The History
In April of 2007, Scott and Elizabeth Christopher approached artist, Dean Howell, with the idea and request to produce a documentary film of his life and life’s work. After a more thorough discussion of the idea, the logistics, and the time frame, the Artist suggested that the Christophers, and the Artist, himself, create an “Art film about Art”. The three of them agreed to mutually create a film, written, narrated and directed by the Artist, and produced by the Christopher Foundation for the Arts. This agreement called for the Artist to use his unpublished autobiography, AVANT-GARDE: The Life and Times of an Unknown Artist, as the “script” to be adapted, and for the Christophers to be actively involved in creating images and video footage, along with the Artist and others.
The Christophers, acting as the Executive Directors of CFFTA, and Howell, as Director of the film, sought out Editor, James Becker of Santa Fe, completing the principal members of the “team” necessary to start production of the film. At that meeting, they selected the film’s title, FLOWING GRASSES: THE LIFE OF ARTIST DEAN HOWELL. A few months later, Howell approached musicians, Michael and Sandy Bashaw, about composing a musical theme, with an emphasis on “flowing grasses”.
Becker inherited over 40 hours of moving images, hundreds of still images, approximately one third of the finished script, and dozens of “finished voice-overs”, narrated by the Artist and Elizabeth Christopher. Howell served double duty, as Director/Writer, with Becker during the day, and as Writer/Image Maker/Narrator at night. The Christophers acted as Producers/Administrators/Image Makers/Interviewers. James Becker did his magic, and the film, FLOWING GRASSES, began to take shape.
With an inspiring theme composed, performed and recorded by Michael and Sandy Bashaw, Becker then had the final component for completing the first “rough cut”, sometimes composing his own additional music to integrate fragments of the storyline.
Becker put together a hurried version of a FLOWING GRASSES PROMO, and the Christophers headed to New York City for video interviews, photographic images and promotion. In the spring of 2008, Howell also went East to document his New York experiences (former studio, friends, artists, galleries, places, etc.), netting crucial documentary images and content.
Howell and Becker continued editing during the days, and Howell wrote and filmed the new storyline during the nights. They increased the tempo, and several rough cuts were generated in quick succession—each version greatly improved. With last minute devotion, they succeeded in meeting the extended deadline for the October, 2008, New Mexico Film Expo in Santa Fe. After the Expo screening, FLOWING GRASSES was selected as one of two “Promotional Movies”, out of 200 accepted films, for the Santa Fe Film Festival, which was held in December, 2008. FLOWING GRASSES was met with stunned appreciation and a standing ovation at the Santa Fe Film Festival screening.
From the beginning, FLOWING GRASSES has inspired…and now, it comes to you!
