As with Bette Midler, Richard Amsel had a unique association with actress/comedienne Lily Tomlin, which we intend to explore in the documentary. He did a celebrated portrait of her for the cover of TIME (featured at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery), as well as posters for THE LATE SHOW, and unused posters for the film NASHVILLE, and Tomlin's hit stage show, THE SEARCH FOR SIGNS OF INTELLIGENT LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE. A fascinating, unexplored part of this association

One of the earliest interviews I filmed for the documentary was with artist BOB SCHULENBERG, who was also good friends with Richard Amsel and David Byrd. David had put me in touch with Bob at the project’s inception, so when he told me he’d be making a brief visit to Los Angeles, I jumped at the chance to film him. As today is Bob’s birthday, I decided to reconnect with him, only to find that he sadly passed away in the spring of last year. I was surprised by the news, as I

Sad to hear of the passing of director MARK RYDELL, who died today at the age of 97. He made such films as THE FOX, THE REIVERS, THE COWBOYS, THE RIVER, and ON GOLDEN POND. Rydell did two films with Bette Midler, FOR THE BOYS and THE ROSE -- both of which earned Midler Oscar nominations. The latter film remains especially powerful, particularly due to the gravitas and personality Midler poured into the role. The superstar seemed to understand the character's heartbreak and de

Exactly 57 years ago from this Saturday, August 15th, marked the beginning of a four-day music festival, held on a dairy farm in Bethel, New York. That location, a venue selected at the last minute following a desperate, chaotic process of failed plans and inadequate preparation, was actually about 60 miles away from the town that gave the event its eponymous name. 50,000 people were expected to attend, but in the end, Woodstock attracted nearly ten times that much. And so