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(0)Louis Alvarez
Description
In the bayous and swamps east of New Orleans reside members of one of America's least-known ethnic group, the Spanish-speaking "Islenos" of St. Bernard Parish. Their ancestors came to this country over two hundred years ago from the Canary Islands off the West coast of Africa, and today their descendants continue to make a living as fishermen and trappers. This award-winning video documentary examines the Islenos' unique history and culture, which...
Description
It's the 800-pound gorilla in American life that most Americans don't think about: how do income, family background, education, attitudes, aspirations, and even appearance mark someone as a member of a particular social class? Class can be harder to spot than racial or ethnic differences, yet in many ways it's the most important predictor of what kind of financial and educational opportunities someone will have in life. But class is a hard subject...
3) Sex: female
Description
In Sex: female, five dozen American women representing a rich variety of ages, ethnic groups, and economic backgrounds go public with some of their innermost secrets. A 76 year old grandmother talks about how she manages sex with her 77 year old boyfriend three times a week, no Viagra needed. A sexy single mother says "when I do need sex, I get the man out of the drawer. He's not going to complain, he's not going to give me any trouble. He's just...
Description
An award-winning documentary portrait of the last political kingdom in America - Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, a racial and ethnic gumbo in the swamps ruled for over 60 years by the all-powerful Perez family. From the time Judge Leander Perez came to power in 1919, he made headlines across Louisiana and throughout the country. The Judge and his two sons clamped down on all political opposition, restricted free elections, disenfranchised black citizens,...
Description
The culture of New Orleans represents the mixing of many rich traditions: French, Spanish, African, Irish, Italian. At the heart of this unique culture lie its speechways, the subject of Yeah you rite!, a close-up video profile of a single language community. New Orleans English has been influenced by the city's rich and varied history, leaving it with dozens of unique words and phrases that all New Orleanians understand but which frequently baffle...
Description
Beginning in 1977, Andrew Kolker and Louis Alvarez produced a series of half-hour documentaries about New Orleans' challenges called Being poor in New Orleans. The programs were broadcast on WGNO-TV (Channel 26) and produced under the auspices of NOVAC, the New Orleans Video Access Center. Presenting some of the first independent TV documentaries made in New Orleans, the series was a pathbreaking look at New Orleans' problems and raised a number of...
Description
They say that a mixture of every nation is to be found in New Orleans. But in the midst of this confusion, what race should dominate and give direction to the rest? - Alexis de Toqueville, 1832 What happens when America's most joyous, dysfunctional city rebuilds itself after a disaster? New Orleans is the setting for Getting Back to Abnormal, a film that serves up a provocative mix of race, corruption and politics to tell the story of the re-election...
Description
An unorthodox look at the colorful, Byzantine political culture of Louisiana, home to governors like the legendary Huey Long and his brother Earl (who was committed to an asylum during his last term), Jimmie Davis (who sang his farewell to the Legislature), the roguish four-time elected Edwin Edwards and reactionary, racist figures like Judge Leander Perez and David Duke. Earl Long said it best in the 1950s: "One of these days Louisianans are going...
Description
The Japanese version goes beyond the stereotypical images of Japan that are too often presented to Americans, and asks the questions: What happens to Western cultural ideas and objects when they are placed in a new setting? How have the Japanese navigated the flood of foreign influences that has been inundating their culture for a thousand years? With its series of entertaining yet revealing sequences, The Japanese Version is truly a cross-cultural...
Description
What is it like to actually run for office? To organize campaigns? To get out the vote? To produce negative ads? To build legislative coalitions? All this and more is part of Vote for Me: Politics in America, the Peabody Award-winning four -hour public TV series that travels across the country to show us how politics is really played in the U.S. Entertaining, funny, and full of revealing behind-the-scenes moments, Vote for Meis the perfect way for...
