Making It
Stand-up comedians Ahna Tessler and Lauren Engel take their not-yet-screenplay to Hollywood. Listeners try to get their made-up words into the dictionary. And writer Henry Alford ventures into new territory with a singing coach. On a more serious note, Steve Mumford makes art out of war. This week, we track these efforts, both heroic and flawed, to "make it."
"Battle of Algiers" Redux
Recently, folks at the Pentagon had an opportunity to watch "Battle of Algiers," the 1965 film about the Algerian uprising against the French. Presumably the film was screened as a "How Not-To" in Iraq. Lawrence Weschler, who runs the New York Institute for Humanities at New York University, and Mark Danner, writer and regular contributor to the New York Review of Books, have their own views of why the film should be required viewing. Produced by Curtis Fox.
After-War Sketches
"Seedy Teahouse" by Steve Mumford
Artist Steve Mumford has gone to Iraq twice since the end of the war to draw what he sees on the street and in the U.S. Army barracks there. From Baghdad, he speaks to Dean about art after war. You can see more pictures by Mumford here. Produced by Emily Botein.
Thru-Hiker — the Aftermath
This past spring, Tom Roberson, newly retired, set out to hike the Appalachian Trail. Since then we've been periodically checking on his progress. There was exhilaration, then despair. Here's the latest. Produced by Jill Krauss.
Down and Out (and Up and Down) in Hollywood
New York comedians Ahna Tessler and Lauren Engel knew that they had a film idea worthy of a lucrative Hollywood deal. Now all they needed was some money, a place to crash in L.A., and meetings with studios. Not to mention a script. Produced by Amanda Aronczyk.
What's Your Word?
Erin McKean, editor of the New Oxford American Dictionary and of Verbatim magazine, fields calls from ambitious listeners who want to get a new word into circulation.
Henry Sings
Henry Alford is a writer and actor. Now he'd like to add singing to his skill set. And so he goes to cabaret singer and voice coach Betsy Parrish for help in mastering one of his favorite tunes. Produced by Julie Subrin.
Performance Anxieties
Donna Summer, a devout Christian, came to regret the 16 minutes and 48 seconds of moaning and groaning that launched her musical career in the U.S. But as Dean observes, "Love to Love You, Baby" fits into (while expanding) a fine tradition of musical climaxes.
WNYC archives id: 36640
