the truth is stranger

The "Sideline" Stories

2010-02-09T18:36:00.000-08:00

I love public radio. There is no better fodder for the insatiably curious and the occasional mind stretch. Recently, I again listened to The Story's Dick Gordon interview with Betty Klenck Brown in 2007, who, as a young girl, believes she heard Amelia Earhart's last transmissions over her father's shortwave radio. In short, on a July afternoon in 1937, 15 year old Betty was listening to the radio and writing down song lyrics in a composition book when she came across a distraught Earhart broadcasting repeated distress calls. Familiar with Earhart, she knew she was listening to something important, and began writing down all she heard, which seemingly made little sense. Random numbers, disjointed thoughts, with a man's voice interspersed. When Betty's father arrived home, he listened, saw his daughter's notes, and immediately went to the Coast Guard to tell them what they'd heard. Officials told him everything was under control, but thanks anyway.

Betty's notebook did not surface again until 50 years later, when it became an integral part of several theories on Amelia Earhart's fate. She wrote things in her notebook that she could not possibly have known if the messages were not from Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan.

Gordon's interview with the shaky-voiced Brown, now 85 years old, lasts roughly 30 minutes, and I found myself more curious about Betty Brown than Earhart. Suspend your cynicism for a moment, and let's assume this is a true story (I believe it is). Betty was not just a bystander, but a part of the Earhart story, a part of history, no matter how quietly it has played itself out. She was haunted by the radio transmissions and the military's dismissal of her experience. She attempted to reach out to authorities on several occasions as she grew into adulthood, but no one was interested. Left with the feeling that she might have had information that could have potentially saved two lives, Brown channeled her experience into a life path that helped her somehow connect with the lost aviator: she became a pilot herself. She said "she wanted to do something for her (Amelia)." Brown, possessing some of the same confidence and bravado as Earhart, met her husband, also a pilot, dusting him as he walked into an airplane hangar as she taxied in from a flight. They were married three weeks later.

The interview doesn't tell us much about Betty's life past her early flying experiences and the heart-warming story of how she met her future husband. But this is a story deserving to be told. Betty was witness to history, perhaps some scandal, and her entire life, and many of those she touched, were forever changed by it. I am left with a keener eye for all characters in a story now, not just the "stars." Which one of us is going to tell this story?

The Truth Is Stranger Thanksgiving Recommendations

2009-11-26T12:20:00.000-08:00

The Moth via NYTimes

So grateful to my readers, the cool folks I interact with on Twitter, the creative nonfiction community. I hope you are having a lovely Thanksgiving. Here are some recommendations:

Film

Rivers and Tides. If ever there was a more beautiful meditative film about an artist than watching Andy Goldsworthy work with nature, I haven't a clue what it is. If you do, let me know. Andy does things with leaves and rocks and icicles that will leave you breathless (and cold). Gorgeous.

Print

It is NOT nonfiction, but it IS about a creative nonfiction class (fiction about nonfiction): Generosity by Richard Powers. I'm in the middle and eating it up.

Podcast

The Moth NYC: This American Life pulls some of its programs from The Moth which features unknown storytellers like neurosurgeons and police officers and as well as famous folks like Moby and Ethan Hawke. You can get this podcast in all the usual ways. Prepare to be stunned by your fellow humans...again.

Patti Smith: Dream of Life

2009-11-02T17:59:00.000-08:00

I'll be honest. I've always known who Patti Smith was, was vaguely aware of her relationship with, and to, Robert Mapplethorpe and of her music. But she was never hugely on my radar. Why, at the library today, I was compelled to pick up a documentary about her is a mystery, a serendipitous mystery. Dream of Life is brilliant, one of the best documentaries (I even hate calling it that as it has qualities of a fictional art house film) I've seen. Part black and white, part color, old footage and new, overlapped with Patti's music and poetry, Robert's art, family photos, it plays like a photo collage but more. Honestly, it is so good, I'm not actually done with watching it as I write this...

The Truth is Stranger Recommends

2009-11-01T06:23:00.000-08:00

Here are our Sunday recommendations for you nonfiction creatives and fans.

Online

InvisiblePeople.tv for putting a human face on the problem of homelessness. The internet/blogging provides such a freakin' powerful outlet for everyone's voice. Terribly moved this morning. Also check out: Live From the Left Coast (wish I'd thought of that name!) podcast.

Film

I need a recommendation for a recent documentary you've seen! For myself, I love How to Draw a Bunny. But then I'm an art whore and you may not be. What documentary moved you recently?

Print

Made to Stick, while formally a business book, is similar in tone and information as The Tipping Point. VERY readable, chock full of information for anyone who wants to get any type of idea to take off. Highly recommended.

Television

A documentary of Michael Pollan's bestseller, The Botany of Desire, was on PBS on 10/28. If you missed it, you can watch it here.

The Truth is Stranger Recommends

2009-10-25T06:36:00.000-07:00

For all of you nonfiction fans and creatives, we have a great list of suggestions in our new weekly series. Please follow us on Twitter for updates and additional recommendations and to tweet us YOUR ideas and favorites!

Film:

Garbage Warrior: as a good documentary does, this story of one man's quest to allow for freedom to experiment with alternative building methods without the restrictions of archaic and restrictive building codes becomes a compelling drama. Plus the Earthship's are really really cool!

Print:

Kathleen Norris's Acedia & Me, like all of her other contemplative spiritual works, is an examination of an ancient and forgotten "sin" seems incredibly relevant for today's harried society looking for meaning. The prose is beautiful and the back story of Norris's long-term marriage is moving. Highly recommended.

Radio/Online:

NPR's coverage of all things Amelia Earhart, in conjunction with the new biopic, comes highly recommended to The Truth is Stranger, particularly the story of Bonnie Brown, a US teenager who overheard some of Earhart's distressed transmissions and her family's attempts at alerting authorities.

Television:

Independent Lens, on October 27, presents Journals of a Wily School:

"On the hot and crowded streets of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), three thousand pickpockets ply their trade every day, three hundred of them circulating through police custody at any given time. JOURNALS OF A WILY SCHOOL takes viewers inside the world of these petty thieves and the detectives who doggedly pursue them, day in and day out.

With unprecedented access, first-time director Sudeshna Bose follows a young and talented pickpocket named Azad Jalaluddin, revealing in cinema verité style the many layers of his life."

David Lynch Interview Project

2009-08-29T12:53:00.000-07:00

David Lynch, the intriguingly warped director of Twin Peaks and Blue Velvet (among other things) has started an online interview project. Read about it here.

Reminds me. Should I do a new category for truth-tellers on the Web? Probably!

Follow us: @truthisstranger on Twitter.

Dear Twitter...

2009-07-16T08:58:00.001-07:00

Dear Twitter,
I know you earn no money. I know many see you as a waste of time. I know some people don't get you and only 5% of us account for 90% of your activity. In 5 years, will you still be around? Who knows. Who cares, really? For now, you allow me to find things and "meet" people I never would have before. When I'm home, alone, in my slightly socially retarded mode, I can discuss and banter with people across the world. I'm one of those 5% which I can't say about much else (i.e. this makes me "special"). On Twitter, I found @SnagFilms, or I should say they found me which is even better. Regardless. Without Twitter, without Snag Films, I would have never seen this. A 3 minute free documentary that is a literary, witty joy and The London Review of Books.
Love,
@truthisstranger

Snag Films, BTW, made it very easy to "snag" this onto this blog. Enjoy!

Shameless Self-Promotion

2009-06-28T05:21:00.000-07:00

Mike Birbiglia is a comedian, but really he's a storyteller who has more in common with Mark Twain and Garrison Keillor than Ron White. With a few stints on This American Life and now a book deal with Simon & Schuster, what Mike is really great at, in addition to relaying snippets of his ailment-ridden life, is self-promotion (alot of it cheap, or free social networking). In addition to a well-designed Web site and newsletter, Mike is active on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr (he encourages fans to send in photos), MySpace and YouTube. He interacts with fans by email, has a street team and seems really accessible (I'm planning on tracking him down for a phone interview as soon as possible about the writing of his book-do ya hear that, Mike?). I saw Mike in Cincinnati this past week and he did not disappoint.

Take a lesson from Mike and make the rounds if you are a storyteller, whether in film, print, radio or TV. Get your fans involved and they will spread the word!

Mindmapping Your Way to a Book or Film...

2009-06-13T15:05:00.000-07:00

Whether you are doing mindmapping the analog (what I consider the 'artsy' way) or whether you are using a mindmapping program, for creative brainstorming and organizing ideas, it's a useful tool. I LOVE mindmapping, though I do generally use a piece of paper and a pencil to do it. I think the process is pretty clear by just look at samples of them which you can do on Flickr via this link. Do a Google image search of mindmaps and some are clearly works of art.

Here's a great article about using MindManager software to layout a book. I'm guessing my filmmakers can see the crossover to developing a film. Stick the working title in the middle and start developing chapters or scenes off of that center.

Alltop has a whole mindmapping section of blogs and you can find a list of software (plenty of it free) here. If any of you have used a mindmap for laying out a book, film, podcast or similar, let us know! I'd love a photo or scan of it.

Life in Perpetual Beta: Film in Progress

2009-06-10T13:08:00.000-07:00

Great interview with Seth Godin from Melissa Pierces's documentary in progress "Life in Perpetual Beta". Melissa was one of the inspirations behind this site (I met her briefly and sat in on one of her sessions at SXSW Interactive) for two reasons: I loved the whole concept of Life in Perpetual Beta AND Melissa confesses to knowing nothing about documentary filmmaking-she's learning it all as she goes. She's written a wonderful post about interviewing Seth here, about having balls (my words, not hers) and following forth with a dream despite obstacles. I highly recommend Seth's The Dip for anyone trying to pursue a dream. The interview, her post and his book go nicely together-regardless of whether you are a writer, filmmaker or doodah builder.

Follow on Twitter
Melissa Pierce
Seth Godin
The Truth is Stranger

In case you haven't seen it

2009-06-06T06:19:00.000-07:00

This has been all over the Web and on Twitter but in case you haven't seen Elizabeth Gilbert's amazing presentation on creativity at TED.com, here's your chance:

New link

2009-06-06T05:39:00.001-07:00

Check out: http://bookgroupbuzz.booklistonline.com/category/nonfiction/

Adventure Film School...How cool is that?

2009-06-05T07:08:00.000-07:00

Those of us here at TTIS aren't what I'd call physically adventurous. We like the outdoors, but in a more comfortable way. But, we picked up a copy of Outside magazine at the library because it had "weekend adventures for under $500" and we are notoriously cheap! We ended up enjoying the whole magazine a lot, it made us want to go on an adventure and all the people in it are very pretty and healthy. But none of that matters to you, does it? ;-)

There was an article on How to Film and turns out, Outside magazine partners with Serac Adventure Film School to offer week long intensives on "adventure filming". Adventure filmmakers are the one's capturing skiing parachuters propelling off of and skiing down improbably steep slopes, or kayakers careening down waterfalls, or following behind the cast of Survivor maybe? They cover topics like interviewing, lighting, camera angles, pre-production, post-production and much more. Makes me wanna be one of these cool kids...For those of you who are on the adventurous side, this might be right up your alley! Next intensive is October 11-17, 2009 in Santa Fe.

What'd you think of this article? Let us know.

I LOVE BLOGGER!

2009-06-03T20:12:00.001-07:00

Pleased as can be to be here!

Herb and Dorothy are Coming!

2009-06-03T19:10:00.000-07:00

I was smitten with this couple when I first saw them on 60 Minutes ions ago. Since then, they've become a household name in the modern art world, holding one of the largest individual collections ever and acting as little patron elves to some of the premier modern artists, all of this from a tiny postage stamp apartment on a postal clerk and librarian's salary.

This will be the first feature documentary from producer/director Megumi Sasaki, who has done a great deal of documentary television work in Japan and US. The film is already winning a variety of awards on the film festival circuit and is heading to a theater in most large cities over the summer-premiering in NYC on June 5.

You can follow the couple and the film on Twitter: @herbanddorothy.

TTIS added to Alltop.com!

2009-06-03T19:09:00.000-07:00

Received this tweet from Guy Kawasaki: "@truthisstranger I added your feed to filmmaking.alltop and writing.alltop, so you will have lots in common with other leading bloggers :-)"

This is a huge honor and all I can say is "thank you"!

Alltop.com

True Films

2009-06-03T19:08:00.000-07:00

Kevin Kelly has an addictive site for non-fiction film lovers (the Brits call these "factuals") . With categories as varied as "Artists at Work" (a personal fav) and "Music Peformances" as well as your traditional narrative documentaries, it's a resource worth bookmarking. Currently he's featuring a film called The Bridge about public suicides (I know, happy topic, eh?).

Why "The Truth is Stranger"?

2009-06-03T19:06:00.000-07:00

Welcome to "The Truth is Stranger...", a new blog/site for established and aspiring writers and filmmakers who focus on non-fiction subjects. Whether documentarians, business book authors, memoirists, business podcasters...anyone who wants to know more about the research and presentation of information that is factual is encouraged to hang here!

I was inspired by a couple of books that managed to give me a whole bunch of information without putting me to sleep-that were as fun to read as a novel: A Whole New Mind by Dan Pink and How Buildings Learn by Stewart Brand. One about the future of work, the other about the fluidity of architecture. Didn't expect either of these to keep me up at night, but they did.
Secondly, I have several non-fiction pieces swirling in my mind. You probably do too. But knowing how to research, where the best sources are, how to organize my information-well, frankly I tend to freeze at this point.

I also saw a great piece with Elizabeth Gilbert on Oprah awhile back (she is so freakin' charming), showing her big box of 3X5 cards that she was using to gather data for her next book and I thought Eureka! I wish I could ask her some questions...and I wish I had a photo of those notecards.

Then there was Guy Kawasaki at SXSW chatting about converting his blog into book form with printed chapters laid all over the floor, meeting Melissa Pierce who is working on a documentary called Life in Perpetual Beta, following the creation of Handmade Nation (both the book and the film)...all of these have inspired the creation of this site.

You have questions! I want to get the answers!

The plan is to provide resources, videos, a flickr group, interviews, pre-release info and as much as I possibly can. If you have any burning questions, please let me know! Follow us on Twitter: @truthisstranger.

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2009-06-03T18:00:00.001-07:00