FILMS
BODY OF WAR
Directed and Produced by Ellen Spiro and Phil Donahue
Body of War, shortlisted for an Oscar nomination, is an intimate and transformational feature documentary about the true face of war today. Meet Tomas Young, 25 years old, paralyzed from a bullet to his spine - wounded after serving in Iraq for less than a week.
Body of War is Tomas' coming home story as he evolves into a new person, coming to terms with his disability and finding his own unique and passionate voice against the war. The film is produced and directed by Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro; Karen Bernstein is co-producer; and Bernadine Colish serves as editor. The film features two original songs by Eddie Vedder. Body of War is a naked and honest portrayal of what it's like inside the body, heart and soul of this extraordinary and heroic young man.
"No More", Music Video directed by Ellen Spiro, with original song by Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder, Tomas Young, Ellen Spiro and Phil Donahue at the Premiere of "Body of War" at the Toronto International Film Festival
FIXING THE FUTURE
Producer / Director: Ellen Spiro
Do people exist to serve the economy, or should the economy exist to serve the people? In Fixing the Future, host David Brancaccio, of public radio's Marketplace and NOW on PBS, visits people and organizations across America that are attempting a revolution: the reinvention of the American economy.
There are thousands of initiatives around the country - from farmers markets to local business networks - aimed at creating sustainable, local economies. Fixing the Future was broadcast nationally on PBS.
TROOP 1500
Producer / Director: Ellen Spiro
An estimated 1.5 million children have incarcerated parents and 90 percent of female inmates are single parents. Their daughters are six times more likely to land in the juvenile justice system. TROOP 1500 poignantly reveals how an inspired yet controversial effort by the 90+ year old Girl Scouts Organization is working to help these at-risk young girls deal with their unique circumstances and break the cycle of crime within families.
Listen to excerpts from the film featuring Ira Glass on "This American Life"
Girl Scouts from Troop 1500
ROAM SWEET HOME
Director: Ellen Spiro
Narration Written by Allan Gurganus
Co-produced by Vivian Kleiman and Pandora Zolotor
With her dog Sam (the narrator of the film) and her 1964 Airstream trailer, Spiro joins an adventurous community of roamers and loners on wheels who live on the road full time< by economic neccessity, pleasure or both. Behind the camera and behind the wheel, Spiro documents a unique world of vintage trailers, vintage dogs and vintage people, where the spirit of the moment collides with stories from the past.
Awards and Grants
Roam Sweet Home was awarded Grand Prize at the Big Muddy Film Festival and received the National Media Owl award presented by Gene Siskel for the Retirement Research Foundation. Roam was broadcast nationally on PBS.
Roam Sweet Home is an international co-production of the Independent Television Service and Channel Four UK. Additional funding was provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Jerome Foundation, and the Lucius and Eva Eastman Fund.
“I can’t say we’re free spirits, we just know how the system works and we’re side-stepping the system” - Gypsy George in Roam Sweet Home
