ABOUT THE FILM: Here is a debate between three important activist artists: Haskell Wexler, legendary cinematographer and filmmaker; Hubert Sauper, award-winning documentarian; and Susan Meiselas, world-renowned photojournalist. What’s the truth? Who tells the story? Whose story is it? Interspersed with interviews are the artists’ films and photographs.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS:

Joan Churchill: The first pure documentary cinematographer to be accepted into the ASC, Churchill’s accolades include DOC NYC’s Visionary Award, BAFTA, DuPont, Prix Italia, and IDA’s Outstanding Cinematography Award. She served on the AMPAS Documentary Executive Board for 12 years.  She taught/mentored at the National Film School (UK), UCLA, Chapman. She has shown her films theatrically, on HBO, PBS, BBC, Channel 4, and served on juries/panels for Sundance, Sheffield, MoMA, Lincoln Center, Camerimage, IDFA. She works on long term projects with partner Alan Barker as producer and crew including on: Shoot From the Heart, Bedlam, Medicating Normal, American High, The Residents.

Alan Barker began working in film as a news cameraman for KEYT in Santa Barbara at age 17. He later studied psychology at Los Angeles City College and UCLA then graduated with a degree in motion picture production in 1969. He co-founded Ramsgate Films where he produced and directed educational films with partner Vaughn Obern. He studied acting and directing under Jack Garfein at The Actors & Directors Lab in Los Angeles. Alan founded and directed the improvisational theater group Raw Material and performed in the late ’70’s and early ’80’s. During the ’80’s and ’90’s he worked mainly as a freelance documentary camera and sound person for British, Dutch, Japanese and other foreign broadcasters. He has worked extensively in Africa, Asia, South America and the US. Alan also worked extensively in commercials as a sound recordist during that period. Beginning in the 80’s he partnered with Joan Churchill specializing in Direct Cinema production. He was an adjunct professor at ArtCenter College of Design and now lectures on documentary-related topics. Alan and Joan lead workshops on Direct Cinema theory and technique.