PORTFOLIO
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Virgil Thomson: Creating the American SoundVirgil Thomson ranks alongside Copland and Bernstein as a 20th Century master, yet his compositions, hauntingly resonant of the midwestern prairie, are all too forgotten. This feature-length documentary celebrates the composer who more than anyone else originated the American sound in classical music.
PBS / American Masters |
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Troubled Tributary: Maryland's Patuxent RiverFollow Fred Tutman, the nation's only African American riverkeeper, as he advocates for clean water, fights for environmental justice, and holds the entrenched Chesapeake Bay-wide conservation organizations accountable. Paulson is Executive Producer
American University Center for Environmental Filmmaking/Maryland Public Television |
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Chesapeake Decoys: The Nature of Waterfowl ArtThey began as humble tools made to lure ducks close to gunners, but skilled carvers transformed them into sculptural masterpieces. The program celebrates this unusual folk art tradition and the rich cultural heritage that has arisen around these resplendent waterfowl.
Maryland Public Television |
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America's Book of SecretsThe series tells the fascinating truths behind some of the most famous and infamous stories in American and world history, going behind the scenes to reveal never before seen stories, secrets, and insights, delving far deeper than any “authorized tour” or “official report."
History Channel; Paulson is Interview Producer |
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After the Storm: Pollution in the PotomacWhen it rains, Combined Sewer Overflows cause toxins to spill into the Potomac River sickening animals, fish, and humans. To mitigate, a remarkable network of underground tunnels are being bored underneath the nation’s capital in an effort to prevent a toxic tide of pollutants from reaching the river. Paulson is Executive Producer
American University Center for Environmental Filmmaking/Maryland Public Television |
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Chesapeake Bay BridgeWhen it first spanned the Chesapeake Bay in 1952, it was the third longest bridge in the world. The Bay Bridge was constructed in a dramatic period of progress known as "Operation Link," because the towering landmark would be the first physical connection between the two widely separated parts of Maryland.
Authored by John Paulson with Erin Paulson Arcadia Publishing |
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The MamboniksIn the 1950s, a steamy new craze swept across American dance floors. Surprisingly, many of the mambo's biggest fanatics were Jewish, an offbeat group of devotees who earned the hipster nickname: “Mamboniks.”
Malecon Films. Paulson is Executive Producer Premiered in 2019 at film festivals nationwide |
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Mister Rogers: It's You I LikeHosted by actor Michael Keaton, the star-studded and heartfelt PBS tribute features best-of moments from the beloved Mister Rogers children's television series, with commentary from John Lithgow, Yo Yo Ma, Sarah Silverman, Itzak Perlman, Whoopi Goldberg, Judd Apatow, Chris Kratt, Esperanza Spalding, and show cast members.
PBS Primetime EMMY AWARD Nominee |
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JFK: The Lost Inaugural GalaThe long-lost 1961 concert, produced by Frank Sinatra and performed on the blizzard-struck eve of JFK's swearing-in, is seen for the first time exclusively on PBS. The program features an all-star cast: Frank Sinatra, Ethel Merman, Nat King Cole, Gene Kelly, Ella Fitzgerald, Jimmy Durante, and Harry Belafonte.
PBS |
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Conowingo DamThe book recounts the pioneering men who built the hydro-dam, the massive components installed inside it, the village of Conowingo that vanished because of it, and the "storm of the century" that threatened to topple it. A remarkable story of laborers, planners, engineers, politicians, and financiers whose vision can be seen in the powerful ribbon of concrete that still stretches across the Susquehanna River.
Authored by John Paulson with Erin Paulson; Arcadia Publishing |
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Conowingo Dam: Power on the SusquehannaWhen it opened in 1928, the Conowingo Dam was celebrated as an astounding engineering feat. From the marvel of its construction to the drowning of a small Maryland village and, ultimately, the brush with destruction at the hands of the "storm of the century," it's a tale that waited nearly 90 years to be told.
Maryland Public Television; EMMY AWARD Winner |
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Potomac by Air: Our Nation's RiverComing on the heels of the critically acclaimed Chesapeake Bay By Air, the program celebrates the Potomac River's incredible natural and man-made history, along with our nation's monuments and memorials, all from an exhilarating bird's eye view.
Maryland Public Television; EMMY AWARD Winner |
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Everyday Holiness: The Life of Fr. Joseph MuzquizAffectionately known as “Fr. Joe,” this Spanish priest arrived in the U.S. in 1949 to begin the activities of Opus Dei, at the time an unknown and revolutionary new aspect of the Catholic Church. Through his influence, many Americans committed their lives to serving God in everyday life.
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A Raisin in the Sun RevisitedThis performance-doc captures the legacy of Lorraine Hansberry’s groundbreaking 1959 drama depicting the strength and humanity of an African-American family as it strives for the American dream by buying a house in a white neighborhood in Chicago. Fifty years later, playwright Bruce Norris created Clybourne Park, a sardonic Pulitzer Prize-winner that takes place in the same Chicago house, reigniting the questions of race and real estate in America.
PBS Arts Festival |
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Homecoming: The Kansas City Symphony Presents Joyce DiDonatoThe mezzo-soprano star of The Metropolitan Opera performs with the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Michael Stern, filmed in the stunning new Moishe Safde-designed Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
PBS Arts Festival |
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Secrets of the ChesapeakeNo stone is left unturned in the quest to uncover the Chesapeake's hidden wonders, including its formation by meteor impact 35 million years ago, lost islands, haunted light houses, a forgotten WWI ghost fleet, and Chessie the sea creature.
Maryland Public Television; EMMY AWARD Finalist |
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Les Paul LIVE in New YorkA roasting-toasting concert film that captures the godfather of Rock n' Roll in all his unadorned charm, filmed at a New York City jazz joint during Les Paul's final performances, with guest appearances by Steve Miller, Keith Richards, Tommy Emmanuel, David Grisman, Tony Bennett, and many more who jam with Les.
American Public Television; DVD and Blu-Ray by Questar Entertainment; Silver TELLY Award Winner |
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Les Paul Chasing SoundLes Paul, the father of the electric guitar, inventor of multi-track recording, and architect of Rock n' Roll performs his final shows in a NY jazz joint and tells his own rags-to-riches story: from Waukesha, Wisconsin, to Bing Crosby, the Jazz Greats, and 1950's pop stardom, culminating in his influence on today's legends—McCartney, Clapton, Beck, Page, B.B. King, The Carpenters, and Phil Ramone.
PBS/American Masters; BBC & Eagle Vision (UK); Pony Canyon (Japan) Primetime EMMY AWARD Nominee; ASCAP Deems Taylor Award (Excellence presenting music in broadcast television); Silver HUGO Award; Silver TELLY Award; CINE Gold Eagle; Park City Film Music Festival Gold Medal (Best Documentary on a Musical Subject); IDA Award Nominee |
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The Chesapeake Bay Bridge: Spanning the BayAt its opening in 1952, this towering architectural achievement was the third largest over-water span in the world, and it forever changed Maryland by uniting a geographically divided state. Includes a joyous ride over the bridge in a vintage 1950s Cadillac convertible.
Maryland Public Television; EMMY AWARD Winner |
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Chesapeake Bay By AirA critically acclaimed and poetically breathtaking aerial survey, from serene wetlands and wildlife habitats, to tiny fishing villages, hidden tourist towns and broad-shouldered cities. The rhythms of life in the country's largest estuary are captured from a stunning vantage point.
Maryland Public Television; EMMY AWARD Winner |
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Liza's at the PalaceLiza Minnelli performs her legendary hits at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, with a show-stopping tribute to her godmother, the late Kay Thompson—a groundbreaking singer-dancer at MGM Studios. Liza's triumphant New York run won a Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event.
American Public Television; Young Productions; Paulson is Cinematographer |
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Rejoice and ShoutA jubilant Gospel music journey packed with rare and stirring archival performances. A 200-year musical history of African-American Christianity culled from hundreds of hours of music featuring the crème de la crème of Gospel performers.
Directed by Don McGlynn. Magnolia Pictures. Theatrical by Landmark. Paulson is Cinematographer |
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Advise & DissentAdvise & Dissent goes into the trenches of the confirmation wars over Supreme Court nominees John Roberts and Samuel Alito. Both timely and timeless, the award-winning film lays bare the collision of politics and justice that is reshaping America's future.
Lumiere Productions; Paulson is Cinematographer |
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Three Mo' DivasThree classically trained women sing with class, sass, and style, smashing musical barriers, and spanning 200 years of music and ten vocal genres: Opera, Broadway, Jazz, Blues, R&B, Rock & Roll, Spirituals, and more.
PBS; Blu-ray and cast album by Acorn Media Group. |
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Woody Guthrie LegacyFolk singer Woody Guthrie's legacy resonates in contemporary musicians Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Billy Bragg, Ani DiFranco, Wilco, and others with unplugged performances of Woody’s most iconic and cherished tunes.
Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service Silver MUSE Award (AAM); New York Festivals Finalist; Gold CINDY Award; CINE Golden Eagle |
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A Native PlaceThis documentary tracks the physical creation and spiritual underpinnings of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, built to showcase Indigenous art, artifacts, and living culture.
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian |
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Getting to Know . . .Oklahoma!This video teaches children how to stage, choreograph, and perform the beloved musicals of Rodgers and Hammerstein. Others in the series include State Fair, Cinderella, The King & I, and Once Upon a Mattress.
Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization; Distributed by The Hal Leonard Corporation |
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Fury! Passion, Power, FlamencoFilmed in Madrid, this performance special features the seductive allure of the dance troupe Nuevo Flamenco Español.
American Public Television; TV Matters, Inc. / Sony Classical / EuroArts; Paulson is Editor |
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The Silk Road: Connecting Cultures, Creating TrustThis film captures the panorama of musical and artistic expression that flourished in Washington, D.C. during the Smithsonian’s Silk Road Festival, with culture spanning the lands of the ancient Silk Road and performances by YoYo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble.
The Silk Road Project / Smithsonian Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage |
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Jerusalem: A Passion for LivingThe film celebrates the cultural life of Jerusalem where Muslim, Christian, and Jew live side by side, often in bitter opposition to each other. Yet they share in common the commitment to preserve faith and tradition.
Smithsonian Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage |
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Guide to the SmithsonianAn introductory overview of the vast world of art, history, science, and feats of human achievement housed in the museums of the Smithsonian Institution, designed to inform, orient, and enhance visitor experiences.
Smithsonian Visitor Center |
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People and Pianos: 300 YearsA documentary commemorating the 300-year history of the piano, from its technological evolution to the manufacturers, craft persons, and master musicians who shaped its sound.
PBS; Smithsonian Productions / EuroArts; Paulson is Director of Photography CINE Golden Eagle winner |
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Piano Grand! A Smithsonian CelebrationA gala performance special celebrating the 300th anniversary of the invention of the piano, starring Billy Joel, Diana Krall, Dave Brubeck, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Jerry Lee Lewis, Marcus Roberts, and more.
PBS, NHK, BBC; Smithsonian Productions / Maryland Public Television / EuroArts DVD Distributed by Columbia Records Home Video Gold “Astrolabium” Award, International Electronic Cinema Festival (“Montreaux”); Paulson is Cinematographer and doc segment Editor |
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Earl's CanoeA portrait of master birch-bark canoe builder Earl Nyholm (Ojibwa) who builds his final canoe.
PBS; Documentary Educational Resources / Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Cine Golden Eagle winner; Margaret Mead Anthropological Film Festival; Black Mariah Film Festival, 2nd Place; Society for Visual Anthropology, Award of Commendation |
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River of SongA four-part PBS and seven-part radio series presenting the sweep of music flourishing along the banks of the Mississippi River, with performances from its headwaters in Minnesota through America’s heartland down to New Orleans.
PBS; National Public Radio; Filmmaker’s Collaborative / Smithsonian Productions / Acorn Media / Folkways Recordings George Foster Peabody Award winner; Paulson is Location and Post Sound Mixer, 2nd Camera |
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El Rio: Culture & EcologyA series of documentary shorts for museum exhibition presenting culture along the U.S.-Mexico border: cowboys, shrimp fishermen, piñata makers, and a Conjunto musicians.
Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage |
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The Poetics of LineA documentary that profiles a leading group of contemporary Nigerian artists of the Nsukka Group and the indigenous visual traditions from which they draw inspiration.
Smithsonian National Museum of African Art |
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The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra In ConcertLive concert performances of the Smithsonian’s big band jazz orchestra.
Smithsonian's Jazz Masterworks Orchestra |
