Friday, June 29, 2007

Here's to Great Endings

OPEN SOURCE, a Public Radio Show broadcast on 40 stations around the country recently aired its final show. The farewell episode paid tribute to great endings, the need we have for closure, and what it takes to create that home run ending. This is a great listen for filmmakers, writers, and anyone that loves great art.

Here is a link to the MP3 of the show.

Here is their write-up of the show:

The final episode of The Sopranos managed to either enrage or delight every fan and critic who has been following Tony Soprano and his brood for nearly eight years. In fiction — and in life — bidding farewell is never easy, particularly if the challenge is to do it in an authentic, entertaining, and emotionally gratifying way. And even though all good things come to an end, it’s a remarkable achievement when anything — good or bad — ends spectacularly.

As Open Source approaches its final, live broadcast — in this incarnation — we thought it would be fun to spend our last hour on the air talking about great endings. From the last scene of the Mary Tyler Moore show, to the final moment inThe Grapes of Wrath, a good ending can not only redeem previous stretches of mediocrity — it can keep the narrative and characters alive long after we have moved beyond the screen or the page.

During this hour we’ll be talking about the wonderful windings down in film, literature, and television. What are your criteria for a great ending? Do you like closure? Or is ambivalence more to your liking? Do post-modern ends turn you off or are they an antidote to grand Hollywood finales? What are your most beloved endings?

If you were to write Open Source’s final episode how would you like things to end? Would Mary buy steroids online and play right wing for the Bruins? Would Chris and Camille Paglia be the next dynamic duo on Dancing With the Stars? Or would Bob Newhart awake to the great relief that this two-year radio endeavor was nothing but a dream?

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

News In The New

Festa will be airing the week of the Feast. Friday August 3rd at 10:30 pm on RIPBS.
Co-producer Duarte continues his Madeiran tour with Festa, and recently showed the film in FUNCHAL. Here he is


Joe is hard at work, back on Conversations with Carlos Watson as a Segment Producer. Carlos has some big interviews lined up, so stay tuned for the broadcast dates. Joe also postponed a trip to the West Bank because of increasing violence in the region.

And finally, as if there isn't enough going on, Josh just shot the first episode of Eat This New England at Pomykala Farm in Grand Isle Vermont. Look for that soon. Here's some photos from the shoot.