tpt National Productions is developing Slavery by Another Name, a multi-part PBS project based upon the 2009 Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Wall Street Journal writer Douglas Blackmon. Slavery by Another Name challenges one of our country’s most cherished assumptions: the belief that slavery ended with Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. The documentary recounts how in the years following the Civil War, insidious new forms of forced labor emerged in the American South, keeping hundreds of thousands of African Americans in bondage, trapping them in a brutal system that would persist until the onset of World War II.

Based on Blackmon’s research into original documents and personal narratives, Slavery by Another Name unearths the lost stories of slaves and their descendants who journeyed into freedom after Emancipation and then back into involuntary servitude. It also tells stories of courage and redemption, and the men and women who fought against the re-emergence of human labor trafficking.

Directed by Sam Pollard

Original Scoring by Michael Bacon

American Masters presents the first film made about America’s most important and influential designers, Charles and Ray Eames, since their deaths in 1978 and 1988, respectively — and the only film that explores the link between their artistic collaboration and sometimes tortured marriage. Jason Cohn and Bill Jersey’s definitive documentary delves into the private world the Eameses created in their Renaissance-style, Venice Beach, California studio, where design history was born.

Narrated by James Franco, Charles & Ray Eames: The Architect and the Painter premieres nationally Monday, December 19 from 10-11:30 p.m. (ET/PT) on WNET and on other PBS stations (check local listings) as the 25th anniversary season finale of American Masters.

The Story of one woman’s mission to defeat cancer and help others do the same. After being diagnosed with breast cancer and undergoing a double mastectomy, Dee Dee Ricks traded a hedge-fund career for philanthropy, raising money for a Harlem cancer clinic that treats underserved and uninsured patients. The film follows Ricks over a three year period as she battles her disease. struggles to raise $2.5 million for the clinic and reevaluates her purpose in life. Directed by Perri Peltz, original scoring by Michael Bacon. Airs Thursday, October 27th on HBO Documentaries.

PBS NY has licensed the re-airing of “Medal of Honor” for the 10 year anniversary of 9/11. t will be airing on Weds, Sept 7th at 10pm on PBS-WNET-Thirteen  and on Thu 8th, at 9 p.m. on WLIW2.

The Bacon Brothers have reworked a new version of their song “Unhappy Birthday”, originally from the album White Knuckles, with updated lyrics to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of 9/11.

Airing on HBO Documentaries on Monday, August 15th at 9 pm

http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/gloria-in-her-own-words/index.html

“Downtown Express” is a movie about a band of the same name. They’re a 4 piece from Bushwick fronted by the disillusioned Ramona (Nellie McKay). They pride themselves of being able to set up their battery-powered gear in 5 minutes and play for whatever the subway platform will offer. But they’re not going anywhere.

Enter Sasha- a dashing Russian violin virtuoso (Philippe Quint) who is also disillusioned with the art/music world of Julliard and his overbearing father. He falls for Ramona with his heart and his violin and suddenly Downtown Express is going places. The Music tells their story.

“Downtown Express” stars Nellie McKay and Philippe Quint. Directed by David Grubin, written by Kathleen Cahill and produced by Michael Hausman.

Music director- Michael Bacon.

“Top Ten Monks” is the story of a group of Cistercian monks from Austria whose Gregorian chants have recently landed in England’s top ten charts and earned them musical fame. In this documentary the viewer is able to see into their daily lives; filled with over six hours of prayer a day and a true devotion to God. It follows their rise to fame and notoriety and their religious inspiration in a modern world, allowing the audience to see a world where cameras are seldom permitted and dispelling the general conception of life in a monastery.

Original score provided by Michael Bacon.

Airs on HBO2 Documentary December 22nd, 2010.