News about friends

Got word from a professional friend about his work being aired on PBS tonight.

Jim Iacona is one of the best shooters (video and film) in the Bay Area. Recently, he allowed me to post a great first person piece he wrote on spending time with guitar legend Les Paul. Tonight, PBS airs a documentary about Sam Cooke, and Jim’s work is all over it. Here’s the descrip, via Jim:

Soul, joy, tragedy

“Monday night (January 11th) PBS will air a show on its American Masters Series that is near and dear to me. Sam Cooke: Crossing Over was directed by my friend John Antonelli; I shot all but one of the interviews. The show is about the life of the amazingly talented singer/songwriter Sam Cooke and his musical transition from Gospel to Pop. Cooke was a powerhouse in the music industry in the late 1950’s and the early 1960’s. He wrote and sang many, many popular music songs including: You Send Me, Wonderful World, Another Saturday Night, Chain Gang, Twisting The Night Away, Only Sixteen, Cupid, and A Change Is Gonna Come. Cooke’s story is compelling and it is beautifully told by John and Editor Eli Olson through historical footage, Danny Glover’s narration and interviews with James Brown, Billy Preston, Smokey Robinson, Lou Rawls, Herb Alpert and others.

The show took over ten years to complete. The production went on so long I can see the evolution of my career through the lighting styles for the interviews. I know how hard it is to complete a film, and Sam Cooke: Crossing Over is a great triumph for John.

Please sit down Monday night and watch the show on PBS or Tivo it for later. The broadcast times will vary depending upon your market. I’m sure you will enjoy seeing the well told story of a true American music legend.”
Sam Cooke was an embodiment of talent and soul, and his influence on singers continues. This should be a great show.”

And, about another friend:

Saturday I dropped by the Charles M. Schulz museum in Santa Rosa, where friend and professional colleague Brian Fies spent several hours as the museum’s Cartoonist in Residence. Brian is an award winning graphic novelist. His first book, Mom’s Cancer, about his family’s experiences coping with his mother’s illness, won several awards and has touched people’s lives around the world.

His recent book, Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow, is a multi-decade story about a father and son’s relationship, and our technologically evolving world. The book has received great reviews. Personally, I am awed by Brian’s mastery and integration of illustration, story, and technology, and envious of the support he received from his publisher, which is clearly evident by the unique physical structure of the book itself — from the die cut jacket cover to the integration of old-school comic book paper within the book’s pages.

Great story and great ideas. If you haven’t picked up a copy, do it; it’s a great package.

And, the dude spent quality time with Jeannie Schulz. Doesn’t get much cooler than that.