Erik Nelson, a multiple Emmy and IDA award-winning filmmaker, will be a special guest on SOUNDS with Tom Needham to discuss his latest film, “Daytime Revolution.” Nelson has an extensive body of work, having produced and directed a wide range of feature documentaries through his company, Creative Differences. He is known for his collaborations with Werner Herzog on films like “Grizzly Man,” “Cave Of Forgotten Dreams,” “Into The Abyss,” and the Oscar-nominated “Encounters At The End Of The World.” Nelson’s recent films, including the true crime documentary “A Gray State” and the immersive World War II documentaries “The Cold Blue” and “Apocalypse ’45,” showcase his ability to craft compelling narratives from archival footage.
“Daytime Revolution” revisits the iconic week in February 1972 when John Lennon and Yoko Ono co-hosted the “Mike Douglas Show.” With an audience of 40 million viewers, Lennon and Ono acted as both producers and hosts, curating a groundbreaking mix of music, art, and political conversation. Their guests included figures such as Yippie founder Jerry Rubin, Black Panther Chairman Bobby Seale, activist Ralph Nader, and comedian George Carlin. The film captures how Lennon and Ono used the show as a platform to discuss issues like police violence, women’s liberation, and more, offering a revolutionary take on daytime television.
Nelson’s approach to the documentary was to duplicate the original broadcasts, allowing modern audiences to experience the unfolding of that extraordinary week as it happened. The film also explores the lasting consequences of the show, which played a key role in triggering the Nixon administration’s efforts to deport John Lennon. Through restored footage and new interviews with those who were present during the live broadcasts, “Daytime Revolution” serves as both a time capsule and a reflection on the intersection of media, art, and activism.
“Daytime Revolution” is making its world premiere at the Hamptons International Film Festival on Saturday, October 5th.
Tune in to SOUNDS with Tom Needham for an in-depth conversation with Erik Nelson about “Daytime Revolution” and his career in documentary filmmaking.
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