​Those of you that follow the show know that we are not afraid of being late to the party when it comes to documentaries, and we are fashionably late here.  Although the film made its American debut in March of 2019, it hit Netflix in the first part of August, and it didn’t hit our radar until early September.  Do we need another film about steroids, baseball, superstars, drugs, and the Miami dark side?  Do we need more documentaries talking about the ineptitude of Florida and the lack of concern that parents have for their children’s health in the sports world?  Well, I guess it doesn’t really matter if we needed another one, because we got another one, and in this episode of Lessons from the Screen we are going to talk about it.  

​The Summer of 2019 has just ended however the ramifications of the things that transpired and that were discovered will continue to shape global history forever.   The social media and digital giants faced a world that was a lot more inquisitive about their business models and a lot more aggressive in how it sought answers to those questions.  A 2-year federal investigation wrapped up in April of 2019 and at its core was the largest social media company in the world and how data stolen from them was being used to shape democracies and engineer societies.  The great hack follows the story of one of the primary culprits in this game of digital shenanigans, it is the story of Cambridge Analytica, and it is the story of this episode of Lessons from the Screen.  

​In June of 2019 Netflix pulled back the curtain on Clarence Avant, a Black Man from Greensboro, North Carolina born in the 1930s who rose to become one of the most influential Black Persons in Entertainment.  Best friends with Quincy Jones, mentor to a slew of Black Entertainers of all strips, and supporter of politicians, this documentary pulled out all the stops featuring 2 former presidents and a whole host of A list Black Stars to tell their stories of Clarence Avant.  On this episode of Lessons from the Screen, we are going to be taking a look at The Black Godfather. 

​In February of 2019 Larry Charles produced a docuseries on exploring comedy in various places around the world.  While the written show description mentions him traveling to china russia and various other places, I will say right here that I only recall him going to Africa, the Middle East, and the US.  But despite that, the 4 episode series did take a look at some interesting places and some interesting concepts.  In this episode of Lessons from the Screen, we are going to be talking about Larry Charles Dangerously Funny.

In 2018 a documentary was released with a focus on vitamins.  The documentary seeks to answer one question: how do we decide whether or not to take vitamins?  The film takes us on a journey that is one part Sesame Street (or maybe schoolhouse rock would be a better fit), one part hardcore documentary.  We are taken on a journey to explore the history and modern state of vitamins.  In this episode of lessons from the screen, we are going to look at this documentary and do what we do, is it worth watching or not and what are the takeaways.  

​September of last year the master returned with his latest project.  Michael Moore (love him or hate him) has been a very powerful figure politically and socially through his documentaries and this time he was taking aim at what seemed to be the very institutions of Political America.  In this episode of Lessons from the Screen we are going to be diving into Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 11/9.

​A few days ago Netflix released a documentary detailing rise and journey of 4 social media stars.  The film showcases from the perspective of the stars themselves, the ups and downs of being a social star in the modern age.  What attracted me to this film was the idea that a conversation could be had and led by those that have achieved the fame and attention that so many people are craving on the internet.  In this episode of Lessons from the Screen, we are going to be looking at the film like we always do and talking about somethings that can be taken away from it.  

​Released in 2015 and produced by Jon Whelon, Stink follows his journey to find out what chemicals were used on his daughters pajamas creating the smell that overwhelmed the house after they opened the package.  This search for the chemicals led him down a rabbit hole regarding the secrets of chemical use in corporations.  Today on Lessons from the Screen we are going to be talking about this documentary, what it means, if its good, and is it worth your time.

Earlier this year in July of 2018 Kimberly Reed released a documentary that takes aim at the dark money flowing in politics following the Citizens United Supreme Court Decision.  With a focus on the State of Montana as one of the last remaining bastions of hope for transparent campaign financing, this documentary dives into the fray of one of the most talked about subjects in politics.  On this episode of Lessons from the Screen, we are going to be looking at the documentary in our traditional style of doing so.  I hope you enjoy it, and take the time to let me know what you thought by going to the website and leaving a comment.  

​Earlier this month a new documentary appeared on Netflix entitled Reversing Roe.  Having seen a slew of documentaries on abortion I went into it very sarcastically expecting to be bombarded with pro-life rhetoric and biblical messages.  I hadn’t heard of the documentary and judging from the title I fully expected it to be a pro-life endeavor.  What followed in the next hour and a half is what we are going to spend the next half hour talking about.  In this episode of Lessons from the Screen we are going to be looking at the documentary by Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg entitled, Reversing Roe. 

​Education is indoctrination.  It shouldn’t be that way, the difference between the terms is supposed to be imparting the ability to critically think about a subject matter versus simply being told that something is true.  However, in modern society, education is indoctrination.  Even in societies where education is practiced correctly, there is a part of the education process that involves indoctrination that simply can’t be separated from the educational process.  The passing on of culture and values as well as the continuation of a society requires that all members have certain levels of acceptance and agreeableness to the world they live in.   Otherwise, everything breaks down.  These are some of the philosophies we will be talking about today

In 2010 Carol Black released her documentary Schooling the World with a focus on getting people to think about the impact of foreign education on indigenous peoples all over the world.  In this episode of Lessons from the Screen we will be looking at this documentary, what is in it, what is it about, and should you watch it.  Obviously all from our perspective.  This show is all about Schooling the World, the White Man's Last Burden.

​The NFL has been in the news for the past 2 years but not for anything remotely related to the actual game.  Colin Kaepernick (regardless of how you feel about him or what he did, and a lot of people feel a lot of different ways) remained seated during the national anthem before a game back in 2016.  After doing it a few weeks in a row with the climate being what it was and largely still is regarding fanatical patriotism, intense nationalism, and racial division he was asked about it and his answer would set off an war between a segment of the players and the owners and the league and it’s fans, even the president of the united states would get involved.  

​Through all this turmoil the ESPN 30 for 30 series still going strong dropped another gem to line with all the other gems the series has produced.  In september of 2017 we got the Year of the Scab by John Dorsey.  A documentary about the 1987 player strike commonly known throughout sports history, the time the players agreed not to play and were replaced by substitutes pulled from all walks of life.  During this episode of Lessons from the Screen we will be looking at the documentary as well as making some comparisons between what was happening then and what is happening now.  As always we will talk about a few lessons that can be picked up from the film with regards to our current situation in this episode of Lessons from the Screen we will be looking at the Year of the Scab. 

​Obesity is a huge problem in both American and it Europe.  In America more than half of American Adults are obese or overweight and what’s worse a 3rd of them don’t believe they are.  With this type of landscape it seems fairly obvious that the health risk associated with carrying too much fat would be common knowledge, or at least something that is talked about considerably and at every turn.  And largely it is, however, why aren’t these discussions and this information yielding any positive meaningful results.  Why is it that despite all the documentaries, public warnings, pamphlets, and reality TV shows we continue to face an ever growing weight problem.    

​During this episode of Lessons from the Screen we will be taking a look at the documentary produced by Brian Knappenberger entitled Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press.  In this documentary we are taken through the trial of Wrestler Hulk Hogan as he sued Gawker for sex tape footage that they released.  After the details of the trial are laid out there is a sharp zooming out that really gets into the heart of what the documentary is about.  Billionaires using their power, influence, and wealth to control or destroy News Organizations.  We will be looking into the documentary as always giving our opinion on it and the message it seeks to spread while also talking about some things that we could learn from this documentary as a community.  In this episode of Lessons from the Screen we will be digging into, Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press. 

​During this episode of Lessons from the Screen we will be taking a look at the documentary produced by Alison Klayman entitled Take Your Pill.  In this documentary we are taken through the various pressures that create the urge to utilize amphetamines, various social conversation regarding race and class with relation to the drugs, and the effect of the drugs.  On this show we will be giving some information about the documentary as well as some of our thoughts about what we can take from this documentary.  In this episode of Lessons from the Screen we will be talking about, Take Your Pill.  

​Under the surface of the Opioid Crisis the country is currently facing there lies another prescription medication problem that for the moment is being drowned out by the seriousness of the opiates.  These prescriptions drugs are amphetamines, stimulants often used to help people with attention disorders focus better.  From Adderall to Ritalin,  From Levo to Dextro, amphetamines are being used by people without attention disorders to help them focus, stay awake, and perform better both in school and at work.  What has become an accepted part of life in professional sports has become standard procedure on some university campuses and in various workplaces, the use of performance enhancing substances. 

​This week on Lessons From the Screen we will be looking at the Independence Day Project, a documentary film that seeks to change the way Black People look at our struggle for equality.  It does this by shifting the narrative away from all the problems we face at the hands of White Supremacy and plants the narrative directly on the Black Community and things we can do now to change our situation.  The film looks at 10 areas of human activity and gives us a little something to swallow and ponder on all of them.  As usual we will look at this film, likes, dislikes, and its potential impact In this episode of Lessons from the Screen.   

​In this episode of Lessons from the Screen, we will be looking at the On the Shoulders of Giants Series produced by Joseph Ward.  What started out as a Blog has now become a series of Books, a youtube series, and a podcast.  Going back to 2014 every other week, and sometimes more often than that, we have seen the series release a new figure and illustrated their contribution to Black People globally.  We are going to talk about this series, its impact, takeaways, and ways to move forward.

​In March of 2017 the creators of Cowspiracy released their follow-up title "What the Health".  It followed Kip Andersen as he endeavored in a quest to find out why so many health organizations and government bodies seemed to be encouraging diets that supported chronic illness.  The Documentary went to great lengths to show that there was something nefarious going on all the while attempting to educate its viewers on proper diet and its benefit towards long term health.

​Ice Guardians is a documentary about the Enforcers in Hockey.  Even for those of us that aren't familiar with hockey are familiar with the fighting in hockey.  So for many of us this documentary will be an eye opener into the structure of hockey and the context that the fights exist in.  But deeper than that it also looks into the psychology and the sociology of not just the hockey enforcer, but hockey and human society in general.  The structure and culture of hockey is held side by side with the culture and structure of our everyday lives to get us to re-examine the way we look at the sport, the enforcers, and the world we live in. 

​The Propaganda Game is a Documentary that seeks to look at how we are all being manipulated by propaganda.  As a case study it uses North Korea as North Korea is commonly cited as a country with one of the most extreme and thorough propaganda machines.  So we are transported on a journey through North Korea guided by the Spaniard Alejandro Cao who left Spain and relocated to North Korea over 20 years ago.  To say he is a fanatic would be an understatement.  He completely believes in North Korea and has a pro-North Korean answer for every question.  

​Abacus is the story of a family bank in the Asian Community that has the distinction of being the only bank in the America to have been charged with anything following the subprime mortgage crisis.  The documentary itself operates in typical documentary fashion with talking heads, experts, witnesses, and first-hand accounts mixed in with community footage, photos, and news reels from the time to tell a very involving story of the little guy getting pushed around and fighting back only to win.  The analogy of David and Goliath is actually utilized in the documentary itself.