Press Kit

  • Directors Chris Simon and Maureen Gosling
  • Producers Maureen Gosling and Chris Simon
  • Cinematography Chris Simon
  • Editing Maureen Gosling
  • Sound David Silberberg

Featuring: Chris Strachwitz, Flaco Jiménez, Michael Doucet, Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Savoy Family Band, The Treme Brass Band, Richard Thompson, Ry Cooder, Santiago Jiménez, Jr., and more.

The Team

Chris Simon

Simon has been a documentary filmmaker for 45 years. After receiving an MA in Folklore from UCLA, she spent 15 years producing (as well as doing sound and editing) for renowned filmmaker Les Blank. Simon started her own company, Sageland Media, in 1995. Her independent documentaries explore traditional culture and music (DOWN AN OLD ROAD, I HEAR WHAT YOU SEE, DUTCH HOP!, RED ALEXANDER, CLOSER TO THE LIGHT) and environmental issues (MY CANYONLANDS, THE UNFINISHED FIGHT OF SELDOM SEEN SLEIGHT) Chris’ films have won numerous awards and have shown all over the world, as well as on PBS. Her work has been supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, the California, Wyoming, Louisiana, and Utah Humanities Councils, and numerous private foundations and individuals.

Maureen Gosling

A documentary filmmaker since 1972, Gosling directed and edited THE 9 LIVES OF BARBARA DANE (2023). She is best known for her 20-year collaboration with the late acclaimed documentarian Les Blank on over twenty films, including BURDEN OF DREAMS (British Academy Award 1982; Co-Filmmaker, Editor, Sound); I WENT TO THE DANCE; ALWAYS FOR PLEASURE and others. Since 2005, she has worked with producer, Jed Riffe, on nine films, including PLEISTOCENE PARK and THE LONG SHADOW. She directed, edited, and produced, BLOSSOMS OF FIRE, on the Zapotecs of Oaxaca, Mexico. In April 2023, Gosling was honored in Paris at Centre Pompidou’s cycle “Americana: Les Blank & the Ross Brothers.” She is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture, Arts and Sciences.

David Silberberg

David Silberberg records sound for independent film. He’s a former employee of Les Blank Films (formerly Flower Films), where he met Mmes. Simon and Gosling. Some of his credits include: WILD WHEELS, AUTOMORPHOSIS and WHEN CAN’T I BE ME AROUND YOU?, directed by Harrod Blank; BAMAKO CHIC, directed by Maureen Gosling and Maxine Downs, PhD; THE GENIUS OF JUDEE SILLS; THE MAESTRO, KING OF THE COWBOY ARTISTS, a film by Les Blank, Maureen Gosling, Chris Simon and Susan Kell. He directed his own films, including OH MY GOD! IT’S HARROD BLANK! He lives in Berkeley Ca with his wife, child, and cat.

Production Stills

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