A POET'S VOICE

Octavia and Other Poems
Produced and Directed by Kathryn Vander
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Travel back to Guthrie, Oklahoma with award-winning poet, Poet Laureate of Detroit and publisher Naomi Long Madgett.  Learn about a dead aunt’s legacy and the coming of age of her impressionable niece.  This film juxtaposes a poetry reading by Madgett, a 73 year-old African American woman, with footage of interpretive art works created by Detroit artists who were inspired by Madgett’s poems.  In addition to the original artwork, the film makes use of still photographs, historical film footage and music.  A cameo appearance by James Earl Jones is just one of the many noteworthy moment in A Poet’s Voice.

Madgett’s poetry speaks with lyric tenderness about her efforts to step out of her Aunt Octavia’s shadow and into her own light. This film is the winner of the Gold Apple Award at the National Education Media Network – Oakland, CA – 2001.               

The artists featured in the film include Bertha Cohen, Donald Calloway, Earl Jackson, Sabrina Nelson, Gilda Snowden, Jeanne Poulet, Dwight Smith, Shirley Woodson, Vito Jesus Valdez, Mark Esse and Nora Mendoza.

Crew Included:
Director of Photography – John Prusak
Associate Producer – Dwight Smith
Sound Recordist – Paul Locricchio
Supervising Editor – Doreen Matthews
Editor – Don VanderKooi 

This film was funded in part by the Arts Foundation of Michigan in conjunction with the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs through the National Conference of Artists Michigan Chapter.  Additional funding provided by the Public Benefit Corporation and the Black United Fund.  Support provided by Detroit Area Film & Television (DAFT).

Color: 27 minutes
Copyright, Vander Films 1997

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email: vanderfilms@wowway.com