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A deeply inspirational film about the life and artwork of America's premiere social documentary photographer alive today.
In 1957, Milton Rogovin was declared "The Top Red in Buffalo" by The Buffalo News and his life was turned upside-down. Effectively, his political voice was silenced as society shunned him and his friends disappeared. In reality, he was an optometrist promoting workers' rights in the local unions and helping to register Black voters. But refusing to be intimidated or be silenced, he found a new political voice- a camera.
Rogovin began documenting Buffalo's poorest and working classes, photographing the disenfranchised, the marginalized and those he considers "the forgotten ones". Eventually traveling around the World, Rogovin collaborated with Pable Neruda, WEB DuBois, and others at the forefront of the social justice movement. Through his prints Rogovin was able to depict the extreme inequalities that exist and convey that message through beautiful works of art.
But Rogovin, now 97 years old, never intended to be an artist. Though his entire collection is housed by both the Library of Congress and the Center for Creative Photography, his prints are his protests- and his only concern is the fight for social justice.
Starting out as a cameraman for WNET's landmark series, City Arts and EGG, Ezra won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary Camera. Over the last 12 years, Ezra has worked as a Director of Photography for specials, series and broadcast documentaries, working on hundreds of stories, profiles and segments, from roll-in packages to feature films now in distribution.
As a director and producer, Ezra produces work for high-end commercial clients, develops and shoots documentary films and consults in the documentary film community.
Versatile, creative and experienced, Bookstein is proficient as a one-man band or directing a twenty person crew. His first feature documentary, The Rich Have Their Own Photographers (2009) aired on PBS affiliates nationwide, garnered awards at film festivals around the world and had a 30 day extended run at The British Museum in London.
As creator, director and producer, Bookstein produced a 21-episode sit-com for NBA entertainment and AZN Network.
Founder and Director of the Jewish Film Competition, Ezra is a six-time bocce champion living in Brooklyn.
