Kristin Atwell Ford: Emmy Award Winning Documentarian (Part ONE) - Epi. 144, Host Dr. Mark Sublette

This is part one of a two-part podcast.I had Emmy-winning filmmaker Kristin Atwell Ford on the podcast today. Kristin has an interesting connection to the world of Western art. One thing you'll notice when you listen to my podcasts is that I love to go through the backstories of my guests. I've found that if I can get a better understanding of where they came from and their influences, then I can get a better sense of where they are as a person today. This podcast is no exception.Kristin's parents were very unique. Her father was a historian and her mother was a businesswoman that dealt with a great deal of hardship and eventually found massive success. She was clearly a guiding force in how Kristin does what she does and why she does what she does which is love history and theater. Kristin's abilities and interests converge in her ability to tell a story and communicate historical/artistic significance to any viewer.In  part one we're going to discuss Kristin's backstory and her current project "Riders of the Purple Sage: The Making of a Western Opera." This film revolves around the making of a Western opera and highlights the artistic visions of all involved, including Medicine Man Gallery represented artist Ed Mell. Due to the covid-19 pandemic, the wide-release of this documentary was delayed a year and is being released in 2021 instead. One of the reasons that we're having her on the podcast is for a fundraiser for actors. It's important to be able to support actors and to support those people that are in the arts that really can't make a living during a pandemic. From March 25th – April 18th, 2021 there is going to be a way to see her movie from the comfort of your own home, with half of all proceeds benefitting The Actors Fund, a human resources organization that provides a safety net for all entertainment professionals - onstage and backstage, in film, theater, television, music, opera, radio, and dance. It's available for $10 (link below) and is a tax-deductible project helping people in need. I hope that you enjoy this two-part episode and please visit watch.ridersoperafilm.com to learn more.Watch the trailer for “Riders of the Purple Sage: The Making of a Western Opera” here:https://vimeo.com/233606538