Labor's Troubador Documentary Film- Synopsis, About the Film

LABOR'S TROUBADOUR FILMMAKER'S PRESS RELEASE 2006

Running time: 37:08

Labor's Troubadour, a stirring documentary on the legendary labor folk singer and social historian Joe Glazer, premiered at the Smithsonian - National Museum of American History on June 18, 2005. Glazer, a national treasure, has used his guitar and gift for storytelling for over sixty years to inspire and build solidarity in the American labor movement. The film, produced and directed by Hope Moskowitz (UW,1983), weaves together archival footage, concert performances, interviews, music, news clips and photographs from Joe's life, presenting an invaluable chronicle of the labor movement and the music that was inspired.

Glazer came to Madison as a young man to study statistics at the University of Wisconsin. His wife Mildred's undergraduate studies in labor economics ignited his interest in the labor movement. Glazer went on to work at the Textile Worker's Union of America (TWUA), The United Rubber Workers, and then The United States Information Agency (USIA) as a Labor Specialist.

Social commentary from Hyman Bookbinder (labor advocate), Elise Bryant (senior staff - The George Meany Center, National Labor College), Archie Green (American folklorist), Joe Glazer (educator/ performer),Jeff Place (archivist, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives & Collections - Smithsonian Institution), Michael Taft (folklife specialist, The American Folklife Center, Library of Congress), and Joe Uehlein (President, Labor Heritage Foundation) contribute the essential educational, historical, and social context to each of the twenty-three labor songs presented, highlighting the contribution that Joe Glazer has made on behalf of all working men and women as Labor's Troubadour.

Joe Uehlein (from the film)--
“Joe Glazer singing “Solidarity Forever” is probably something that a good portion of union membership across this country has seen and been touched by - and that is quite a testament.”

Woodrow Ginsburg, labor economist --
“A splendid accomplishment! The film portrays dramatically the history of the growth and development of the union movement in industries across the nation. It offers teachers an excellent, insightful review of one of the key social movements in our country.”

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney --
"This is a beautiful film. It is a stirring film. Everyone should see it."

The documentary Labor's Troubadour, will be screening in The Wisconsin Film Festival on the following dates,

Friday, Mar 31, 2006
Wisconsin's Own Shorts: Monona Terrace Program
7:00pm | 2h15
Monona Terrace
Order Code: WOMON31

Saturday, Apr 1, 2006
Wisconsin's Own Shorts: Monona Terrace Program
11:00am | 2h15
Monona Terrace
Order Code: WOMON01

For more information about festival screenings and tickets please visit: www.wifilmfest.org

The film has been a labor of love with time donated by the following filmmakers:

Director/Producer Hope Moskowitz
Executive Producer Ann Keniston
Director of Photography Beth-jana Dahl
Co-Producer Trevor Jolly
Line-Producer Laurie Russman
Consulting Editor Deborah Zeitman
Additional Editor Laura Burns
Associate Producer Jacqueline Fralley
Archival/Stock Footage
Research Linda Christenson, Elisabeth M. Hartjens
Opening sequence design Laura Burns, Andrew Covell
Title Design Andrew Covell
Photoshop Artists Karen Lazar, Michael Thomas
On-line Editor Michael Garber
Sound Supervisor Trevor Jolly
Sound Editor Mark Glassman, Maciek Malish
Re-recording Mixer Jeremy Grody
Music Consultant Laura Perlman
Post-production Assistant Oisin O'Conner

Washington DC:
Production Manager Jacqueline Fralley
Additional cameras (concert) Jim Furlong, Joe Kekeris
Sound David Sless
Concert Coordinator Tony Blair
Production Assistants Ben Austin-Docampo, Zoe Blackbourn, Emily Glazer, Karl Kosok, Maya Kosok, Adrian Dustin-Munoz, Lynnn McDonald, Andrew Moskowitz, Steve Kielar
Las Vegas:
Camera/Sound Ann Keniston
Los Angeles:
Camera Assistant Lee Dublin
San Francisco:
Production/Sound Citizen Film
Website Design Nadia Reed

This film has been graciously funded by many Individuals,
Labor Unions, and Organizations including:

American Federation of Government Employees, Local 644, AFL-CIO
American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
Collector Records
Communications Workers of America (CWA)
Greater Madison County, Illinois, AFL-CIO
International Association of Machinists
Laborers' International Union, Midwest Region
Labor Heritage Foundation
Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO
Mother Jones Foundation
National Capital Area Union Retirees
New York State AFL-CIO
Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
The Union Club, Sun City, Arizona
UNITE HERE, AFL-CIO
Walter & May Reuther Memorial Fund
William W. Winpisinger Education Center