HASKELL WEXLER Public Appearances
February 21, 2010 :: AMERICA, AMERICA @ The Egyptian Theater in Los Angeles. Followed by a discussion with actors Stathis Giallelis, Lou Antonio, and cinematographer Haskell Wexler, moderated by historian Foster Hirsch.
1963, Warner Bros., 174 min. dir. Elia Kazan
This sprawling epic about a young Greek, Stavros (based on Kazan’s uncle), living with his family in Turkey circa 1900 and obsessed with emigrating to America, is one of Kazan’s most moving, personal films. Kazan molds a talented cast of comparatively unknown performers into a powerhouse ensemble: Stathis Giallelis is perfect as Stavros, with able support from John Marley, Lou Antonio, Joanna Frank, and the underrated yet terrific Frank Wolff. Be sure to catch this masterpiece on the big screen. “May be Kazan’s most accomplished work.” – Time Out New York
November 11, 2009 :: Haskell Wexler presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the OJAI-VENTURA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESIVAL.
(excerpts from The Santa Barbara Independent, written by Nick C. Tonkin :: read full article)
The weekend of the newly expanded Ojai-Ventura International Film Festival was graced with bright weather and bright stars. Film screenings took place throughout Sunday, October 8, but it was Saturday’s special events that stole the show: Special screenings of films chosen by the two recipients of the festival’s Lifetime Achievement Awards, actor Peter Graves and cinematographer Haskell Wexler; and the closing night award ceremony and party….
…In contrast to the madcap comedy of Airplane!, cinematographer and Montecito resident Haskell Wexler’s choice, the documentary Who Needs Sleep?, takes a sobering look at the risks of sleep deprivation in Hollywood film crews. The film centers around a petition for better working hours after the death of Brent Hershman, an assistant cameraman who died in a car crash while driving home after finishing a 19-hour day. The documentary includes interviews by Wexler with industry crewmen and their families, producers, doctors, actors, and union leaders, as well as Wexler’s attempts to contact officials in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Wexler notes in the start of the documentary that the issue of worker fatigue is far bigger than just the entertainment industry, “but the film business is what I know.”
In a Q&A session with Wexler, producer Tamara Maloney, and cameraman Kevin McKiernan, Wexler called McKiernan an essential advisor on Who Needs Sleep as well as a longtime friend. (McKiernan, a Santa Barbara-based photojournalist and filmmaker, in turn gave a heartfelt speech praising Wexler, during the Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony.) The audience had many questions regarding the working conditions in the film industry; however, Wexler emphasized that the film industry was merely a “microcosm” of the American business world and pointed out the long hours often put in by workers from other industries such as medical staff and airline pilots. The documentary, being “industry unfriendly,” hasn’t found any distributors with the lone exception of the Sundance Channel. It does have a website, though.
