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Update - 02/29/08:
 Shorts International has been distributing short films
via the
iTunes store for over a year and a half,
bringing audiences regular releases throughout the year.
Each release focuses on the best short film offerings
within a particular category or genre: from seasonal
themes to special exclusive releases such as the Oscar
short films and the annual AFI short film release. They
have just released another 14 AFI films for purchase and
download, one of which is Peter's
APPARENT HORIZON.
For only $1.99, it's a bargain! Director Thymaya Payne
was honored to be asked to complete an AFI Thesis film,
which was awarded the Fotokem thesis grant and premiered
at the AFI Festival in 2006. Starring Peter, Myra
Balugay and Matthew Carey, the 22-minute film tells the
story of a Thai mail-order bride, who moves to the US
with her new husband in search of the American dream.
However, she soon discovers that the world she hoped for
is actually an emotional prison. When the director was asked how he came to cast Peter
in his film, he responded, "When I was writing the
script, I was in a Pedro Almodóvar phase. I was watching
all of his films over and over again during a brutal
Berlin January. One of my favorite Almadóvar films,
KIKA, stars Peter Coyote as this insane American
serial killer. He is so vulnerably evil. I loved it. I
cut out a picture of him and put it on my wall. He was
Joseph. So when it came time to cast, I wrote him a
letter. He said yes, came down and taught us all what
filmmaking is about. He is honestly one of the coolest
guys I have ever met."
 Tichina
Arnold, who filmed "THE LENA
BAKER STORY" with Peter last fall, recently
reported that the saga of the first African American
woman to be executed in Georgia is now looking for
distributors. She says, "People come away from seeing it
in tears. It's a great thing for the filmmaker, Ralph
Wilcox, a great project. I really want people to come
around and see it and be changed." Peter plays her
employer Ernest Knight, a part Tichina says that "a lot
of actors were wary of playing. He did an amazing job.
We worked very well together."
 Last
year Peter joined forces with Viggo Mortensen and Sheryl
Crow in hosting a poignant documentary called "Saving
the American Wild Horse". Directed by James
Kleinart, the film examines the politics behind the
Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) controversial policies
regarding wild horses on public lands and questions the
fate of America’s Wild Horses and Burros, whose very
existence is in jeopardy. Through interviews with
scientific experts, ranchers, historians, wild horse
owners, animal rights activists, environmentalists and
others, the filmmaker examines the origins and effects
of the recent "Burns Bill" which gutted the Wild Free
Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971 and cleared the way
for the slaughter and removal of a vast majority of the
wild horse herds. The 26-minute documentary was
screenedon Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. back in
September.
 A
Coyote-narrated documentary called "Alaska Far Away"
has been making the film festival circuit. Narrated by
Peter, the film was recently named Best Documentary at
the Muskegon Film Festival and will be screened at the
Fargo Film Festival on March 6th and at the Wisconsin
Film Festival the following month. In the midst of the
despair of the Great Depression, the U.S. government
gave 200 struggling midwestern farm families an
extraordinary opportunity: a chance to start over in
far-away Alaska. This documentary tells the story of
this bold government experiment, and the families who
found themselves thrust into the national spotlight
along the way.
Update - 01/28/08:
You
can read a great interview with Peter in the fall issue
of
Heyoka Magazine where he discusses various
topics including his childhood, Commedia d'el arte,
Leonard Peltier and the Iraq war. This art-based
magazine unites Eastern and Western philosophies to
create awareness concerning issues of povery, human
rights, the environment, endangered species,
social/political injustices, psychological and spiritual
health.
 Fox's
DR. DOLITTLE: TALE OF THE CHIEF is being released
straight to DVD on March 4th. Directed by Craig Shapiro,
the family comedy stars Kyla Pratt with Peter in the
role of the President. In the continuing saga, Dr.
Dolittle's daughter Maya applies to vet school but finds
that getting accepted is a lot tougher than expected.
But when the President of the United States needs her
help to work with the First Dog, she finds she can help
the country, and impress the acceptance comittee. Kyla
Pratt has been playing Maya in several "Dr. Dolittle"
sequels since the 1998 film with Eddie Murphy.
 Another
Coyote-narrated documentary has surfaced this week. It's
called "The Long Walk: Tears of the Navajo",
produced by KUED Television in Salt Lake City. It was
first aired in November 2007. The one-hour film by
award-winning producer John Howe tells one of the most
important stories of the American West. In a lost
chapter of our nation’s history, eight thousand Navajo
men, women and children were marched at gunpoint through
the scorched desert of the American Southwest to a
barren reservation along the Texas border. The 300 mile
forced relocation to Bosque Redondo, ignored as it
played out far removed from the carnage of the Civil
War, was aimed at crushing American Indian resistance in
lands that would eventually become the states of Arizona
and New Mexico. Hundreds of Navajo died during the march
and four years of forced isolation, far removed from
their sacred homelands in the Southwest. The Navajo
remember this tragedy simply as “The Long Walk."
Back
in 2004 Peter narrated another film about Native
American Indians called "Spirit
Riders" which chronicles the birth of the
American Indian peace movement, begun in 1990 by the
Lokota Nation. You can view a lengthy clip from the film
at this
HBO link.
I've
updated the "Audiobooks"
page as many of the original audio cassette books are
now being offered on CDs, such as "Zen Mind, Beginner's
Mind", "Zen Flesh, Zen Bones", Gary Paulsen's "The
Hatchet" and "The River", and Forrest Carter's "The
Education of Little Tree".
Update - 01/19/08:
 On
April 1, the DVD of RESURRECTING
THE CHAMP will be released. Based on a true
story, the movie follows a Denver sportswriter (Josh
Hartnett) as he struggles to take his career to the next
level. After he encounters a homeless man (Samuel L.
Jackson) who claims to be a former boxing champ long
thought dead, he stumbles upon the story of a lifetime -
one that could result in his downfall. Peter has a small
role as fight manager Ike Epstein. He hoped it would be
hard to recognize him and indeed it was. The film,
directed by Rod Lurie, also stars Alan Alda, Teri
Hatcher and Kathryn Morris.
Next
Wednesday’s episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent
originally aired on November 15th, but if you missed it,
then you'll have the chance to see Peter in a guest
appearance.
On
Tuesday night Peter was in the Big Apple attending the
Broadway premiere of Alfred Hitchcock's "The 39 steps".
Here are several photos from that evening showing him
with actress Katie Finneran (his co-star from "The
Inside" TV series in 2005).
Renowned
filmmaker Ken Burns is in the process of producing and
directing a major documentary series entitled, "The
National Parks", scheduled to premiere on PBS
stations in the fall of 2009. And Peter is lending his
voice to this great project! As in his past productions,
Burns will be using archival film records to make his
documentary less of a nature or travelogue show and more
of a truly American experience. The six-part, 12-hour
series will tell the story of how the parks came into
being and what they have meant to Americans for more
than a hundred years. It will be filled with major
historical figures - from John Muir to Theodore
Roosevelt to Ansel Adams - but it will also tell the
stories of many lesser-known Americans, from cowboys to
immigrant artists, wealthy philanthropists to dirt-poor
farmers who turned their passion for a part of the
American landscape into crusades for their permanent
protection. Peter previously collaborated with Ken Burns
for "The West" series on PBS in 1996.
 Back
in 2006, Peter hosted a 13-part radio series on PRI
(Public Radio International) called "Unfinished
Journey: The Lewis and Clark Expedition"
commemorating the 200th anniversary of the expedition.
The series used journal passages written by expedition
members and essays written by top scholars to illuminate
the history of the American West. It provided a
snapshot of the social relationships of the day in both
native and white culture, with a look at how
21st-century Americans are trying to restore some of
what has been lost since the expedition sought a water
route from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean. This
audio series is now available in these three formats -
You can download the 11-hour program at
audible.com or purchase it on a
DVD-ROM or in a
13-pack CD set.
 In
November 2007 Chronicle Books published a commemorative
book and DVD in celebration of the San Francisco
Ballet's anniversary. In "San Francisco Ballet at
Seventy-Five", dance scholar and historian Janice
Ross explores the company's ascent from its humble
beginnings in 1933 to its current status as an
internationally acclaimed cultural institution. The
illustrated volume, with more than 100 full-color and
archival photographs, includes a DVD, narrated by Peter,
that provides insight into the Company's illustrious
history, including interviews with key insiders and
exclusive footage of rehearsals and performances.
 On
January 8, 2008, Warner Bros. released one of Peter's
earliest films, TELL ME A
RIDDLE, starring Melvyn Douglas, Lila Kedrova
and Brooke Adams. Actress Lee Grant made her directing
debut with this film. Douglas and Kedrova are both
superb with Peter turning up in flashbacks as Douglas's
younger self. Based on a novella by Tillie Olsen, the
film tells the story of an elderly woman striving to
express her last will and testament, unacceptable to her
husband and children, but intuitively understood by her
granddaughter. Premiering in 1980, it was the first
feature film in America to be written, produced and
directed by women,. the first women's film to raise more
than a million dollars and to receive major studio
distribution; and the first women's film to get into the
Cannes Film Festival's 'Directors's Fortnight.' In 1981
it was among the films shown in the Jewish Film Festival
that went on a 10-city national tour. It was released on
video in 1988. If you enjoyed Kedrova's
Oscar-winning performance in "Zorba the Greek", you'll
love her as Eva!
Update - 01/10/08:
On
December 18th Democratic presidential candidate John
Edwards employed some good friends to keep his campaign
from running on empty during the final weeks leading to
the January 8 primary. In Lebanon, NH, musical recording
artists Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne entertained a
jam-packed crowd at the Eaton Auditorium on the campus
of Daniel Webster College with Peter providing the
introductions for the evening. Peter was quoted as
saying, "This is where the rubber meets the road. This
is real democracy, and I am loving being in New
Hampshire." The event was covered by C-Span's Campaign
for the White House. Here's a link to a
video of Peter's introduction.
From
the Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
"Conservation celebrity: Even Petaluma’s getting in on
the act of having famous folks do our voice-overs. The
NBC Nightly News has Michael Douglas, CNN has James Earl
Jones, and now the water resources and conservation
department has actor Peter Coyote lending his vocal
talents to a new video. The footage, which will be
posted on the water conservation section of the city’s
Web site and aired on PCA, has Coyote narrating a
typical “Waterwise House Call” in which conservation
experts give homeowners tips on everything from fixing
leaks to irrigating the lawn properly."
 The
Santa Barbara International Film Festival will feature
the world premiere of ALL
ROADS LEAD HOME on January 27th. It will be
presented in their AppleBox category. The January
24-February 3 festival, now in its 23rd year, will
feature 215 films. Next month the film will also be
screened at the International Family Film Festival in
LA. There is still no official date for a theatrical
release. Director Dennis Fallon says, "Peter could
not be better suited for the role of Hock Banyon,
Belle’s grandfather, who is as enigmatic as Peter
himself." Principal photography for this film took place
in the spring of 2006. You can view the trailer at the
Waldo West Productions web site.
 Here's
a scene from Peter's guest appearancee on USA Network's
"Law and Order: Criminal Intent" which aired on
November 15, 2007. In this episode called "Self-made"
Peter takes on the role of Lionel Shill, a
down-on-his-luck writer, who becomes a suspect in a
murder case. Two years ago he appeared in an episode on
the "Law and Order: Trial by Jury" drama series.
Last
summer I reported that Peter was filming
ADOPT A SAILOR starring
Bebe Neuwirth and Ethan Peck. The filmmakers have
launched an
official web site which you can access for more
information about the film, which is expected to be
released this year. Here are a couple production shots
with Peter:
Update - 12/03/07:
As
part of December's pledge drive on PBS, a special
program on neuroplasticity and brain fitness titled
"Brain Fitness Program" will be aired.
This two-hour documentary, narrated by Peter, presents a
workout to help viewers get their brains in better
shape. The Brain Fitness Program is based on
neuro-plasticity, the ability of the brain to change and
adapt, even rewire itself. The show will feature experts
in the field of neuroplasticity, including Dr. Norman
Doidge, Sharon Begley, and Dr. Michael Merzenich,
founder of Posit Science and creator of the Brain
Fitness Program software. This program is a fantastic opportunity to learn
more about how our minds work and to find out more about
the latest in cutting-edge brain research. Check your
local area listings
at this link.
Peter
has also narrated a film for his hometown. The state
Council on Youth Relations will screen a documentary on
youth homelessness in Marin. The documentary, titled "Youth
Homelessness: A Growing Trend," was filmed by
Ambassadors of Hope and Opportunity, a Mill Valley
nonprofit formed in 2005. The film includes comments
from Assemblyman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, and San
Rafael Mayor Al Boro, in addition to former homeless
community members. The screening, set for 11:30 a.m.this
Thursday in the California State Library building in
Sacramento, is part of a policy initiative on youth
homelessness conducted by the state council in
conjunction with the California Research Bureau and the
state Wellness Foundation.
On
November 3rd Peter participated in a benefit concert,
Music for Mother Earth, at the historic Fillmore
Auditorium. The event brought together Native American
leaders and high-profile celebrities alike with the aim
to raise funds and awareness for the Longest Walk 2: a
walk across America for the environment taking place in
2008. The Longest Walk 2 is a 4,400 journey that will
commemorate the 30th anniversary of the original Longest
Walk which took place in 1978 and work to bring
attention to today's critical environmental issues. The
Longest Walk 2 will begin in San Francisco in February
2008 and end in Washington D.C. in July 2008.
 For
those of you who may have missed the Charlie Rose
interview with Peter back in 1999, the DVD of that show
is available at
Amazon.com. Here's the description for the July
19th show - Three days after the crash of John F.
Kennedy Jr.'s plane off the coast of Martha's Vineyard,
a conversation about his life and his family's legacy
with Jack Newfield, author of Robert Kennedy: A
Memoir, Richard Reeves, author of President
Kennedy: Profile of Power, and journalist Abigail
Pogrebin of Brill's Content. Later, an interview with
actor Peter Coyote. Coyote, a former member of The
Diggers theatre troupe, discusses his life in the 1960s
and his book Sleeping Where I Fall.
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