August 2005

This summer In the Family launched production by filming a support group for women who tested for the hereditary breast and ovarian cancer mutations. Filmmaker Joanna Rudnick, who participated in the support group, followed it up with a shoot with her family to explore their experience with testing. Currently, Joanna is working with genetic counselors to locate a woman and her family to follow through the testing process. In other news, The Illinois Humanities Council has awarded In the Family a $10,000 grant and invited Joanna to sit on the IHC’s committee on genetics. The Illinois Arts Council has also shown their support of the project with a $14,000 production grant for the film.

David E. Simpson and Jeannie Magill’s latest documentary, Milking the Rhino on the controversial issue of community-based conservation in Africa, has been awarded a $350,000 grant from the MacArthur Foundation. David and Jeannie have just returned from a scouting trip to Africa with 30 hours of HD footage. They travelled to Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya and South Africa. David is currently working with Himba and Maasai translators to prepare the footage for editing. A return trip is scheduled for November, 2005.

Terra Incognita: Exploring the World of Stem Cell Research has been granted a $20,000 “Quality of Life” grant from the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Fund for continuing production.

Kartemquin Films’ recent documentary on the late artist Leon Golub, Golub: Late Works are the Catastrophes is currently airing on Link TV. PBS will also run the feature documentary as part of its “True Lives” programming. Dates and times to be released.