Phil Ranstrom

Phil Ranstrom

In Poland, directing "Pierogi Blues", 2008
Residence Chicago, Illinois
Occupation WriterProducerDirector
Website
MaxwellStreetDocumentary.com

Phil Ranstrom is an American documentary film director living in Chicago, Illinois and has been writing, producing and directing documentaries since the early 1980s. Among his credits are the 1983 Chicago Emmy Award nominated documentary, The Cocaine Express[1] and the critically acclaimed, Cheat You Fair: The Story of Maxwell Street, which Chicago Tribune writer and WGN (AM) host, Rick Kogan called, "One of the most remarkable pieces of work I've ever seen." [2]

All of Phil Ranstrom's documentaries prior to Cheat You Fair and Electrified were short films, shown on WTTW television in Chicago. Cheat You Fair is Phil's first feature length film. It is narrated by actor Joe Mantegna and details the rise and fall of Chicago's Maxwell Street. This epic film is presented in 3 acts—part history, part blues and part expose' about the fight to save the market from being destroyed by the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Each act is presented in a different documentary genre. Cheat You Fair is considered by many to be the definitive work about Chicago's Maxwell Street, as no other film or book captures this much history, music, interviews and information about this world-famous market. Cheat You Fair was also shown at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.[3] It was also shown in various film festivals in the U.S.[4][5] and in Europe.[6][7] The DVD is available at the film's website.[8]

Contents

Multiple documentary sub-genres

All of Phil Ranstrom's documentaries vary in style and sub-genre. "The Cocaine Express", "Uptown Christian Soldiers", "Reclaiming America" and the third-act of "Cheat You Fair: The Story of Maxwell Street" incorporate elements of the investigative and news report sub-genres, while "I Remember Riverview", "Cheat You Fair" and "Electrified" incorporate the historical, cultural and experimental sub-genres. Each of the three acts of "Cheat You Fair" utilizes a different sub-genre to tell the story – historical, musical and investigative.

Music documentaries

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation helped to sponsor two of Phil Ranstrom's films - "Cheat You Fair" and "Electrified". In addition, they are working together on a series of music documentaries including, "Pierogi Blues" and "Bounce To Disc".

Documentary Filmography

References

  1. ^ http://www.chicagodocfestival.org/07_cheat%20your%20fair.htm
  2. ^ http://www.wgnradio.com/shows/sundaypapers/wgnam-sunday-papers-12410rick-kogan,0,1768553.mp3file
  3. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHMHFO5n6Cc&NR=1
  4. ^ http://s65962.gridserver.com/home
  5. ^ http://www.deepbluesfestival.com/DBF08FilmFest_sched_print.pdf
  6. ^ http://www.bobtjeblues.com/node/706
  7. ^ http://krakow.usconsulate.gov/ambassador2/latest-events2/phil-ranstrom-director-of-blues-documentaries-will-visit-krakow-november-21-2008/
  8. ^ http://www.cheatyoufairthemovie.com

External links