healthcare Archives – J R Martin Media Inc

Vision Films

Available on DVD and VOD on May 12, 2020

Director/Producer Joyce Marie Fitzpatrick and Director/Producer/DP Brian C. Shackelford. Editor, Brian C. Shackelford

Review by James R (Jim) Martin

Documentaries come in many different forms and styles but there are two important aspects needed for a serious documentary exploration. That its approach is based on objective reality (facts) and that it be informative. At the same time, a documentary is expected to be interesting to watch. The Color of Medicine: The Story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital meets all these criteria and also makes a significant contribution to the body of knowledge concerning the history of the U.S., the history of African American’s and the culture of the country.

The Color of Medicine: The Story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital is a topical, relevant, and important documentary film. The story is told in a warm and personal fashion by the people who lived and were part of the Homer G. Phillips Hospital over the years. Directed and Produced by Joyce Marie Fitzpatrick and Brian C. Shackelford the film makes use of archival footage and photographs, action, and interview footage. It is fast-paced and makes good use of archival material as well as first-person interviews. The documentary is being released by Vision Films in association with Flatcat-Productions, LLC and Tunnel Vizion Films, Inc.

Homer G Phillips Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri

The Color of Medicine: The Story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital brings to light the origins and history of this groundbreaking hospital that brought healthcare for African Americans in St. Louis at a time when it was greatly needed. After much controversy and delay the Homer G. Phillips Hospital opened in 1939 when much of the country still practiced segregation. It was the first public hospital fully staffed and administered by African Americans. This story has universal appeal and should be seen by everyone wishing to understand more about the evolution of healthcare and racial politics in the U.S. It is especially relevant today when we see the Coronavirus Pandemic taking a greater toll on minority communities where there are less or no public health care facilities.

The documentary constructs the story in a chronological fashion first showing the environment and conditions where Black Americans lived in a particular St. Louis neighborhood known as The Ville. The Ville was a small entirely black community where residents of varying education and economic levels lived and prospered as they would in a typical middle-class American family neighborhood. Building the hospital became the dream of Homer G. Phillips, a lawyer, and activist who lived in the Ville. Phillip’s efforts were instrumental in the hospital finally being built after the city of St. Louis delayed it for ten years. The opening in 1937 meant that African Americans in this area would finally be able to get state-of-the-art medical care and treatment. The clandestine closing of the hospital by the City of St. Louis in 1979 was a severe blow to the community. The closing was met with protest and rioting at the time.

Nurses graduating training at Homer G. Philips Hospital

During its existence, Homer G. Phillips Hospital became well known for the excellence of its medical staff and quality of care. It produced the largest number of black doctors and nurses in the world. “I was very proud to tell the story of the Homer G. Phillips Hospital because it truly is the Hidden Figures of black medicine,” says director Joyce Marie Fitzpatrick. “I hope everyone who sees this film can appreciate the contributions made and understands the disparities that African Americans and other minorities still face today during these turbulent times.”

“The film has taken away Best Documentary at Montreal International Black Film Festival, Gary International Black Film Festival, National Black Film Festival 2019 – Houston, Texas and I See You Awards 2019 – Detroit, Michigan, as well as being an Official Entry at several film festivals including St Louis International Film Festival, Reel World Film Festival, and Kansas City Film Fest International.” – Vision Films

The Color of Medicine: The story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital will be available on May 12, 2020, on digital for SRP of $4.99 – $9.99 from platforms including iTunes, Vudu, Google Play, Xbox, Amazon and FandangoNow, as well as cable affiliates everywhere. DVD purchase at $12.99 online at all major retailers.

Synopsis

“Boasting the largest number of black doctors and nurses in the world, Homer G. Phillips Hospital opened its doors in 1937 during a time in history when America still had segregated medical facilities. Through first-hand accounts, witness the controversial history of the hospital’s medical training and how it continues to affect the lives of its practitioners, patients, and community. While its founder attorney Homer G. Phillips was mysteriously killed, the hospital in his name thrived during the most turbulent of segregated times, allowing so many people of color to achieve greatness for the benefit of humankind.”

“The film features Dr. Earle U. Robinson Jr., a 2nd generation physician, and alumnus from Homer G. Phillips hospital, who not only shares his unique and colorful personal story but also that of his father’s who was one of the first 27 black graduates of this ground-breaking facility. Dr. Earle U. Robinson Jr. stated, “Before these events are lost with my passing, I want to make sure people have the opportunity to learn about such a monumental place in history. The best times I’ve had in my life were the years I spent at Homer G. Phillips.” – Vision Films

“The historical importance of Homer G. Phillips and the hospital named after him cannot be understated, especially at a time where individuals in the medical field are more important than ever,” says Vision Films Managing Director/CEO, Lise Romanoff. “We’re reminded now that illness does not discriminate, and this important film celebrates the contribution to medicine from the African American community.”

Trailer The Color of Medicine: The Story of the Homer G. Phillips Hospital

Review by James R (Jim) Martin – Documentary Filmmaker, Writer, and Author. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2CCE7E7A20D1EC8E

WHERE TO INVADE NEXT — PREPARE TO BE LIBERATED — Review by Jim Martin

Where To Invade Next is a documentary you won’t forget once you see it. With humor and insight Michael Moore again provides us with food for thought, literally in one instance and figuratively in other ways. This is an important next documentary by Michael Moore after SICKO made about six years ago. This time though Michael Moore takes on a mission, apparently sanctioned by top Pentagon military experts, to invade other countries, win a war and bring back important ideas.

Where To Invade Next is a documentary everyone, especially Americans, should see and think about. It is fast paced, well-edited and explores issues that are topical and great importance for the survival of the United States and perhaps some other countries as well. Michael Moore is at his peak in actuality storytelling with humor and seriousness when necessary. Where To Invade Next doesn’t say other countries are perfect or better than the USA. It just goes after their best ideas and asks the question why not try these ideas in the USA. Why can’t these concepts work in the USA?

Many issues and ideas are explored in Italy, France, Finland, Slovenia (not Slovakia), Germany, Portugal, Norway, Tunisia, and Iceland. These ideas and issues are compared to what is done in the United States. What is revealed is shocking and mind altering. It becomes crystal clear that somehow the people of the United States, the richest, most powerful country in the world, are missing the boat when it comes to taking care of its citizens on many fronts.

TRAILER

Since Franklin Roosevelt rescued this country from pure capitalism and the depression era, with social reforms, there has been a concerted effort by far right capitalists (the same ones that wrecked the stock market and the country in the late 1920’s and 1930’s) and others, to stop any type of social progress in the United States. They have succeeded in many ways, time and time again, to this day. Where To Invade Next reminds us that social, government enacted legislation benefits all classes of people. These benefits and reforms not only work, they often end up costing tax payers less and helping all people lead a happier, more secure life.

Where To Invade Next is a not too subtle reminder of what the middle and working class people of the United States have been deprived of while many European countries and others have moved ahead with progressive notions on health care, education, equal rights for women, workers rights, drug abuse, prison reform, and family planning. In addition how other countries have dealt with major past problems in their cultures so that they can move on and not repeat the same mistakes. But these types of reforms only happen when citizens demand it by protesting and voting for candidates or parties that advocate basic social amenities for all people.

In typical Michael Moore style he interviews people and visually shows how they live and how their approach to various social solutions work. Michael Moore turns the old Duck Soup line around and asks, …are you going to believe what you see or what the propaganda machine in the US in telling you? Where To Invade Next asks why many other countries have free college education, nutritious food in schools, do not arrest people for drug use, have prison systems that rehabilitate, encourage people to vote, have successful family planning, women’s rights and a basic bill of rights for working, middle-class people.

One interesting fact, among the many, that Where To Invade Next brings to light, is the fact that many of these ideas and concepts actually came from the United States! But they were, hidden, killed and squashed before they could benefit anyone. One concept is as old as our constitution.

While it would be interesting to see a documentary about how all these good ideas got lost in the USA, Michael Moore takes a much more proactive stance showing how these now “alien” ideas actually work. Where To Invade Next brings these ideas back home and suggests we take another look at them.

Where to Invade Next should be seen by every man, woman and child in the United States, as soon as possible. It is a documentary that explores actuality, not the false mantra of “me first” used to manipulate Americans.

DVD AMAZON

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Review by James R (Jim) Martin, Documentary Filmmaker and Author of:

[amazon_image id=”0982702329″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Create Documentary Films, Videos and Multimedia: A Comprehensive Guide to Using Documentary Storytelling Techniques for Film, Video, the Internet and Digital Media Projects.[/amazon_image]

[amazon_image id=”0982702388″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Listen Learn Share: How & Why Listening, Learning and Sharing can Transform Your Life Experience In Practical Ways[/amazon_image]

[amazon_image id=”0982702361″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Actuality Interviewing and Listening: How to conduct successful interviews for nonfiction storytelling, actuality documentaries and other disciplines … (Documentary and Nonfiction Storytelling)[/amazon_image]

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