Chicago’s two non-fiction heavyweights — Kartemquin Films’ Gordon Quinn and Media Process Group’s Bob Hercules -? are currently filming a feature-length documentary, to air on PBS in late 2010.
Dance and politics collide in “A Good Man,” about choreographer Bill T. Jones’ exploration of the legacy of Abraham Lincoln, a unique co-production between Kartemquin, MPG, American Masters and the Ravinia Festival.
“Jones,” says Hercules, “is probably the most acclaimed choreographer of our age, and also one of the most controversial.”
Ravinia commissioned Quinn more than two years ago to shadow the artistic process from inception to performance. Quinn quickly asked MPG to act as co-producers.
“This is a big production, which one studio couldn’t necessarily handle by itself,” says Hercules. “We both bring a lot of qualities to the table, and share the same interest in producing social issue films.”
Quinn and Hercules share directing credits. Producer is Joanna Rudnick, Kartemquin’s “In The Family” director. MPG partner and DP Keith Walker is shooting on HD. “Milking the Rhino” director David Simpson edits.
“What’s exciting for me as a filmmaker is that no one knows where the piece is going, it’s still very much in the mind of Bill T. Jones and his co-creators at this point,” says Rudnick, who joined Kartemquin from American Masters in 2003.
“I think the audience is going to share the same excitement when all is revealed at the end of this creative process, both in performance at Ravinia and on screen.”
Filming has taken place at New York and Illinois dance studios, including Jones’ visit to the Abraham Lincoln Museum at the start of the project.
Editing will begin this summer on more than 60 hours of footage already shot. Kartemquin will handle “the bulk” of the rough cut, before MPG does the online HD editing, says Hercules.
