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Category Archives: Themes

West Virginia’s Underground Economy (2006)

13 Jun

30m; U.S.

Synopsis: A short film documenting West Virginian companies importing employees from out of the state, paying cash to employees to avoid taxes, and using other underhanded tactics . Also seventeen TV commercials about the WV Jobs Act, 40-hour workweek, outsourcing, clean water, business development and other themes.

Contact: Affiliated Construction Trades Foundation- A Division of the West Virginia State Building and Construction Trades Council – AFL-CIO tttp://www.actwv.org/commercials.mx. Commercials about unfair practices are at Access: http://actwvvideo.merlix.com/

 
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Posted by on June 13, 2012 in Big Business/Corporations, Documentary

 

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Western Coal – An American Dilemma (1980)

13 Jun

21m; U.S.

Synopsis: This films investigates the various issues and conflicts arising out of the extensive strip mining activities in and around a small Montana town. One one side are the coal companies, ranchers who want to sell their land, work men who need jobs and merchants who need the business. On the other side are ranchers and towns people joined by legislators who are concerned about destruction of their land and their way of life. Supported by the Tri-State Humanities Commission. The film helped establish a dialogue between the opposing sides.

 
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Posted by on June 13, 2012 in Documentary, Organizing

 

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Westray (2001)

13 Jun

Synopsis: Canadian mining disaster.

 
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Posted by on June 13, 2012 in Documentary, Safety & Health

 

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Wetback: The Undocumented Documentary (2005)

13 Jun

97m; U.S.

Director: Arturo Perez Torres, Heather Haynes

Synopsis: Wetback, a quietly commanding documentary, follows in the footsteps of immigrants traveling from Nicaragua to the United States. On their journeys, they encounter gangs and vigilantes, as well as border patrol. But these immigrants navigate real-life nightmares with uncanny calm, grace, even humor. And director Arturo Perez Torres does all of us a favor by getting out of the way and allowing them to tell their stories.

Contact: http://www.ironweedfilms.com/films/wetback

 
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Posted by on June 13, 2012 in Documentary, Immigrants/Immigration

 

What Does Trouble Mean? Nate Smith’s Revolution (2009)

13 Jun

56m; U.S.

Director: Jim Seguin

Synopsis: Bio-pic doc of Nate Smith who led protests against black exclusion from white unions.

Contact: http://www.natesmithmovie.ocm

 
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Posted by on June 13, 2012 in Blacks, Collective Bargaining, Documentary, Organizing

 

What Does Your Daddy Do? (2006)

13 Jun

15m; U.K.

Director: Martin Stitt

Synopsis: For Damian, a hard-working, conscientious and caring father, his family is always at the centre of his thoughts.

Contact: Found on 2007 Palm Springs Short Film Fest: http://www.psfilmfest.org/festival/film/detail.aspx?id=19323&FID=31 Sprig Productions info@sprigproductions.co.uk

 
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Posted by on June 13, 2012 in Working Class

 

When Clouds Clear / Después de la Neblina (2008)

13 Jun

77m; Ecuador/U.S.

Director: Danielle Bernstein & Anne Slick

Synopsis: A documentary about the history and struggle of the remote Ecuadorian town, Junín and the conflicts that have arisen due to international mining interests.

Contact: Danielle Bernstein, Clear Films danielle@clearfilms.org

 
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Posted by on June 13, 2012 in Documentary, Organizing

 

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When Miners March (2006)

13 Jun

7 discs

Director: Ross Ballard

Synopsis: William C. Blizzard, the son of Bill Blizzard, the “general” of the Battle of Blair Mountain, with the assistance of Wess Harris, compiled his many accounts of the West Virginia Mine Wars in his book, “When Miners March.” He had written most of the book for various labor publications anonymously in the 1950s. In 2005 Ross Ballard took the book and turned it into a monumental “audio movie,” complete with sound effects and original music. Songs on the special CD are by T. Paige Dalporto, Elaine Purkey, Hazel Dickens, Mike Morningstar, John Lilly and the Irish duo of Enda Cullen and Ian Smith.

Contact: http://www.mountainwhispers.com/MWGiftShop.htm.

 
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Posted by on June 13, 2012 in Biography, Documentary, Labor History, Organizing, War

 

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When Tomorrow Comes (1939)

13 Jun

90m; U.S.

Director: John M. Stahl

Cast: Irene Dunne, Charles Boyer and Barbara O’Neil

Synopsis: Washington Post columnist and American Prospect editor Harold Meyerson is one of the most incisive political commentators in the United States. Harold has also written about movies and entertainment (He is author of the book “Who Put the Rainbow in the Wizard of Oz?” about the lyricist Yip Harburg) so I asked him to write about anything he wanted to related to movies and politics. Harold can write authoritatively about almost anything. His fascinating review of the 1930s movie When Tomorrow Comes – a film he calls the “Lefty-est Thirties studio movie you’ve never heard of,” can be found at http://www.politicsfilm.blogspot.com/ Hope you enjoy this look back in film history which is an implicit critique of the state of filmmaking today. Kelly Candaele

 
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Posted by on June 13, 2012 in Drama, Romance, Service Workers, Strikes-Strikebreaking-Lockouts, Women

 

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When the Day’s Work is Done (1964)

13 Jun

30m; 29 min. sd. b&w. 16 mm.

Describes the work of union members who devote their after-work hours to the aid of their neighbors and the betterment of their communities. Features AFL-CIO president George Meany and vice-president Joseph Beirne.

Available from:

University of Maryland Libraries
Theodore R. McKeldin Library
College Park, MD 20742 United States

Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24062 United States

 
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Posted by on June 13, 2012 in Documentary, Labor History

 
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