Page 14 - aruba-today-20220202

a14 people & arts
Wednesday 2 February 2022
Netflix documentary 'Procession's' life beyond the film

By LINDSEY BAHR circle with the men and
AP Film Writer promised that they would
Filmmaker Robert Greene work hard to find the right
knows well the burden of audience. The point of
responsibility in making a doing these exercises on
documentary. It's not just to camera was to help other
the film itself, the audience survivors after all.
or the storytelling. It's the re- "So much of these guys' lives
sponsibility to the subjects are dictated by shame.
in front of the camera. And It can be debilitating,"
in "Procession" the subjects Greene said. "So to see the
were six men who decades guys walking out in front
ago were sexually abused of the Metrograph The-
by Roman Catholic priests ater and then a full crowd
and clergy. stands up and gives them a
"I don't know that docu- standing ovation? I mean,
mentaries change the how many times in my life
world, but I do know that This image released by Netflix shows, from left, Joe Eldred, Ed Gavagan, Michael Sandridge, Tom have I been cynical about
they change the lives of the Viviano, Dan Laurine and Mike Foreman from the documentary "Procession." the idea of a standing ova-
people on screen," Greene Associated Press tion after a documentary?
said. "This is my seventh and Many, many times. And
I know how it can affect "The Body Keeps the Score" therapist Monica Phinney express support or tell their yet we embrace it instead
positively and negatively. If and was introduced to the created and performed stories. of being cynical about it.
you have that knowledge, idea of drama therapy. scenes inspired by their "The guys have even had We embrace the beauty
you have to build on it. You So, Greene decided to call memories. Greene was to modulate it a little bit," of it and the love. That was
have to do something with the lawyer he saw on tele- prepared to stop at any Greene said. "This is a film transformative for those
that. And that's what this vision, Rebecca Randles, to moment, if it got too hard that I genuinely do not guys to be validated and
project is." start a conversation about for the men, or seemed to think could have been say, 'Look, you did good
There were a lot of ideas exploring their story through be doing more harm than made five years ago. I think and well and what you
that had been circling in drama therapy. good. But they always what we're experiencing are is not your worst mo-
Greene's head by the time "It wasn't about going to found good reasons to con- with all of the reach out ment. What you are is not
he saw a press conference the guys and being like, tinue. Since its premiere at from other survivors who've what happened to you.
on the news with four sur- 'Tell me how I can help you, the Telluride Film Festival, seen this film is just this idea You were not damaged
vivors and their lawyer in or something ridiculous like "Procession" has received of 'Oh my God, you can goods. You are not perma-
Kansas City that would that,'" Greene said. "It was, near-universal acclaim, hold it like this.' These are nently destroyed. You have
ultimately inspire the proj- 'Rebecca, tell us why this is played to many stand- six very different men, but turned this awful, awful poi-
ect. A lifetime student of not a good idea.' But she ing ovations and has even they're men, you know? son into medicine."'
documentary, Greene was didn't say that." been shortlisted for a best And they're tearful and "We promised them that
thinking about our evolving It began a three-year pro- documentary Oscar nomi- they're holding each other we would try our hardest
relationship with cameras, cess in which survivors Joe nation. And the response and they're expressing love and then that kind of vali-
the point of making films at Eldred, Mike Foreman, Ed since it hit Netflix has been and brotherhood in a way dation," Greene added.
all anymore and whether or Gavagan, Dan Laurine, Mi- overwhelming for everyone that is unusual. And I think "I am a deeply flawed hu-
not they could actually be chael Sandridge and Tom involved, with family mem- it's very inspiring." man being. But I did not let
used to help people. He'd Viviano came together bers, friends, strangers and Early on in the process, them down in this regard.
recently read the book and with the help of drama survivors all reaching out to Greene sat around in a We didn't let them down."q

Rachel Maddow taking hiatus from MSNBC show until April

time show until April to work versal. in on the regular evening
on a new podcast and that "I am super-excited to tell telecast.
a movie is being made of you about it when I have Maddow's absence could
her first book and podcast more to tell," said Mad- be a glimpse into MSNBC's
about former Vice Presi- dow, who hosted her show future. It has been widely
dent Spiro Agnew. from her home on Monday reported that Maddow will
"Change is good," she said because she had been step back from hosting her
on her show. "Change is exposed to someone who program every night as part
absolutely terrifying, but in had tested positive and of a new contract with the
this case it's good." shown symptoms of CO- network, although MSNBC
She said she's going to help VID-19. has never commented on
out with the movie of "Bag Although she'll be off from that. Maddow hinted at it
Man" on former President her regular show starting Monday by saying there
Richard Nixon's disgraced on Friday, she's expected will be "more hiatuses in the
vice president, to be direct- to appear during MSNBC's future."
MSNBC television anchor Rachel Maddow, host of the Rachel
Maddow Show, moderates a panel on Oct. 16, 2017, in Cam- ed by Ben Stiller and pro- coverage of some major Losing her on a regular ba-
bridge, Mass. duced by "Saturday Night events, like President Joe sis could be a challenge
Associated Press Live" executive producer Biden's State of the Union for the network, which has
Lorne Michaels. address. Ali Velshi, her most seen its viewership slip from
By DAVID BAUDER popular personality, said Maddow gave no details frequent substitute host, the highs of the 2020 presi-
NEW YORK (AP) — Rachel Monday she will be tak- on her second podcast, and other MSNBC person- dential election campaign
Maddow, MSNBC's most ing a hiatus from her prime being made for NBC Uni- alities are expected to fill and its aftermath.q