WHY DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING IS NOT A HOBBY

For those of you who are following the federal court tax case in Arizona against Lee Storey and the making of SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS: The Up With People Story, there is a good article on the subject in the recent Filmmaker Magazine. Simply stated, documentary film making is not a hobby. It's work, and even though the subject matter may also "educate and expose", the work is done with the intent to make a profit. All legal briefs have been filed and the parties are waiting on a decision by the court. You can lend your comments and tweet about it here: http://www.filmmakermagazine.com/news/2011/07/why-filmmaking-cannot-be-a-hobby/

Coming Soon!

After 4 years of independent research, combing through 40 years of history, media and dusty boxes in Up With People warehouses, interviewing hundreds of helpful and thoughtful alumni, we have finally woven together a complex quilt of the Up With People experience set within a political, social and pop culture landscape over the past 4 decades. As a first time producer/director, the journey has been like riding the biggest roller coaster of my life. There were great days when I could say: "Look Mom! No hands!" but most of the time I held on tight during the thrill of the ride and experienced every emotion one can imagine. And the ride is not over! We are on our way to our World Premiere in SLAMdance, January 17, 2009 in Park City, Utah. This will be our first screening followed by another on Inauguration Day January 20th. Because this is a critical time in the history of our nation and the world, it is a good time to reflect upon and measure the actions of our past. There are good intentions and good hearts everywhere. We believe SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS includes the candid and sometimes haunting reflections of individual choices in seeking to make the world a better place. But it also allows us the opportunity to appreciate and intelligently measure the idealism of youth and the collective hope for the future that we all share. We can't wait to share the dialogue with you!