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August 20, 2013
 Among
the new documentaries this year that Peter has
contributed to is "Mumia: Long Distance Revolutionary". One of the most famous prisoners in America, Mumia
Abu-Jamal refuses to let his message fall silent. The
troubling case of this black activist-journalist, who
has been in prison for 30 years for the murder of a
white Philadelphia cop in 1981, is examined in this
documentary. A gathering of articulate defenders,
which include Peter, Cornel West, Alice Walker, Angela
Davis, Ruby Dee, and Dick Gregory, give voice to his
radicalism and experiences behind bars. Abu-Jamal was
originally sentenced to death, but his punishment was
later changed to life without parole. The two-hour film,
directed and written by Stephen Vittori, is available on
iTunes and DVD.
  As
for official narrations by Peter, this month we can add
the PBS television special, "Smarter Brains". The
documentary explores the latest science on intelligence
and looks at how taking on new challenges and exercising
creativity can improve brain power. The film examines
Designer Salvatore J. Cesarini's work as both a designer
and an instructor at Parsons The New School for Design,
and shows how the interaction with students and use of
the latest design software stimulate him creatively. The
special also features interviews with Jeff Hawkins, the
inventor of the Palm Pilot, Alzheimer's disease
researchers at Rush University Medical Center in
Chicago, and brain and intelligence experts.
June 27, 2013
 These
days Peter must be singing one of my favorites, "One
Night in Bangkok" while filming a new movie in Thailand.
French director Olivier Baroux has cast him in his film,
"On a Marché sur Bangkok" along with
Algerian actor Kad Merad and French actress Alice
Taglioni. Filming, which began May 2nd, will wrap up by
July 5th. Peter reports, "It's a very silly comedy in
which I play the head of the CIA trying to prevent two
French reporters from tracking down the last living
person who had proof that during the Apollo Moon-landing
the American astronauts were beaten to the punch by
Aliens." He adds, "Other than being deathly hot, we
had a great
time".
June 5, 2013
 A
documentary, narrated by Peter, won a Special Jury
Award at the 2013 Worldfest Film Festival in Houston
last month. International award-winning wildlife TV
producer Gary W. Griffen won the award for his TV
special on white-tailed deer, "The Secret Life of
Whitetails." The Special Jury Awards are Grand Remi
nominees and are the highest awards for creative
excellence in each major film category. About 4,500
entries from around the world competed for awards and
more than 30,000 people attended the 10-day event in
Texas. Over
the course of three years, Griffen followed white-tailed
deer in all types of weather, capturing unique footage
of this magnificent creature throughout its annual
cycle. Filmed in high definition, this 54-minute
documentary gives new insights into a whitetail's home
range, diet, winter adaptations and its relationship
with predators and humans.
Here
are a couple new photos by Hans Peter Schneider that
I've added to the Black & White Gallery:
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