ICS

I am just returning from the Woodstock Film Festival. I will hopefully be writing some things about this amazing experience. For the moment, I have posted some video from the event.

Haskell Wexler receives the Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2008 Woodstock Film Festival. Haskell also presents the Haskell Wexler Best Cinematography Award.

I attended the American Graffiti event in Petaluma a week ago, celebrating the 35th anniversary of "American Graffiti".

See the EVENTS in Petaluma

 

Today I am traveling with my son Jeff up to Modesto, California (hometown for George Lucas) where we will be participating in a day long tribute event. There is a good article and interview that appeared in the Modesto BEE newspaper: you can read it HERE

UPDATE

While I was in Modesto for the second American Graffiti celebration, the first being the event in Petaluma, I had a terrific time with my son Jeff, meeting lots of exciting people, spending some time with George's sister Wendy, and just hanging out with everyone from George's home town. Wes Page made a really nice one minute bio --- lots of fun shots of me shooting everyone else at this wonderful event.

from Wes: "I had the honor of meeting (and filming) Academy Award winning cinematographer, Haskell Wexler when he came to Modesto, California for the 35th anniversary of the film 'American Graffiti' on which he served as visual consultant and cimematographer."

I watched Obama being cheered by thousands in Berlin. Europeans compare him to Kennedy. I support Obama as the peace candidate but much of what I heard him say does not conform to my definition of peace, nor does it echo so accurately the sentiments of John F. Kennedy.

Commencement Address at American University

President John F. Kennedy

Washington, D.C., June 10, 1963

"There are few earthly things more beautiful than a university," wrote John Masefield in his tribute to English universities--and his words are equally true today. He did not refer to towers or to campuses.  He admired the splendid beauty of the university, because it was "a place where those who hate ignorance may strive to know, where those who perceive truth may strive to make others see."

    I have, therefore, chosen this time and place to discuss a topic on which ignorance too often abounds and the truth too rarely perceived--yet it is the most important topic on earth: peace.

     What kind of a peace do I mean and what kind of a peace do we seek? Not a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American weapons of war. Not the peace of the grave or the security of the slave. I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations to grow and to hope and build a better life for their children--not merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and women--not merely peace in our time but peace in all time.



An excerpt from President John F. Kennedy's commencement address at American University on June 10, 1963. © Kennedy Library Foundation