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Independent filmmaker Marc Smolowitz (13th Gen) talks about his upcoming film "The G Word", which tackles issues related to giftedness, equity, and social justice for a broad audience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In episode 44, Chris and Emma talked with Dr. Matt Zakreski, a clinical psychologist specializing in neurodivergence and giftedness. Matt discussed his personal connections with his work as a psychologist in the gifted field and his experiences being gifted and ADHD. We discussed topics such as neurodivergence, personal growth, and giftedness, and Dr. Matt shared personal stories and insights. Matt talked about embracing complexity and multiple perspectives and told us that he supports autonomy in the path to self-discovery. This means letting people come to their own place of understanding. We don't have to live in a world of black and white. We can live in a world of unique and infinite complexities. We talked about helping people develop self-efficacy and self-determination. Matt said we're shaped not only by what happens to us but how we respond to it, and he shared that he sees personality as an ongoing process of development. We discussed misdiagnosis and moving away from the medical model. Speaking of kids in school, Matt said that he believes in the productive struggle rather than a pointless and painful struggle. There's got to be a direction. Dr. Matt shared the origins of what made him such a strong ally for the LGBTQ+ community. He said we've got to make more spaces open for people to come as they are, and when that happens, everybody wins. There are no downsides to letting people be their most authentic selves and get the support and accommodations that are required and necessary to facilitate their growth. We agree wholeheartedly. Listeners are encouraged to approach the complexities of the world with an open mind.Links from this episodeThe Neurodiversity Collective (Dr. Matt's website)You can find Dr. Matt on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.Failure is Fun…damental (YouTube)Falling in Love is Hard on OEs (YouTube)When Emotional Intensity and Cognitive Rigidity Collide (PDF)From The G Word's GTN Awareness Week: Sex Education For Gifted Kids + LGBTQ Panel with Matt, Chris, Church, and Ilan, hosted by Marc Smolowitz. Connect with usPositive Disintegration on SubstackVisit the Dabrowski Center websiteFacebookInstagramThe Positive Disintegration YouTube ChannelAdults with Overexcitabilities group on FacebookDabrowski Center and Positive Disintegration Podcast Community on FacebookThe Tragic Gift blog by EmmaEmail us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.comPlease consider supporting the podcast to help fund this work through the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.Find Positive Disintegration MerchIf you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you!
It's our final BONUS episode for Gifted, Talented & Neurodiversity Awareness Week; and we've been Bringing Joy & Equity in Focus all week with seven podcasts! As a proud partner of The G Word, Our Gifted Kids is delighted to raise awareness once again as we talk about #gifted joy & equity! Enjoyed the podcasts? Our online communities are currently open until midnight Thursday 3 November! Find out more here! Or subscribe, join our online community or get freebies, say thanks at ourgiftedkids.com Please leave a review on your podcast player and help parents find us! Resources Subscribe to Our Gifted Kids Sign up for Our Gifted Kids Online Communities Marc Smolowitz & The G Word Bio Marc Smolowitz Marc Smolowitz is a multi-award-winning director, producer, and executive producer who has been significantly involved in 50+ independent films. The combined footprint of his works has touched 250+ film festivals & markets on 5 continents, yielding substantial worldwide sales to theatrical, television, and VOD outlets, notable box office receipts, and numerous awards and nominations. His credits include films that have screened at the world's top-tier festivals such as Sundance, Berlin, Venice, Tribeca, Locarno, Chicago, Palm Springs, SF FILM, AFI Docs, IDFA, DOC NYC, CPH: DOX, Tokyo, Melbourne, Viennale, Jerusalem, among others. In 2009, Marc founded 13th Gen, a San Francisco-based boutique film and entertainment company (see: https://www.13thgenfilm.com/) that works with a dynamic range of independent film partners globally to oversee the financing, production, post-production, marketing, sales, and distribution efforts of a vibrant portfolio of films and filmmakers. The company has successfully advanced Marc's career-long focus on powerful social issue filmmaking across all genres. In 2016, he received one of the prestigious Gotham Media Fellowships to attend the Cannes Film Festival's Producers Network marking him as one of the USA's most influential independent film producers. In 2022, Marc is currently in post-production on THE G WORD -- a feature-length documentary that aims to be the most comprehensive film ever made on the topics of gifted, talented, and neurodiverse education across the United States. The film asks the urgent equity question -- In the 21st century, who gets to be Gifted in America and Why?. Learn more at: https://www.thegwordfilm.com/ Hit play and let's get started!
In episode 21, Chris and Emma were joined by Marc Smolowitz, a director, producer, and executive producer who is currently in post-production on THE G WORD, a feature-length documentary that aims to be the most comprehensive film ever made on the topics of gifted, talented, and neurodiverse education across the United States. We were happy to talk with Marc and help celebrate THE G WORD's second annual Gifted / Talented / Neurodiverse Awareness Week. GTN Awareness Week included a great selection of panels and programming from October 24-28, 2022. In our discussion, we covered a range of topics, including storytelling, intensity, intersectionality, trauma, empowerment, and #GiftedJoy. Marc told us about THE G WORD and shared his history and experiences in the context of positive disintegration and giftedness. Chris is a part of THE G WORD's Global Partnership Network, and we encourage others to consider supporting the film and its mission. Links from this episodeGTN Awareness WeekTHE G WORD websiteTHE G WORD's Global Partnership NetworkSupport the podcast. Positive Disintegration is brought to you by the Dabrowski Center.If you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review.Thank you for listening to Positive Disintegration. Please, feel free to share our work with others! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit positivedisintegration.substack.com
Dr. Dan and award winning filmmaker Marc Smolowitz discuss Gifted/Talented/Neurodiverse Awareness Week (GTN Awareness Week 10/24/22 - 10/28/22) and the documentary The G Word, directed and produced by Marc. Their conversation reveals that bright, neurodiverse children are everywhere – Gifted/Talented/Neurodiverse learners exist in every zip code. Marc defies popular myths that assume most gifted people are wealthy, white, and will do fine on their own – and asks us to do the same.Dr. Dan and Marc talk about many issues on this revealing episode while raising GTN awareness to a wider audience to "better address the education needs of the gifted…and how our country supports the needs of all children; a rising tide that lifts all boats where we uncover and encourage excellence in places we don't typically expect."The G Word is a deeply personal feature documentary that debunks the mythology around what it means to be gifted revealing the educational challenges, social isolation, emotional sensitivities and physical threats faced by many gifted individuals in our schools and society and the search for solutions while challenging the prejudice and trauma that comes with being labeled “smart” in the 21st century.Today's episode about accepting, educating, and demystifying all neurodiverse children wherever they are in our country will open minds and ignite much needed change.Based in San Francisco, Marc Smolowitz is the Director/Producer The G Word Film, Founder/CEO of 13th Gen, a San Francisco-based film company; and a multi-award winning independent filmmaker. For more information visit www.13thgenfilm.com and www.thegwordfilm.com.Watch excerpts from the film here.Email your parenting questions to Dr. Dan podcast@drdanpeters.com (we might answer on a future episode).Follow us @parentfootprintpodcast (Instagram, Facebook) and @drdanpeters (Twitter).Listen, follow, and leave us a review on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Wondery, or wherever you like to listen!Don't forget, you can hear every episode one week early and ad-free by subscribing to Wondery+ in the @WonderyMedia App.For more information:www.exactlyrightmedia.com www.drdanpeters.comFor podcast merch:www.exactlyrightmedia.com/parent-footprint-shopSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
For today's episode, I'm bringing multi-award-winning director, producer and executive film producer, Marc Smolowitz, back on the podcast. It was four years ago that Marc first came on the show to talk about a movie he was working on called The G Word, a feature-length documentary about giftedness that asks the urgent equity question – In the 21st century, who gets to be Gifted in America and Why? Marc is currently working on the post-production of the movie so I wanted to invite him back to talk about what the last 4 years have been like in the giftedness community. What has changed? What are the things we need to be looking out for and what initiatives have been created?AND, I also wanted this show to be a part of celebrating the 2nd annual Gifted / Talented / Neurodiversity Awareness Week, a week-long celebration created by Marc and which is happening this very week. The theme for this year's awareness week is Gifted JOY, and I really love the idea of connecting the concept of joy and empowerment to the conversation surrounding giftedness.Marc Smolowitz is a multi-award-winning director, producer, and executive producer who has been significantly involved in 50+ independent films. His films have been screened at the world's top-tier festivals such as Sundance, Berlin, Venice, Tribeca, Locarno, Chicago, Palm Springs, SF FILM, AFI Docs, IDFA, and DOC NYC, among others. In 2009, Marc founded 13th Gen, a San Francisco-based company that works with a dynamic range of independent film partners globally to oversee the financing, production, post-production, marketing, sales, and distribution efforts of a vibrant portfolio of films and filmmakers. In 2022, Marc is currently in post-production on THE G WORD – a feature-length documentary about giftedness that asks the urgent equity question – In the 21st century, who gets to be Gifted in America and Why?Things you'll learn from this episodeHow the conversation surrounding giftedness and neurodivergence have changed in recent years and how those have impacted the direction fo The G WordWhy it's so important to include the concept of neurodivergence in the broader conversation about gifted and talented populationsHow we can intentionally use joy to explore and ease pain/trauma narratives, especially for gifted and neurodiverse populationsHow parents can lean into the joy of raising their gifted children and get involved in celebrating GTN Awareness WeekResources mentioned:13th Gen, Marc's production companyThe G Word FilmG/T/N Awareness WeekSupporting Black, Gifted Students with Dr. Joy Lawson Davis (Tilt Parenting podcast interview)Support the showConnect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram
It's Gifted, Talented & Neurodiversity Awareness Week; and we're Bringing Joy & Equity in Focus with this year's theme. As a proud partner of The G Word, Our Gifted Kids is delighted to raise awareness once again with a whole week of podcasts. Actually, 6 episodes! Where we talk about #gifted joy! GTN Awareness Week Podcast Line Up Marc Smolowitz introduces the week with - #064 Gifted Talented & Neurodiversity Awareness Week does #giftedjoy Monday #065 Gifted Joy & Gifted Play; Why it's Different w/ Kate Donohue Tuesday #066 Why Gifted Folk Need Board Games! w/ Justin Ratcliff Wednesday #067 How to Express Your Gifted Self with Digital Music & Art w/ Johannes Dreyer Thursday #068 A Higher Skate of Mind for Gifted Kids w/ Josh Smith Friday #069 Why Dungeons & Dragons is Gifted Bliss w/ Sam Young Enjoyed the podcasts? Our online community is currently open until midnight Thursday 3 November! Find out more here! Or subscribe, join our online community or get freebies, say thanks at ourgiftedkids.com Please leave a review on your podcast player and help parents find us! Our GTN Awareness Week Guest Links Sign up for free virtual events at Gifted Talented Neurodiversity Awareness Week Marc Smolowitz & The G Word Kate Donohue & Dynamic Parenting Johannes Dreyer & Beat Frequency Mentoring Josh Smith & Free Mind Skate School Sam Young & Young Scholars Academy Bio Marc Smolowitz Marc Smolowitz is a multi-award-winning director, producer, and executive producer who has been significantly involved in 50+ independent films. The combined footprint of his works has touched 250+ film festivals & markets on 5 continents, yielding substantial worldwide sales to theatrical, television, and VOD outlets, notable box office receipts, and numerous awards and nominations. His credits include films that have screened at the world's top-tier festivals such as Sundance, Berlin, Venice, Tribeca, Locarno, Chicago, Palm Springs, SF FILM, AFI Docs, IDFA, DOC NYC, CPH: DOX, Tokyo, Melbourne, Viennale, Jerusalem, among others. In 2009, Marc founded 13th Gen, a San Francisco-based boutique film and entertainment company (see: https://www.13thgenfilm.com/) that works with a dynamic range of independent film partners globally to oversee the financing, production, post-production, marketing, sales, and distribution efforts of a vibrant portfolio of films and filmmakers. The company has successfully advanced Marc's career-long focus on powerful social issue filmmaking across all genres. In 2016, he received one of the prestigious Gotham Media Fellowships to attend the Cannes Film Festival's Producers Network marking him as one of the USA's most influential independent film producers. In 2022, Marc is currently in post-production on THE G WORD -- a feature-length documentary that aims to be the most comprehensive film ever made on the topics of gifted, talented, and neurodiverse education across the United States. The film asks the urgent equity question -- In the 21st century, who gets to be Gifted in America and Why?. Learn more at: https://www.thegwordfilm.com/ Hit play and let's get started!
In this episode, Jennifer Harvey Sallin talks with The G Word Film director Marc Smolowitz on the topic of intergenerational and collective traumas, how they affect giftedness expression, and how we can find empowerment and healing. Marc was born into a family of holocaust survivors, came out as gay in his teens, lost countless friends during the height of the AIDS epidemic, and even nearly died of AIDS himself when he was in his 30's. These family-line, societal and personal traumas intersected with and affected Marc's experience and expression of giftedness all along his life path, sometimes in very difficult ways and sometimes in very empowering ways. He shares his story with us, and how he has taken his various identities (some of which were born in trauma) and woven them together into resilient and rooted authenticity. He shares the role that community has played in his life, and how each of us has the opportunity to use the lives we've been born into and the adversity we face to ultimately strengthen our self-understanding, pride in our identities, and our meaningful connection to life and others. __ You'll find the complete list of this episode's reading recommendations, including links to Marc's bio and film company websites, at www.intergifted.com/conversations-gifted-trauma __ To learn more about InterGifted and our community and services for gifted adults, go to www.intergifted.com. __ To support our podcast, consider making a donation at: www.paypal.me/intergifted.
This week Alrik and Liz chat with Bay Area filmmaker Marc Smolowitz as part of the inaugural Bay Area Media Makers Summit. We also talk about the Academy's newest class of membership and consistency in filmmaking. Enjoy!
Marc Smolowitz is a multi-award-winning director, producer, and executive producer who has been significantly involved in 50+ independent films. His credits include films that have screened at the world's top-tier festivals such as Sundance, Berlin, Venice, Tribeca, among others. In 2009, Marc founded 13th Gen, a San Francisco-based boutique film and entertainment company that works with a dynamic range of independent film partners globally. The company has successfully advanced Marc's career-long focus on powerful social issue filmmaking across all genres. In 2016, he received one of the prestigious Gotham Media Fellowships to attend the Cannes Film Festival's Producers Network marking him as one of the USA's most influential independent film producers. In 2021, Marc is currently in post-production on THE G WORD -- a feature-length documentary that aims to be the most comprehensive film ever made on the topics of gifted, talented, and neurodiverse education across the United States. The film asks the urgent equity question -- In the 21st century, who gets to be Gifted in America and Why?, and is poised to premiere in 2022. Listen to this insightful Parenting With Impact episode with Marc Smolowitz about the trans and gifted youth he has had the privilege of interviewing for his film, as well as his lifetime experience with advocating for and working with LGBTQ+ and gifted communities. Here is what to expect on this week's show: Neurodiversity is a vertical of identity equal to sex, gender, race, and class Gender Identity, neurodiversity, creativity, and intelligence fall under the banner of giftedness Parents have their own journey of helping their complex kids and becoming advocates Links Mentioned: https://www.thegwordfilm.com/ to find out more about his most recent film and to see Marc's shorts- including My Family Still Calls Me Gabby https://www.realboymovie.com/ We're Here LGBTQ+ Experience & Giftedness webinar Connect with Marc: Email films@13thgenfilm.com Website http://13thgenfilm.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/13thgenfilm/ @13thgenfilm Facebook https://www.facebook.com/13thGenFilm/ @13thgenfilm Twitter https://twitter.com/13thGenFilm @13thgenfilm LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcsmolowitz/ @marcsmolowitz Parenting Gender and/or Queer Kids with Neurodiversity Raising complex kids with gender &/or sexuality identity differences can be isolating, frustrating and scary. Add a layer of neurodiversity and it can feel like we're parenting in a whole new dimension. This FREE one-page resource guide provides parents of neurodiverse kids who identify as queer or questioning with links to established resources, organizations, influencers, and books (for kids and adults), and an invitation to join an online group: Gender &/or Queer Kids with Neurodiversity (Parent Group). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We talk to Marc about the State of Giftedness and the inspiration behind Gifted Talented & Neurodiversity Awareness Week as a part of our 5 PODCASTS over 5 DAYS for GTN Awareness Week! Woo! Marc is the multi-award-winning independent filmmaker, director and visionary behind The G Word and a growing community gathering to change the face of giftedness. Check out our 5 PODCASTS over 5 DAYS for GTN Awareness Week and all the FREE events on this week! Hit play and let's get started! Memorable Quote "I saw an opportunity for our movie... to try to bring people together... it's five days of virtual programming. All of it is free. People are registering for it on our website and showing up every day for webinars and other kinds of online events." – Marc Smolowitz Resources The G Word Gifted Talented Neurodiverse Awareness Week GRO – Gifted Research Outreach #027 Gifted is more than High IQ, Lets talk about the Brain! #024 Sexuality & Gender – Tips for parents Andrew Solomon, ‘Far from the Tree' (book) #019 What is Gifted? BIO Marc Smolowitz is a multi-award-winning independent filmmaker based in San Francisco. With three decades of experience in the film and media business, Smolowitz is a director, producer, and executive producer who has been significantly involved in 50+ successful independent films wearing many hats across the entertainment industry. In 2016, he received one of the prestigious IFP Fellowships to attend the Cannes Film Festival's Producers Network and Marche du Film marking him as one of USA's most influential independent film producers. Learn more about Marc's work here: https://www.13thgenfilm.com/ Marc's IMDB page: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0810625/ Subscribe & Review If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway in the comments. For more episodes, you can subscribe and to help others find our podcast please leave a review. You can find show notes and more resources at www.ourgiftedkids.com See you in the same place next week. Connect Connect with me on LinkedIn Instagram & Facebook!
Emily Kircher-Morris previews the inaugural GTN Awareness Week with Marc Smolowitz, producer and director of the upcoming movie The G-Word. We talk about the organization behind the event and how you can get involved. GTN Awareness week is October 25-29, and will feature different events each day. To take part in the free activities and discussions, go to www.thegwordfilm.com. To hear the interview with Marc about the stories of the people featured in The G Word, and for more info about the movie, click here. ABOUT THE GUEST - Marc Smolowitz is a multi-award-winning director, producer and executive producer who has been significantly involved in 50+ successful independent films wearing many hats across the film and entertainment business. The combined footprint of his works has touched 200+ film festivals and markets on 5 continents, yielding substantial worldwide sales to theatrical, television and VOD outlets, notable box office receipts, and numerous awards and nominations. His long list of credits includes films that have screened at top-tier festivals such as Sundance, Berlinale, AFI Docs, IDFA, DOC NYC, CPH: DOX, Tokyo, Melbourne, Viennale, Krakow, Jerusalem, among others. In 2009, Marc founded 13th Gen, a San Francisco-based film company that works with a dynamic range of independent film partners globally to oversee the financing, production, post-production, marketing, sales, and distribution efforts of a vibrant portfolio of films and filmmakers. The Neurodiversity Podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram at Neurodiversity Podcast, and on Twitter @NeurodiversePod. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com
In this episode, Ben chats with return guest (see episode 11) Marc Smolowitz for timely updates on The G-Word film and movement, including the Gifted, Talented, and Neurodiverse Awareness Week programming. They go deep on the connection between identity and giftedness, and grapple with the term "gifted" itself. Does the term "neurodiverse" solve many of the image problems associated with "gifted"? Marc Smolowitz is a multi-award-winning director, producer, and executive producer who has been significantly involved in 50+ independent films. The combined footprint of his works has touched 250+ film festivals & markets on 5 continents, yielding substantial worldwide sales to theatrical, television, and VOD outlets, notable box office receipts, and numerous awards and nominations. His credits include films that have screened at the world's top-tier festivals such as Sundance, Berlin, Venice, Tribeca, Chicago, Palm Springs, SF FILM, AFI Docs, IDFA, DOC NYC, CPH: DOX, Tokyo, Melbourne, Viennale, Jerusalem, among others. In 2009, Marc founded 13th Gen, a San Francisco-based boutique film and entertainment company (see: https://www.13thgenfilm.com/) that works with a dynamic range of independent film partners globally to oversee the financing, production, post-production, marketing, sales, and distribution efforts of a vibrant portfolio of films and filmmakers. The company has successfully advanced Marc's career-long focus on powerful social issue filmmaking across all genres. In 2016, he received one of the prestigious Gotham Media Fellowships to attend the Cannes Film Festival's Producers Network marking him as one of the USA's most influential independent film producers. In 2021, Marc is currently in post-production on THE G WORD -- a feature-length documentary that aims to be the most comprehensive film ever made on the topics of gifted, talented, and neurodiverse education across the United States. The film asks the urgent equity question -- In the 21st century, who gets to be Gifted in America and Why?, and is poised to premiere in 2022. Learn more at: https://www.thegwordfilm.com/ Marc's entertainment company The G Word Film Website More From NuMinds and Ben Ben's Website NuMinds Website --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/numinds-enrichment/support
We talk with Marc Smolowitz, the director and producer of the upcoming documentary "The G Word". The film is a mosaic of revealing stories told by children, adults, and elders who will explore giftedness, intelligence, and neurodivergent learners across the age spectrum and ask, “In the 21st century, who gets to be gifted and why?”Plus Aiden, from Episode 1, returns to talk about what a gifted program means to him. Learn more about The G WordLearn more about G/T/N Awareness Week (Oct 25-29)
Doug has the opportunity to sit down with director and producer, Marc Smolowitz to discuss equity in education when it comes to gifted programs in America. This important yet rarely discussed aspect in education is the premise of Marc's upcoming documentary, THE G WORD. Marc is currently in post-production on THE G WORD -- a feature-length documentary that aims to be the most comprehensive film ever made on the topics of gifted, talented, and neurodiverse education across the United States. The film asks the urgent equity question -- In the 21st century, who gets to be Gifted in America and Why? and is scheduled to premiere in late 2022. Some links to check out: THE G WORD Short Film Vimeo Gallery: https://vimeo.com/showcase/5341657 GTN Awareness Week (Oct. 25-29): https://www.thegwordfilm.com/gtn-awareness-week Global Partnership Network: https://www.thegwordfilm.com/partnership-network Impact Manifesto: https://www.thegwordfilm.com/impact-manifesto #MyGiftedStory: https://www.thegwordfilm.com/my-gifted-story How to Donate: https://www.thegwordfilm.com/donate BIO: Marc Smolowitz is a multi-award-winning director, producer, and executive producer who has been significantly involved in 50+ independent films. The combined footprint of his works has touched 250+ film festivals & markets on 5 continents, yielding substantial worldwide sales to theatrical, television, and VOD outlets, notable box office receipts, and numerous awards and nominations. His credits include films that have screened at the world's top-tier festivals such as Sundance, Berlin, Venice, Tribeca, Chicago, Palm Springs, SF FILM, AFI Docs, IDFA, DOC NYC, CPH: DOX, Tokyo, Melbourne, Viennale, Jerusalem, among others. In 2009, Marc founded 13th Gen, a San Francisco-based boutique film and entertainment company (see: https://www.13thgenfilm.com/) that works with a dynamic range of independent film partners globally to oversee the financing, production, post-production, marketing, sales, and distribution efforts of a vibrant portfolio of films and filmmakers. The company has successfully advanced Marc's career-long focus on powerful social issue filmmaking across all genres. In 2016, he received one of the prestigious Gotham Media Fellowships to attend the Cannes Film Festival's Producers Network marking him as one of the USA's most influential independent film producers. In 2021,
The podcast is marking a huge milestone this week as we celebrate our 5th anniversary! In today's show, we go outside the box as we discuss the importance of storytelling when it comes to giftedness, equity, identity, and inclusion. Join us to learn more! Marc Smolowitz is a previous guest on the show, and I'm thrilled to have him back to talk about one of his projects, The G Word film. Marc is a multi-award-winning director, producer, and executive producer who has been involved in more than 50 independent films. His works have touched viewers on five continents and screened at the world's top-tier film festivals. Marc is currently in post-production on The G Word, a feature-length documentary that aims to be the most comprehensive film ever made on the topics of gifted, talented, and neurodiverse education across the US. The film tells seven stories with different perspectives and asks the urgent equity question, “In the 21st century, who gets to be gifted in America, and why?” The film is poised to premiere in 2022. Show Highlights: How the pandemic has affected Marc's work on The G Word and other projects A broad overview of The G Word and the important stories highlighted by the film How changemakers are working to make a difference in the gifted and talented community How we can use our voices to be allies for the disenfranchised How a zip code can be ultra-defining in the resources and opportunities available to people How Marc is working to “take the temperature” of people around the country in assessing how giftedness has been affected by the pandemic A look at the spirit of G/T/N Awareness Week (gifted, talented, neurodiverse), which is scheduled for October 25-29; this is a FREE five-day slate of virtual programming with a different focus each day. (See Resources to register.) Why free and appropriate public education is a social contract--a promise made to all parents for their children Why we as advocates and allies cannot quit fighting to make a better civil society for “more of us rather than less of us” Why we need a much more communal and collective narrative around giftedness and neurodiversity in our country Why The G Word is a mainstream educational film Resources: The G Word Film Find out more about the film, find resources, and sign up for G/T/N Awareness Week. Find the film on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Marc Smolowitz a multi-award-winning independent filmmaker based in San Francisco talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about his company 13TH GEN. 13TH GEN is an entrepreneurial boutique company with a current slate of some 10-15 high quality projects both fiction and nonfiction all at different stages. 13TH GEN works with a dynamic range of independent film partners to oversee the financing, production, post-production, marketing, sales and distribution efforts of a vibrant portfolio of films and filmmakers. Recently his documentary “Being BeBe” directed by Emily Branham was showcased at the Tribeca Film Festival and will be the closing film at the Provincetown International Film Festival on June 24th. “Being BeBe” is about Marshall Ngwa (a.k.a. renowned drag performer BeBe Zahara Benet) who travels to the United States from homophobic Cameroon with dreams of a better life and became the first winner of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2009. With over 15 years of unfettered and intimate access to Marshall's story, the film presents his unique love affair with performance alongside his unstoppable sense of persistence and purpose, offering an unprecedented portrait of an artist who chooses to live a creative life against all odds. Smolowitz's career focuses on powerful social issue films and filmmaking across all genres. We talked to Marc about what he hopes to accomplish with his company 13TH GEN and his commitment to our LGBTQ issues. Marc Smolowitz is a director, producer and executive producer who has been significantly involved in 50+ successful independent films wearing many hats across the entertainment industry. The combined footprint of his works has touched 200+ film festivals and markets on 5 continents, yielding substantial worldwide sales to theatrical, television and VOD outlets, notable box office receipts and numerous awards and nominations. His long list of credits includes films that have screened at top-tier festivals including Sundance, Berlin, Tribeca, Venice, Chicago, SF FILM, Palm Springs to name a few. In 2016 he received one of the prestigious IFP Fellowships to attend the Cannes Film Festival's Producers Network and Marche du Film marking him as one of the USA's most influential independent film producers. 13TH GEN believes strongly in the power and potential of beautifully produced social issue films to speak to every generation. For More Info… LISTEN: 500+ LGBTQ Chats @OUTTAKE VOICES
Lisa Viola, Artistic Director for the Provincetown International Film Festival talks to Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about the 23rd PIFF that takes place June 16th to 25th both virtually and in Provincetown, Massachusetts. The newly re-envisioned hybrid festival came together with the ingenuity and sheer determination of a world-class team of programmers including Andrew Peterson, Heidi Zwicker and Valérie Déus. Celebrating its 23rd year Richard Linklater will be this year's Filmmaker on the Edge recipient in conversation with resident artist John Waters. Riz Ahmed, Academy Award Best Actor nominee for “Sound Of Metal” will receive this year's Excellence in Acting Award in conversation with Vanity Fair Chief Critic Richard Lawson and queer actor/filmmaker Natalie Morales PIFF will receive the Next Wave Award in conversation with musician Holly Miranda. The hybrid festival will open with Jon M. Chu's “In The Heights” at the Wellfleet Drive-In on June 16th and the festival will close with Emily Branham's BeBe Zahara Benet documentary “Being BeBe” with guests of honor including director Emily Branham, producer Marc Smolowitz and the film's subject and star BeBe Zahara Benet, the winner of the very first RuPaul's Drag Race. Some other highlights will include a Filmmaker Celebration at Truro Vineyards with Christine Vachon who co-founded the impactful independent film and television production company Killer Films joined by director and writer Daniel Minahan on June 19th from 6P to 7:30. We talked to Lisa about what she hopes to accomplish at this year's Provincetown International Film Festival and her spin on our LGBTQ issues. Lisa Viola is the Artistic Director for the Provincetown International Film Festival and has been affiliated with the festival since its inception in 1999. Lisa also serves as the Director of Programming for the GlobeDocs Film Festival produced by The Boston Globe. Through January 2020 she was a Programming Associate for the Sundance Film Festival and has been programming there since 1992. Lisa graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Communication Arts and has consulted for other film festivals including the Nantucket Film Festival, True/False and served as a documentary juror at SXSW. The Provincetown Film Society (PFS) is an advocate for diverse representation in film, providing year-round programming and platforms that allow voices of all kinds to be heard via film. Through PFS's work they have an ability to better understand and appreciate human struggles and triumphs by showcasing our similarities and differences in today's diverse culture. Provincetown International Film Festival will be closely monitoring federal, state and local COVID-19 safety guidelines and will continue to adjust safety policies accordingly throughout the festival. For Info & Tix: ptownfilmfest.org LISTEN: 500+ LGBTQ Chats @OUTTAKE VOICES
Nickolas Rossi is a New York City based director & cinematographer. He attended Columbia College in Chicago for fine art photography and graduated from Portland State University with a degree in Sociology. Following university he lived and worked in Montréal, London, Prague and Los Angeles. With nearly 20 years experience behind the camera, Nickolas has worked extensively across the world shooting narrative, documentary, commercial, and branded content projects. As a DOP / director, his work has screened at top-tier festivals including AFI DOCS, Melbourne International, IDFA, CPH:DOX, SFIFF, Sundance, and DOC NYC, as well as broadcast and VOD platforms such as PBS Independent Lens, The Sundance Channel, IFC, Amazon, Netflix, and MTV/ LOGO. His non-fiction film work includes the award-winning feature documentaries, “ADJUST YOUR COLOR"(2008) by Loren Mendell, "THE SHERIFF" (2020) by Grace Sweeney, Netflix’s “MERCURY 13” (2018) by David Sington & Heather Walsh, and “THE POWER OF TWO"(2011), the directorial debut of Academy Award® nominated producer, Marc Smolowitz. Nickolas’ cinematography has also been featured in John Maloof's 2013 Oscar nominated documentary, “FINDING VIVIAN MAIER", “THE FEAR OF 13" (2015) by David Sington, “UPSTAIRS INFERNO” (2014) by Robert L. Camina, and Lance Bang’s “INSIDE PORTLANDIA” (2012)for IFC. His directorial debut 'Heaven Adores You' (2015) about musician Elliott Smith, made its premiere in 2014 and screened at over 40 festivals across 5 continents.
Today I'm speaking with filmmaker Marc Smolowitz about his upcoming documentary, The G Word Film. The film is currently in post-production with an expected release date in early 2022. The G Word Film is the first major documentary on giftedness and asks the question, Who Gets to be Gifted In America? The shorts released so far describe a scenario that is seen globally. In the episode, we talk about trauma, hope, and empowerment, gender and sexuality, identity, and more! Hit play and let's get started! Memorable Quote “Trauma is a huge theme in every story. But I'm not here to beat you up. That's just not my, I don't believe that's my job. I believe my job is actually more about giving you hope or leaving you with a sense of possibilities, prospects for change prospects, for making things better. I've dealt with, all kinds of traumatic stories and, trauma is, one side of the story. The other side is empowerment.” – Marc “I had a sense of being other in the world.” -Marc Resources The G Word Film #MyGiftedStory Learn more about Marc's work Marc's IMDB page Unleash Monday Podcast Subscribe & Review If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway in the comments. For more episodes, you can subscribe, and to help others find our podcast please leave a review. You can find show notes and more resources at www.ourgiftedkids.com See you in the same place next week. Connect Connect with me on LinkedIn Instagram & Facebook! Introducing Marc Smolowitz Marc Smolowitz is a multi-award-winning independent filmmaker based in San Francisco. With three decades of experience in the film and media business, Smolowitz is a director, producer, and executive producer who has been significantly involved in 50+ successful independent films wearing many hats across the entertainment industry. The combined footprint of his works has touched 200+ film festivals and markets on 5 continents, yielding substantial worldwide sales to theatrical, television, and VOD outlets, notable box office receipts, and numerous awards and nominations. His long list of credits includes films that have screened at top-tier festivals such as Sundance, Berlin, Venice, Chicago, Palm Springs, AFI Docs, IDFA, DOC NYC, CPH: DOX, Tokyo, Melbourne, Viennale, Krakow, Jerusalem, among others. His film company -- 13th Gen -- works with a dynamic range of independent film partners globally to oversee the financing, production, post-production, marketing, sales, and distribution efforts of a vibrant portfolio of films and filmmakers. Founded in 2009, the company is known widely for being active on some 10-15 concurrent projects, both independent and inside Hollywood, and it has successfully advanced Smolowitz's career-long focus on powerful social issue films and filmmaking across all genres. In 2016, he received one of the prestigious IFP Fellowships to attend the Cannes Film Festival's Producers Network and Marche du Film marking him as one of USA's most influential independent film producers. Join in the social media campaign! #MyGiftedStory
Today I'm speaking with filmmaker Marc Smolowitz about his upcoming documentary, The G Word Film. The film is currently in post-production with an expected release date in early 2022. The G Word Film is the first major documentary on giftedness and asks the question, Who Gets to be Gifted In America? The shorts released so far describe a scenario that is seen globally. In the episode you'll hear: The journey from idea to reality and how it all started. Marc's journey with giftedness and activism. Giftedness as identity. Gifted trauma. The G Word is more than just a film – it's making an IMPACT! How to get involved #mygiftedstory Hit play and let's get started! Memorable Quotes “When I looked out into the world, I saw that there hadn't really been a significant documentary that was ever made or publicly or widely released on this topic. So that immediately piques my interest because if no one's ever done it, maybe I could be the first to do it.” – Marc Smolowitz “One of the kind of beliefs of this movie is that giftedness is like an identity. And then it functions in very similar ways. You can either be empowered or it can be traumatic, and that there's a sort of a continuum that the child experiences around that journey with perceiving themselves as smart or not right.” – Marc Smolowitz “I want this movie to be one of the most significant education documentaries of this decade of the 2020s.” – Marc Smolowitz “There's all these assumptions of a high achieving gifted person. And we know that exists. We know there are just really freaking smart people out there. The G Word is going to show you people who you're going to expect, who are rightly have obviously at the table, but because of different complex aspects of who they are and where they were raised.” – Marc Smolowitz “When we first launched in 2016, we immediately, out the gate, were hearing from people all over the world. I would say, from Switzerland to Singapore, we were getting emails and these emails were often quite chilling, because they would be from parents who are struggling. “– Marc Smolowitz Resources The G Word Film #MyGiftedStory Learn more about Marc's work Marc's IMDB page Subscribe & Review If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway in the comments. For more episodes, you can subscribe and to help others find our podcast please leave a review. You can find show notes and more resources at www.ourgiftedkids.com See you in the same place next week. Connect Connect with me on LinkedIn Instagram & Facebook! Marc Smolowitz Bio Marc Smolowitz is a multi-award-winning independent filmmaker based in San Francisco. With three decades of experience in the film and media business, Smolowitz is a director, producer, and executive producer who has been significantly involved in 50+ successful independent films wearing many hats across the entertainment industry. The combined footprint of his works has touched 200+ film festivals and markets on 5 continents, yielding substantial worldwide sales to theatrical, television, and VOD outlets, notable box office receipts, and numerous awards and nominations. His long list of credits includes films that have screened at top-tier festivals such as Sundance, Berlin, Venice, Chicago, Palm Springs, AFI Docs, IDFA, DOC NYC, CPH: DOX, Tokyo, Melbourne, Viennale, Krakow, Jerusalem, among others. His film company -- 13th Gen -- works with a dynamic range of independent film partners globally to oversee the financing, production, post-production, marketing, sales, and distribution efforts of a vibrant portfolio of films and filmmakers. Founded in 2009, the company is known widely for being active on some 10-15 concurrent projects, both independent and inside Hollywood, and it has successfully advanced Smolowitz's career-long focus on powerful social issue films and filmmaking across all genres. In 2016, he received one of the prestigious IFP Fellowships to attend the Cannes Film Festival's Producers Network and Marche du Film marking him as one of USA's most influential independent film producers. Join in the social media campaign! #MyGiftedStory
Dr. Scott Stewart joins Lois to talk about their favorite love-themed music.Also, a conversation about the documentary “Surviving the Silence” with Director Cindy L. Abel and producer Marc Smolowitz.
Award-winning filmmaker Marc Smolowitz and his team are at work on a ground-breaking new documentary that shakes up all our old stereotypes and paradigms about who gets to be gifted and how giftedness manifests in a diverse range of settings and populations. In this beautifully candid conversation, we discuss Marc's impetus for making this the subject of a feature length film project, and hear Marc's "behind the scenes" insights about several aspects of the film. From a super-achieving community at the US-Mexico border, to gifted Shakespeareans in prison, to the unique plights of gifted LGBTQ individuals, this interview, as a reflection of the film, is full of heart-centered insights that come from taking a fresh, humanistic look at what it means to be "gifted." Marc's passion as an advocate is clear throughout the interview, and his belief and faith in the role that education and educators can play, based on his wide ranging interviews over several years, is a ray of hope in a moment when most educational institutions seem to have their back against the ropes. Consider this almost a director's "sneak peak" to a film that will change the landscape of education and certainly be a huge moment in the Edvolution we advocate for at NuMinds. Please enjoy! Links and Resources: More about the film: https://www.thegwordfilm.com/ Marc's film company: https://www.13thgenfilm.com/ Connect with NuMinds and Ben: NuMinds: https://www.numindsenrichment.com/ Ben - LinkedIn Ben - Insta Watch this episode on YouTube! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/numinds-enrichment/support
Marc Smolowitz is a multi-award-winning director, producer and executive producer who has been significantly involved in 50+ successful independent films wearing many hats across the film and entertainment business In 2009, Marc founded 13th Gen, a San Francisco based film company that works with a dynamic range of independent film partners globally to oversee the financing, production, post-production, marketing, sales, and distribution efforts of a vibrant portfolio of films and filmmakers. In 2016, he received one of the prestigious IFP Fellowships to attend the Cannes Film Festival’s Producers Network and Marche du Film marking him as one of the USA’s most influential independent film producers. Currently, Marc is working on the upcoming documentary THE G WORD. Defying popular myths that assume most gifted people are wealthy, white, and will do fine on their own, THE G WORD reveals the economic, cultural, and gender diversity of our nation’s gifted and talented population at every stage of life, highlighting their educational challenges, social isolation, deep emotional sensitivities, and complex, neurodiverse brains. It puts a face to the physical threats experienced by many in our schools and society-at-large, while also revealing a large and lively community of people working hard to meet their needs while challenging the prejudice and trauma that comes with being labeled “smart” in the 21st century.TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:#TheShowMustBePaused in this turbulent year, let’s take time to reflect and take a conscious break and for the global experience of this pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement across the globe.Giftedness is also a question about diversity, inclusion and equityWho gets to be gifted in America and Why?It takes a lot of fearlessness to take on difficult subjects such as poverty, PTSD, LGBTQ+ & civil rights, HIV & AIDSTHE G WORD movie is the first of its kindThere is a lot of misunderstanding, stereotypes and trauma associated with the term giftednessIQ is measured on a vertical line rather than a horizontal lineNeurodiversity is the backbone of THE G WORD movieWords matter and words mean different things to different peopleMovies are able to change hearts & minds about powerful and important issuesTHE G WORD is intended to create impact through the impact enterprise which takes the movie from the screen into the communitiesYou need to have an open mind immersing yourself in the topic of giftedness#TheFutureIsGifted join the conversation and use this hashtag on social mediaMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:THE G WORD: Website Facebook Instagram TwitterThe Impact ManifestoTHE G WORD fundraising campaignTHE G WORD webinar series6 short films around THE G WORDConnect with Marc on LinkedIn13th Gen: Website Facebook Instagram TwitterLearn more about Marc's work hereMarc's IMDB page
Lois Reitzes interviews director Cindy L. Abel and producer Marc Smolowitz about their film "Surviving the Silence," screening at the Out On Film Festival; Joanie McElroy, producing artistic director for "Merely Players Presents," and actress Amanda Ortega about the film "Un Lugar Para Sueños: The Story of the Atlanta Cuban Club and Community"; and Jenn Sapp, event coordinator for the Morehouse Human Rights Film Festival, and director Hal Jacobs about the festival and Jacobs' documentary "Lillian Smith: Breaking the Silence."
Filmmaker Cindy L. Abel, Colonel Patsy Thompson and Barbara Brass talk about their documentary “Surviving The Silence” with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. In 1992 Colonel Thompson was a decorated Army nurse just two years away from her retirement after serving her country for over thirty years from conflict zones to working inside the Pentagon. At this trajectory of her career she was asked to preside over the military review board that eventually dismissed Colonel Margarethe Cammermeyer for admitting she was a lesbian. For Thompson that trial was perhaps the hardest assignment in her long military career because she had to confront her own moral dilemma that she too was a lesbian and living privately with her life partner Barbara Brass for many years. After Colonel Cammermeyer’s dismissal she became a vocal opponent of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and eventually was reinstated thanks to Colonel Thompson’s handling of her military trial. This underlying story remained a secret until 2013 when Thompson and her now wife Barbara Brass decided to go public for the very first time at a college speaking engagement in Northern California. Much to their delight the speech received a resounding standing ovation empowering them to continue their journey as out and proud lesbians who are visibly committed to using their unique life experience in pursuit of social justice and activism. We asked Filmmaker Cindy L. Abel, Colonel Patsy Thompson and Barbara Brass what they hope to accomplish with “Surviving The Silence” and their spin on our LGBTQ issues.Filmmaker Cindy L. Abel formed Atlantis Moon Productions to develop projects that launch conversations and impact popular culture. She directed and produced the award-winning “Breaking Through” a documentary in which openly LGBTQ elected officials share their stories of self-doubt and triumph over multiple barriers, revealing a deeply personal, rarely seen side of LGBTQ politicians. Colonel Patsy Thompson’s journey from Troy, North Carolina to nursing school and then a distinguished military career led her to navigate living her life on her own terms. Barbara Brass as the daughter of Holocaust survivors and a pacifist is proud of Thompson’s ascension in the military while also feeling angry that they needed to be silent and invisible to protect her career. Currently they are all working hard to stop the hate in this country and get out the vote for the upcoming 2020 presidential election to protect our democracy. “Surviving The Silence” directed by Cindy L. Abel and produced by Marc Smolowitz with soundtrack provided by Denise Gentilini.For More Info: survivingthesilence.com LISTEN: 500+ LGBTQ Chats @OUTTAKE VOICES
Listen in as Heather and Jon chat with award-winning film maker Marc Smolowitz about his upcoming film "The G Word". As most conversations with gifted, creative folks go, this episode covers a plethora of topics, including the upcoming film, anti-intellectualism, generational theory, and who gets to be gifted in the American system.
Welcome to the Someone Gets Me podcast where you will hear stories of inspiration and hope realized. Hosted by Dianne Allen, Intuitive Empowerment Mentor, who specializes in working with people who want to be freed from being stuck in life. You will hear personal stories and professional insights along with tips on how to conquer overthinking, procrastination and more. If you are bright and sensitive, this podcast is for you too! In this episode, I interview Marc Smolowitz from San Francisco, CA who is a multi-award-winning director, producer and executive producer who has been significantly involved in 50+ successful independent films wearing many hats across the film and entertainment business. Marc shares about his powerful family history and the resilience that continues to serve him today. Our conversation is packed with amazing insights about Marc’s personal and professional journey. Topics we discuss include: Resilience and family culture Marc’s unique calling to be part of something bigger The G Word film – His upcoming documentary about giftedness in the 21st Century Neurodiversity Ideas about fun, overthinking and Marc's favorite food and more! LINKS MENTIONED Join our Facebook Group Someone Gets Me Email contact: msdianneallen@gmail.com Dianne’s Mentoring Services: msdianneallen.com To learn more about Dianne’s services: visionsapplied.com Julie Skolnick's episode: https://someonegetsme.com/diversify-your-life-portfolio-an-interview-with-julie-skolnick/ Learn about Marc's work at http://13thgenfilm.com Be sure to take a second and subscribe to the show and share with anyone you think will benefit. Until next time, remember the world needs your special gift, so let your light shine! More about Marc: Marc Smolowitz is a multi-award-winning director, producer and executive producer who has been significantly involved in 50+ successful independent films wearing many hats across the film and entertainment business. The combined footprint of his works has touched 200+ film festivals and markets on 5 continents, yielding substantial worldwide sales to theatrical, television and VOD outlets, notable box office receipts, and numerous awards and nominations. His long list of credits includes films that have screened at top-tier festivals such as Sundance, Berlinale, AFI Docs, IDFA, DOC NYC, CPH: DOX, Tokyo, Melbourne, Viennale, Krakow, Jerusalem, among others. In 2009, Marc founded 13th Gen, a San Francisco-based film company that works with a dynamic range of independent film partners globally to oversee the financing, production, post-production, marketing, sales, and distribution efforts of a vibrant portfolio of films and filmmakers. The company is known widely for being active on some 10-15 concurrent projects, both independent and inside Hollywood, and it has successfully advanced Smolowitz's career-long focus on powerful social issue films and filmmaking across all genres. In 2016, he received one of the prestigious IFP Fellowships to attend the Cannes Film Festival’s Producers Network and Marche du Film marking him as one of USA’s most influential independent film producers. Since 2013, Marc has been the producer for legendary Black/Queer Writer/Director Cheryl Dunye. 13th Gen oversaw the 20th-anniversary restoration and re-release of her wildly influential first film THE WATERMELON WOMAN (1996), which included a special presentation at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2016, the film being acquired by the Museum of Modern Art for its permanent collection, and a worldwide screenings presence that has touched over 75 festivals. Together, they made the multi-award winning short film BLACK IS BLUE (2014), which is now slated to be expanded into a feature film. 13th Gen also recently optioned the book THE GILDA STORIES, a lesbian vampire novel by renown writer Jewelle Gomez, to be adapted into an episodic series for television with Smolowitz executive producing and Dunye serving as show runner and lead director. As a producer, Marc's recent work includes the following widely seen and award-winning films -- PATERNAL RITES by Jules Rosskam (2018), 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS by Jethro Patalinghug (2018), THE NINE by Katy Grannan (2016), DESERT MIGRATION by Daniel Cardone (2015), BURIED ABOVE GROUND (2015), HEAVEN ADORES YOU by Nickolas Rossi (2014), among others. As a director/producer, his 2011 film THE POWER OF TWO premiered at the Tokyo International Film Festival and went on to screen at 35 festivals around the globe, winning 10 major prizes, garnering theatrical release in the USA and Japan, and selling to Hulu in the USA and Netflix in Japan. In 2019, Marc is currently in production on two feature documentaries as a director/producer — THE G WORD, a film about giftedness, intelligence, and neurodiversity, slated for 2020 completion, and THE LONELY CHILD, a film about the unexpected present day footprint of a little-known Yiddish lullaby that was written inside the Vilna Ghetto during the Holocaust. The latter has been developed, in part, through the Jewish Film Institute’s competitive Filmmaker-in-Residence programs in San Francisco. THE G WORD Defying popular myths that assume most gifted people are wealthy, white, and will do fine on their own, THE G WORD reveals the economic, cultural and gender diversity of our nation’s gifted and talented population at every stage of life, highlighting their educational challenges, social isolation, and deep emotional sensitivities. It puts a face to the physical threats experienced by many in our schools and society at large. It also reveals a large and lively community of people around them working hard to meet their needs while challenging the prejudice that comes with being labeled “smart” in the 21st century. Film Synopsis Defying popular myths that assume most gifted people are wealthy, white, and will do fine on their own, THE G WORD reveals the economic, cultural and gender diversity of our nation’s gifted and talented population at every stage of life, highlighting their educational challenges, social isolation, and deep emotional sensitivities. It puts a face to the physical threats experienced by many in our schools and society at large. It also reveals a large and lively community of people around them working hard to meet their needs while challenging the prejudice that comes with being labeled “smart” in the 21st century. Here are a few links to get you more acquainted with our project. a) Our web site: thegwordfilm.com, Facebook page:www.facebook.com/theGwordfilm/, and Twitter page: https://twitter.com/thegwordfilm?lang=en b) A web page which includes all four of our web videos we’ve created from various film shoots thus far: https://vimeo.com/album/5341657 c) A blog post about the project from our Director/Producer, Marc Smolowitz-http://ghfblog.com/viewpoints/the-g-word-documentary/ d) A podcast featuring Marc Smolowitz: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-dyslexia-quest-podcast-with-elisheva-schwartz/e/50657105?autoplay=true(the actual interview starts at around 05:28) e) Another podcast: http://www.tiltparenting.com/2018/10/30/episode-132-the-g-word-filmmaker-marc-smolowitz-on-giftedness-equity-and-social-justice/ f) Marc’s IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0810625/
Why is intensity often cast with a negative connotation? Today’s show highlights an intense and “extra” person who is finding success in the world of filmmaking, embracing intensity, and happy to take the risk to be a shining creative! Marc Smolowitz is a multi-award-winning director, producer, and executive producer who has been significantly involved in over 50 successful independent films. He wears many hats across the film and entertainment industry, and the combined footprint of his work has touched 200 film festivals and markets on five continents, yielding substantial worldwide sales to theatrical, television, and VOD outlets. He’s experienced notable box office receipts, numerous awards, and nominations, and his long list of credits includes films that have screened at top-tier festivals. As a director/producer, his 2011 film, The Power of Two, premiered at the Tokyo International Film Festival and went on to screen at 35 festivals around the globe, winning major prizes, garnering theatrical release in the USA and Japan, and selling on Hulu in the USA and Netflix in Japan. Marc is currently in production on two feature documentaries. The G Word is a film about giftedness, intelligence, and neurodiversity, and is slated for 2020 completion. The Lonely Child is a film about the unexpected present-day footprint of a little-known Yiddish lullaby written during the Holocaust. This film has been developed with the Jewish Film Institute’s Competitive Filmmaker in Residence program in San Francisco. Show Highlights: Marc’s passion: to work in the film process from the kernel of the idea to the production and marketing pieces Why Marc is passionate about art, activism, social change, LGBTQ issues, public health and community issues, diversity, and inclusionism Marc’s intensity as a kid and ever since---not the kind that alienates others, but he had to learn to modify his responses at times How Marc thrives on other people’s energy The deep resilience instilled by his parents Why Marc calls everyone “they” instead of using gender-specific pronouns How non-binary expression of identity opens up opportunities Why Marc tries to live without regrets, even when his intensity threatens to get out of control Marc’s battle with HIV, an illness with much shame, guilt, and stigma Why it’s NOT a small thing to be the child of Holocaust survivors How Marc uses his fire for good, actively looking forward and behind at the same time Why he can live comfortably in today’s technological world How Marc learned early in life that he couldn’t do things in ways that please everybody How we need to cultivate new ideas and standards for creativity and giftedness Why social and emotional challenges aren’t limited to any one demographic, and how we need to look through the lens that makes us relatable to one another How Marc has experienced mostly positive outcomes from embracing intensity, even though there is always a big risk when you completely express yourself Resources: Support The G Word Film Kickstarter Join the Embracing Intensity Community 13th Gen Learn more about Marc and his company Follow Marc on Twitter: @MarcSmolowitz The Gword Film Find out about Marc’s film about giftedness
There is a myth that gifted people are mostly financially secure, white, and don’t require the same attention as an average child. Our guest is Marc Smolowitz, who is making a film about America’s gifted and talented population that puts those myths to rest. “The G Word” will highlight the educational challenges, social isolation, and deep emotional sensitivities of gifted people. Listen to our discussion on episode 28 of Mind Matters. About the guest - Marc Smolowitz is a multi-award-winning director, producer and executive producer who has been significantly involved in 50+ successful independent films wearing many hats across the film and entertainment business. The combined footprint of his works has touched 200+ film festivals and markets on five continents, yielding substantial worldwide sales to theatrical, television and VOD outlets, notable box office receipts, and numerous awards and nominations. His long list of credits includes films that have screened at top-tier festivals such as Sundance, Berlinale, AFI Docs, IDFA, DOC NYC, CPH: DOX, Tokyo, Melbourne, Viennale, Krakow, Jerusalem, among others. In 2009, Marc founded 13th Gen, a San Francisco-based film company that works with a dynamic range of independent film partners globally to oversee the financing, production, post-production, marketing, sales, and distribution efforts of a vibrant portfolio of films and filmmakers. To support The G Word Kickstarter campaign, go to https://thegwordfilm.com/kickstarter. Host Emily Kircher-Morris has dual Masters degrees in Counseling and Education, is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and specializes in the area of giftedness throughout the lifespan. She founded the non-profit organization The Gifted Support Network, is the owner of Unlimited Potential Counseling & Education Center, and is the mother of three gifted children.
Independent filmmaker Marc Smolowitz (13th Gen) talks about his upcoming film "The G Word", which tackles issues related to giftedness, equity, and social justice for a broad audience. For more information, visit the show notes at www.tiltparenting.com/session132
Cystic Fibrosis Podcast 93 - Marc Smolowitz The Power of Two by Jerry Cahill
In a conversation with filmmakers Alix Wall and Marc Smolowitz, we learn about their collaboration on "The Lonely Child". Their film will tell the story of Yiddish poet Shmerke Kaczerginski's song, “Dos Elnte Kind,” or “The Lonely Child,” which he wrote for Alix's grandmother in 1943 while she was in the Vilna Ghetto. Alix's vision for the film is “to engage those keeping the song alive in a dialogue, exploring the central question: just what is our responsibility to the survivors and their stories? It is not lost on me that a song will outlast all of us; a film will as well.” Episode 0159 October 4, 2017 Yiddish Book Center Amherst, Massachusetts
Episode 1: 20 Years After Sofia Varino talks with Cheryl Dunye and producer Marc Smolowitz during the 2016 Berlinale film festival at Dunye's hotel in the center of Berlin, where she was giving press interviews. Like most people, Sofia first discovered Dunye's work through Dunye's influential 1996 film Watermelon Woman, now a classic of queer cinema. The film won a Teddy Award at the 1997 Berlinale, and in 2016 the festival organized a special screening to mark the Watermelon Woman twentieth anniversary restoration. 2016 marked an important year in Dunye's career, when she also received a Guggenheim fellowship, and she is currently working on her new feature film Black is Blue. Her visit to Berlin served as the perfect opportunity to reflect on queer, feminist and African-American filmmaking, and to talk about what an ethics of collaboration in queer art practice might entail. Cheryl spoke openly about her struggles as a filmmaker and about the significance of art in our convoluted world.
Twin sisters Ana and Isa, both born with cystic fibrosis (CF), have had three double-lung transplants between them and are the picture of resilience and fortitude. Academy Award nominated producer Marc Smolowitz, who directed the newly released documentary film "THE POWER OF TWO", discusses the highlights of the film with Lori, about Ana and Isa's quest to advocate and educate their peers, especially in Japan where CF is rare, and organ transplantation is a cultural taboo. This film will be screened in "DocuWeeks 2011", which qualifies documentary films for consideration for the Academy Awards.