Pacific Street Films

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Pacific Street Films is a documentary film production company founded in Brooklyn, NY in 1969 (and still in existence) by two anarchists, Joel Sucher and Steven Fischler. They have produced more than 100 films.

MOMA recently hosted a career retrospective on Pacific Street Films.

Pacific Street Films is most notable for its film RED SQUAD (1971), a documentary about the notorious NYPD Red Squad in operations in the 1960s and 70s, and FRAME-UP: THE IMPRISONMENT OF MARTIN SOSTRE (1973), a documented account of the arrest of a radical African American bookstore owner Martin Sostre in Buffalo, New York.

[edit] Filmography

In Debt We Trust - 2006 A Globalvision Production dealing with the widespread problem of why Americans are being caught up in the “debt trap” Joel Sucher produced the segment dealing with personal bankruptcy. Web Site: www.indebtwetrust.com

Building Wealth and Risky Business - 2005 A series of educational videotapes designed to teach the fundamentals of financial literacy to High School and College students. Produced in collaboration with the National Council on Economic Education.

City of Refuge - 2004 Installation piece produced for the Museum of Jewish Heritage to accompany an exhibition about Jewish immigration to New York City.

The Economics Classroom - 2002 A teacher development workshop consisting of eight one-hour videos, website and educational materials. For Annenberg/CPB.

AMC "Backstory" GoodFellas and JFK - 2002 Two productions for the AMC's "Back Story" series — Martin Scorsese's "GoodFellas," and Oliver Stone's "JFK." The programs take an intimate look at the story behind the story, revealing how these groundbreaking films struck a chord with audiences worldwide.

Bravo Profile Nick Nolte - 2002 One hour documentary portrait of the noted actor.

Speed Traps - 2001 This fast-paced, high-energy show takes an in-depth look at the history and technology of speed detection, and the equally sophisticated attempts at speed detection avoidance. Broadcast on The Learning Channel.

Martial Arts: The Real Story - 2000 A two-hour special that explores a little-known world of secret martial techniques. From the mist shrouded hills of China to small backwater villages in Southern India, fighting techniques have been developed that require silent devotion, zealous commitment and above all, secrecy. Broadcast on The Learning Channel and ITV (UK).

From Swastika to Jim Crow - 1999 Independent documentary exploring the little-known story of Jewish refugee scholars teaching at historically black colleges before and during the Second World War. PBS broadcast 2001. Crime Stories - 1999 Three one-hour documentaries about notable trials from the past: The Jeffrey MacDonald Murder Case, Richard Speck: Born to Raise Hell, and The Trial of the Chicago 8. Broadcast on Court TV.

Exploring the World of Music - 1999 A 12-part television series, with a study guide and 3-set audio CD package, highlighting the principles of music, seen through a world music perspective. An international co-production with primary support from the Annenberg Project of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Release date: January 1999. Annenberg/CPB web site for this series

The Other Half ... Revisited - 1998 Documentary comparing social conditions today with those that Jacob Riis documented in 1890 in his famous work, HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES. Funded by the Ford Foundation and CPB. Broadcast on WNET-TV.

The Warrior Tradition - 1998 Five one-hour documentaries highlighting warrior cultures throughout history: SAMURAI, SHOGUN, THE FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION, THE GURKHAS and THE GREEN BERETS. History Channel broadcast.

Intimate Portrait: Pamela Harriman - 1998 Documentary profile on the life of the socialite and former Ambassador to France. Broadcast October 1998 on LIFETIME TELEVISION.

Intimate Portrait: Jessica Lange - 1998 Documentary profile of Jessica Lange. Broadcast on LIFETIME TELEVISION.

Sidney Lumet: An American Director - 1996 A portrait of the film director, photographed during the production of NIGHT FALLS ON MANHATTAN. Produced for Paramount Pictures and Spelling Entertainment.

Final Take: The Fertility Scandal - 1996 An investigation of the scandal at the University of California at Irvine Fertility Center, involving the illegal use of unapproved fertility drugs and the theft of eggs and embryos from patients. Broadcast on LIFETIME TELEVISION.

Troubled Waters, Vanishing Treasures - 1996 Produced for the American Museum of Natural History’s Endangered Species installation.

To The Ends of The Earth - 1995 A history of the American Museum of Natural History's fossil-hunting expeditions. Part of the museum's permanent display.

In Search of Peace - 1995 Documentary special on the relationship of the United States and the United Nations, on the world organization's 50th anniversary. Narrated by Paul Newman. Broadcast on the Turner Broadcasting System.

Schools For Sale: Advertising in the Classroom - 1995 A critical look at CHANNEL ONE, the for-profit service that brings advertising into the classroom under the guise of educational programming. Hosted by Lewis Black. Produced for the Walt Whitman Center for the Culture and Politics of Democracy at Rutgers University.

Calculating Change - 1993 Examination of the campaign to overhaul math and science education in the US Hosted by Al Roker. Broadcast on PBS. Produced for the Urban League and Thirteen/WNET.

Peacemaking - 1993 Educational program produced for the United Nations.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates - 1993 One hour documentary on the students involved in the annual New York City debate competition. Broadcast on Thirteen/WNET.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates - 1992 One hour documentary on the students involved in the annual New York City debate competition. Broadcast on Thirteen/WNET in June 1992.

Oliver Stone: Inside/Out - 1992 Feature length profile of the director. Produced for SHOWTIME and the BBC. Video Preview

Jessica Lange: It's Only Make-Believe - 1991 Profile of the actress on the set of Cape Fear. Produced for HBO/CINEMAX.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates - 1991 One hour documentary on the students involved in the annual New York City debate competition. Broadcast on Thirteen/WNET in June 1991.

Martin Scorsese Directs - 1990 Profile of the director on the set of Goodfellas. Produced for AMERICAN MASTERS. Broadcast on PBS.

Blue Helmets: The Story of U. N. Peacekeeping - 1990 A look at the work of UN Peacekeepers around the world. Narrated by Jesse Jackson. 90-minute PBS Special.

United Nations Peacekeeping - 1989 Educational film produced for the United Nations.

First City - 1988 Produced segments for this WNYC magazine series on New York City: "Tugs," "Brooklyn Bridge," "Homeless," "Arson Squad," "Parking"

Produced for WNET's Metropolitan Division: 1985 - 1988 SALUTE TO NEWARK -- eight 30-second spots. TAKE ME BACK TO DEAR OLD NEWARK -- 30-minute historical documentary. Segment production for FEAR OF CRIME and LAW AND ORDER.

Albert Szent-Gyorgyi: A Special Gift - 1984 A portrait of the Nobel laureate. Produced for the National Foundation for Cancer Research.

Man's Best Friends - 1984 A one-hour investigation of the use and abuse of animals in medical experiments and product testing. Produced for FRONTLINE. Broadcast on PBS.

I Promise To Remember: Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers - 1983 The rise and fall of Rock ‘n Roll’s first cross-over group. Broadcast on PBS.

The Cancer War - 1983 An investigation into the politics of cancer research. Broadcast on PBS.

Anarchism in America - 1981 Feature-length documentary on this misunderstood movement. Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Free Voice of Labor: The Jewish Anarchists - 1980 Documentary on the last survivors of the Jewish Anarchist movement. Supported by the Guggenheim Foundation and CPB. Broadcast on PBS.

The Grand Jury: An Institution Under Fire - 1977 An investigation of Grand Jury abuse. Broadcast on PBS.

Voices From Within - 1977 A documentary produced in collaboration with a group of long-term women inmates at the Bedford Hills Correctional Institution, New York. Funded by the NYS Council on the Arts.

Politics and Police in Stamford - 1975 Thirty-minute investigative documentary. Produced for WNBC-TV.

The Marijuana Revolution - 1975 Thirty-minute investigative documentary. Produced for WNBC-TV.

Frame-up! The Imprisonment of Martin Sostre - 1974 Investigative documentary on the wrongful imprisonment of a black activist bookstore owner.

Red Squad - 1972 An Independent documentary investigating the surveillance activities of the New York City Police Department and the FBI.

Surveillance: Who's Watching? - 1971 An investigation of police surveillance of political dissidents around the country. Produced for National Educational Television.

Ipimpi - 1971 Independent documentary about police infiltration of the Black Panther Party.

Inciting to Riot - 1970 Student film. Grand prize winner at the National Student's Association Film Festival.