Go back

Robert Carl Cohen

	Robert Carl Cohen Posted: Jan 28 2002 Contributor 1930: Born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1939: Los Angeles, California 1954: Military Service: USA, France, Germany 1956: Studies in Paris 1957: Los Angeles 1979: Beverly Hills 1993: Boulder, Colorado HIGHER EDUCATION: 1952: BA Art, UCLA 1954: MA Theater Arts, Motion Picture Division, University of California Los Angeles: "THE COLOR OF MAN" 1956-57: Doctorate de Universite (Incomplete) Soc. Psych. Univ. of Paris, Sorbonne: "Analysis Of Film As A Means Of Communication" 1960-1: Ph.D. (Incomplete), Motion Pictures, University of Southern California (USC) 1980: Ph.D. (Incomplete.): Annenberg School of Communication, USC: "Reconciliation Models For International Conflict Involving Direct Broadcast Satellite Policies" MILITARY SERVICE: 1954: US Army Signal Corps, Writer, Producer, Director, WFM-TV, Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey 1955: Cameraman, NATO, Supreme HQ Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) Paris, France 1956: Special Services, Bremerhaven Port of Embarkation (BPOE), Germany PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, PRODUCTIONS, HONORS: 1954: ADVENTURE SHOW: Researcher, Writer, "Random Genetic Drift," CBS-TV & American Museum of Natural History 1955-57: THE COLOR OF MAN: International Educators Conference, Lycee de Sevres, France Fifth Annual Film Festival, Film Council of Greater Boston One of Year's Ten Best (Filmstrip), Scholastic Teachers Magazine International Animated Film Festival, Cannes, France Karlovy Vary Film Festival, Czechoslovakia Moscow Film Institute, Sixth World Youth Festival, USSR 1956-57: MISTER WISTER THE TIME TWISTER: Les Films Jean Image, Paris: Prix du Qualite, France World Animated Cartoon Festival, National Film Theater, London 1957: Special Correspondent, NBC-TV: Travels to film China in defiance of State Dept. travel ban Interviews Hungarian Premier Kadar aboard Soviet Tu-104 jetliner over Mongolia Films reactions of Russians in Moscow to launch of Sputnik 1957: INSIDE RED CHINA (Film Lecture): US universities, civic groups, TV 1959: INSIDE EAST GERMANY (Film Lect.): First American to film throughout German Democratic Republic 1960: INSIDE RED CHINA (TV): Walter Reade-Sterling SPECIAL OF THE WEEK SERIES 1960: NO MORE WAR (Documentary): Dr. Linus Pauling & Peace Marches 1961: THE COLOR OF MAN: Award of British Assoiation For Advancement Of Science 1962: COMMITTEE ON UNAMERICAN ACTIVITIES: First film by a US citizen criticizing a US Government committee 1963: IWO JIMA: Writer, Editor, Associate Producer, pilot for "Battleline" TV series 1963: INSIDE CASTRO'S CUBA (Film Lect.): First US citizen authorized by US State Dept. & Cuban Foreign Ministry to film throughout Cuba after 1961 eak in diplomatic relations 1958-1965: Public Lecturer, 500-plus appearances at universities, civic groups & TV, USA, Canada, Bahamas: INSIDE RED CHINA INSIDE EAST GERMANY INSIDE CASTRO'S CUBA CAPITAL CITIES OF COMMUNISM 1963: PREMIERE (Documentary): Co-Writer, Co-Producer- Director-Editor, Hollywood premiere of "Cleopatra" 1964: Returns to Cuba to film additional material for National Educational Television (NET) special 1965: THREE FACES OF CUBA: Shown nationwide on NET stations. Cuban exile organizations protests; CIA pressure; investigations by Federal Communications Commission & Congress. NET refuses to distribute film to schools. 1966: THREE CUBANS: (formerly THREE FACES OF CUBA) distributed independently. 1965-67: MONDO HOLLYWOOD (Feature length documentary) Includes: Julie Andrews, Paul Newman, Sean Connery, Bridgit Bardot, Richard Burton & Elizabeth Taylor, director Alfred Hitchcock, LSD guru Dr. Richard Alpert, musician Frank Zappa, Manson Gang victim hair stylist Jay Se ing & Manson Gang member Bobby Beausoliel, & actor-politician Ronald Reagan. Considered a bizarre work of prophecy, it has become one of the most frequently mentioned yet unseen underground cult classics: Midnight screening, opening of 1967 Mannheim Film Festival. 1968:MONDO HOLLYWOOD Invited to open 1968 Avignon Festival, Venice Film Festival, & Paris world premiere; all canceled due to: "Interdiction Totale," French Ministry of Information as "A danger to mental health." 1968: THE COLOR OF MAN (Book): (Based on MA Thesis film): popular science book explaining genetic-environmental basis for different skin colors relationship to health, intelligence, etc.; published by Random House: The Horn Book's Honor List Select Book List of the National Council of Christians & Jews Smithsonian Institute Traveling Exhibit - tours USA 1968: Travels to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to interview Robert Franklin Williams, FBI hunted civil rights advocate of armed self defense 1971: Although FBI & CIA files acquired under Freedom of Information Act describe MONDO HOLLYWOOD(along with his other films & books) as "pro-communist," when shown at the Brno, Czechoslovakia Film Forum, while engaging in shoving matches to get into six screenings, Communist area buyers rejected it as: "Glamorizing capitalism - too many cars & swimming pools." 1971: French Ministry of Culture rescinds MONDO HOLLYWOOD "Interdiction Totale"Issued by Ministry of Information (itself eliminated following 1968 French civil unrest) citing "profound changes in original version" (not a single frame was changed) authorizes exhibition to "general public" 1972: THE COLOR OF MAN: Paperback edition published by Bantam Books 1972: BLACK CRUSADER: Biography of Robert Franklin Williams, Lyle Stuart 1973: THE COLOR OF MAN: (50,000 copy printing) Calif. State Dept. of Education 1975: INNER TRIP: Documentary, travels to Japan to co-direct film history of Reiyukai, Buddhist sect, Japan 1975: Training Director, Depts. of Labor & Health, Educ.& Welfare funded Audio-Visual Training Program - Minorities, MGM Studios. Places 28 minority editors, sound recordists & wardrobe graduates in Hollywood Film & TV Industries 1975: RALLY TO REOPEN THE ROSENBERG CASE: Writer, Producer, rally with Henry Fonda, Lee Grant, Martin Sheen, Roscoe Lee Browne,etc. 1975: Telethon Producer, KVST-TV, Hollywood pulic service channel, programs include: CAN THE ROSENBERG CASE BE REOPENED? WHO IS THE AMERICAN CONNECTION? DEATH OF THE UNAMERICANS?, which included interviews with blacklisted screenwriter Abe Polonsky & HUAC critic Frank Wilkinson, is lauded as a "Best Bet" by Los Angeles Times TV Editor. But, while being screened for consideration by the Corporation For Public Broadcasting (CPB), the video master is "lost" by that organization 1978: MONDO HOLLYWOOD Music Director Mike Curb: Risen to prominence in the Republican Party, runs for office. Opponent Calif. Lt. Gov. Mervyn Dymally (D) who's not seen it, makes headlines by charging the film is "pornographic" & that Curb: "Sang falsetto in a bath tub scene with two lesbians." Cohen, denying film is "pornographic," affirms Curb's electronically "falsettoed" off-screen voice was used & defends Curb's work in the film. Curb wins the election 1978: Returns to China to film changed conditions since 1957 1983: Consultant, Nationwide Catholic TV Network, Santa Fe Communications 1986: MONDO HOLLYWOOD Music Director Mike Curb: Narrowly defeated in 1982 Republican Primary for Governor of Calif., becomes head of CREEP (Committee To Re-Elect President) Ronald Reagan; then, in 1986 once again runs for office of Lt. Gov. but now denies his voice was used in MONDO HOLLYWOOD. Interviewed by NBC-TV, Cohen reaffirms that Curb's voice was used. Curb loses the election. 1988: Founder/Chairperson, "Citizens Committee To Preserve Beverly Hills Landmarks." Sues City of Beverly Hills to block demolition of abandoned Municipal Waterworks; leading to it's rehabilitation as Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences: "Center For Motion Picture Study" 1997: ROCKY MOUNTAIN WRITERS: Writer, Producer, Interviewer, series of 12 Interviews for Boulder, Colorado, Community Access TV 2000: PEN WORLD CONGRESS - Moscow 2000: Produces Report on meeting of writers organization : Director, Narrator, Interviewer, Editor. ORGANIZATIONS & AFFILIATIONS: Writers Guild of America - West (WGAW) Dramatists Guild California Governor's Advisory Council for Employment of the handicapped: Develops guidelines for WGAW re Depiction of Disabled in films & TV Los Angeles Mayor's Advisory Council for Employment of the Handicapped LA Center For Independent Living: Develops programs for Employment of Disabled in Film & TV Industries City of Beverly Hills, California, Cable TV Advisory Committee City of Boulder, Colorado, Cable TV Task Force University of Colorado Theater & Dance Departments Advisory Council President, Colorado Chapter of PEN (International Writers Org.) Board of Directors, PEN Center USA - West. PRODUCTIONS(Partial List): MISTER WISTER THE TIME TWISTER (1957) 7 min., Color: Cartoon, Writer, Designer, Jean Image Films, Paris INSIDE RED CHINA (1957) 45 min., B&W: Writer, Producer, Director, Camera, Editor, Narrator, "Special of the Week" TV Series INSIDE EAST GERMANY (1959) 45 min., B&W: (Film Lecture), Writer, Producer, Director, Camera, Editor, Narrator NO MORE WAR (1960) 15 min., B&W: Writer, Producer, Director., Camera, Editor COMMITTEE ON UNAMERICAN ACTIVITIES (1962) 45 min., B&W: Writer, Producer, Director, Camera, Editor IWO JIMA (1963) 22 min., B&W: Pilot, Official Films 39 Episode, Associate Producer, Writer, Editor, "Battle Line" TV Series, PREMIERE (1963) 10 min., B&W: (Hollywood premiere): Co-Writer - Producer - Director - Editor THREE CUBANS (1963-64) 56 min., Color: Writer, Producer, Director, Camera, Editor MONDO HOLLYWOOD (1965-67) 90 min., Color: Writer, Producer, Director, Camera, Editor, Lyricist INNER TRIP (1975) 45 min., Color: Co-Producer- Director, Writer, Co-Narrator, Editor, The Reiyukai Buddhist Sect, Japan, KVST TELETHON (1975) Week-Long TV Fund Raiser, Writer, Producer CAN THE ROSENBERG CASE BE REOPENED? (1975) 90 min., Color: Producer, Writer, Interviewer WHO IS THE AMERICAN CONNECTION? (1975) 90 min., Color: Producer, Writer, Interviewer DEATH OF THE UNAMERICANS? (1975) 90 min., Color: Producer, Writer, Interviewer ROCKY MOUNTAIN WRITERS (1997) 30 min. each, Color: Producer, Writer, Interviewer, CATV-Boulder, Colorado, Series of 12 TV Interviews. PEN WORLD CONGRESS - Moscow 2000 (2000) 50 min., Color: Producer, Writer, Director, Narrator, Interviewer, Editor Go Top