The Documentary Center not only teaches reality film production, but also produces award-winning programs for national audiences.

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Coming soon!

A SHORT HISTORY OF SWEET POTATO PIE AND HOW IT BECAME A FLYING SAUCER

In the tradition of 'Chocolat' comes 'Sweet Potato Pie.'

Here is the true story of Pearl Mallory who works as a cook at the St. Mary's Court Retirement Home in Washington, DC. Hailing from rural Virginia, Pearl is one of eight children borne of the sons and daughters of slaves, Now, by the age of 82, she has lived nearly her entire life in kitchens cooking for senior citizens.

But Pearl's cuisine is not the traditional beige and grey offerings normally found in the institutional walls of old people's homes. Her specialty -- Sweet Potato Pie. Mixed into the sweet cream, orange fruit, and exotic spices of Pearl's concoction is her inextricable connection with her tangled Southern roots and with her unyielding devotion to the Lord.

She creates an irresistible and magical potion. With it's rich perfume, earthy taste, and silken lustre, Pearl's Sweet Potato Pie inspires the most extraordinary and unexpected effect on the normally sober and otherwise staid residents of St. Mary's Home.

'Sweet Potato Pie' is all the evidence you need to know that 'You are what you eat.'

   Winner: Audience Award, 2006 DC Short Film Festival
   Nominee for the 2006 IDA Distinguished Short      Documentary Award


Interview with The Washington City Paper
Georgetown Current
  September/October Issue

THE OPEN ROAD: AMERICA LOOKS AT AGING

The Open Road: America Looks at Aging is an hour-long documentary which examines the impending retirement of America's baby boomers on American society and on individual choices about the future. The film explores the lives and work of a multitude of individuals, at various stages of retirement, and reveals the manner in which they have shaped the critical "third stage" of life.

The Open Road is intended for air on PBS on February 22, 2005 and will play part of a nation-wide dialogue that will include 10 town meetings, articles by veteran journalists, and the creation of a model communities program. This intensive grassroots effort, coupled with the national airing of the documentary, hopes to spur discussion amongst Americans from all walks of life and from all geographic regions, to think about the way in which individuals over the age of 65 can continue to contribute to society and enhance their own personal well-being.

The Open Road is made possible by a grant by the Atlantic Philanthropies and is presented in collaboration with "RespectAbility," a consortium of 20 national not-for-profit organizations that will spearhead the outreach and community dialogues and activities.

 THE BALLAD OF BERING STRAIT
 
The Center's most recent production, completed in 2002, is The Ballad of Bering Strait, a feature-length documentary film following seven Russian teenagers in their quest to become country music stars. The film was shot in hi-definition in Russia and the United States. The film documents Bering Strait's arrival in Nashville upon signing a recording contract with Arista Records and follows the band on a two and a half year journey to the American stage. Ballad is a 98 minute cultural fusion film that explores what it really means to come of age in America.

The Ballad of Bering Strait has been signed by Emerging Pictures and is represented by EP President, Ira Deutchman.

Click here to go to the film website.

Click here to go to Bering Strait's band website.

 A PARALYZING FEAR: THE STORY of POLIO in AMERICA
 
A Paralyzing Fear, completed in 1998, was a four year effort made possible by grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals totalling $1.3 million. This 90 minute film narrated by Olympia Dukakis examines the impact of epidemic disease on society seen through the rise of the great polio epidemics of the 1940's and 1950's. The film was released theatrically at the prestigious Film Forum in New York City.

A Paralyzing Fear's broadcast premiere on was accompanied by Conquering Fear: Epidemic Disease Today, a Documentary Center-produced studio program which examines the current efforts to combat epidemic disease around the world. "Conquering Fear" and "A Paralyzing Fear" aired as a two-hour time block on PBS on October 5, 1998.

A Paralyzing Fear has been the recipient of numerous awards including:

• Emmy Award for Best Research in a News or Documentary Program, 1999
  
  
• Emmy Nominations for Best Editing, Best Music, 1999
  
  
• Erik Barnouw Prize for Best Historical Film of the Year, 1999
  
  
• Gold Medal, International Cindy Competition, 2000
  
  
• Axiem Award for Outstanding Achievement in Television Documentary, 1999
  
  
• Golden Apple Award for Outstanding Achievement in Educational Filmmaking, 1998
  
  
• Golden Hugo for Outstanding Achievement in History and Biography, 1998
  
  
• International Monitor Award for Best Editing of a documentary film, 1998

 THE BATTLE OF THE ALAMO
 
The Center was also the production entity for the Discovery Channel special The Battle of the Alamo. This one hour documentary explores the events of the 13 day seige and of the subsequent creation of the myth of the Alamo. The film marks the first time in the century-long history of the Alamo in which cameras were allowed to shoot within the walls of the Texas shrine.

The film received critical acclaim for its innovation in dramatically depicting events from the pre-photographic era. The film was directed by Oscar winning filmmaker, Paul Wagner, and was produced and co-directed by Nina Gilden Seavey. Reuben Aaronson acted as the Director of Photography and Skip Sorrell completed the sound design, musical composition and mix. The film received the International Monitor Award for Best Sound Design. The film has been rerun many times on the Discovery Channel and is available on home video.