Louis Alvarez and Andrew Kolker
Encyclopedia
Louis Alvarez, born January 23, 1955, and Andrew Kolker, born February 20, 1952, are American documentary
filmmakers whose works deal with various aspects of American society and culture. Their films have been shown frequently on the American Public Broadcasting Service
and are notable for their use of humor in the examination of serious subjects such as social class
and politics
. Alvarez and Kolker's work has been recognized by two Peabody Awards and two Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards.
Their best-known works are People Like Us: Social Class in America, which is a wide-ranging examination of the American class system from 2001, and American Tongues
, a 1987 study of dialects of North American English and their social implications. They have also collaborated with the filmmaker Paul Stekler
on several films about American politics and culture, including Louisiana Boys - Raised on Politics and Vote for Me: Politics in America.
Since 1994 Alvarez and Kolker have collaborated with the film editor and producer Peter Odabashian.
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
filmmakers whose works deal with various aspects of American society and culture. Their films have been shown frequently on the American Public Broadcasting Service
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
and are notable for their use of humor in the examination of serious subjects such as social class
Social class
Social classes are economic or cultural arrangements of groups in society. Class is an essential object of analysis for sociologists, political scientists, economists, anthropologists and social historians. In the social sciences, social class is often discussed in terms of 'social stratification'...
and politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
. Alvarez and Kolker's work has been recognized by two Peabody Awards and two Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards.
Their best-known works are People Like Us: Social Class in America, which is a wide-ranging examination of the American class system from 2001, and American Tongues
American Tongues
American Tongues is a 1988 sociolinguistic documentary examining American English dialects and accents and perceptions thereof.It was produced and directed by Louis Alvarez and Andrew Kolker. The Center for New American Media won a Peabody Award for the film in 1987....
, a 1987 study of dialects of North American English and their social implications. They have also collaborated with the filmmaker Paul Stekler
Paul Stekler
Paul J. Stekler is a political documentary filmmaker, a professor, and former head of the production program in the Department of Radio-Television-Film at the University of Texas at Austin College of Communication...
on several films about American politics and culture, including Louisiana Boys - Raised on Politics and Vote for Me: Politics in America.
Since 1994 Alvarez and Kolker have collaborated with the film editor and producer Peter Odabashian.
Filmography
- Changing the Channel, 1977
- The Ends of the Earth: Plaquemines Parish, LouisianaPlaquemines Parish, LouisianaPlaquemines Parish is the parish with the most combined land and water area in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Pointe à la Hache...
, 1982 - El mosco y el agua alta, or Mosquitoes and High Water, 1983
- Yeah You Rite!, 1985
- American TonguesAmerican TonguesAmerican Tongues is a 1988 sociolinguistic documentary examining American English dialects and accents and perceptions thereof.It was produced and directed by Louis Alvarez and Andrew Kolker. The Center for New American Media won a Peabody Award for the film in 1987....
, 1987 - L.A. is It with John Gregory DunneJohn Gregory DunneJohn Gregory Dunne was an American novelist, screenwriter and literary critic.-Life:He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, and was a younger brother of author Dominick Dunne. He suffered from a severe stutter and took up writing to express himself. Eventually he learned to speak normally by...
, 1990 - The Japanese Version, 1991
- Louisiana Boys—Raised on Politics, 1993
- Vote for Me: Politics in America, 1996
- MOMS, 1999
- People Like Us: Social Class in America, 2001
- Sex: Female, 2003
- Small Ball—A Little LeagueLittle LeagueLittle League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S...
Story, 2004 - The Anti-Americans (a hate/love relationship), 2007