PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: PALEYDOCFEST 2009: AMERICAN MASTERS: JOAN BAEZ: HOW SWEET THE SOUND {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Paley Center for Media’s tenth annual Documentary Television Festival. Held at The Paley Center in New York, this evening features “American Masters: Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound,” one in the series that explores the lives and achievements of America's most celebrated artists and performers. Host Pat Mitchell (president and CEO, The Paley Center for Media) offers opening remarks about the themes of this year’s DocFest before bringing Susan Lacy (executive producer and creator, “American Masters”) to the stage. Lacy briefly discusses her longtime interest in making a documentary about Baez, and then introduces the film, which is screened in its entirety. (For synopsis and credits, see ACCNUM 100494.)
After the screening, moderator Ron Simon (television curator, The Paley Center for Media) brings the panelists to the stage: Lacy; director Mary Wharton; and interviewer Anthony DeCurtis.
The panelists discuss topics which include: Baez finally being “ready” to make the documentary; Baez’s "comfortable conversation" in the film with her ex-husband David Harris; finding news footage of Baez’s political activity; using video footage from Baez's childhood; singer/songwriter Bob Dylan’s influence on Baez's fame; Baez's prominence as an activist; the production's grueling editing process; the filmmakers’ trip to Sarajevo to interview cellist Vedran Smailovic; finding a balance between Baez's well-known activities and more personal elements; the process of acquiring Dylan's involvement in the film; Baez’s struggle in discussing her relationship with Dylan; the recurring theme on “American Masters” of prominent ‘60s musicians; and the significance behind the show’s many Emmy wins.
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following: reasons behind the non-involvement of Ira Sandperl, who founded the Institute for the Study of Non-violence with Baez; if Baez deserves the Nobel Peace Prize; Baez's humor being largely unseen in the film; the need for Baez to be in the “right mood” to discuss topics like the death of her sister Mimi; Baez's “candid” autobiography, “And A Voice to Sing With”; the decision to interview Baez in a non-chronological style; Baez’s presence as one of the “elder” artists at Woodstock; her anti-establishment activity and whether the government pursued her as it did John Lennon; and how the film shows Baez at a “good place in life.”
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: October 9, 2009 6:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 2:11:59
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 100448
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Pat Mitchell … Host
- Ron Simon … Moderator
- Anthony DeCurtis … Panelist
- Susan Lacy … Panelist
- Mary Wharton … Panelist
- Joan Baez
- Bob Dylan
- Mimi Baez Fariña
- David Harris
- John Lennon
- Ira Sandperl
- Vedran Smailovic