DSLs available now. The DVD w/PPR will be available in late September 2024
Imagine a world with complete accessibility.
“Mark – A Call to Action” is the story of Dr. Mark Bookman, a severely disabled Pennsylvania-born American who later resided in Tokyo full-time, becoming one of Japan’s leading experts on accessibility, and a policy consultant to governments and major corporations around the world. His tireless efforts helped raise awareness and positively impacted the lives of not only disabled persons, but also children, seniors and vulnerable populations in the United States, Japan and many other nations.
“As we learn the remarkable story of Bookman’s life and work as a disability activist, a broader picture emerges of the profound ways these issues touch all of our lives.” – Jacob Mazer, Director of Programs and Education, Bryn Mawr Film Institute.
While the film tells the story, the biography of Dr. Mark Bookman (born and raised in Bryn Mawr, PA), it is more importantly a deep look into the development of global accessibility. According to the World Health Organization (2023) 16% of the world’s population is designated as disabled. That’s 1.3 billion people from every country, every race and every religion.
“He [Mark] uplifted the voices of persons with disabilities and showcased to the world that our voices are not just needing to be taken care of but our voices need to be heard, valued and brought forward.” —Sara Minkara, US State Department Special Advisor
“Successfully portrays the personal, political and social impact of the development of global accessibility” —Nagase Osamu, Professor, Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, Japan
Mark: A Call to Action premiered in Tokyo in February 2024 followed by it’s U.S. premier in June 2024 to sold out audiences at The Bryn Mawr Film Institute.
With much sadness, Mark passed away following the completion of principal photography of the film but his legacy and impact will live on for many years to come.
“Like the talented activist he was, Bookman had a way of making his point clearly and forcefully.” – Dr. David McNeill, Professor, University of the Sacred Heart, Tokyo.
Those interviewed and featured in the film include:
Mark Bookman, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Tokyo College
Paul Bookman, DMD, Founder, Bryn Mawr Dental Associates, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania (Mark’s Father)
Rachel Bookman, Biologist and Researcher (Mark’s sister)
Victor Dover, FAICP, Dover, Kohl & Partners, Noted expert on City Planning, Neighborhood and Street Design, Miami, Florida
Josh Grisdale, Founder, Accessible-Japan.com, Tokyo, Japan
Gregory Hannah, Director of Disability Service, Villanova University
Ryo Hatakeyama, Professional Caregiver, Tokyo, Japan
Yoshihiko Kawauchi, PhD, Architect, Engineer and Author, International Expert on Universal Design, Tokyo, Japan
Masako Okuhira, Global Disability Advocate, Tokyo, Japan
Nagase Osamu, Professor. Ritsumeikan University, and Author, Kyoto, Japan, Global Advocate – Rights of People with Disabilities
Ayako Kano, PhD, Professor, Japanese Literature, Performance and Gender Studies
University of Pennsylvania
Steven Wright, International Disability Advocate, Consultant and Author, Miami, Florida
Richard Donner, MD, Pediatric Cardiologist (Retired), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Kevin Ginsberg, Educator, Black Rock Middle School, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Frank Mondelli, PhD, Assistant Professor – Japanese Studies, University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware
Sara Minkara, Special Advisor on International Disability Rights, US State Department
Karen Nakamura, Professor of Anthropology, Director, UC Berkeley Disability Lab
University of California at Berkeley,
Fangdan Li, Mark’s Fiancée
Carolyn Stevens, PhD, Professor of Japanese Studies, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Hindley Williams, Program Analyst, US Department of Health and Human Services
Produced by GLIDE Fund (The Mark Bookman Foundation), a 501 (C) (3) organization, and Directed by Emmy Award Winning Director Ron Small (I Danced for the Angel of Death), GLIDE Fund has an important socially relevant mission: GLIDE stands for ‘Global Leaders in International Disability Education’. The organization was established to provide financial assistance to disabled college students interested in education exchange experiences to foster an inclusive society in which anyone can lead an independent and self-determined life. All contributions to the Fund are fully tax deductible as allowed by law in each state. The organization’s goal is to carry on the legacy of Dr. Mark Bookman and spark dialogue surrounding the ways architects, engineers, educators, policy makers and other interested parties can help improve access to built environments, and through the GLIDE Fund, a network of disabled University students will receive grants to travel globally to learn, train, and be motivated to share ideas and bring about greater change and awareness in the community throughout the world.
The DVD version of the film features extensive and important bonus material.
Documentary / 2024 / 85 minutes / Color / English Language / A film by Emmy Award winning director Ron Small (I Danced for the Angel of Death, Circle Unbroken, From the Holocaust to Hollywood).
HOW TO ORDER:
Public Performance and Digital Site Licenses are available through Soundview Media Partners. To inquire or to place an order, write to info@soundviewmediapartners.com or simply choose from the options below:
At the world premiere in Japan, an emissary from the U.S. State Department provided an introduction to the film which now also serves as the film’s opening. Please watch it as it provides great perspective:
Based on the true story of Orson Welles, Rose McClendon and their revolutionary Shakespeare production!
Produced by the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts in association with Warner Bros., this 14x Festival Winner tells the dramatic story of when, in 1936, Broadway star Rose McClendon and producer John Houseman convinced a gifted but untested 20-year-old Orson Welles to direct Shakespeare’s Macbeth with an all-Black cast in Harlem.
Set in Haiti, the production first earned the nickname “Haitian Vodou” fulfilling the element of witchcraft contained in the Shakespeare original. It later became more famously known as “Voodoo Macbeth”.
A box office sensation, the production, which toured the nation, was regarded as a landmark theatrical event for its innovative interpretation of the play, its success in promoting African-American theater, and its role in the development of Orson Welles as a new and powerful theatrical force.
It was before Citizen Kane and before War of the Worlds. It was dynamic and included Orson and Rose – who also played Lady Macbeth – clashing over everything from scene blocking to crew hires, while Houseman contended with a congressman hell-bent on shutting down what he deemed to be communist propaganda. In the end, Welles and McClendon overcame the political pressure, personal demons, and protests to realize their groundbreaking vision.
This 2021 film / 2022 theatrical release tells the story how Voodoo Macbeth was conceived and developed. Its dramatic and theatrical style is due, at least in part, to the extensive collaboration that went into the production itself. The large cast, numerous directors, multiple producers and the USC/Warner Bros. relationship results not only in incredible storytelling, but also in a new and exciting style of production itself.
The Volume of Festival Wins to Date Speak Loudly. Here are a few…
WINNER
Best Film – Harlem International Film Festival
Best Production – Harlem International Film Festival
Best Actress – Harlem International Film Festival
Best Film – Vail Film Festival
Best Director, Charlotte Black Film Festival
Best Ensemble Cast – San Diego International Film Festival
Director’s Choice Award / Independent Spirit Award – Sedona International Film Festival
Best Director – Catalina Film Festival
Best U.S. Feature – Catalina Film Festival
Best Actress – Catalina Film Festival
Best Actor – Catalina Film Festival
“A moving tribute to an indelible slice of history, that is finally being shared and celebrated! One of Orson Welles’ most pivotal moments, right before Citizen Kane, brought beautifully to life. This story was hidden for far too long, along with Rose McClendon’s wonderful legacy. Some say better late than never, but this story should be shouted from the rooftops, uncovering one of America’s hidden jewels, that was always meant to shine!” – Suzanne Marques, CBS Los Angeles.
“Impressive…the film’s production is itself a collaborative effort in the spirit of the Harlem theatre…”– J. Paul Johnson, 25 Years Later.
“This retelling of a very innovative part of theater and African American history is precious.” – Dwight Brown, National Newspaper Publishers Association.
“A fantastic example of team unity as there is never a sense of multiple voices trying to steer this project…with solid production design up and down the line and never a sense of doubt in the story that it is trying to capture.” – Dave Voigt, In The Seats.
“By all odds, my great success in my life was that play, because the opening night there were five blocks in which all traffic was stopped. You couldn’t get near the theatre in Harlem. Everybody who was anybody in the black or white world was there. And when the play ended there were so many curtain calls that finally they left the curtain open, and the audience came up on the stage to congratulate the actors. And that was magical.” – Orson Welles (1982 interview)
BONUS MATERIAL ON THE DISC VERSIONS
Audio Commentary
Actual 1936 footage from National Archives of the play that toured the country to interracial audiences.
2021 / Drama / 108 minutes / Color / English Language / A film directed by Agazi Desta, Sabina Vajrača, Hannah Bang, Christopher Beaton, Dagmawi Abebe, Victor Alonso-Berbel, Tiffany K. Guillen, Zoë Salnave, Ernesto Sandoval, Roy Arwas, and produced by Xiaoyuan Xiao, Miles Alva , Jason Phillips, John Watson.
HOW TO ORDER:
Public Performance and Digital Site Licenses are available through Soundview Media Partners. To inquire or to place an order, write to info@soundviewmediapartners.com or simply choose from the options below:
