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Diane Wolkstein: A Storyteller's Story Winner of 2008 Storytelling World Awards Honor  Diane Wolkstein: A Storyteller's Story explores the extraordinary career of one of the world's most celebrated storytellers. In 1967, the City of New York offered Diane the position of Official Storyteller and she traveled throughout the city telling stories in parks, schools, and hospitals. Her commitment to the art and preservation of storytelling took her to Haiti where she collected folk tales in Creole from local storytellers. Her love of myth led her to perform and publish the first modern translation of the ancient Mesopotamian epic Inanna. Now, forty years and twenty–three books later, A Storyteller's Story reveals how Diane — as artist, scholar, folklorist, teacher, and cultural anthropologist — came to be at the forefront of the modern storytelling movement. Through archival footage, in–depth interviews, and spellbinding performances, this thirty–seven minute film illuminates the power of storytelling and shows one woman's courageous journey to communicate heart–to–heart. "This is an excellent choice for beginning storytelling units, from middle grades to adults. Those interested in the art and practice of telling stories will benefit from watching this fascinating journey… the production values are superb." — School Library Journal (March 2008). "I once asked an Aboriginal woman in Australia how we differed from the animals. She replied, 'Why mate, we are the ones who can tell the stories about all the others.' The luminous Diane Wolkstein is such a one, a boon to humanity in that she is one of the greatest tellers of stories of this or any time. In this remarkable DVD, we meet Diane as she performs her high craft, igniting, inspiring, and bringing to her enraptured audiences the tales that thrill as they enlighten." — Jean Houston, author of A Mythic Life. "Some people are storytellers at heart. They hold stories in their heart and are compelled by the hidden genius of story. Diane Wolkstein is one of those, and by virtue of that, she is a national treasure. It is important that her story be told and become known, for she is part of the genius and wisdom of these times." — Michael Meade, author of The Water of Life. Diane's daring, beauty, depth, and delight in bringing story to the world will fascinate everyone who watches this film. It will especially inspire current and aspiring storytellers who will greatly increase their skill and understanding of the art of storytelling. There is no film out there like this one — it's a treasure." — Jay O'Callahan, master storyteller. "A Storyteller's Story definitively identifies what storytelling is and what storytelling can accomplish in human terms. Diane Wolkstein's fascinating journey, as she moves gracefully through forty years of storytelling, shows us how she changed the American landscape of the oral arts." — Sue Ann Martin, Dean, Central Michigan University College of Communication and Fine Arts. "Informative and thought provoking — with intriguing scenes from Diane's collecting in Haiti (leading to my favorite folktale collection of all time, The Magic Orange Tree ) as well as twelve added interview clips giving Diane's wise take on storytelling." — Margaret Read MacDonald, librarian, folklorist, and author of Ten Traditional Tellers. Watch the trailer for A Storyteller's Story (hosted at YouTube) Video ©2007 Cloudstone Productions. Special features  Performances:
 Honest insight into what is behind the art of storytelling: research, dedication, courage, and craft. Behind the Books: Commentaries on Wolkstein's 23 Award Winning Books. |
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Inanna "There's no one like Diane Wolkstein. A totally brilliant performance." Olympia Dukakis, film & stage actress. Recorded live at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City Individuals (private home use only): $20.00 Institutional (for library, academic purchase or classroom showing): $90.00 Inanna is a 21st Century rendering of a 5,000 year–old Sumerian epic. The great Sumerian goddess Inanna — the goddess of love, war, and fertility — gives up her earthly possessions and dares to journey to the Unknown. There she faces her sister and nemesis Erishkegal, the Queen of the Great Below. Told with humor and passion, this primal epic recounts the soul's compelling discovery of compassion. Diane is joined in this performance by composer–musician Geoffrey Gordon — an acclaimed multi–instrumentalist and world music pioneer — whose musical score evokes an atmosphere of mystery, stillness, and terror. "This specialized theater piece will have attraction for those with a keen interest in ancient civilizations, mythology, religious studies (particularly goddess worship), Middle Eastern studies, and performance arts." — Library Journal, October 1st, 2006. "Inanna, the bewitching and powerful goddess of the Sumerians, speaks from the heart in this wonderful production that brings her poetry and her divinity to life after millennia of silence." — Dr. Irving Finkel, Keeper of Antiquities, British Museum. "A unique and beautiful blend of entertainment and wisdom." — Olivier Bernier, Lecturer, Metropolitan Museum of Art. Special features This DVD includes two bonus interviews: one with Samuel Noah Kramer, the pre– eminent Sumerologist and co–author of Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth (HarperCollins), and one with Hugh Van Dusen, who edited the book. |
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Celebrating Our Mistakes Shlomo Carlebach & Diane Wolkstein Winner in the 2005 Storytelling World Resource Awards Individuals (private home use only): $32.00 Institutional (for library, academic purchase or classroom showing): $90.00 Shlomo Carlebach and Diane Wolkstein traded stories of the Baal Shem Tov and the Seer of Lublin before an appreciative audience at New York's American Museum of Natural History in September of 1994. The energy radiated from the two tellers created such joy and love that members of the audience spontaneously called out "L'Chayim!" ("To life!"). We hope that some of that energy — and the resulting joy and love — touches you as you enjoy Celebrating Our Mistakes A special essay by Diane is also provided in the package, as well as a glossary and bibliography. Learn more about this DVD… |
Prices shown do not include postage:
$4.00 for orders shipped within the United States
$10.00 for orders shipped to all other countries
Please e–mail Diane if you have any questions about the ordering process.
©2000–2008 Diane Wolkstein / Cloudstone Productions, New York City.
All rights are reserved.