitch (as mean as it was, in hind-sight I must admit his timing was beautifully malicious).
Several clips from Free To Be You and Me can be found on YouTube, but the film is available on DVD in it's full length and I strongly suggest tracking it down. It's the sort of wonderful children's movie that you wish adults around the world would watch and learn from, and it serves as a perfect example of how watered down and pointless much of today's children's programs are compared to what was coming out in the 70s (Sesame St, The Muppets, etc). 35 years later, the film's message is still timely and important; the issues may be a little different, but watching this film as an adult leads you to wonder how many of the problems we face as a world today could be solved with just a little compassion and understanding.
channel 6 news announces peripheral produce factory closed tomorrow due to snow
helen hill
Helen, Paul, and Francis Pop getting ready for the big clean-up
An old filmmaker friend of mine named Helen Hill was killed last week in New Orleans. Someone came into their home at 5:30 in the morning and shot her and her husband Paul. Paul was hurt, but is going to be okay and should be released from the hospital soon. Their 2-year-old son, Francis Pop, was unhurt. When the police arrived they found him in the arms of his unconscious father.
Stuff like this is just so terribly wrong. Any situation like this is wrong, but Helen and Paul deserved so much better. They were an amazing, beautiful couple; so happy and generous that when they were together you'd swear you could see them glowing. I used to joke that Helen was so sweet that when you first met her you might think she was going to try to sell you something. But it wouldn't take long to realize that she was just a wonderful, beautiful human being who had a profound sense of compassion and generosity. Helen was also an incredible filmmaker and highly regarded in the experimental film community. She made wonderful, quirky animations, often manipulating the film surface by hand with various techniques that resulted in stunningly beautiful abstract images. She was so good at hand-made, direct to film animation that she taught workshops all across the country, and even released the heralded 'Recipes For Disaster' booklet that has served as the quintessential direct-animation resource since it was published. Their home was flooded after Hurricane Katrina, and a crazy mold grew on many of her films. I remember her joking that some of the mold created patterns on the film that were so interesting that she might need to add a chapter in her book about them. Helen never seemed too interested in her own success, but instead viewed filmmaking as a folk-art and put her emphasis into building community. I imagine that her vision of success would be a world of people living together in peace, sitting around a giant table making animated films.
I can't help but to think how awful of a nightmare this must be for Paul. Paul too is an incredibly compassionate man. He is a doctor and has dedicated his career to helping the poor and people in need. He probably could have gotten a high-paying job in a big hospital, but instead put his energy towards helping those who can't afford healthcare. I can't imagine experiencing anything worse than what he is going through. And it’s not fair that Francis Pop will never see his mom again. I am quite sure that Helen must have been one of the best moms in the world. That little boy was robbed of so much. He will hear many times over how wonderful and special his mom was, and I think he will know how much she loved him. But he will have to go through the rest of his life without her, piecing together her image with stories and photographs and his distant memories of the sound of her voice and what it felt like to be in her arms. No two year old should ever be hit with that burden.
I'd stay with them when I was traveling in town; once back in 2002 when I was on tour, and again a few years later when I was down there shooting my documentary American Nutria. They were a couple that was fun to be around; they had almost developed their own language and would often finish each other's sentences as if their brains were working in tandem and constantly bouncing ideas off each other. They were a couple that was making the world a better place.
Here is some super8 footage of Helen and her pet pig Rosie, who she had taught to sit and turn around (a pig's version of rolling over). Morgan shot this while we were staying at their house in March of 2003. When I sent Helen a copy of this footage she said that it might just be her favorite movie of all time since Rosie and Super 8 film were two of her most favorite things.
You just don't know what to do in situations like this. People like Helen and Paul give you faith in the humanity, and then events like this make you feel like it's all hopeless. It reminds you how delicate everything is, and how priceless every second is. You can't take anything for granted.
Paul and Francis Pop, I am so very sorry for your loss.
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not big; HUGE
sam green welcomes in THE YEAR OF HUGE PROJECTS
