Welcome to “The Sights + Sounds Show with Jeneé Darden,” where every week we tap into the Bay Area arts scene and bring you rich conversations with artists. On today’s show: we hear from a filmmaker who made a documentary about living with dwarfism. Then, musicians and poets plan to celebrate the late Paul Robeson in Oakland, and a film questions if technology and money should outweigh the arts and people.
Julie Wyman
When you first meet Bay Area filmmaker Julie Wyman, you might not consider her as someone living with dwarfism because she's five feet tall. Or maybe you would because the proportions on her body are not considered "average." There's no one type of dwarfism. Actually, there are more than 400 forms of dwarfism. That's according to the organization, Little People of America. As a child, Julie was teased about her body but she later found support and community when attending a Little People of America conference. She tells her story in the documentary "The Tallest Dwarf." It's streaming during the San Francisco International Film Festival. Watch it this weekend on April 26 at the Premier Theater in San Francisco, and on April 27 at BAMPFA in Berkeley.
Raymond Nat Turner
Paul Robeson was an actor, college football player, scholar, law school graduate and activist. His beautiful baritone voice touched many, such as when he sang "Ol' Man River" in the film "Showboat." Robeson's life was complex. He was blacklisted in the entertainment world due to his activism. This month marks his 127th birthday. The poetry and jazz ensemble UpSurge! NYC is putting on a celebration for Robeson this Saturday in Oakland at the Plymouth Church of Jazz and Justice. Poet Raymond Nat Turner is UpSurge's Artistic Director. He talks about the event and Paul Robeson's legacy.
Joslyn Rose Lyons
In the film "The Masquerade" city leaders, developers and community activists gather for a cocktail dinner party. They're discussing a plan to tear down the city's arts district and replace it with a smart city. One of the guests is a mysterious illusionist, played by former San Francisco 49er tight end Vernon Davis. He magically causes the guests to tear off their masks, and be open about the personal reasons backing their approval and disapproval on the high-tech development. Emmy-nominated filmmaker Joslyn Rose Lyons directed "The Masquerade." Stream it on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video beginning May 20.
