Rex Stephenson, a theater professor at Ferrum College at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, has died at the age of 81. He was best known for telling Jack Tales, in performances that mixed drama, humor, and musical performances to entertain and engage their audiences.
Home » A conversation with West Virginia Filmmaker of the Year, John Nakashima
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A conversation with West Virginia Filmmaker of the Year, John Nakashima
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For more than 30 years, John Nakashima has made documentaries at West Virginia Public Broadcasting. But he’s also done more.
He co-edited the cult classic film “Chillers,” and worked on animated films, like “The Griffin and the Minor Canon,” which is based on a book of short stories penned by Frank Stockton. Nakashima is now being honored by his filmmaking colleagues with the state’s award for Filmmaker of the Year.
Here is the 26 minute documentary, Clifftop:
1009Naka.mp3
This 6:05 feature aired on West Virginia Public Radio.
JohnNakashima.mp3
This audio is the raw and uncut interview Ben Adducchio conducted with Nakashima.
Here are some clips from Mountaineer:
Here are clips from Different Drummer Documentaries Your Public Servant, and The Final Accounting
This week, we remember Rex Stephenson. He’s known for his stage performances of the Jack Tales, which have captivated school kids since the ‘70s. Also, keeping the family farm going after six generations can be rough. And, some parts of southern Appalachia still practice the tradition of keeping up community gravesites for Decoration Day.
This month, the CPB will begin winding down its operations. The funding cuts will mostly affect NPR and PBS affiliates like our home station. Smaller stations are being hit especially hard. Like Allegheny Mountain Radio, on the Virginia-West Virginia border. Inside Appalachia Host Mason Adams spoke with Scott Smith, Allegheny Mountain Radio’s general manager.
This week, the federal government has taken back millions of dollars set aside for public radio stations. Allegheny Mountain Radio is among those fighting to stay on the air. Also, a book by a West Virginia artist illustrates the tiny worlds of mountain critters, like a lizard that changes color. And, geocaching gets folks outside to play detective and find hidden treasures.