From Poetic Conflicts to Deep Space with Emmy award winning documentary filmmaker Paul Devlin

Hi James Navé, here, your host for Twice 5 Miles Radio. I'm pleased to welcome Emmy award-winning sports editor and documentary filmmaker Paul Devlin to the microphone. I first met Paul in 1996 when he and his team of filmmakers covered the National Poetry slam in Portland, Oregon. Little did anyone know Paul's film, SlamNation, would end up being the definitive documentary film about the Poetry Slam's early days. SlamNation will take you on a trip through this phenomenon, following New York City's novice team on its journey to join over 120 spoken word artists on 27 city teams at the National Poetry Slam in Portland, Oregon. Here, SlamNation discovers not only the raw energy and sheer talent of some of the most significant performance poets in the country but a good old-fashioned tale of heroes and villains amidst the dramatic tension of fiery competition. When you listen to this show, you will quickly realize that my conversation with Paul focuses mainly on his creative approach to filmmaking. This conversation will be right up your alley if you are even slightly interested in documentary filmmaking. Paul and I start by talking about his film SlamNation, which I'm happy to say features me performing an improvisational poem about a pig. It's a terrible poem. The film crew asked me to perform something impromptu while serving barbecue at the slam family picnic and softball game on Saturday afternoon before the final competition later that night. I thought a poem about a pig and barbecue might go together, dumb me. Even so, I'm still glad I made my debut in Paul's movie. In this conversation, Paul also discusses three more of his prize-winning documentary films, Power Trip, Blast, and The Front Man. Power Trip is about a failed attempt to establish an American-type power company in Tbilisi, Georgia, in an environment of pervasive corruption, assassination, and street rioting in Tbilisi, Georgia. The story of the chaotic post-Soviet transition is told through culture clash, electricity disconnections, and blackouts. Blast explores both the heartbreak and the glory of trying to unravel the secrets of outer space. Mark Devlin, Ph.D. (the filmmaker's brother) launches revolutionary telescopes on NASA high-altitude balloons. Dangerous, but necessary if he wants to look back in time and reveal a hidden Universe of never-before-seen galaxies. The Front Man is a heartwarming comedy. Six-time Emmy winner and Independent Spirit nominee Paul Devlin paints an intimate portrait that evolves into an epic 27-year journey to discover what success means. Relentless rock' n roller Jim Wood is abrasively funny, revealing surprising insight and intelligence as he struggles to reconcile his wife Christie's desire for a child with pursuing a life making music in a culture where anything short of celebrity is failure. Like I said, if you like storytelling and movie-making, you'll fall in love with this show. Enjoy.