Thursday, December 31, 2015

Haskel Wexler


I read with sadness that legendary cinematographer Haskel Wexler passed away. He was 93. Leftist film and video makers should note his name, and hoist a glass his way. He was a fellow traveler who worked on leftist classics such as the 1954 blacklisted film "Salt of the Earth." He shot "Medium Cool," and a generation later was cinematographer for John Sayles' "Matwan," and others. In between, he went to Viet Nam with Jane Fonda, filmed the Weather Underground, and picked up a few Oscars here and there.

Kay and I chatted with Wexler during a break at a conference for "Salt of the Earth," held on the 50th anniversary of the film. We were there because Kay had shown that film year after year to her high school English students. In the early 70s, I had screened an original 16mm print of it many times to soldiers as part of the GI movement against the Viet Nam war, and had later made a point of showing it to union workers in a variety of venues. Haskel Wexler was from the WW II generation, one of the forefathers who faced down the incredible repression of the witch-hunt days, and continued to put out political work that made a difference to the generations who followed. When we met him in 2003, he was still active and quite animated.

What I'm most proud of is that Haskel Wexler once contacted PepperSpray Productions, asking us for permission to use our Lt. Watada footage. I was so pleased that a guy whose work I had admired and used so much had found value in our coverage of the Watada story. Our footage ended up in a film on Lt. Watada where Haskel Wexler is credited as cinematographer, "In the Name of Democracy: America's Conscience, a Soldier's Sacrifice." That's a great honor for all the PepperSpray Collective, and our little connection to one hell of an activist and cinematographer. 

Rest In Peace, Brother Haskel Wexler.

Randy Rowland

Friday, December 11, 2015

Trumbo (the movie)

I was out of town when this movie opened in Seattle, but finally saw it last night. Dalton Trumbo, a member of the CPUSA, author of "Johnnie Got His Gun," scriptwriter for "Spartacus" just to name a few, was one of the blacklisted Hollywood Ten. He did a year or so in prison for refusing to name names, etc. Fighters like him made conditions a whole lot better for radicals like us in the generations who followed him.

The movie is very good, and fellow travelers especially will love it. Luckily, it is still playing in Seattle (Guild 45th), so if you haven't seen it, you owe it to your activist self to get to it this week.

Randy Rowland