RUTH WEISS, THE BEAT GODDESS
“ruth weiss, the beat goddess” is an electrifying Emmy Award-Winning documentary about one of the most influential writers of the Beat Generation who empowered the world of poetry to jazz and art. ”
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ruth weiss is one of the influential writers of the Beat Generation. As a 10-year-old refugee, she escaped to the United States and became a Jazz troubadour exemplifying the zeitgeist of Chicago, New Orleans, and San Francisco. In the 1950s, she opened up and organized the first poetry readings in North Beach cafes and bars, giving a platform to many poets.
The film further highlights ruth weiss' electrifying and intimate poetry with breathtaking images of exquisite modern dance, art, animation, and music to embody her oeuvre. This film documents not only weiss' gift to humanity but archives significant historical moments in our world's social and literary movements. As a contemporary of Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Jack Kerouac, she innovated poetry to jazz. Legend Herb Caen dubbed ruth weiss as "The Goddess of the Beat Generation" because of her contribution to the culture of North Beach and the Bay Area poetry scene.
This Emmy Award-Winning documentary aired on PBS and premiered at the Asolo Art Film Festival in Italy, won Best Documentary at the Peekskill Film Festival in New York, won Visionary Women In Film Award at the Santa Cruz Film Festival, won the Jury Award at the Riverside International Film Festival, and is nominated for Best Documentary at 14 other film festivals nationwide. ruth weiss was awarded the 2020 Maverick Spirit Award from the Cinequest Film Festival.
Festivals, Awards, and Honors (selected)
Emmy Award for Best Cultural/Historical Documentary by The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Northern California / San Francisco Chapter, 2023
Cinequest Film Festival (California), Maverick Spirit Award Winner, 2020
Riverside International Film Festival (California) - Winner of Best Documentary, 2020
Santa Cruz Film Festival (California) - Winner of Visionary Women In Film Award, 2019
Peekskill Film Festival (New York) - Winner of Best Documentary, 2019
Asolo Art Film Festival (Italy) - Nominated for Best Film on Art, 2019
American Documentary Film Festival (California) - Nom. for Best Documentary, 2021
FIN Atlantic International Film Festival (Canada) - Nom. for Best Documentary, 2021
Chicago Underground Film Festival (Illinois) - Nominated for Best Documentary, 2020
Romford Film Festival (England) - Nom. for Best Doc., 2020
Sarasota Film Festival (Florida) - Nom. for Best Doc., 2020
Vail Film Festival (Colorado) - Nom. for Best Doc., 2020
Black Cat Picture Show Film Fest (Georgia) - Nominated for Best Documentary, 2020
Cinema on The Bayou Film Festival (Louisiana) - Nominated for Best Documentary, 2019
Golden State Film Festival - Nom. for Best Documentary, 2019
Impact and Reach
Magnetizing success for poetic artists
Co-founded a non-profit called the ruth weiss Foundation that creates opportunities to support poetic artists through an annual grant program and encourage poetry and art to create a better world. www.ruthweissfoundation.org
UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION
- LOS ANGELES
Worked with the United Nations Association - USA Los Angeles Chapter, UNICEF, Loving Way Foundation, UCLA and the Beat Museum in 2023 to raise awareness of the impacts of war on children and discuss solutions through art, poetry, and film.
PBS
Won an Emmy Award for Best Cultural and Historical Documentary. Screened on over 200 PBS Stations across the nation reaching millions, and available on Apple TV, Amazon, Hoopla, Kinema, and Alexander Street.
EDUCATIONAL IMPACT
Developed curriculum from grades 1-12 implemented into schools. Created partnerships with Universities, Libraries, Organizations that empower young people in poetry and the arts showing the film and supporting its artists through the foundation.
THE BEAT MUSEUM
Collaborated with the Beat Museum on a stationary exhibit about ruth weiss in San Francisco and the film joined the Beat Museum on Wheels across the country to shed light on one of the era's most creative and impressive female Beat poets, ruth weiss.
CREW
Director, Cinematographer, Co-Editor: Melody C. Miller
Executive Producer: Elisabeth P. Montgomery
Associate Producer: Jerry Heverly
Co-Editor: Eric F. Martin
Animator: Ketzi Rivera
Music Composer: Stephen Spies
Sound Mixer: Bill Jackson
Colorist: Jason Knutzen
1st Assistant Camera: Minmin Tsai
Production Assistant: Nate’Eya Kahsai
Office Assistant and Marketing: Katherine Quinn
CAST
ruth weiss
Brenda Knight
Daniel Nicoletta
Jerry Cimino
Rent Romas
Doug O’Connor
Janet DeBar
DANCERS
Ida Nowakowska
Brennan Wall
Isabelle T.