John and Maggie have spent February in Hawaii, teaching master classes and doing Q&As at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (where John has been in residence as the 2014 Inouye Chair in Democratic Ideals). Now that their time on the islands is wrapping up, Maggie sends us this greeting, and an artist shout-out. Greeting from sunny Oahu! I won’t rub it in just to say I am so happy to be away from snow. We’d like to acknowledge Shepard Fairey and thank him for designing the John

John and Maggie will be spending most of the month of February at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. John will be in residency as the 2014 Inouye Chair in Democratic Ideals, and he and Maggie will both be giving master classes to students. In addition, the American Studies Department has been presenting John Sayles Film series, co-sponsored by the College of Arts & Humanities and the Academy for Creative Media. The film series will conclude on February 13th with a screening o

John and Maggie will be in attendance at the 2014 Modern Language Association (MLA) Convention in Chicago, January 9-12. If you’re in Chicago, be sure to check out the following events: A screening of Eight Men Out Thursday, Jan 9 @ 6:30pm — Grand I, Chicago Marriott John Sayles and Maggie Renzi: A Creative Conversation Saturday, Jan 11 @ 10:15am — Chicago E, Chicago Marriott MLA Awards Ceremony Saturday, Jan 11 @ 6:45pm — Sheraton IV-V, Sheraton Chicago You can see a list

You may have heard that today is Giving Tuesday, which is the charitable giving cohort to shopping on Black Friday. In the spirit of Giving Tuesday, we’d like to draw attention to the great work of the Amigo For Bohol team, and also encourage you to help the people of the Philippines today if you are able. Joel Torre and AMIGO cast/crew members being interviewed by local TV at the benefit screening We have pictures and a report from the AMIGO benefit screenings that took plac

You will remember that last month a massive 7.2 earthquake hit the Bohol Province of the Philippines, where AMIGO was filmed.  Many of the cast and crew members of AMIGO were affected by this catastrophic event.  The Amigo Para Sa Bohol (“Amigo for Bohol”) effort was created to use benefit screenings of the film to collect monetary and physical donations for victims of the national disaster. As you have no doubt heard, this region is once again in the news due to Super Typhoo

Members of the AMIGO cast and crew You will remember that last month a massive 7.2 earthquake hit the Bohol Province of the Philippines, where AMIGO was filmed.  Many of the cast and crew members of AMIGO were affected by this catastrophic event.  The Amigo Para Sa Bohol (“Amigo for Bohol”) effort was created to use benefit screenings of the film to collect monetary and physical donations for victims of the national disaster. Screenings have been scheduled for: Friday, Novemb

As we told you yesterday, a recent massive 7.2 earthquake hit the Bohol Province of the Philippines, where AMIGO was filmed.  Many of the cast and crew members of AMIGO have been affected by this catastrophic event. Read the full story here. In order to help, Maggie and John are teaming up with the University of the Philippines Film Institute to raise awareness and supplies with benefit screenings of AMIGO.  These screenings will raise funds, as well as serve as a drop off lo

As you may have heard, a few days ago a massive 7.2 earthquake hit the Bohol Province of the Philippines, where AMIGO was filmed.  Many of the cast and crew members of AMIGO have been affected by this catastrophic event. “The 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Bohol and other areas in Central Visayas is now recorded as one of the deadliest in our recent history, with the death toll at over 170 and rising. Hundreds of residences – including centuries-old houses of worship — wer

We are thrilled to announce that John and Maggie have recently found a new home for over 230 boxes of screenplays, story boards, photos, props, notes, legal documents and other materials which span John’s 34-year movie making career. John and Maggie on the set of Sunshine State in 2002 These materials have been donated to the University of Michigan’s Special Collections Library, for the creation of the John Sayles Archive. Maggie says, “We chose the University of Michigan ove

John Sayles has been called “The Godfather of American Independent Cinema,” and has always been known for finding a way to make the movies he wants to make, the way he wants to make them. In this day and age of digital media and web-based content, some of the most determined up-and-coming indie filmmakers are finding a new avenue for storytelling: the web series.  While self-producing a web series may not follow the exact same set of steps as creating a TV show or movie, some

Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts is the alma mater of both John Sayles and Maggie Renzi. In 1993, on the college’s 200th anniversary, Williams established its Bicentennial Medals to honor accomplished alumni for distinguished achievement in any field of endeavor. This year, both John (class of ’72) and Maggie (class of ’73) will be honored at the September 7th Fall Convocation for their work as “creative partners and pioneers in independent film.” President Fal

Chris Cooper and John on the set of “Amigo” On July 19th at 6:30pm, John, Maggie, and actor Chris Cooper will attend a special screening of Amigo in Plymouth, MA. There will be a Q&A after the screening. Get more information here. Reservations recommended. Call 508-746-1622 x 8346 for tickets or purchase online by clicking here. $20 General Admission $15 Plimouth Plantation Museum Members, Senior Citizens & Students Need Dinner? Reserve a special box dinner for just $12. All

Remember when John and Maggie went to Australia to be mentors for Film Victoria?  They stayed in a lovely Victorian spa town called Hepburn Springs, ate great food and drank great wine (Maggie) while each day having a couple of meetings with teams of filmmakers to discuss their scripts? Well one of the teams they mentored has a film opening in the U.S. and on demand tomorrow! It’s a crazy horror/comedy called 100 BLOODY ACRES. Watch the trailer below, and click here for the m

All of you fans of AMIGO and particularly the AMIGO cast and crew will be glad to know that Baryo San Isidro lives. Under the direction of Cooper Resabal, the Baryo Living Museum incorporates our sets and costumes and many of the villagers who worked as extras in the movie. Don’t they look wonderful? Thanks, Coop. You can read more about the BLM on our blog by clicking here, and on the Baryo Amigo HQ blog by clicking here. #gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1

Ebbe Strathairn, longtime friend of John and Maggie, is an architecture graduate student at Columbia University, and a co-creator of this very cool project. The A:LOG is a tool for architects: part handy reference, part true-to-scale dot grid for drawings and notes. Designed with a minimalist aesthetic, the A:LOG has a soft letter pressed cover and perfect stitch binding. It features the highest quality paper and a ruler bookmark insert. A:LOG also comes in imperial (US) and

Happy Mardi Gras, everyone! It seems like a fitting day to tell you about a very special happening in Louisiana that recently reminded a lot of people how very special Passion Fish is to the community where it was filmed. Passion Fish 20th Anniversary Poster In February of 1993, The Historic Strand Theatre in the town of Jennings, Louisiana hosted the world premiere of John Sayles’s PASSION FISH. In honor of the 20th anniversary of the premiere, the Strand Theatre once again

We want to share with you our enthusiasm for the One Billion Rising movement, a progressive organization taking a stand against rape and assault on women workers from the Philippines and around the world. Workers are the Philippines’ biggest export, and they must be protected.  The One Billion Rising movement is  a campaign by V-Day, culminating on Feb. 14, 2013 with a billion people striking and dancing in the streets to oppose violence against women. ONE BILLION WOMEN VIOLA

“Amigo” Scholastic Edition DVD — Now for sale! We are so excited to announce the release of the Educational Edition of Amigo on DVD! The Educational Edition of John Sayles’s 17th feature film AMIGO — which explores the little-discussed Philippine-American War and its effects on people on both sides of the conflict — was officially launched at the American Studies Association’s Annual Meeting in San Juan in November.  John and Maggie were both in attendance at the ASA meeting,

Below, please find the transcript of a tribute to Maggie’s mother, Helen Renzi, which was written by Meghan Foley and published in the North Adams Transcript on July 18th. Helen Renzi Dedicated superintendent passes WILLIAMSTOWN — Those who knew her say the legacy of dedication, excellence, enthusiasm, courtesy and compassion that became synonymous with retired Superintendent Helen Renzi will live on past her lifetime. Renzi, 88, died July 14 at her home. Joelle Brookner, the

Some sad news to report today: Maggie’s wonderful mother, Helen Agnes Theresa Greco Renzi, passed away last Saturday at the age of 88. Helen Renzi Here is just a little bit of information for those who didn’t get to meet this truly incredible woman: During her 25 year career in the Williamstown Public Schools, she served as an elementary school teacher, a principal, and a superintendent of schools. The elementary school named its multi-purpose room after Mrs. Renzi, where in