St. Clair Bourne talks about his career as a documentary filmmaker. Interviewed by filmmaker Julie Dash (director of Daughters of the Dust). This is the last live interview with St. Clair in Los Angeles before his death.
To celebrate Black History Month 2019, we pay tribute to St. Clair Bourne’s legacy, from his early days as a producer, director and cameraman for the pioneering series Black Journal to the founding of the Black Documentary Collective (BDC) in New York and the Black Association of Documentary Filmmakers West (BADWest) in Los Angeles, and the journal Chamba Notes.
Directed by St. Clair Bourne this riveting documentary exploring Robeson's multidimensional gifts and the high price he had to pay as a spokesperson for black liberation. Paul Robeson: Here I Stand hits home in its convincing portrait of this African-American's noble struggle and his ardent attempt to remain true to his principles. A perfect meeting of subject and filmmaker, Bourne’s epic is one of his greatest achievements. A biography that instantly became the definitive work on Robeson, and a master class in the synthesis of archival research and modern documentary filmmaking. A rightful classic of the form.
St. Clair Bourne, Harlem-born and Brooklyn-bred, was a towering figure in the documentary film world: a filmmaker, writer, activist, teacher and organizer. Bourne passed away in 2007, yet his body of work, an essential chronicle of African-American life, and influence is enough for many lifetimes. In a 36-year career in which he made more than 40 films, either producing or directing or doing both, Mr. Bourne’s works were seen on public television, commercial networks and at film festivals around the country. Among his subjects were the singer, actor and activist Paul Robeson; the poet, novelist and playwright Langston Hughes; the photojournalist and filmmaker Gordon Park; author, poet, historian, professor and a leader of the Pan-Africanist movement John Henrik Clarke; and the poet and activist Amiri Baraka.
This special event is offered free of charge. Seating is limited. Advance RSVP is required.
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Join BADWest for $45, and reap all the benefits of being a member, including free monthly meetings, screenings and other special events.
The Black Association of Documentary Filmmakers West is a project of Fulcrum Arts' Emerge fiscal sponsorship program. www.fulcrumarts.org
The Black Association of Documentary Filmmakers West (BAD West) is a professional organization providing people of African descent working in documentary film, video or other media the opportunity to network professionally, share resources, exchange ideas and meet socially in order to enhance the development, production, promotion and exhibition of documentaries. The Black Association of Documentary Filmmakers West also advocates the recognition and professional advancement of Black documentary filmmakers.
