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IMDbPro

Les Blank(1935-2013)

  • Cinematographer
  • Director
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Les Blank
Official Trailer
Play trailer1:35
Tattoo Uprising (2019)
3 Videos
8 Photos
Born in 1935 in Tampa, Florida, Les Blank attended Tulane University in New Orleans, where he received a B.A. in English literature and an M.F.A. in theatre. In 1967, after two years in the Ph.D. film program at the University of Southern California, and five years of freelancing in Los Angeles, he began his first independent films, on Texas blues singer Lightnin Hopkins (The Blues Accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins (1970)) and the newly forming sub-culture, known as flower children, (God Respects Us When We Work, But Loves Us When We Dance (1968)). To finance these and other of his own films, he continued to make industrial and promotional films for such organizations as Holly Farms Poultry, Archway Cookies and the National Wildlife Federation until 1972.

Blank's first independent films began a series of intimate glimpses into the lives and music of passionate people who live at the periphery of American society - a series that grew to include rural Louisiana French musicians and cooks.

Major retrospectives of Les Blank's films have been mounted in Los Angeles at FILMEX in 1977; the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis in 1978 and 1984; New York's Museum of Modern Art in 1979; the National Film Theatre, London in 1982; Cineteca Nacional, Mexico City in 1984; the Cinematheque Francais, Paris in 1986; the Independent Film Week, Augsburg, Germany in 1990 and the Leipzig Film Festival in 1995 and the Sofia Music Film Festival, Bulgaria in 1998. Feature articles on Blank have appeared in American Film, Film Quarterly, Take One, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Image Magazine, Mother Jones, The Village Voice, Rolling Stone, Premiere, Downbeat and Video Review. In 1984, Blank co-edited the "Burden of Dreams" book, which included journals written during the making of Burden of Dreams by him, sound recordist-editor Maureen Gosling and Werner Herzog, plus an article by legendary journalist Michael Goodwin. In 1986, National Public Radio aired a half-hour special on Les Blank's work and, in 1991, CNN aired a special on him, worldwide.

Among Blank's numerous awards are the British Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary, 1982, (Burden of Dreams (1982)); the Golden Gate Award "Best of Festival", San Francisco Film Festival, 1982 ("Burden of Dreams"); Grand Prize, Melbourne Film Festival, 1985 (In Heaven There Is No Beer? (1984)); Special Jury Award U.S. (Sundance) Film Festival, 1985 ("In Heaven There Is No Beer?"); Grand Award, Houston Film Festival, 1983 ("Burden of Dreams"); Golden Hugo, Chicago Film Festival, 1969 (The Blues Accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins (1970)). Blank also received a 10,000 Euro prize for "Yum, Yum, Yum" for best film in the International Ethnographic Film Festival, Nuoro, Sardinia, Italy, 2002

In 1990, Les Blank received the American Film Institute's Maya Deren Award for outstanding lifetime achievement as an independent filmmaker. In 1989-1990, Blank was the distinguished filmmaker-in-residence at San Diego State University and, in 1991, adjunct assistant professor in film at the University of California, Berkeley. He was also the Louis B. Mayer filmmaker-in-residence at Dartmouth College and a directing fellow at the Sundance Institute in Utah (both in 1984). His work has been supported by The National Endowment For the Arts, The American Film Institute, The National Endowment For the Humanities, The Ford Foundation, The Guggenheim Foundation, PBS and the BBC. Between 1973 and 1994, Blank toured extensively with the sponsorship of the United States Information Agency, screening his films and discussing them with audiences throughout Latin America, China, England, Spain, Germany, Italy, the former Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Egypt. Les Blank is a member of: the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.

Blank currently has four documentaries in production: about David Lee Hoffman, importer of rare and fine teas rom China; Alabama folk artist Butch Anthony; seminal documentary filmmaker Richard Leacock; and a project on the diRosa preserve in Napa, a major collection of Northern California art.
BornNovember 27, 1935
DiedApril 7, 2013(77)
BornNovember 27, 1935
DiedApril 7, 2013(77)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Won 1 BAFTA Award
    • 13 wins & 5 nominations total

Photos8

Les Blank in A Poem Is a Naked Person (1974)
Les Blank in A Poem Is a Naked Person (1974)
Les Blank in A Poem Is a Naked Person (1974)
Les Blank and Leon Russell in A Poem Is a Naked Person (1974)
Les Blank and Leon Russell in A Poem Is a Naked Person (1974)
Les Blank and Leon Russell in A Poem Is a Naked Person (1974)
Les Blank and Leon Russell in A Poem Is a Naked Person (1974)

Known for

Burden of Dreams (1982)
Burden of Dreams
7.9
  • Cinematographer(photographed by)
  • 1982
In Heaven There Is No Beer? (1984)
In Heaven There Is No Beer?
7.0
  • Cinematographer
  • 1984
Gerald Gaxiola in The Maestro: King of the Cowboy Artists (1995)
The Maestro: King of the Cowboy Artists
7.0
  • Cinematographer
  • 1995
Lightnin Hopkins in The Blues Accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins (1970)
The Blues Accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins
7.6
Short
  • Cinematographer
  • 1970

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Cinematographer

  • Tattoo Uprising (2019)
    Tattoo Uprising
    • Cinematographer
    • 2019
  • Thailand Moment (2015)
    Thailand Moment
    • Cinematographer
    • Short
    • 2015
  • How to Smell a Rose: A Visit with Ricky Leacock at his Farm in Normandy (2014)
    How to Smell a Rose: A Visit with Ricky Leacock at his Farm in Normandy
    • Cinematographer
    • 2014
  • Oh My God! It's Harrod Blank! (2008)
    Oh My God! It's Harrod Blank!
    • Cinematographer
    • 2008
  • Lagniappe (2006)
    Lagniappe
    • Cinematographer
    • Short
    • 2006
  • All in This Tea (2006)
    All in This Tea
    • Cinematographer
    • 2006
  • Smitten (2005)
    Smitten
    • Cinematographer
    • Short
    • 2005
  • Gerald Gaxiola in The Maestro Rides Again! (2005)
    The Maestro Rides Again!
    • Cinematographer
    • Short
    • 2005
  • Tommy Jarrell in My Old Fiddle: A Visit with Tommy Jarrell in the Blue Ridge (1995)
    My Old Fiddle: A Visit with Tommy Jarrell in the Blue Ridge
    • Cinematographer
    • Short
    • 1995
  • Francisco Aguabella in Sworn to the Drum: A Tribute to Francisco Aguabella (1995)
    Sworn to the Drum: A Tribute to Francisco Aguabella
    • Cinematographer
    • Short
    • 1995
  • Gerald Gaxiola in The Maestro: King of the Cowboy Artists (1995)
    The Maestro: King of the Cowboy Artists
    • Cinematographer
    • 1995
  • Wild Wheels (1992)
    Wild Wheels
    • Cinematographer (cinematography)
    • 1992
  • Innocents Abroad (1991)
    Innocents Abroad
    • Cinematographer
    • 1991
  • Julie: Old Time Tales of the Blue Ridge (1991)
    Julie: Old Time Tales of the Blue Ridge
    • Cinematographer
    • Short
    • 1991
  • Yum, Yum, Yum! A Taste of the Cajun and Creole Cooking of Louisiana (1990)
    Yum, Yum, Yum! A Taste of the Cajun and Creole Cooking of Louisiana
    • Cinematographer
    • Short
    • 1990

Director

  • Thailand Moment (2015)
    Thailand Moment
    • Director
    • Short
    • 2015
  • Lightnin Hopkins in The Sun's Gonna Shine (2014)
    The Sun's Gonna Shine
    • Director
    • Short
    • 2014
  • How to Smell a Rose: A Visit with Ricky Leacock at his Farm in Normandy (2014)
    How to Smell a Rose: A Visit with Ricky Leacock at his Farm in Normandy
    • co-director
    • 2014
  • Treasure of the Lisu (2010)
    Treasure of the Lisu
    • collaborating director
    • Short
    • 2010
  • Lagniappe (2006)
    Lagniappe
    • Director
    • Short
    • 2006
  • All in This Tea (2006)
    All in This Tea
    • Director
    • 2006
  • Gerald Gaxiola in The Maestro Rides Again! (2005)
    The Maestro Rides Again!
    • Director
    • Short
    • 2005
  • Tommy Jarrell in My Old Fiddle: A Visit with Tommy Jarrell in the Blue Ridge (1995)
    My Old Fiddle: A Visit with Tommy Jarrell in the Blue Ridge
    • Director
    • Short
    • 1995
  • Francisco Aguabella in Sworn to the Drum: A Tribute to Francisco Aguabella (1995)
    Sworn to the Drum: A Tribute to Francisco Aguabella
    • Director
    • Short
    • 1995
  • Gerald Gaxiola in The Maestro: King of the Cowboy Artists (1995)
    The Maestro: King of the Cowboy Artists
    • Director
    • 1995
  • Innocents Abroad (1991)
    Innocents Abroad
    • Director
    • 1991
  • Puamana (1991)
    Puamana
    • Director
    • Short
    • 1991
  • Ann Savoy and Marc Savoy in Marc and Ann (1991)
    Marc and Ann
    • Director
    • Short
    • 1991
  • Julie: Old Time Tales of the Blue Ridge (1991)
    Julie: Old Time Tales of the Blue Ridge
    • Director
    • Short
    • 1991
  • Yum, Yum, Yum! A Taste of the Cajun and Creole Cooking of Louisiana (1990)
    Yum, Yum, Yum! A Taste of the Cajun and Creole Cooking of Louisiana
    • Director
    • Short
    • 1990

Producer

  • Thailand Moment (2015)
    Thailand Moment
    • producer
    • Short
    • 2015
  • How to Smell a Rose: A Visit with Ricky Leacock at his Farm in Normandy (2014)
    How to Smell a Rose: A Visit with Ricky Leacock at his Farm in Normandy
    • co-producer
    • 2014
  • White Gloves (2011)
    White Gloves
    • consulting producer
    • Short
    • 2011
  • All in This Tea (2006)
    All in This Tea
    • producer
    • 2006
  • Gerald Gaxiola in The Maestro Rides Again! (2005)
    The Maestro Rides Again!
    • producer
    • Short
    • 2005
  • Francisco Aguabella in Sworn to the Drum: A Tribute to Francisco Aguabella (1995)
    Sworn to the Drum: A Tribute to Francisco Aguabella
    • producer
    • Short
    • 1995
  • Gerald Gaxiola in The Maestro: King of the Cowboy Artists (1995)
    The Maestro: King of the Cowboy Artists
    • producer
    • 1995
  • Yum, Yum, Yum! A Taste of the Cajun and Creole Cooking of Louisiana (1990)
    Yum, Yum, Yum! A Taste of the Cajun and Creole Cooking of Louisiana
    • producer
    • Short
    • 1990
  • Keely Shaye Brosnan and Huey Lewis in Huey Lewis and the News: Be-FORE! (1987)
    Huey Lewis and the News: Be-FORE!
    • producer
    • Short
    • 1987
  • Gap-Toothed Women (1987)
    Gap-Toothed Women
    • producer
    • Short
    • 1987
  • In Heaven There Is No Beer? (1984)
    In Heaven There Is No Beer?
    • producer
    • 1984
  • Burden of Dreams (1982)
    Burden of Dreams
    • producer
    • 1982
  • Werner Herzog in Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe (1980)
    Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe
    • producer
    • Short
    • 1980
  • Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers (1980)
    Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers
    • producer
    • 1980
  • Lydia Mendoza in Chulas Fronteras (1976)
    Del mero corazón
    • producer
    • Short
    • 1979

Videos3

Tattoo Uprising
Trailer 1:35
Tattoo Uprising
A Poem Is a Naked Person
Trailer 1:40
A Poem Is a Naked Person
Oh My God! It's Harrod Blank!
Trailer 1:35
Oh My God! It's Harrod Blank!

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Flower Films (founder/owner)
    • Web site
  • Alternative name
    • Les Blanc
  • Born
    • November 27, 1935
    • Tampa, Florida, USA
  • Died
    • April 7, 2013
    • Berkeley, California, USA(bladder cancer)
  • Spouses
      Gail Perrin1960 - ? (divorced, 2 children)
  • Publicity listings
    • 5 Articles

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    He has directed two films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Chulas Fronteras (1976) and Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers (1980).
  • Quotes
    I get so wrapped up in trying to tell the story as well as I can to get the best possible points of view and show the culture, that I let that be my main force of action, and leave everything else behind. I tend to get over my self-consciousness: I might have a beer or two with people, especially if they're sympathetic.

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