whatamericaneeds.org, oslathemovie.org and flickr.com/photos/wojahn
Influences
the beauty of what is inside each of us.
Directors
My heroes: Errol Morris, Werner Herzog, Dziga Vertov, Joris Ivens,Terrence Mallick, Martin Scorcese, Micheal Moore.
Awards
Best Film of Minneapolis/St.Paul 2004
Artist of the Year 2004
Festivals
Silver Lake, Get Real, Burlington,One World, Take Back Democracy and others
Professional Affiliations
IDA, IFP
Needs's Interests
General
Music
When I am making films, I find and record the music of the region. I get it from people I meet or I document the ambient sounds of the scene. That is the soundtrack I strive for. It is the songs of the bums playing for dollars and the little girls who sing with them
Movies
I love the movies that make me forget that I am in the movies, that transport me to the world of the makers. That is the art that I strive to make and live to see.
Television
TV has been an enigma for me. I think about...it pays a lot of my bills because I work leading art departments for commercial tv projects. What I guess I love the illusion of reality that TV presents to people. I love creating that illuison, I work behind your TV, creating what you see on it. Thats the rub, plus most of the tvs in my home are tied up to the ceiling, covered in glue, wrapped in fishnets and have the slick patina of aluminum paint on them . Some folks would call that a sculpture.
Books
Zinn, Terkel, Rumi and Vertov
Heroes
Vertov, Weston, Lange, Blank, Miro, Lewis and many others...
About me: "Needs" aka What America Needs is the long term documentary project started in 1992 by filmmaker Mark Wojahn. In addition to making films I am a photographer, set decorator, propmaster, performance artist, activist and father. I live in Saint Paul in the Frogtown Artist Cooperative.
Hey! How's it going? It's getting hot outside and it's time for indie films.
This month I'm promoting this Indie Film - "Gentleman's Choice - The Chris Adams Story" - a hard hitting documentary on the tragic death of a sports entertainer.
Watch it online ($5) or buy the DVD at http://gentleman.eyesoda.comGentleman's Choice: The Chris Adams Story Trailer
No, I did not get in on any of that action. However, i did get in on way too much pie action today and now my pants don't close. I hope your turkey day was stufftastic!! Dez
oh boy big Needs-- I can't wait to be back in be-a-yootiful the twin mega-opolis in August...nice time to get away from S.A., fer sure. And I miss the Elven kingdom you call home. And I think I can speak for the missus that we're both missun you and that Kit'y and the Peach. mucho amor--J
Yea, im going to try to make it back for my 21st. I hear your selling the movie to some one? When do i get my copie of something? When are you and kitty gonna come vist on your way to new zealand?
How goes it far away marky mark. Any news on the movie? I leave for tasmania for my residency today. I shall come back an artist! Yes! Any thing new in the land of ice and snow?
oh mark i'm so sorry i havent been able to come hang out with you guys! a bunch of my friends and todd are coming home from colorado. but i definitely need to see you guys
Hi Mark! Camping was fun! Thanks for sharing the great pics... I'm thinking about some kind of going away something something late July in P'horn. I'll keep you updated. Let's do some kind of family dinner thing before that fo sho.
