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For those who aren’t feeling a bit patriotic, turn off Fox News (it isn’t really fair and balanced) and go to the movies. Documentaries are the big thing these days, and there is no better way to follow up "Fahrenheit 9/11" than with "Howard Zinn: You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train." The Provincetown Film Festival Audience Award (Best Documentary) winner showcases radical historian Zinn, a professor Emeritus at Boston University and best-selling author (The People’s History of the United States).

Vermont filmmaker Deb Ellis co-produced and edited the film, which delves into the life of one of the country’s most beloved radical historians. Whatever your politics, Zinn will force you to reexamine everything you ever learned about history. The film opened in Boston at the Coolidge Corner Theater on June 29th (with Zinn speaking prior to the showing) and will also be introduced by the subject on July 23rd at Cinema Village in NYC. Better than sparklers, roman candles, and the whipped cream–strawberry–blueberry flag cake. For more info: http://firstrunfeatures.com/howardzinn.html 

Speaking of politics… a new festival has cropped up organized by David Kleiler — the Boston Political Film Festival taking place on July 22-29, 200.  The festival will screen at libraries, colleges, universities and community centers along and around Huntington Avenue, the “Avenue of the Arts.” The festival runs concurrent with the Democratic National Convention, and will include screenings and discussions of politically minded films.  L.B. Gratun is the director of the Film Festival and can be contacted at 617-566-2368 and at by e-mail at lgratun@yahoo.com. 

Another new festival, the Northern Lights Documentary Film Festival will debut October 1-3, 2004 in the historic seaside city of Newburyport, Massachusetts. The international festival will feature a wide variety of non-fiction films produced in New England, nationwide, and across the globe.  The Northern Lights Documentary Film Festival is currently accepting film submissions for consideration in the Festival. For more information about the submission process and the Festival, please visit: www.northernlightsfilmfestival.com. 

Film legends are everywhere in Connecticut this month and the Community Theatre Foundation features Joanne Woodward and Stewart Stern introducing and discussing their film, "Rachel Rachel." Tickets are now on sale for July 20th and 22nd and both evenings begin at 7pm. On July 9th, Jane Powell and Robert Osbourne (Turner Classic Movies host) introduce "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers." This is a popular film from 1954, not a new reality series on NBC’s summer lineup. Tickets can be purchased by calling (203) 226–0153 or by going online.

Check out Connecticut’s darker side on CourtTV. "Trace Evidence: From the Case Files of Dr. Henry Lee" has now premiered. Lee is a preeminent forensic scientist and has contributed to many highly publicized cases. Airing this month is Salisbury, filmed on location in Connecticut. Go online to find out more info about the good doctor and future airdates.

Filming throughout CT and MA is an interesting new documentary about the lives of two modern-day "hobos." "Tracks to Somewhere" follows "Boomer" and "Hitch" as they explore the hobo way of life. Their cross-country journey will introduce them to various hobos and capture their way of life and tales from the rails. The first road of rails was reportedly built in Boston in 1975. Appropriately, "Tracks to Somewhere" will begin and conclude in Boston. The project began on June 1 and will end near or on August 15. Boomer and Hitch will attend the annual Hobo Convention in Britt, Iowa before returning to the east coast. The project is described as "a video based production combining stylistic elements of reality television and documentary film."

The documentary, "4 Theatres: Remembering Portsmouth in the Age of Vaudeville" will have it’s television premiere Friday, July 2nd at 7:30pm on New Hampshire Public Television (that’s channel 11 for New Hampshire viewers). 

Aspiring sportscasters… or people who just watch a lot of sports. It’s that time again where you can attempt living out your dream without any broadcast journalism experience. ESPN fans who continuously watch SportsCenter can again try out for their lifeblood. Hosted by Stuart Scott, the second season of "Dream Job" will debut Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. ET. The one-hour show will be aired Tuesdays for nine weeks with the winner being named the newest SportsCenter anchor. The third season will search for a play-by-play announcer and will premiere in February 2005. Both elimination-style shows will consist of a panel of judges with viewers voting on contestants’ aptitudes in various sports-related tasks. You can’t suffer the agony of defeat without ever getting in the game. Tryouts are in Boston on July 14th. If you don’t know the website where to find more info, reevaluate if you really should be trying out.

Writers, get off your lazy butts. ABC and Disney are offering a one–year fellowship beginning in January 2005. Not only could you make valuable contacts, there is a $50,000 salary and you could personally be responsible for changing the state of sitcom comedy on network television. Click here for more pertinent information. Hurry up — the deadline is July 16th.

Another quickly approaching deadline is July 10th — the last day for submissions for the 15th Annual Vermont International Film Festival. Entries must be eligible for any of the following categories: War and Peace, Human Rights and Justice, or the Environment. There is also a Vermont Filmmakers’ Showcase, where all entrants will vie for the Goldstone Award presented by the Vermont Film Commission. The deadline for Showcase entries is August 1st. Click here for more information and entry forms.

The New Hampshire Film Expo is looking for film and video works of all lengths and genres through August 15th. Short on money, submit by the early deadline of July 15th for a discounted entrance fee. Discounts are also available for student filmmakers. NHFX also features a screenplay competition, so writers are also able to get in on the action. The event will run from October 15-17th in Portsmouth, NH.  Visit http://www.nhfx.com/ for more info.

Don’t forget, July 10th is the 2nd Annual Maine Filmmakers’ Day at the Maine International Film Festival in Waterville, ME. The festival lasts from July 9th through the 18th. An exciting festival, this year’s Mid–Life Achievement Award is presented to the incredible Ed Harris. Thankfully, his starring role in "Milk Money" did not affect the decision.

The 13h Annual Woods Hole Film Festival also runs July 31-August 8.  For a complete schedule, visit http://www.woodsholefilmfestival.org. 

Movies for Music has launched a video contest that will run from June 14 – July 21. They’re accepting videos in two categories: "the RIAA in 30 Seconds": 30-second TV ad-style videos that get right to the point and "Everything Else": Any other kind of video or animation as long as it focuses on an aspect of the music industry.  For more information, visit www.moviesformusic.org.

Happy Fourth of July! To all those in the Boston area, good luck with transportation during the Democratic National Convention.