--New Titles--
With spectacular performance by world-class artists, the documentary looks at the origins of traditional flamenco, and especially its connection to gitano (Spanish Gypsy) farm workers and other dispossesed people.
Filmed in Spain and narrated by cantaor Antonio de la Malena, the documentary includes interviews with most of the 15 solo performers. It also has key footage of Gypsies in northwestern India where gitanos originated, as well as scenes related to Spain's rich musical heritage, which also contributed to the art form.
--National PBS broadcast in USA--
"...a magnificent work. (Diego Fernández Jiménez, Director, Institute for Gitano Culture)
color, HD, closed captions, a film by Eve A. Ma with narrator Antonio de la Malena, in SPANISH with ENGLISH subtitles.
DVDs - OUR PRICE: $300 (plus $6 S&H; CA residents also pay sales tax). Send us a PURCHASE ORDER and be sure to say which version you want; OR
Purchase, ALL FORMATS, use Alexander Street Press for director's 2nd cut, OR use Films Media Group for the 4 episodes version.
Rasaki Aladokun, a man with an infectious laugh, is a master drummer from a traditional drumming family. He comes from the Yorubá ethnic group of Nigeria. Born and raised in that country, as an adut he toured internationally with King Sunny Adé (the "King of Juju Music"). Now, he has settled with his wife and children in Oakland, California, USA.
In our documentary, Rasaki and his drums show us something about an important group of people in West Africa whose culture is part of the heritage of many African Americans in the USA. In some Latin American countries, a very large part of the population is
descended from Yorubá and the traditional religion Rasaki follows is practiced (with some modifications) by many people. Adding further interest to Rasaki's stories, we have included some footage from Nigeria, itself.
"A must see for percussionists and people interested in African Music."
--Martin Meissonier, founder of Island Records, promoter, and playwright
"...highly captivating."
--Prof. Jeleel Ojuade, Vice-Chancellor, Ojaja University, Nigeria.
32 min., color, HD, closed captions, a film by Eve A. Ma, in ENGLISH.
DVDs - OUR PRICE: $150 (plus $6 S&H; CA residents also pay sales tax). To be released for the Educational market 1 June 2024; you may reserve your copy in advance starting now. Send us a PURCHASE ORDER, OR
Purchase, ALL FORMATS, coming soon: Alexander Street Press, OR Films Media Group.
Latino
Peru, Afro-Peruvian
This half-hour documentary, shot in Peru, stars three of the world's finest percussionists: Lalo Izquierdo, Cotito and Huevito. As they play the cajón drum, sing, dance, and talk, we learn about the rich culture of Afro-Peruvians. An introduction to a little-known part of the African disapora.
Best Film, Arts Category, Black International Cinema Berlin (GERMANY) & other prizes; 10 plus festivals in five countries
--NATIONAL BROADCAST OVER PBS IN THE USA--
"Highly Recommended" (C. Bloch for Video Librarian)
"...a fine choice...." (Barbara J. Walter for EMRO-Edu. Media Reviews Online)
"A rare and delightful glimpse...." (John Santos, 7 times Grammy nominee, USA Fontanals Fellow)
Standard Educational Packet: 10-page Classroom Supplement, flyer, full-sized poster and more. Download non-commercial PPRs HERE.
28 min., color, HD, closed captions, produced-directed by Eve A. Ma, in English, and Spanish with English subtitles.
DVDs OUR PRICE: $150 (plus $6 S&H; CA residents also pay sales tax). Send us a PURCHASE ORDER; OR Purchase ALL FORMATS: Films Media Group or Alexander Street Press.
A documentary about traditional Afro-Peruvian music and dance, showing its connection to Latin jazz. Filmed in Peru and the San Francisco Bay Area, it was originally released in 2007, then revised in 2016.
Finalist, Best Documentary, San Diego Black Film Festival. Screened in three countries including the prestigious Pan- African Film Festival of Los Angeles.
"...exciting and varied tradition...." (Brad Eden for EMRO (Edu. Media Reviews Online)
"...good educational tool...." (Troy Bedford for Anthropology Review)
"...[star] Lalo Izquierdo...is so compelling you just might jump up and join in." (Deidre Towers, former curator, Dance on Camera Festival)
Standard Educational Packet: 10-page Classroom Supplement, flyer, poster and more. Download non-commercial PPRs HERE.
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57 min., color, SD, closed captions, a film by Eve A. Ma (with asso. dir. Richard R. Lee), in English, and Spanish with English subtitles.
DVDs OUR PRICE: $170 (plus $6 S&H; & CA residents also pay sales tax). Send us a PURCHASE ORDER; OR Midwest Tape. Purchase ALL FORMATS: Films Media Group or Alexander Street Press.
Mexico, Central America
Two artists from Mexico who now live in California show off their art and talk about its connection to their indigenous roots - Aztec and Mayan in particular. One, Ernesto Olmos, is a muralist, ceramicist, musician and shaman, creator of a magic "flute of fire" which indeed has a fire burning it it.
The other, Rubén Guzmán, shows off his cartoneria, a form of paper maché he uses to embody deities and other mythological figures from his dreams. These colorful figures range from small creations under 6 inches tall, to giant figures like the dragon heads he made for Disney.
"Highly recommended. For college, general-adult: Art, Latin Americans, Mythology...." (Elena Landry, for EMRO - Educational Media Online)
"A strong optional purchase for media librarian...." (Ashley Sousa, for Media Librarian)
"Response to the film...was enthusiastic...." (Catherine Ortiz, Adult Reference Librarian, Richmond (CA) Public Library)
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26 min., color, SD, closed captions, a film by Eve A. Ma, in ENGLISH and SPANISH with ENGLISH SUBTITLES
DVDs OUR PRICE: $130 (plus $6 S&H; CA residents also pay sales tax). Send us a PURCHASE ORDER; OR Midwest Tape. Purchase ALL FORMATS: Films Media Group or Alexander Street Press.
There are two things of great concern to Ricaro Peña of central Mexico, leader and chief drummer for an Aztec dance group in the San Francisco Bay Area. One is that his fellow Aztecs, and all indigenous people (including his own children) realize that being indigenous, being Indian, is something to be proud of, not a source of shame or embarrassment.
Born to an indigenous Aztec family which follows the traditional religion, his other concern is to be able to maintain his heritage, his culture, and his religion even though he has left his native land.
"...a great representation of how a Mexican American community is preserving their [sic] Aztec heritage..." (Pedro Lavizzari, for Video Librarian
Especially appropriate for Anthropology, Ethnic Studies, La Raza Studies, Music, and Dance depts.
25 min., color, SD, closed captions, a film by Eve A. Ma, in SPANISH with ENGLISH SUBTITLES
DVDs OUR PRICE: $130 (plus $6 S&H; CA residents also pay sales tax). Send us a PURCHASE ORDER; OR Midwest Tape. Purchase ALL FORMATS: Films Media Group or Alexander Street Press.
EAST INDIA & TAHITI
While focused on southern Indian classical bharatanatyam dance and music, it also includes one folk dance. Filmed in California, the solo dancer and musicians were brought over from India and most of the group dancers come from the Indian diaspora.
Includes interviews with K.P. Kunhiraman and Katherine Kunhiraman, the artistic directors, who provide a wealth of information about the art form, its connection to the Hindu religion, and its secularization in modern times.
WAVE finalist, Aliance for Community Media; rough cut received award from Berkeley Video & Film Festival.
"...visually pleasing, informative and entertaining. Recommended. (J. Reed for Video Librarian)
"The footwork is fast, the costumes beautiful...." (Multicultural Review)
Especially appropriate for Anthropology, Ethnic Studies, South Asian Studies, Music, and Dance depts.
Download non-commercial PPRs HERE.
57 min., color, SD, closed captions, produced-directed by Eve A. Ma (with asso. dir. Richard R. Lee), in English.
DVDs OUR PRICE: $170 (plus $6 S&H; CA residents also pay sales tax). Send us a PURCHASE ORDER; OR Midwest Tape. Purchase ALL FORMATS: Films Media Group or Alexander Street Press.
While our documentary tells something of the history of these islands, the focus is on the dance and music, and some of their unique qualities. We learn several stories that these dances tell, while the musicians acquaint us with the impressive array of percussion instruments that Tahitians have developed.
Great seafarers, we also discover that Tahitians have important things to teach us about man's ability to do great feats without the aid of modern technology.
"...beautiful and informative...." (Chris Verdugo, production manager, CCTV)
Third place, Performing Arts, STAR award
Especially appropriate for Anthropology, Ethnic Studies, Pacific Islander Studies, Music, and Dance depts.
Download non-commercial PPRs HERE.
57 min., color, SD, closed captions, produced-directed by Eve A. Ma (with asso. dir. Richard R. Lee), in English.
DVDs OUR PRICE: $140 (plus $6 S&H; CA residents also pay sales tax). Send us a PURCHASE ORDER; OR Midwest Tape. Purchase ALL FORMATS: Alexander Street Press.
USA: CALIFORNIA & HAWAII
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Francisco Pérez left his native Spain with his mother, sister and cousin when he was a child, part of an immigration that brought thousands of country folk from Spain and Portugal to Hawaii, under contract to work as farm laborers on sugar cane and pineapple plantations. Many of them later settled in Northern California.
Peréz himself, 98 years old when we interviewed him, was full of fascinating stories of life in Spain, Hawaii, and California. We enriched his narrative with on-location footage from all three places, and other material.
"[A]'must-see' for any serious student of immigration...." (Prof. John P. Rosa, Univ. of Hawai'i, Manoa)
"...accessible and fascinating...." (Prof. Maddaline Marinari, St. Bonaventure Univ.)
WAVE finalist, Aliance for Community Media
Download non-commercial PPRs HERE.
57 min., color, SD, closed captions, produced-directed by Eve A. Ma, in English.
DVDs OUR PRICE: $170 (plus $6 S&H; CA residents also pay sales tax). Send us a PURCHASE ORDER; OR Midwest Tape. Purchase ALL FORMATS: Alexander Street Press.
This documentary looks at an artist of local fame to see what such an artist has to contribute to society. We find that such an artist has an important role to play, from creating beauty and an appreciation of art on the local level to helping at-risk youth.
Growing up black in the segregated South, our artist, Hershell West, found that neither his society nor his family expected him to become an artist. But he triumphed over these obstacles and we are all the better for it.
Especially appropriate for Anthropology, Art, Africana Studies, and Ethnic Studies depts.
"...compelling documentary.... Highly recommended." (T. Keogh for Video Librarian)
"...[provides] an enriched sense of why public art matters." (Paul Straghalis Albany, CA, Public Library)
Best Film, Fine Arts Category, Black International Cinema of Berlin (GERMANY). It also screened in festivals in USA and France.
Standard Educational Packet: Screening Kit, poster and other Extras. Download non-commercial PPRs HERE.
49 min., color, SD, closed captions, produced-directed by Eve A. Ma, in English.
DVDs OUR PRICE: $170 (plus $6 S&H; CA residents also pay sales tax). Send us a PURCHASE ORDER; OR Midwest Tape. Purchase ALL FORMATS: Alexander Street Press.
Eight half-hour interviews with fascinating people from diverse ethnicities, some native born Americans and others, immigrants. The interviews are enriched with on-location footage. Guests include: African American, Bulgarian, Native American, Mexican, Swedish American, Hmong, and Persian.
Guests include a university professor, professional dancer, non-profit fund-raiser, social worker, small shop owners, painter, community college president, & lawyer.
Roots & Branches: Letitia Moore awarded Best Film on Matters Relating to the Black Experience-Marginalized People from Black International Cinema, Berlin (GERMANY)
Roots & Branches: Dr. Helen Carr and Roots & Branches: Dr. Ali Ferdowsi and Shahrzad Khorsandi screened in Black International Cinema, Berlin (GERMANY)
Roots & Branches: Pam Fingado: Honorable Mention, Arts category, Berkeley Video & Film Festival (USA)
Roots & Branches: the Series: Honorable Mention, Ethnographic category from Berkeley Video & Film Festival (USA)
Download non-commercial PPRs HERE.
--series trailer
half-hour episodes (ranges between 28-31 min.), color, SD; produced-directed by Eve A. Ma, hosts vary, in English.
OUR PRICE DVDs: $20/each (plus $6 S&H; CA residents also pay sales tax). Send us a PURCHASE ORDER.
EXPERIMENTAL, DRAMA, MUSIC
Three experimental shorts shot in the city of Jerez de la Frontera (SPAIN): Two Streets & Adela (Dos Calles y una Chica), Tone Poem with Hang Drum (Poema en 4 dimensiones con hang drum), and Her (Ella).
--Two Streets & Adela tells the story of Adela on a very special day, in an attempt to capture the way of life in southern Spain, where things move more slowly and with greater feeling.
--Tone Poem with Hang Drum tells the story created in the filmmaker's mind as she listened to haunting musical improvisations played by a young Israeli musician.
--Her is a 5-minute experimental film about the street, the flower, and the man.
Two Streets & Adela screened in the Film Festival of Jerez de la Frontera (SPAIN).
Two Streets & Adela was also officially presented as a special event by the City of Jerez de la Frontera (SPAIN).
Two Streets & Adela plus Tone Poem with Hang Drum screened in the Short Films Cycle of Cuatro Gatos Cultural Center of Jerez (SPAIN).
Download non-commercial PPRs HERE.
1 hour total, color, SD, produced-directed by Eve A. Ma, in Spanish with English subtitles.
DVDs OUR PRICE: $30 (plus $6 S&H; CA residents also pay sales tax). Send us a PURCHASE ORDER; OR Midwest Tape. Purchase ALL FORMATS: Alexander Street Press.
Ma's first drama, shot in Spain, stars Antonio de la Malena as Luis, with supporting actors Luis de la Tota, Nicolás Montoya and others.
Domino looks at a middle-aged Spanish family man of the old school, the family breadwinner, who has lost his job and gotten caught up in the economic crisis of 2008.
It focuses on the emotional effects of his plight, but also touches on timely topics such as social unrest, homelessness, and financial inequality.
Award of Merit, World Film Awards (INDONESIA)
Merit Award, Indonesian Internat'l Festival for Environment, Health & Culture (INDONESIA(
Screened, Oakland Film Festival (USA)
Domino: Caught in the Crisis was also officially presented as a special event by the City of Jerez de la Frontera (SPAIN) where it was shot.
Download non-commercial PPRs HERE.
1 hour, color, HD, produced-directed by Eve A. Ma, in Spanish with English subtitles.
OUR PRICE DVD: $33 (plus $6 S&H; CA residents also pay sales tax). Send us a PURCHASE ORDER.
Antonio de la Malena's double album of flamenco singing (cante), Para ti mi cante… for 16 tracks for two hours of fine, traditional flamenco. De la Malena has twice been awarded the prize Best Singer in the Flamenco Festival in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. He tours and has sung solo on every continent except for Australia and Antartica.
Accompanied by guitarists Manuel Parilla, Domingo Rubichi, Malena Hijo and Santiago Moreno. De la Malena sings both well-known and rarely heard flamenco forms: a very complete album that aficionados will appreciate.
"...the exact peak...of artistic and professional mastery." (David Montes for Flamencomania)
"A brilliant performance." (Juan Garrido for Diario de Jerez)
"...a cantaor [flamenco singer] who... has reached the height of his career....the purest and most perfect flamenco...." (Fran Pereira for JerezJondo)
"...powerful, expressive and moving...." (Theresa Vasilly Saba for MyFlamencoDiary)
Afro-Peruvian music as performed by some of its finest masters. The emphasis is on the cajón drum, a symbol of Afro-Peruvian culture. Artists include Lalo Izquierdo, Cotito (Juan Medrano Cotito), Huevito (Freddy Huevito Lobatón), Coco Linares, Jorge Luis Jasso and Vladimir Vulkanovich.
Recorded partly in Peru and partly in California, the musical tracks are from our two documentaries, Masters of Rhythm and A Zest for Life.
"...a treasure chest of songs...performed by the great torch-bearers of the musical culture." (Raúl da Gama for World Music Report)