BYOD - Sundance Docs Pt.4 - Marina Abramovic, How to Survive a Plague, and Under African Skies

EPISODE SYNOPSIS:
Ondi and Vlad are back for the fourth and final installment from Sundance 2012.
First, speaking with Matthew Akers about his film, "Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present," they get closer to the mystery of what moves a brilliant performance artist.
Next, they talk with the creators of "Bear 71," about their multi-platform experience that brings the viewer into an elaborate reproduction of the natural habitat of a bear that is encroached upon by civilization.
Ondi and Vlad then sit down for a talk with acclaimed journalist David France about his directorial debut, "How to Survive a Plague." Detailing the evolution of the AIDS activism from protest to proactive medicine, the story is a fascinating one.
Finally, we are thrilled to hear from Joe Berlinger about his works, both the recently Oscar-nominated "Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory," and his voyage with Paul Simon in "Under African Skies." With so much material to discuss, the conversation was characteristically layered, and we managed to film the subsequent Q&A with Joe and Paul Simon at Sundance.
Enjoy the show and stay tuned for more from these brilliant film makers on BYOD.

GUEST BIOS:
Matthew Akers is the accomplished producer, director and maker of Marina Abramovic The Artist is Present. Having cut his teeth working on productions as varied as "Carrier," "Circus," and "Nimrod Nation," he has brought his formidable talent to a range of projects that know no limits.

Award-winning journalist and author David France has been one of the greatest chroniclers of the AIDS epidemic in America for years. A published author and recent Emmy-nominee, "How to Survive a Plague," is David's directorial debut.

Jeremy Mendes is a Vancouver based artist with over 10 years experience working on interactive projects. An accomplished art director and illustrator, his projects are designed to keep the viewer engaged above all else.

Joe Berlinger is one of the most celebrated documentary makers alive. Having worked on "Paradise Lost," "Some Kind of Monster," and "Crude," he has not only been a passionate film maker, but also a staunch advocate for embattled documentary film makers. He is currently an Oscar nominee for "Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory."

ADD'L LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/howtosurviveaplague?v=info
http://www.howtosurviveaplague.com/
http://marinafilm.com/
http://www.crudethemovie.com/filmmakers/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joshua-kors/paradise-lost-purgatory-west-memphis-three_b_1208176.html
http://photo-stories.org/jeremy-mendes/
http://jeremymendes.com/
http://paradiselost3themovie.com/
http://bear71.nfb.ca/#/bear71

EPISODE BREAKDOWN:
00:04 Welcome to BYOD SUNDANCE SPECIAL #4
02:30 "Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present," by Matthew Akers
04:08 Introducing Matthew Akers
04:57 How did this project come about?
07:44 How did you form a narrative?
11:04 How would you describe Marina's work?
13:30 How did you finance?
15:55 How to find out more about the film.
16:44 "Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present," CLIP 2
17:15 "Bear 71," by Jeremy Mendes and Leanne Alison, executive producer Loc Dao
19:52 Welcoming Loc Dao and Jeremy Mendes (fresh from the powder).
20:54 The source of inspiration for "Bear 71."
23:34 A multi-user, multi-platform life of a bear.
24:56 Getting support from the National Film Board of Canada.
26:14 Using technology to reconnect with nature.
29:22 Where to learn more about the project.
30:00 "Bear 71," CLIP 2 (installation)
31:46 "How to Survive a Plague," by David France. CLIP 1.
34:12 Welcoming David France.
34:46 Insight into ACT-UP, and the impact of activists on the medical treatment of AIDS.
36:15 Iris Long helps redirect the movement.
37:33 The grim impact of AIDS in the early days.
39:06 What was the process of making the film?
41:52 How is the festival experience going?
43:03 Learning more about the film.
43:43 "How to Survive a Plague," CLIP 2.
45:56 "Under African Skies," by Joe Berlinger. CLIP 1.
48:30 Ondi, Vlad and a fan welcome Joe Berlinger.
50:40 No one wants to watch music, they want to learn a deeper lesson.
51:50 Paul Simon reunites with South Africa and revisits the controversy of Apartheid.
54:34 A key scene for Joe; a kind of reconciliation.
56:21 An observer or participant on "Paradise Lost"?
59:51 How long have you been involved in "Paradise Lost"?
1:06:57 Joe's reaction to "Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory."
1:11:13 The catharsis of South Africa.
1:12:46 Where to keep up with "Under African Skies."
1:14:33 "Under African Skies" Q&A with Joe Berlinger and Paul Simon.
1:31:04 A whirlwind wrap up and thanks to Sundance.