co-producer, writer
Background
Ann Follett began her film and video career when she moved to Minneapolis 25 years ago. She joined Iris Video, a five women production collective concerned with presenting more honest, affirming and diverse images and stories of women. She was soon hired at UCVideo (Intermedia Arts) to produce public service announcements for small non-profit organizations. She also taught video production and editing.
"I came to this media with a background in writing, music and activism. Iris and UCV introduced me to a community of activists and artists using film and video in ways I had rarely seen before. Being around so many other film and video artists was a wonderful introduction to visual storytelling, whether the story is 30 seconds or 30 minutes. "
She worked as an Independent Producer, Director and Writer with non-profit organizations creating advocacy projects for fifteen years. She has also worked as a Camera Operator and Camera Assistant with commercial film and video production companies and news organizations on television commercials, music videos, feature films and news specials. She has been fortunate to travel to several countries as a producer and camera person.
As a Producer with Iris Video, Ann has won awards for "The Fear that Binds Us: Violence Against Women" from the American Film Festival, the International Public Television Awards and the Children and Family Services Video Awards, among others. She has also won grant awards to create work and her documentary and narrative work includes "Mi Pueblo Es Chiquito" (My Village is Small), which she shot in Nicaragua, and "The Weight of A Woman's Shadow." She has worked collaboratively with theater artists on a number of projects including the very popular lesbian soap opera, Toklas, Minnesota in the mid-80s.
"History has shown us that in order to create change, we must initiate a change in ourselves. This is not often an easy or popular path to take. I have been deeply inspired by people who have the courage to challenge assumptions and injustice, and take action. I am particularly drawn to personal experiences in relationship to other species, environment and culture."
She is currently working on the Oak Folk documentary about the reroute of Highway 55 and she is writing a series of related short first-person screenplays "in search of connection to the extraordinary life on our planet." These include, "Corn Fed" about growing up in the heart of Iowa, and "Eclipsed", a story about a total eclipse of the moon and the transformative power of illness.
"We are inundated with information. Many of us know that the we cannot ecologically sustain the inhumane, consumer culture that we are constantly being sold. At the same time, we are led to believe that change is too difficult or futile. Stories of truth-telling, expansive love, and transformation can be antidotes to all the negative messages we encounter. They can help remind us of how powerful we truly are."
Contact Ann Follett
tel 612-825-3218
Email Ann Follett
• Jon Carlson
• Jim Gambone
• Scott Cramer
©2008 Oak Folk Films, LLC
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