S2 Quick Take Ep. 7: Norman Berns; Producer and Director for "A Place to Dance"
On this Quick Take episode of The Weekend Take, I am joined by Producer and Director Norman Berns ( https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0076967 and https://www.facebook.com/ncberns ) as we discuss his journey in the film industry leading up to his current project, the feature length documentary "A Place to Dance" about Builder, Philanthropist, and driving force behind bringing the arts to the Capital Region of New York, Lewis A. Swyer. We discuss Norman's beginnings in the industry and how some peer pressure to day play on some passion projects got him hooked on working in film. We also discuss Norman's journey in the documentary world from his tenure with New York Metropolitan Opera (which includes a funny story about sending an Opera legend out to get coffee), to creating documentaries for PBS including "The Human Language" and "The Writing Code" looking at the origins of our spoken and written languages, and also his work in narrative feature films, including a stint under Martin Scorsese and an eye-opening opportunity working on 1971's "The Hospital" under Arthur Hiller and alongside the likes of Patty Chayefsky (who become Norman's kindred pipe smoking spirit), George C. Scott, Diana Rigg, and more. A major point of conversation also tackles the production of "A Place to Dance", exploring and digging to find the story, allowing it to become more than a job and become a personal passion project, and learning all there is to be learned about the pillar of the arts and humanities that was Lewis A. Swyer. All this and more on this episode of The Weekend Take!