Who We Are
Richard Kane graduated in 1972 from the Maxwell School of Citizenship at Syracuse University with a B.A. in American Studies and spent two years in graduate studies in documentary film at Temple University. Shortly thereafter, he produced and directed an independent documentary on an old time string band from the strip mines of Indiana titled: "Tough Pretty or Smart" which won first prize in the Cork International Film Festival and went on to compete for an Academy Award.
He and Melody Lewis-Kane established Kane-Lewis Productions in 1980 in the Washington, D.C. area where they developed a successful business providing communications, video, and sound services for the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Geographic Television, The Discovery Channel, Judith Dwan Hallet Productions, CBS News, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Advanced Technology Institute, Georgetown University Energy Program among many other clients. Of note was his video "TECHNOLOGY: Renewing the American Dream", projected wide screen by White House and Commerce Department officials at Town Hall meetings throughout the country with former President Bill Clinton narrating a script written by Richard.
In 1990 Richard and Melody purchased land and a pottery (Melody's passion) in rural Downeast Maine and summered there for eight years establishing Clay Forms Pottery (www.ClayFormsPottery.com). In the summer of 1998 they moved Kane-Lewis Productions to Sedgwick, Maine and continued to service their Washington, D.C. client base while expanding into the Maine market. Richard has continued his work making films on the arts beginning an exciting collaboration with Maine painter/activist Robert Shetterly with whom he is collaborating on an ongoing series of half hour PBS documentary portraits of Maine artists (the eighth in post production). Currently in development is a six hour documentary series based on Rob's series of portraits of courageous Americans entitled, "Americans Who Tell The Truth" (www.AmericansWhoTelltheTruth.org).
Recently released in collaboration with Melody Lewis-Kane was an independent documentary twelve years in the making on the artist/philosopher Mary Caroline Richards renowned for her underground classic Centering: In Pottery, Poetry and the Person. The film, "M.C. Richards: The Fire Within" is currently on tour in 22+ cities in the U.S. and is getting exceptional reviews: "an inspiring film about a brilliant artist and teacher" -- Arthur Penn, director; "... articulately perceptive" -- Robert Creeley, poet; "unexpectedly moving" -- Anne Fabbri, art critic; "Richards ... moving America to the forefront of the art world... really worthwhile" -- Ken Hanke, Mountain Express (Asheville, NC); "... a moving tribute" Robert Silberman, American Craft Magazine; "What a life force! What a catalyst!" Eric Utne, founder Utne Reader
Richard's newest client is Garrand & Company, a Portland, ME, marketing communications firm for whom he is shooting video for Maine's Department of Transportation and Figg Engineering's newest creation, the Penobscot River Bridge Crossing, a stunningly modern cable-stayed bridge -- the first of its kind in Maine. Richard is shooting with the new 24P mini-DV camera, the Panasonic AG-DVX100A.
