tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39292670982547363862024-03-08T04:55:45.396-08:00Producer's Blog: Currier & IvesMary Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352934499455165015noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3929267098254736386.post-61968032230573997072008-06-17T19:29:00.000-07:002008-06-17T20:35:18.592-07:00The End. For Me, Not the Educational Opportunities!My work on <em></em><em><em>Currier & Ives: Perspectives on America</em></em><em></em> comes to an end this week with a final report to our generous funders, Partnership for a Nation of Learners, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasters. In that documentation, I am proud to report that we have fulfilled our objectives and even surpassed some goals. In particular, securing national distribution was a real boon for the exposure of Springfield's efforts to make a local treasure a broader educational resource. The nationwide broadcast of the series goes beyond the requirements of the grant and importantly, it ensures that more people know about the importance of Currier & Ives and how their lithographs may be used effectively and easily as a vivid window to 19th century America. The focus of this project was always about education, not promoting one particular collection, and the national broadcast is our "cherry on the sundae"!<br /><br />As I think my blogs reveal, this project has been a joy and a wondrous journey. I'm grateful to WGBY and the Springfield Museums for the opportunity to manage the educational partnership and to serve as Executive Producer of the documentary series. I am especially privileged to have worked with the Currier & Ives collector and expert, John Zak, and Kay Simpson, Director of Education and Institutional Advancement at the Springfield Museums. They have been invaluable partners and unflagging supporters. When I reviewed the documentaries recently, I was astounded by the depth and breadth of images and information that owe directly to the efforts of John Zak. Kay was my closest partner at the Museums and I can never apologize enough for forgetting to acknowledge her work at our biggest screening! I still cringe over that. Kay Simpson is the main force behind the success of our educational efforts and she also served as <em>my</em> teacher, educating me about the partners and the Project when I came on board back in April of 2007. She has always made time in her extremely busy schedule to answer my questions, share information, anticipate challenges, and share a chuckle. What an honor to work with her!<br /><br />As I've mentioned before, I'm also especially indebted to videographer Mark Langevin and Senior Editor Ray Laferrier for their <strong>way</strong>-above-and-beyond efforts! I am fortunate to take away several wonderful friendships from my time in Springfield, Massachusetts. I'd like to take this opportunity to also thank Lynn Page and Keith Clark of WGBY for the energy and time they devoted to this effort. Their patience, diligence and talents are simply astounding.<br /><br />Please keep an eye on our dynamic website for new features. We've wrapped up the edits on the podcasts and they'll be added to the site soon. Teachers will find the podcast Lesson Plans and Learning Activities an easily replicable resource in the classrooms. Students can enjoy the interactive features "What Is A Print?" and "Look Closer!", as well as "My Currier & Ives Gallery". The Museums will continue to train teachers to use the lithographs as a way to teach Visual Literacy and more. The Museums will also make sure DVDs of the documentary series get into the hands of librarians, curators and educators throughout the region and beyond. <br /><br />As a result of this project, I understand so much more about 19th Century America and I hope you do, too. I've also developed a deep fondness for the work of the two gentlemen who have been my constant companions for 14 months: Nathaniel Currier & James Merritt Ives. I hope we have given the "Printmakers to the American People" the tribute they so richly deserve. And don't say I didn't warn you: you'll find that once you start appreciating these prints and seeking them out, it becomes a bit of an obsession! I have 4 now. As John Zak told me from the start, the collecting bug bites deeply. <br /><br />I am convinced the grantmakers will agree their money was well spent. I know my time was. It is with a tinge of regret that I end this blog. It's been great fun sharing this producer's journey with you!<br /><br />- Mary SteeleMary Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352934499455165015noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3929267098254736386.post-55489417429760305222008-05-16T12:29:00.001-07:002008-05-16T13:10:59.497-07:00Documentary Goes NationalThe title of this blog is the headline for a recent article in <strong></strong> The Republican<strong></strong>, the newspaper here in Springfield, Massachusetts. WGBY was thrilled to learn that about 90 PBS stations nationwide voted to pick up the program from the distributor, American Public Television (APT). That actually translates into the possibility that our series will be seen on 195 PBS stations across the country and in Puerto Rico! We needed just 25 votes to secure national distribution by APT, so these are great numbers. Furthermore, we were picked up by 6 of the top 10 markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Boston, and Philadelphia. That's good stuff.<br /><br />The name of the game during May has been wrapping up loose ends. I recently completed a graduate-level online course in Evaluating Outcomes that was invaluable and will inform my final reporting to our grantmakers, A Partnership for a Nation of Learners/IMLS/CPB. I'm also busy getting the tapes ready for their national distribution because the technical standards are different. Over the next 2 weeks, the regional version of the series will be put on DVD and beautifully packaged, thanks to our graphics designer, Joel Heaton. They will not be sold but they will be given as gifts to local educational institutions, museums, and supporters of the project. It's important to me that regional institutions have access to this resource! The educational component of this partnership project is its cornerstone and can remain so well into the future. That will be the legacy of this grant and the efforts of WGBY, the Springfield Museums, Baypath College and the Cooperating Colleges of Greater Springfield and The Republican's Newspaper in Education.<br /><br />The partners will meet one last time next week so that I can bring everyone up to date and have the opportunity to offer updates, congratulations and thanks. It seems like just a couple of weeks ago that I met many of these people for the first time!<br /><br />You can now view all clips from the shows by going to our website and clicking on "Documentaries". Soon you'll also find a very cool interactive feature for students under "Education & Outreach" as well as podcost versions of lesson plans for teachers who would like to use Springfield's Currier & Ives collection as a primary source in their lessons on art, art history, American history, or visual literacy.<br /><br />We are still showing the docs in the community. Next week I'll speak at the Agawam Public Library and offer the audience the chance to view all 3 episodes. This is especially gratifying near the conclusion of our project because Agawam happens to be my hometown! It has been very sweet, indeed, to be back with friends and family during the last 14 months as I managed "Currier & Ives: Perspectives on America". <br /><br />I'll keep you posted!Mary Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352934499455165015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3929267098254736386.post-52244224100751766842008-04-09T14:12:00.000-07:002008-04-15T11:10:25.729-07:00Big Ratings!The Currier & Ives series may have aired regionally already, but the show just goes on! <em></em> Currier & Ives: Perspectives on America<em></em> began rebroadcasting on WGBY over the weekend and will enjoy a long life on the air. We just finished editing national versions of the shows, which meant shortening the length and changing some local content. Part 3, in particular, looks a bit different and benefits from some content changes. <br /><br />How does national distribution work? Well, a distributor (in this case, American Public Television/APT) offers shows to PBS programmers at stations nationwide by previewing clips or entire shows so that they can pick and choose what they think their audience will like. At least 25 stations must accept a program in order for that show or series to be distributed. A representative from APT told me the distributors were impressed with our series, pleased by its national content, and thought it would do well. In addition, Program Directors are hungry for content in high definition and our series is in HD. So we are hoping for good things and even prepared the shows for distribution in advance of the green light. Let's hope that's confidence and not cockiness!<br /><br />Not long ago, we got a good sense of audience response to the documentary series. It seems all the promotion and community outreach paid off: the broadcast premiere of Currier & Ives: Perspectives on America in late February was a great success! The series received the highest ratings of any local program in station memory. Here's how the ratings went:<br />Part 1: 3/5 <br />Part 2: 3/5 <br />Part 3: 3/7 <br />Historically, WGBY's local programs pull in ratings of 1/1-1/2, if they get any ratings at all. Currier & Ives: Perspectives on America was the fourth most watched show (this includes both national PBS and local programming) on WGBY during the month of February, coming in above shows like NOVA and Antiques Road Show. Our biggest audience was women and men over fifty. <br /><br />Now I'm working on developing packaging for the DVD (national & local versions)so that it can be given to those who supported the project or took part in the series. We will also give the DVDs to area museums, libraries, and schools. <br />Also, we're shooting video for podcasts that will help teachers create lesson plans using the Currier & Ives prints to teach a variety of subjects. It is fascinating and gratifying to see the results of those Teacher Workshops in action! The website is being updated - we'll soon add an interactive feature for kids and you'll be able to watch clips from all three broadcasts. I'm also taking a month-long online course recommended by our grantmakers in order to effectively report to them. At the same time, I'm keeping an eagle-eye on that shrinking bottom line, making sure that I don't go over-budget as I near the end of my terrific tenure with <br /><em></em>Currier & Ives: Perspectives on America<em></em>. I don't want it to end. It's been an education and a joy.<br /><br />I'll keep you posted.Mary Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352934499455165015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3929267098254736386.post-28514129774230321712008-03-07T13:22:00.000-08:002008-03-12T10:14:38.033-07:00What's Next?<em></em>This is the question that I'm hearing now that Currier & Ives: Perspectives on America has debuted on WGBY. That's television for you! You work for months on something, it's over in a blur, and it can be a memory before the next morning. I'm ecstatic to report that this project is different. The series has "legs" - that is, it will have life long after the initial broadcast on February 25, 2008. First, it will be rebroadcast on WGBY several times. It is also intended to be a longtime community resource made available to schools, libraries, and museums. Finally, it is likely to be distributed nationally for broadcast on PBS stations across the country in the Fall/Winter of 2008! I am in that process now and it is top priority.<br /><br />But let me back up for a moment and talk about the broadcast premiere. I watched the premiere on a large HD television with the videographer of the series, Mark Langevin, along with his fabulous wife, Chris Cronin. Mark has always gone above and beyond the call of duty for this project and he has become a friend as well as a great professional partner. It was both exciting and gratifying to see all 3 parts on the air rather than watching it piecemeal in an edit booth! Unfortunately, new technology is not without its glitches and on a high definition television, there was pixilation during some black and white photo images. We're working to eliminate the problem before the rebroadcasts. Most folks who watched it in standard definition tell me they did not notice the problem. The feedback on the series has been terrific. Viewers tell me they simply had no idea the name meant more than Christmas cards and calendars! <br /><br />Let me take this time to acknowledge the great work of WGBY's Senior Editor, Ray Laferriere. Ray gave 110% to the series, really caring about content and the look. It can be challenging to work in one dark room with one person for close to 3 months on one topic. It can be even more challenging for one editor to work with hundreds of still images, as opposed to video. Without assistance, Mr. Laferriere created all of the time-consuming moves that made the Currier & Ives prints come to life. Throughout, he was a joy to work with and I think we became an even better team as time passed. Two weeks out of the dark editing cave, I find I miss it--and Ray!<br /><br />I'll be back there briefly next month because the series will have to be substantially trimmed for its potential national broadcast. We'll also pull some short clips from all three episodes to add to the website. The website, attention-starved during the edit, is getting scrutinized and I'm making updates and revisions, as well as adding new features geared toward children and educators. It's www.currierandives.org, by the way. Check out the new animation of the prints on the home page!<br /><br />We continue making presentations of the documentaries in the community. I spoke to audiences in Amherst and Easthampton this week and I really enjoyed the questions. It's interesting to talk about the shows <strong>after</strong> they've been viewed on WGBY, rather than talking about what's coming up. The questions seem to center more on the research and interviews I did leading up to the editing. Also, now folks often want to learn finer details of subjects just touched upon during the television programs.<br /><br />So while it has been a wonderful project, the broadcast doesn't mean it's over, not by a long shot! Don't forget that this is an expansive educational partnership and the documentary is just its centerpiece. The partners (WGBY, Springfield Museums, The Republican's Newspaper in Education, the Community Colleges of GreaterSpringfield, and the Springfield Public Schools) have a Teacher Workshop coming up, a conference with local colleges, and Currier & Ives-themed contests for students at the Springfield Public Schools. <br /><br />Oh, and cross your fingers for national distribution. After all, this is an <strong>American</strong> story and should be seen throughout the country! I'll keep you posted.Mary Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352934499455165015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3929267098254736386.post-50020863782015415122008-02-08T08:27:00.000-08:002008-02-08T08:56:15.804-08:00Down to the Wire!Episode 2 of Currier & Ives: Perspectives on America is in the can! It's a lovely episode with a more leisurely pace than Part 1 and a long-overdue tip of the hat to some of the artists who put Currier & Ives on the map. What makes this episode especially beautiful to watch is that we are showing the best of the best that the firm produced. That's because of an emphasis on the "Best Fifty" lists, original and new, that put the spotlight on public favorites in the Currier & Ives inventory. It's great fun to see how America's tastes have changed in 50 years--fewer history prints make the favorites now, for instance, and more of those peaceful winter scenes make the hit list.<br /><br />We started editing Part 3 this week, so we're in the home stretch! We'll be working some weekend hours to make sure we make our air date of February 25 (9pm-10:30pm). Episode 3 is called "The Surprise of Currier & Ives" and includes some of the firm's controversial, risque, and curious prints. This was without a doubt the toughest episode to write because there was so much left to say! There were many anecdotes and sidebars that simply had to go. I am still waking up thinking, "Oh - but I wanted to include this! I wanted to include that! And I forgot to include this! How could I leave him out?!" But time is short and I had to slice and dice, and slice some more, to get the show down to 27 minutes. The tightrope the editor and I walk is to include fresh information but also to review key points covered in past episodes. These episodes will air separately after the initial broadcast, and the audience may not see more than one part. Each episode has to stand alone and yet tie together with the others. <br /><br />I want to send out a belated thanks to my new buddy, Ken Wales of Santa Monica, California. Ken is a remarkable man and a veteran Hollywood producer. Most recently he produced the film "Amazing Grace" with Albert Finney. He was also partners with Blake Edwards and helped make the famous "Pink Panther" films. You might know him as the producer of the television series "Christy". Ken called me a few days before screening at the Academy of Music to say he had long considered producing a film or holiday special centered around Currier & Ives and decided it might be time to do so. In his research, he found our website and my blog. At first he thought "Oh, darn! Somebody's beat me to it!" but he quickly realized our project was quite different and might actually help inform his. At the spur of the moment, Ken flew out to join us for all 3 screenings and some wonderful dinners. Mr. Wales says he's interested in some sort of collaboration down the road--it will be fun to see what comes of it! In the meantime, he enhanced an already-fabulous weekend with his graciousness and his story-telling. Ken has worked with many of film's legends and has some amazing tales to tell. He kept a table of about 15 people enthralled after the screening. And most importantly, he charmed my mother. We're grateful to Ken for sharing in our celebration and for his keen interest in our project. To show him, we sent him out with a good, old-fashioned New England snowstorm. He called me before he left to tell me he had made 2 snowmen, was working on a snowwoman, and gearing up for snow angels! He seemed absolutely delighted by the snow, although it delayed his flight considerably. Ken Wales is a gem.<br /><br />I'll keep you posted.Mary Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352934499455165015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3929267098254736386.post-37901755538725026822008-01-18T11:29:00.000-08:002008-01-18T11:56:31.689-08:00Academy RewardWhat a joy to stand in a theatre you've loved since college, to look out into the audience and spot family and friends, to share your work with an engaged, enthusiastic local audience! What an absolute thrill was January 12 at the Academy of Music in Northampton. And what a turnout! I'm told some 350 showed up for WGBY's screening of Episode 1 of the 3-part series <em></em> <em>Currier & Ives: Perspectives on America</em>, which will air on Channel 57 throughout western New England on February 25 at 9pm. As someone who grew up in this area but who was been away from the region for about 20 years, the day was the ultimate homecoming. Plus I got to say "Hi, Mom!" to Mrs. Dorothy Steele.<br /><br />The Academy screening was the largest of three screenings that took place over the weekend. On Sunday, a private event was held at the Springfield Museums to celebrate supporters of WGBY and the Springfield Museums. Part 1 was screened here, as well, and Chris Lane of the Philadelphia Print Shop and PBS' 'Antiques Road Show' gave a fabulously informative presentation with even more background on The Printmakers to the People. Lane is a wonderful speaker and renders complicated concepts entirely digestible. On Friday, a couple of dozen folks braved a pea-soup fog and nasty rain to join us for an intimate screening at Hancock Shaker Village in Hancock, Massachusetts. The small size of the group helped make it feel like a gathering of friends enjoying a lively conversation after the screening - great fun! Again, I enjoyed the engaged, inquisitive, and enthusiastic audience.<br /><br />The response to the show hints to me that our timing is good -- that New Englanders, and probably all Americans, are interested in learning more about this subject at this time. Why is that important? Because without reminders like this programming, interest inevitably will wane and these images may cease to resonate with younger generations. Their relevance will lessen. I care less that dollar values will drop than I care about the priceless history that will be lost.<br /><br />This entry must be short because the editing continues! We are working on Part 2, which is shaping up to have a slower pace than Part 1, a nice change. The first episode was rather quickly paced out of necessity because it serves as an overview and is extremely comprehensive. In Episode 2, we honor the artists behind the iconic images and follow the passion of Currier & Ives collectors like John Zak and Sid Alpert, both instrumental to the success of this educational partnerhip. Both men are also victims of the "magnificent obsession" of collecting, as an audience member called it over the weekend!<br /><br />I'll keep you posted. Thanks to the Academy of Music and everyone who attended the screenings!!Mary Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352934499455165015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3929267098254736386.post-33611711146013849122008-01-03T13:55:00.000-08:002008-01-03T14:15:47.473-08:00Part One is Done. Almost.Editing, recording narration, hosting concerts, giving speeches, and enjoying the holidays: it has been one busy month! A rough cut of Part 1 was completed before Christmas and after a little spit 'n polish next week, it will be ready for its screening at Northampton's Academy of Music on January 12, 2008 at 3pm. Part 1 is called "Printmakers to the People" and focuses on Currier & Ives' early years, turning points for the firm and personal insights into the fascinating business partners. <br /><br />We learned a few things about time management from editing the short because creating movement on these static images takes a big chunk of editing time. You can 'move the eye' around the screen and create a dynamic composition without special moves by going closer into the images and revealing the details that aren't apparent at first glance. These details - dress, machinery, interaction, etc. are the magic of Currier & Ives. Once you start zooming in on them, it is impossible to view the prints the same way. The images provide a more vibrant, dynamic history lesson than any textbook.<br /><br />Believe it or not, some shooting is still underway! Today, the crew videotaped re-enactments at Old Sturbridge Village, with two staffers acting as Mr. Currier & Mr. Ives working together in a business setting. These will be used minimally, but they will help fill out 3 half-hours largely reliant upon only 7 images of the men, and only 2 of Ives! It was a frigid but beautiful, wintry day and cameraman Mark Langevin captured some stunning winter-in-New-England images that will remind you of...you guessed it: a picture print by Currier & Ives! <br /><br />Next week, we will see how teachers are using the collection in their actual lesson plans, when we visit a classroom at the High School of Commerce in Springfield, Massachusetts. One teacher is looking at women and styles of dress in Currier & Ives prints to spark a discussion about clothing in relation to health and gender roles. Should be interesting! This is the partnership at work: expanding the impact of the collection among students and beyond.<br /><br />I've enjoyed several speaking engagements over the past month and it seems I never run out of things to talk about! Some crowds are more interested in the history, others in the art, others in the business side of the New York City firm. Today I got a question that stumped me: where was the lithographic paper made? Any takers? I'm looking into it.<br /><br />The Currier & Ives Holiday Pops concert last month was just a joy from beginning to end. The audience was able to view the short video before entering the concert and so they sat down a little more informed about what they were about to see. Wintry and holiday images and details of prints were shown on a large screen as the chorus sang and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra worked its magic. I attended both weekend performances in order to hand out literature and answer questions about the upcoming series and it was just as good the second time around!<br /><br />Scott Simon recorded his narration by phone from Washington, D.C. because that worked out better for all parties involved. His voice, as I suspected, is just perfect for the project and it vastly enhances the docs.<br /><br />I'll keep you posted.Mary Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352934499455165015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3929267098254736386.post-3779297062876500362007-11-27T13:29:00.000-08:002007-11-27T13:48:46.165-08:00Symphony in the SnowThe snow falls courtesy of Currier & Ives at the Springfield Symphony Hall in Massachusetts this weekend! The orchestra is performing a Holiday Pops concert and it's using a fabulous selection of Currier & Ives lithographs as a giant slide show behind the performers. It's all part of the educational collaboration surrounding the Museum's Currier & Ives collection and WGBY's series about the "Printmakers to the American People". Concertgoers will be treated to a dramatic show of the prints so often associated with Christmas cards and cookie tins, images like "Winter in the Country-A Cold Morning" from the painting by New Haven artist George Durrie. We've had weirdly warm weather lately...but inside Symphony Hall, it'll be winter!<br /><br />Editing begins on Episode 1 next week and so all video, digitized images (so many!), music and more are being loaded onto the computer. NPR's Scott Simon will be recording his narration on December 17 and so we will begin the edit without his voice. Putting it on during the last week of the edit will be like adding the magic!<br /><br />The air date has been changed to Monday, February 25 at 9pm. All 3 episodes will air back-to-back, although they may be repeated in separate installments.<br /><br />I just got word that there may be a Berkshires premiere at Hancock Shaker Village on January 11, which thrills me. I lived in the Berkshires for nearly 4 years and love the area's appreciation for the arts and for the work of local artists and producers like WGBY.<br /><br />Episodes 2 & 3 are being polished and I'm preparing a detailed narrative report so that the grantmakers can see what we've been up to. Busy week! I'll keep you posted.Mary Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352934499455165015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3929267098254736386.post-41981873384377411642007-11-13T13:01:00.000-08:002007-11-27T13:28:35.839-08:00Marketing the Marketers<em><em></em>The holiday season grabs us from behind, doesn't it? One minute you're handing out candy to mini-goblins and the next you're behind in your Christmas shopping! For Currier & Ives: Perspectives on America, the holiday season is key. Most people associate the work of Currier & Ives with the holidays because the publishing firm's cozy winter images have been used so often on holiday cards and other products. For programming reasons, the series doesn't air until later in the winter, but we will be using the festive season to make folks aware of the good things coming. That means promotion, promotion, promotion! A plan is in the works and it's central to the whole project schedule right now. And so we find ourselves in the position of marketing the Kings of Marketing, Mr. Currier & Mr. Ives. I'm pretty certain they might have chosen a more sensational path than the one PBS will take!<br /><br />For me, that means several speaking engagements and showing the short video you can watch on our website. It also means a really exciting premiere of Part 1 of the 3-part series at the Academy of Music in Northampton in mid-January. <br /><br />One of the collaborations I love best is between the Springfield Symphony, the Springfield Museums and WGBY. All of us are coming together during the first weekend in December for a "Currier & Ives Holiday Pops" concert! We had a meeting recently that served as one of those reminders of why I love what I do. It was just pure creative fun to think about the music and what prints might fit best as a backdrop and then to just throw around ideas about how to give it a festive, 19th century feel. Don't be surprised if you see a sleigh in front of Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts that weekend!<br /><br />On the production front, scriptwriting continues and we've had a couple of really interesting shoots. I wanted to get a feel for whether children today make any connection with these supposedly timeless images. We went to the Springfield Museum of Fine Arts to catch up with some 5th graders touring the permanent Currier & Ives Gallery there. I will admit that I was astounded by how interested these kids were in the pictures! Granted, some of it may have been playing to the camera...but that does not account for all of the enthusiasm and interest we witnessed. I asked the kids (who are largely minority, urban, lower income) if the people in the prints look like them and they were very firm in their answer: "No!". But they went on to tell me that these could be their ancestors and that's why it was important to look at the pictures and try to figure out what the heck is going on in them. Now, they probably know those white, Protestant, 19th century folks are not blood kin...but I got the sense that the children were identifying on a different level with the figures in the lithographs, identifying with <strong><em>place</em></strong> and therefore, experience. Fascinating morning.<br /><br />Yesterday, I told that story to the couple to whom it matters most: Sid and Lennee Alpert. Sidney and Lenore Alpert are the collectors who gifted about 800 Currier & Ives prints and related items to the Springfield Museums - and inspired this entire educational effort. Now, they could've made much, much, much more money by selling the items but they wanted everyone to have the chance to see them for as long as possible. They chose Springfield because the Museums made the promise of a permanent gallery (no filing the prints away in drawers!), they liked the people there and they loved the idea of Currier's work coming to his home state of Massachusetts. The Alperts made the trip up from Maryland to let me get some shots of Sid with his collection and to talk to both of them. We talked to Sid in his home office over the summer but I have to say, he seemed a lot more relaxed among his beloved Currier & Ives collection! This terrific couple have been together so long they finish AND start each other's sentences! They're a joy to be around and the pride they feel in the collection is palpable. Lennee said she didn't want to talk on camera but looking at the old prints got her to reminiscing and the next thing you know, we had a spontaneous interview! She also revealed a lot of fun secrets behind Sid's collecting 'habit'. <br /><br />Finally, it looks like the air dates will be February 3 & 24, 2008...but that's not set in stone.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to two presentations on the documentary series this weekend, including one at our third Teacher Workshop.<br /><br />I'll keep you posted.</em><strong></strong><strong></strong>Mary Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352934499455165015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3929267098254736386.post-67792058923310575502007-10-29T13:24:00.000-07:002007-10-29T14:13:21.716-07:001837, Revisited<em></em><em>The crew loved time travel so much, we decided to do it again! <br />It was back to Old Sturbridge Village for an Autumn shoot last week. We had hoped to get shots that echo scenes from beautiful Currier & Ives autumn prints, but alas, Mother Nature was uncooperative on a couple of fronts. First, it rained for more than half the day. Secondly, there just wasn't much foliage to shoot! They say we missed this year's pitiful peak by a few days. Still, we have some beautiful footage of indoor handwork, such as blacksmithing. The fire, the hammering, the smoke, the red-hot iron, the bellows: a cameraperson's dream! The village cooper also provided us with wonderful video and audio opportunities and we got the inside scoop on how to make a "Piggin". We didn't know what it was, either. It turns out that it's a wooden bucket used to collect scraps to toss out to the pigs.<br /> <br />We'll shoot at the Village two more times. Up next, a few re-enactments to be shot there later in the Fall. The folks at Old Sturbridge are conducting an informal scout for Currier & Ives lookalikes, or at least, built-alikes. We'll tape two men representing the printmakers at work together, poring over prints, and walking together, etc. It will likely be done in shadow or silhouette. I don't need actors who exactly resemble Nathaniel Currier and James Ives, but I do need them to have similar builds. That means one is slim, tall, and fair and the other is dark, short, stocky and probably younger.<br /><br />In the winter at the Village, we will try recreating Currier & Ives famous "The Road-Winter" sleighride, which is arguably the firm's single most recognizable image. Of course, we'll also use Old Sturbridge Village as a backdrop for scenes reminiscent of the firm's most famous (and now, valuable) large folio winter lithographs drawn from paintings by New Haven artist, George Durrie. Let's hope Mother Nature makes up for an anemic Fall with some hearty Winter snowstorms!<br /><br />On another front, we're preparing for two more Teacher Workshops at the Springfield Museums that will use its Sid and Lenore Alpert Collection of Currier & Ives prints as a springboard for developing innovative lesson plans. I'll be presenting the short video, which you can link to on the website, at November 17th's Workshop.<br /><br />On November 12, Sid Alpert himself will come to Springfield for some additional shooting. You may remember that we shot an interview with Sid at his home in Maryland over the Summer. I wanted him here in Springfield to see him with his former collection and to add visual support to the story of his prints "coming home" to Massachusetts.<br /><br />I apologize that this blog is a week late; I recently lost a round with the flu and I'm getting back on my feet and catching up on things!<br /><br />I'll keep you posted.</em>Mary Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352934499455165015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3929267098254736386.post-8353498406762807092007-10-08T13:32:00.000-07:002007-11-27T13:29:06.720-08:00Currier & SurpriseWhat makes a good documentary is surprising. The verb <em>surprising</em>, not the adjective. There is something so satisfying about sharing an astounding insight, revealing new information, or providing the lens that allows someone to see a familiar thing with fresh eyes. <br />When you're researching a subject that has been well covered over the course of more than a century, sources often re-tell similar stories and cite familiar facts. But once in a while, you hear something that snaps you to attention. That's why talking with Chris Lane last week was so much fun. Lane is the co-owner of The Philadelphia Print Shop and a regular contributor to PBS' <em>Antiques Road Show.</em><br />In our interview at WGBY's studio, Chris revealed that he doesn't buy the oft-told tale that the Lexington disaster print launched Nathaniel Currier's career. He demands the statistics that back that up. He's lively on this topic and so many others because he just never accepts the conventional wisdom about Currier & Ives. His is an historian's mind, always digging deeper and challenging the easy answers. I know you'll enjoy his presence throughout the series because he combines elevated knowledge with a down-to-earth delivery.<br /><br />The crew later drove to pretty Deerfield, Massachusetts to catch Chris Lane at work at an astounding Antiques Fair. Here, he showed me something I'd never noticed before: a print in which some of the faces appear to be photographically copied onto bodies. Chris is sure they are photographic images and not drawn and indeed, they do look different than other faces in the lithograph. There are other Currier & Ives pictures in which he says the same technique was used. After a little more research, I think we will look at some of those prints in the series and explore why the technique may have been used. This information was a fascinating surprise.<br /><br />This week, I'll be setting up some Fall shoots at Old Sturbridge Village and the Springfield Museums and, of course, the writing continues. I'll keep you posted.Mary Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352934499455165015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3929267098254736386.post-36694043870669828842007-09-26T08:24:00.000-07:002007-09-28T08:19:30.561-07:00Time to launch<em>After months of preparation, it's time to launch the documentary series! By that, I mean it's time to start writing the three half-hour episodes to be aired on PBS. With this much material, where to begin? That's my challenge. Fortunately, I created an outline of the three parts months ago and despite all that I've learned since then about Currier & Ives and 19th century America, it remains a good framework and a touchstone to which I will return time and time again.<br /><br />Part 1 is called "Printmakers to the People" and will focus on the early years, turning points for the firm and personal insights into Currier & Ives. <br />Part 2 is titled "Cheap & Popular Pictures" and it will feature some of the most and least popular of the firm's output, as well as a closer look at the artists behind the firm and the passion of collectors today. <br />Part 3 is "The Surprise of Currier & Ives" and will give us the chance to examine the controversial and/or unusual lithographs that the firm produced throughout its long history. <br />Along the way, we'll see how the pictures made by Currier & Ives compare to what was really going on in the country, we'll contemplate whether the firm's prints reflected or projected an emerging American identity, if they can stand the test of time, and how these approximately 8,000 pictures launched the mass media that inundates us with thousands of images every day.<br /><br />We do have a few shoots left, including an interview in WGBY's studios with Chris Lane of the Philadelphia Print Shop. You may recognize Chris from PBS' "Antiques Road Show". He, along with Robert Newman, is known as a top Currier & Ives expert and although the two men are competitors in the business world, they have graciously agreed to share the spotlight and spread the wealth of information for these documentaries. They've also been very generous in sharing rare images and records. We'll talk to Chris next week and later, catch him in action at the Historic Deerfield Antiques Show.<br /><br />The first panel of animation for the series open is finished and it is just magical. Our appreciation to the talented folks at iMarc, who have shown so much enthusiasm for this job! They will also animate "The Awful Conflagration of the Steam Boat Lexington" and "Winter in the Country - A Cold Morning" for the open. The animators are most excited about "Lexington", with all its fire, smoke, and action. "Winter in the Morning" provides more subtle animation opportunities, such as snow falling, the man and dog walking, and smoke curling from the chimney.<br /><br />I'm listening to online recordings of our narrator's voice to get it solidly in my ear and in my mind - in other words, to make sure that I capture that special Scott Simon quality while writing the narration for the series. I call it writing to voice. It's important in terms of both time and effort because it means that in the end, your narrator doesn't re-write your script so that he or she can read more comfortably and naturally.<br /><br />That's it for now. Check the website over the next couple of weeks if you'd like information about our Teacher Workshop coming up in November, 2007.</em>Mary Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352934499455165015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3929267098254736386.post-5358542192563907002007-09-07T13:03:00.000-07:002007-09-26T08:12:33.734-07:00Broaden the Impact, Deepen the Understanding<em><span style="color:#993300;">Sometimes it is tough for teachers to take on more. Many, especially in poorer cities, are pushed to their professional limits to meet the demands of the federal government, the state, parents, students and a host of others with opinions on how they might do their jobs better. I want to begin this blog by thanking the 35 Springfield teachers who enthusiastically "took on more" in our Currier & Ives Teacher Workshop at the Springfield Museum of Fine Art. In the end, we hope that by broadening the impact of the Currier and Ives collection at the Springfield Museums, we may ease teachers' workloads and deepen students' understanding of real American history.</span></em><br /><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#993300;">"The Dark Side of Currier & Ives: Teacher Workshop" examined how the ideals of American democracy portrayed in Currier & Ives prints actually played out for those outside mainstream 19th century America: African Americans, Native Americans, women, and immigrants. This is an important discussion for teachers who are trying to convey the relevance of the collection to largely minority students! How can these children relate to these pictures and why should they care? What in the world do these scenes have to do with them, anyway? </span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#993300;">Lecturers Dan Czitrom from Mount Holyoke College and James Smethurst of UMass provided context for the works and gave two views on the controversial topic of the Darktown Comic Series. </span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#993300;">Teachers examined the works for themselves and learned about how they were made. They also enjoyed a behind-the-scenes look at how the curatorial staff preserves the prints. </span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#993300;">In addition, teachers were introduced to Visual Thinking Strategies, a simple approach to analyzing images and a way to generate discussion with students using the prints as source material. VTL asks 3 simple questions: 1) What is going on in this picture? 2) What do you see that makes you say that? 3)What more can you find? </span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#993300;">Patricia Johnson of Salem State College showed teachers how to explore ways that prints or other primary source materials can be used in the classroom as teaching tools. </span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#993300;">Finally, I made a presentation of WGBY's short video previewing the upcoming documentaries and talked about some of what I've learned about the firm along the way. The biggest response during the video was a collective gasp when a collector revealed that someone recently paid $76,000 for a Currier & Ives print called "The American National Game of Baseball"! </span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#993300;">I have read the teacher reviews of the workshop and they are glowing. The only consistent complaint was that the chairs were horribly uncomfortable. We look forward to another workshop in November and perhaps by then we'll have better chairs!</span></em><br /><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#993300;">On the production front, the company iMarc presented a storyboard of its first animation for our series open and it looks great. They're animating "The Road-Winter" and when I found out they planned on making the horses move across the screen, I realized the animators needed to know that they are most likely trotters, which have a particular gait. Gail Cunard of the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame quickly provided iMarc with slow-motion video of a trotting champion so that they can duplicate his movements in the animation. Fascinating stuff!</span></em><br /><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#993300;">The crew shot this week at the Brimfield Antique Show. We captured the passion of the Currier & Ives collector by following John Zak on his treasure hunt. Zak is probably the premier Currier & Ives collector in the country, with a collection of thousands of prints that I have seen personally. It's amazing! What's more amazing is how fast one man on a mission can move through crowded fields of antiques. We had trouble keeping up! John didn't find the special large folio he'd hoped to find but he did manage to add 7 smaller prints to his collection. Most importantly, our audience will learn so much just by listening to his dialogue with the dealers about condition, margins, impression quality, and rarity. The man is an expert and a wonderful human being, to boot. He has been extraordinarily generous with his time and expertise throughout this project. Thanks, JohnZak!</span></em><br /><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#993300;">That's all for now; I'll keep you posted.</span></em>Mary Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352934499455165015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3929267098254736386.post-63137242111421121562007-08-24T12:56:00.000-07:002007-08-29T12:46:45.427-07:00Killing Your Darlings<span style="color:#003300;">I had a colleague who would say during an edit session that "you must kill your darlings!". I was reminded of her last week while slicing and dicing our short video to reduce it to its best length. What she meant is that producers and writers tend to get attached to certain thoughts or soundbites when in fact a piece would be improved by their removal. So to any of our interview subjects who felt a <em>bump!</em> as they landed on the cutting room floor, I apologize, but hopefully we'll see you in the series.<br /><br />The short video is a wonderful opportunity to see the challenges the series will present in the edit room. This is a documentary so heavily reliant upon pictures - not video - as well as documents and some photographs. That means special effects (in terms of movement on the prints) are key to keeping things interesting. Creating those effects is time consuming, particularly when you are dealing with thousands of pictures!<br /><br />Music and ambient sound are also key and it has been a real treat to dig into 19th century American music. What an education!<br />From the 20th century, I couldn't resist using the famous "Sleigh Ride" lyric*:<br /><em>There's a happy feeling nothing in the world can buy,</em><br /><em>When they pass around the chocolate and the pumpkin pie</em><br /><em><strong>It'll nearly be like a picture print by Currier and Ives</strong></em><br /><em>These wonderful things are the things </em><br /><em>We remember all through our lives!</em><br />*I apologize for putting a Christmas song in your head in August!<br /><br />Viewers can also listen for music from 1935's <strong>Currier and Ives Suite </strong>from composer Bernard Hermann, who was inspired by the lithographs to conceive the Suite as a ballet at Radio City Music Hall. It was performed several times in concerts but slipped into limbo during World War II.<br /><br />The crew shot last weekend at Northeast Auctions and it was like catching the action at a sporting event! Bidding is fast, furious, and sometimes so discreet that it's nearly invisible to the untrained eye. The Curriers proved popular, with bidding on a couple of large folios coming in at over ten thousand dollars. Owner and auctioneer Ron Borgeault was a great sport, taking time out from one of the busiest days of his year to sit for an interesting interview. One thing I'll share: although a huge fan of the prints, Ron says Currier & Ives lithos are <em>not</em> art. Them's fightin' words for some fans and at the very least, a good topic for debate.<br /><br />We're shooting tomorrow in lovely Amesbury, Massachusetts, where we'll get video of Nat Currier's summer home and talk with a family member who will share little-seen photos, letters, and other documents.<br /><br />I'll keep you posted.</span>Mary Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352934499455165015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3929267098254736386.post-46627500829142193382007-08-13T08:27:00.000-07:002007-09-26T08:17:01.836-07:00The Dark Side of Currier & Ives<em><span style="color:#000099;">A key piece of this project is <strong>education</strong> and the last couple of weeks have been devoted largely to producing a short video for a Teacher's Workshop at the end of August! The "Currier & Ives Teacher Workshop" is for public schoolteachers in Springfield, Massachusetts. It gives teachers a chance to use the unique collection of Currier & Ives prints at the Springfield Museums as a window into 19th century American life. </span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#000099;">How can teachers include these popular lithographs as a primary visual resource into their lesson plans? How can they teach students to "read" a print to discern crucial information? What can children learn by noticing what's <strong>not </strong>included in the works? These are some of the questions the Springfield Museums, WGBY and area colleges will explore in the 2-day workshop. </span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#000099;">Teachers will also hear from some of the experts interviewed for our PBS documentary series about Currier & Ives. Interestingly, a frank discussion about the firm's controversial Darktown Comics spawned the focus of this year's workshop, which is entitled "The Dark Side of Currier & Ives". Instructors will examine the Darktown series to explore how the ideals of American democracy and opportunity were experienced by <strong>all</strong> groups of people, including African Americans, Native Americans, and women. The workshop is part of the overall partnership project about Currier & Ives funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.</span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#000099;"></span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#000099;">I've been picking prints, transcribing and reviewing multiple tapes, writing, and finding 19th century music for the 12 minute video that will be featured at the workshop. The finished product will give a glimpse of the documentaries to come and prove useful for educational and promotional purposes. Because we've shot so much already and because there are so many wonderful prints to choose from, this has been an exercise in paring down: choices, choices, choices! We'll be editing the piece this week.</span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#000099;"></span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#000099;">Also this week, the crew will be heading to a summer auction in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to tape with a man you may recognize from "Antiques Roadshow": auctioneer Ron Bourgeault of Northeast Auctions. He is a powerhouse in the art world and he'll give us his unique perspective as an appraiser and auctioneer who often deals with Currier & Ives prints. </span></em><br /><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#000099;">Work is underway on the animations of certain C&I prints for the series open and the creative design team behind this effort has some very exciting ideas! The website design is updated and you can check that out at <a href="http://www.currierandives.org/">http://www.currierandives.org/</a>.</span></em><br /><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#000099;">That's it for now.</span></em>Mary Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352934499455165015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3929267098254736386.post-7812284247403254212007-07-27T13:52:00.000-07:002008-04-22T12:39:59.992-07:00Crew Learns Oxen Would Win in a Fight<span style="color:#993399;"><em>Has 2 weeks passed already? It's been a whirlwind! The crew enjoyed another urban heatwave in D.C. and Baltimore last week. We shot some great stuff, including the work of a master lithographer who shows us how Currier & Ives got it all done. We also spent time with Philip Merrill, an expert in African American memoribilia who is no-holds-barred during our conversation about the controversial Darktown comics series. It's a thorny topic and a crucial discussion.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>We spent some extremely valuable time with the gracious staff at the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress. The LOC claims to house the biggest Currier & Ives collection in the world! They showed us some of their unique acquisitions and provided some new information. Collectors will like this tidbit: it's long been said that the Library of Congress so little valued the Currier & Ives prints it was acquiring for copyright purposes that staffmembers actually <strong>folded </strong>them and stuffed them in files. Not so, says curator Sara Duke. Duke claims the firm sent some lithographs folded but that most are actually in fabulous shape. I can testify that I saw many that appeared pristine.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>We had a lot of fun talking with collector and expert Dr. Jim Brust, who has so many stories to tell about unusual Currier & Ives finds. Sid Alpert shared his passion for the horse prints and how he came to donate his esteemed collection to the Museums of Springfield, Massachusetts. Mr. Alpert can spin a yarn with the best of them, so it was another lively interview. He and his wife were gracious hosts to a weary crew with few hours of sleep and a very long day ahead. Thanks for the sandwiches and lemonade, Sid and Lenny!</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>Author Charlotte Rubinstein shared some brand-new information about the solo female artist at the firm, Fanny Palmer. Rubinstein has amazing passion for her work! We also spent time together at the Smithsonian, where we researched a file on Currier & Ives and the artists working there. </em><br /><em></em><br /><em>This week, we spent a day getting some period shots at Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. It was a very productive day and we got some of the most gorgeous video you'll ever see. Check out the YouTube video of the crew as it's nearly plowed by a team of oxen! The mayhem is clearer if you listen to the accompanying audio. This near-disaster posed the quintessential producer's dilemma: which to save --the cameraman or the very expensive camera? Just kidding, Mark!</em><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hwPI5D8AT_k&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hwPI5D8AT_k&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><em></em><br /><em>I'm off on a marathon tape-viewing session to pick the best soundbites and video for a "short", an 8-12 minute piece that will capsulize some of our upcoming documentary series. Oh, so many choices! That edit is right around the corner, so the decisions will be quick ones.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>I'll keep you posted.</em></span>Mary Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352934499455165015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3929267098254736386.post-35302201171401883352007-07-16T09:52:00.000-07:002007-09-26T08:19:28.042-07:00Wild Green Parrots in the Graveyard<span style="color:#000099;"><em>It's been a busy couple of weeks! The crew was treated to a Manhattan heat wave for our shoot on Currier & Ives' home turf. The temperatures hit 100 degrees and higher but fortunately, much of our shooting was indoors with air conditioning. Some highlights were shooting at the esteemed Old Print Shop on Lexington Avenue with the man many consider the top expert on Currier & Ives: Robert Newman; spotting a flock of wild green parrots at what is the most extraordinary cemetery we'd ever seen: Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, where Currier & Ives are buried; and a lively interview about the controversial Darktown series with collector Ronald Washington.</em></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><em></em></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><em>My interviews are being readied for transcription and soon I'll be at work on a short trailer for educational and promotional use. In the meantime, the crew is off to Washington, D.C. this week to catch up with Dr. Jim Brust, who makes the most fascinating and surprising discoveries about the firm through his extensive research. <br />We'll also talk to the author of a book about Currier & Ives prolific artist, Fanny Palmer. Palmer was a woman ahead of her time! <br />A Master Lithographer will demonstrate how Currier & Ives made their prints in the 19th century. <br />We'll take a peek at what's unique about the Currier & Ives collection at the Library of Congress and interview a collector who's passionate about the firm's horse prints. He's Sid Alpert, whose pristine and comprehensive collection of Currier & Ives lithographs is now housed at the Springfield Museums in Massachusetts. It's the only museum in the country with a permanent C&I Gallery and it's a must-see if you're in the area. The themed exhibits change every few months and they are beautifully curated.</em></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><em></em></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><em>We'll try to stay cool in D.C. and as always, I'll keep you posted.</em></span>Mary Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352934499455165015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3929267098254736386.post-72986666383431194322007-06-28T13:32:00.000-07:002007-09-26T08:20:37.375-07:00NPR's Scott Simon to Narrate<em><span style="color:#000099;">There is always more to learn about this fascinating firm! My research for the documentary series seems never-ending but it is never boring. The more you know about the men and the prints, the more interesting their story becomes.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#000099;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#000099;">Most of the in-studio interviews are done with the exception of a Fall straggler or two. After the upcoming holiday, the crew will hit the road to shoot in the New York City area and later, down in the D.C. area. We'll spend some time with the huge collection of Currier & Ives at the Library of Congress and I'll be doing some really interesting research at the Smithsonian. All this sifting of information is sure to result in more surprises about the publishers.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#000099;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#000099;">I'm thrilled to report that it looks like the documentary series has a narrator: NPR's Scott Simon. His voice and delivery are perfect for this project and I couldn't be happier that he's agreed to participate.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#000099;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#000099;">The crew went hunting for period perfection this week and found it at Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts! We're planning 3 seasonal shoots there, complete with some reenactments (of the elegant variety, not the hokey kind with which we are all too familiar). </span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#000099;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#000099;">Transcription of several interviews is underway in preparation for a short trailer I will produce for the end of August. There will be a link to it on the website, so keep an eye out for that.</span></em>Mary Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352934499455165015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3929267098254736386.post-16319650370913019462007-06-12T09:42:00.000-07:002007-08-24T14:11:12.970-07:00Premiere of a Blog<em>This marks the first in a series of blogs following the progress of WGBY's documentaries scheduled for distribution early in 2008. So, what's happening?<br /><br />First, let me explain that this series will illustrate the importance of "America's Printmakers" as a precursor to today's mass media and to our sense of national identity. The series will also give the audience the chance to get to know the men behind the famous business. Finally, it will reveal the surprise of Currier & Ives -- prints you never would have guessed came from the publishers famous for their homey winter scenes!<br /><br />I'm the Executive Producer of "Currier & Ives: Perspectives on America" and I came on board in April. Since then, I've shaped the series (3 half-hour documentaries to air on PBS) and its themes, lined up a powerhouse list of interview subjects, established a production schedule, got to know a rather complicated budget, made travel plans for shoots outside of WGBY's studios in Springfield, Massachusetts and much more.<br /><br />We're still working on finding the right narrator and music for the shows but the "look" for the studio interviews is in place and it is terrific! Best of all, it will give Currier & Ives fans the chance to see even more of the firm's prints.<br /><br />I conducted our first interview just yesterday with Georgia Barnhill, a print expert who gives important context to Nathaniel Currier's early years and tells some colorful stories about his competition.<br /><br />Up next, a fascinating historian who makes the case for Currier & Ives as the very first example of mass media. He'll also take on the controversial subject of the firm's Darktown series.<br /><br />I'll keep you posted.</em>Mary Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352934499455165015noreply@blogger.com2