Where to? What Next? And the importance of asking that question

A significant question that gets asked in our film is when Studs Terkel echos Carl Sandburg's famous line from The People, Yes, "Where to? What Next?". Studs asks; "What other question can we ask today?" And in asking this he reminds the viewer of how eternal that question is, for us a individuals and for the United States as a nation.

Sandburg's original question and Studs' modern reference to it is really what this film is about. A window into the work and current relevance of Sandburg. Studs Terkel died on this day, October 31st, 2008, but his vast body of work and his contribution to our film will be enjoyed for many years into the future. He opened his doors and his mind to our project, and for that I am extremely grateful.

As we move towards finishing the film this month, entering it in countless film festivals and negotiating distribution possibilities this blog will change. Very frequently I am going to be celebrating some of the important people and moment that appear in the film. Please become a 'follower' of this blog and join the journey as we being to share the film with the world.

On November 2nd, the Asheville paper wrote a nice article about our status, thanks to Jason Sandford for that coverage. Take a look here.

Thank you.

Sandburg and Nixon

The image is compelling. Carl Sandburg speaking to a joint session of US Congress in 1959 with Richard Nixon sitting behind him as Vice President. Sandburg reads;

"Men and women. This country has always had them in crisis. Men and women who understand that where ever there is freedom, there have been those who have fought, toiled and sacrificed for it."

Of course, Sandburg could not have known how Nixon would fail to be one of those defenders of freedom, and fall in disgrace. But what Sandburg did know was that he'd seen his type before. In his day and in the history of Lincoln. He could see the turmoil the nation was facing and that it was ripe with opportunity for leadership or failure.

I bring this kind of statement back to this blog discussion because our film, The Day Carl Sandburg Died is being made primarily to tell Sandburg's story, and to create the opportunity for people to think about Sandburg again. To think about his ideas and hear his poetry again. To try and remember the scope of his life and the huge impact he made on the 20th century.

We are finishing the film as I write this, finalizing permissions and countless other duties, but stay tuned. My blogging and my enthusiasm to share Sandburg with the world has never been stronger.