The Books of James: Director's Cut (2006)
Inspired by a collection of personal notebooks, this feature-length director’s cut of the short film by the same name is an experimental documentary on art, AIDS and activism. Following James Wentzy from South Dakota to New York City, the film traces his days from struggling and surviving as an artist to later becoming an AIDS video activist. In showcasing a unique individual through his involvement with the fight against AIDS and his tireless frontline reportage of the crisis, The Books of James is an intimate portrait of a neglected everyman/hero and unearths a time now forgotten.
Director: Ho Tam
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James Wentzy as Self / Narrator (voice) |
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W.P. Wentzy as Self |
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David Gasperik as Self |
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Darrel Ellis as Self |
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James Dee as Self |
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Jonathon Chin as Self |
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Michael Mitchell as Self |
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Larry Kramer as Self |
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Aldyn McKean as Self |
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Anna Blume as Self |
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Katrina Haslip as Self |
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Andrea Schlesinger as Self |
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John McIlveen as Self |
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Ron Goldberg as Self |
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Avram Finkelstein as Self |
| Editing | Ho Tam | Editor |
| Sound | Ho Tam | Sound Recordist |
| Directing | Ho Tam | Director |
| Sound | Ho Tam | Sound Mixer |
| Sound | Ho Tam | Sound Editor |
| Camera | James Wentzy | Additional Camera |
| Sound | Wang Yemeng | Music |
| Sound | Sikay Tang | Sound Recordist |
| Editing | Dennis Day | Color Grading |
| Camera | Ho Tam | Director of Photography |