Craig Detweiler

Even as a kid, I preferred reading non-fiction biographies rather than fantasies or fiction. I'm a documentary filmmaker living in Los Angeles. Unique, huh? While finishing up at USC film school, I created a feature doc for European TV. Williams Syndrome: A Highly Musical Species took me around the world to all kinds of amazing film fests. I've written comedic screenplays for feature films in the decade since. Some even got made...:) I just completed a new feature doc with my college roommate, John Marks. He is a former producer for 60 Minutes. John and I grew up in red states, but now live and work in blue states. PURPLE STATE OF MIND brings John and I back together to talk about the things that threatened to divide us--faith, politics, art. Basically, everything you're not supposed to discuss with friends and family. It was produced by Doug Block's colleagues, John and Ed Priddy. Trailer at www.purplestateofmind.com. I also produce film festivals--the City of the Angels Film Fest (www.cityofangelsfilmfest.org) just hosted Ricki Stern with Devil Came on Horseback and Trials of Daryl Hunt and What Would Jesus Buy? from Rob Van Alkemade and Morgan Spurlock. We're looking for strong, cancer-themed docs for the inaugural REEL LIVES: The Cancer Chronicles Film Festival in Geneva, Switzerland, August 2008. It is held in conjunction with the World Cancer Congress. Details at www.reellives.org Perhaps my greatest satisfaction has come from teaching the next generation of filmmakers. I chaired the Mass Communications Department at Biola University for a few years. Students were eager to embrace filmmaking for social change. We were privileged to take 40 students to the Sundance Film Festival each January. I also taught Documentary film classes-both on the history of the medium and the technique. The affordability of high definition video allows anyone to truly become a filmmaker. Finding an audience? That story is still being written....:) Thanks for creating this dynamic space, Doug and Ben!