Short Theatrical and Documentary Films
Country Auction
1963, 10 mins, documentary, b&w. For those who sell, the auction block often marks the end of a way of life, but for all the others who come to look, to listen, to gossip, or even to buy, the auction sale has a strange fascination.
This was the first film. that I produced, scripted, directed, photographed and edited with the help of some of my colleagues. It is a National Film Board of Canada production.
Crazy Clown
1965, 10 mins, theatrical short, color. Sutro’s Mechanical Museum was a San Francisco historical establishment that was started in the 1920’s. Situated next to the old baths on the San Francisco ocean front, they both burned down in the late 1960’s and most of the mechanical treasures were lost forever.
In this film, Cindy, a curious youngster passing by, meets Crazy Clown and he quickly draws her into the magical world of spinning dancers, dancing bears and flying acrobats along with many other sights, sounds and characters in this delightful childhood adventure. A rare treat for children and playful adults.
Fidelisimo
1966, 23 mins, documentary, color. In 1966, not long after the Bay of Pigs American invasion, Havana was an armed camp; Russian ships filled the harbor, everything was rationed and Castro was in full control but the joyful spirit of the Cubans ruled the day. Even the annual Mardi Gras was a cause to celebrate and they did, with a parade that rivaled New Orleans or Rio de Janeiro. Step back for a moment and relive this historic moment in time.
Cabbages and Kings
1967, 18 mins, theatrical short, color. A montage of self-exploration through which Roy Nolan, a 35-year old commercial film producer portrays his feelings and thoughts about his life and the psychedelic experience that helped him to gain a new self-perspective. Nolan has taken images and sounds from his earlier works, combined them with new footage and edited them to fit in his new consciousness — created in part by this very editing process. The result is a dazzling, thoroughly entertaining array of contemporary images and forces, filtered through a psychedelic awareness. Interpretations may vary greatly, but the inner search itself is certainly universal.
Renaissance Pleasure Faire
1967, 20 mins, documentary, color. The Renaissance Pleasure Faire was an annual “theme” event that re-created the spirit and atmosphere of “pleasure fairs” of medieval and Renaissance England. Participants and visitors alike don the colorful apparel of those times, bringing to life an entire village at the time of festive celebration. Shows the viewpoint of a visitor to the faire–strolling along “ye potters market” approached by food mongers and a wide assortment of street characters from beggars to minstrels. It is a time for the appreciation of handcrafted wares sold by their makers, for theater, for music and for living in this spirited and romantic period of history, if only for a day. The film beautifully captures a uniquely individualized experience not common in today’s mass-audience, mass-production society.
Authentic Interview
1968, 9 mins, documentary. An ad agency making a car commercial hits upon the idea of doing a truly authentic interview. The plan is simply to allow an actual new car owner to speak candidly. The film follows this spontaneous interview as the cast members – the car, the proud owner, a happy kid and an off-camera interviewer – unknowingly conspire to create a hilarious expose of American values and absurdity of the American dream.
GI Joe meets Barbie Doll
1968, 7 mins, theatrical short, color. A comedy satire using the two dolls as symbols of American standards. Their love encounter is set to early rock n’ roll and patriotic music. G.I. Joe represents the American macho man and Barbie doll, the American ideal of womanhood [Miss America]. An animated pixilation technique is used to bring the dolls to life.
Seashell
1970, 9 mins, theatrical short, color. Awareness of our environment comes in varying degrees at any time in our lifetime. Through the experiences of an aging businessperson on deserted seashore, we are exposed to new discoveries in sights and sounds tuning us into the beauty and grandeur, which surrounds us. Filmed on the beautiful shores of the Pacific Ocean at Big Sur, California with an original electronic music track. A filmic poem of discovery.
Yanko’s Last Hurrah
1970, 10 mins, theatrical short, color. Revered Local artist Jean “Yanko” Varda lived a good life, reflecting his love of life and Greek heritage. He lived in Sausalito, on the “Vallejo” an old recovered ferryboat which he shared with Alan Watts. During his stay here in the 60’s, his home became a waterfront cultural gathering place. Artists, writers and musicians came from all over the world to visit him. Yanko liked parties and pretty women and there always seemed to be an abundance of both. This video depicts his farewell sail on his beloved San Francisco Bay in the “Cythera”, a boat he built with his own hands. His ashes are thrown to the wind and spread across the water under the Golden Gate Bridge. Meanwhile, back on shore, his friends send him on his salty journey with lots of food, music and revelry in a celebration of life, just as he would have liked. The party went on all night and into the next day.
Man and his World –
1970, 6.25 mins, theatrical short, color. – Man & his World, the world fair in Montreal in 1969. exhibited new technology from all over the world. I was so inspired by the multi-screen shows that were being exhibited, that I did some myself after I returned home. When I was there, I filmed the fair using a Bolex camera, I speeded up the action I was filming by shooting less frames per second (12 frames per second instead of the usual 24).Man & his World, the world fair in Montreal in 1969. exhibited new technology from all over the world. I was so inspired by the multi-screen shows that were being exhibited, that I did some myself after I returned home. When I was there, I filmed the fair using a Bolex camera, I speeded up the action I was filming by shooting less frames per second (12 frames per second instead of the usual 24).
Dear Doctor Hip Pocrates
1972, 5 min, promo, color.
I made this to help raise money to produce a feature film I intended to make, based on Dr Gene Schoenfeld’s book Dear Dr Hip Pocrates. Besides the book, he wrote a weekly column that was syndicated in many newspaper and magazines across the United States at that time. It catered to a young 60’s audience. They asked questions mostly about sex and drugs, just like the couple in this film, who had an itch all over their bodies when they made love to a certain music. His answers were always very innovating, but funny.
Generations
1978, 13 mins, documentary, color. 91-year-old Salome Booth recites her poem, “Generations,” from her recently published book of poetry, “Rare Moments That Were Mine,” in this beautifully illustrated film made for the United Way of San Francisco.
A poetic gem.
“To bask in the sunshine, to race with the wind
To work, with the hands, to plan with the mind.
To bite a red apple, to savor a cake.
To ski down a mountain, to sail on a lake –
These are the things that youth likes to do.
How well I remember! Once I was young too.”
Gestalt Art Experience with Janie Rhyne.
1971, 27 mins, educational, color. Gestalt Art Experience with Janie Rhyne presents a dynamic and affecting experience in group art therapy led with great insight and vitality by the noted Gestalt art therapist. The members of the group are healthy people interested in furthering their own creative growth. Rhyne is nonjudgmental, non-threatening, and understanding; she leads the participants to experience a variety of art materials directly and to respond with sensitivity to their inner feelings. Her approach encourages natural expressiveness, group interaction and more perceptive recognition of the participant’s personality.
Mountain Bike Adventure.
1994, 6 mins, documentary, color – This takes place in the very scenic Marin Highlands overlooking San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco is in the background. It was a promo for a possible series of Mountain Bike Adventures throughout the world.
Our Year with Miss Franks
1996, 20 mins, documentary, color – Miss Franks was from England, She was on a teacher in a teacher exchange program and taught in a Novato, CA elementary school for a year . My daughter Sara was one of her students.
Drug Films
You Can’t Grow a Green Plant in a Closet
1968, 54 mins, educational, color. In late 1968, a group of experts – physicians, psychiatrists, and students – gathered at the University of California Medical Center in San Francisco for the first National Marijuana Symposium. This film presents excerpts from that conference. In addition to a wealth of specific information about the properties and effects of the drug, the film examines the history of marijuana, its role in this and other cultures, legal penalties placed on its use, the campaign waged on behalf of and against such laws, research findings, drug terminology, the relationship between marijuana and heroin and the impact of marijuana prohibition on youth and, by extension, American Society as a whole. Nearly all of the facts presented run counter to popular myth. Moreover, the consensus of those addressing the audience is that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol, it is non-addictive and non-narcotic, and the present criminal laws against it are at best useless and at worst a threat to the future survival of the Republic.
National Commission’s Report on Marijuana
1972, 28 mins, educational, color. “It is estimated that 24 million people in the United States have smoked marijuana. But how much do we really know about the drug?” In 1970 President Nixon appointed a commission to study marijuana. It is the most comprehensive study ever made in the United States, a landmark report that cannot be ignored. Based upon the findings of that commission, this film answers those questions most often asked about marijuana.
Junkies are People
1970, 26 mins, educational, color – A film on Heroin treatment modalities
“Our Country is in the midst of a nationwide heroin epidemic and the public is slowly realizing – pharmacologists, chemists, criminologists, sociologists, law enforcement personnel, and writers – that this problem cannot be eliminated merely by ruling it illegal.”
JUNKIES ARE PEOPLE shows four distinct heroin treatment programs for the care and rehabilitation of the drug abusers. The principles demonstrated in this film can be used in any community with many different types of addicts. For those that are seriously interested in finding solutions to this grave problem.
Commercial Film Productions
1 – Del Monte – It takes People (The Day that Nothing Happened) –
1965- 12 mins, Safety, color. This was produced for Del Monte, to show cannery workers how they could work safely. This was the first film I produced and directed in San Francisco. We won an award at the New York Film Festival.
2 – Southern Pacific – Realtime Railroading –
1966, 22 mins, Introductory, color. Southern Pacific Railroad was computerizing its operating systems, and this was produced to educate the employees by showing them how computers changed the operating systems.
3 – B.A.R.T. – We call it the Mole –
1970, 7 mins, updating, color This shows the drilling of BART tunnels under the streets of the city of San Francisco and the Bay between San Francisco and Oakland. It was shown on TV and to BART employees and investors.
4 – Sausalito –
1977, 4 mins, Promotional, color I produced several short promotional films about San Francisco, Sausalito and Tiburon., that visiting tourists could see on the TV’s in their hotel rooms in San Francisco. This is one of them.
5 – Tiburon –
1977, 4 mins, Promotional, color I produced several short promotional films about San Francisco, Sausalito and Tiburon., that visiting tourists could see on the TV’s in their hotel rooms in San Francisco. This is one of them.
6 – San Francisco. –
1977, 4 mins, Promotional, color I produced several short promotional films about San Francisco, Sausalito and Tiburon., that visiting tourists could see on the TV’s in their hotel rooms in San Francisco. This is one of them.
And … My one and only Feature Film
Last Free Ride – A Hip Pirate Movie
1975, 85 mins, color. Last Free Ride follows the exploits of Joe Tate and his scrappy rock band, the Red Legs, through their daily lives of playing music, hanging out, boat-building, partying, and ultimately battling the cops for their floating homes. The real value in this treasure of a film is the documented reality that it depicts. This was one of those magic times and places where a group of creative people was able to momentarily carve out a place to live not just for free, but freely. It is a scene that in today’s security-obsessed, everything-is-for-sale society seems impossible. But for a few inspired decades it was real. Thankfully some of those rebels put down the wine, joints, guitars,and boat-building tools, picked up cameras and recorders and made this unlikely record of their incredible, inspired community.