EYE OF THE STORM (2007) Bal Maiden Films ABOUT THE FILMMAKER Amie Williams Producer/Director Bal-Maiden Films Amie is an accomplished independent documentary film producer/writer//director. Her most recent film, NO SWEAT, about bad-boy clothing manufacturer American Apparel taking the garment industry by storm was broadcast on PBS-KQED and recently had its world premiere at the American Film Institute International Film Festival in Hollywood, November, 2006. Amie was also recently selected with her first narrative screenplay, JUA Kali, (Swahili for Harsh Sun) to participate in the 2007 Film Independent Director's Lab, where the script is in development with Trish Dolman, Producer of Screen Siren Pictures (Flower and Garnet) along with Tracey Bing, formerly with Warner Independent (March of the Penguins). Jim Denault (Don't Cry, Maria Full of Grace, Real Women Have Curves, Boys) is attached as the Director of Photography. Amie's previous documentaries include: FALLON, NV: DEADLY OASIS about a childhood leukemia cluster in a rural military town, an ITVS-Lincs production, in association with KLVX, Las Vegas; STRIPPED AND TEASED: TALES FROM LAS VEGAS WOMEN (2001); ONE DAY LONGER: THE STORY OF THE FRONTIER STRIKE (2002); UNCOMMON GROUND:FROM LOS ANGELES TO SOUTH AFRICA (1994). These films have won numerous awards, including the International Documentary Award, a National Endowment for the Arts Media Grant, the SONY/Streisand Award for emerging female filmmakers, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Peace Grant, the A.F.I. Independent Film and Videomakers Award. Amie also received a National Arts Council grant to tour Japan and Singapore to show her work, which resulted in being hired to teach documentary filmmaking at the Ngee Ann Polytechnic Film School in Singapore and at Tsuda Women's College in Tokyo for the past two years. Amie is currently developing two feature documentaries in Japan: AMASAN, about women divers, and ULTIMATE WOMAN, a profile of MUD. the top women's Ultimate Frisbee team in the world. Amie's other work includes video training and production for numerous labor unions (AFTRA, ILWU, UNITEHERE! SEIU, Teamsters, Building Trades, etc) numerous PSA's and political ads working for political consultant Parke Skelton of SG&A Campaigns. Prior to her film career, she lived and worked in Kenya, working as a teacher and media consultant for the Ford Foundation. Amie graduated from Yale University (B.A., English and Theater, 1985); and U.C.L.A (MFA, Film, 1992). BAL MAIDEN FILMS FILMOGRAPHY: "NO SWEAT" (2006) Director. Feature documentary about American Apparel and Sweat-X, two sweat-shop free clothing manufacturers trying to overturn the exploitative garment industry. Broadcast on KQED, San Francisco, and premiered at the AFI Film Festival, Los Angeles, 2006. "VIEW THROUGH A GRAIN OF SAND" (2006) Producer. Feature documentary on women refugees in Pakistan/Afghanistan. Directed by Muslim American filmmaker Meena Nanji, selected for the IDA Top Ten best films of 2006, "FALLON, NV" (2003) Producer/Director. Feature documentary on a childhood leukemia cluster in a small military town in Nevada. Awarded the Independent Television Service (a PBS affiliate) Lincs Grant for 2001. Co-production with KLVX, Channel 10 in Las Vegas. "WINDOWS, or VENTANAS" (2002) Producer, Camera. Documentary short about the infamous "Windows on the World Restaurant," at the top of the World Trade Center, featuring stories about surviving family members after the 9/11 bombing, many of whom were "undocumented" workers. Produced for the AFL-CIO. "OUT OF THE SHADOWS, A STORY FROM THE HEART OF WORKING AMERICA" (2002). A 30-minute video for HEREIU about five Latina Holiday Inn maids who tried to organize a union and were picked up by the INS. Featured in the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride National Campaign. "ONE DAY LONGER: THE STORY OF THE FRONTIER STRIKE" (2000) Producer, Director. Feature documentary on the longest running strike in recent US history against the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas. Features interviews with America's top labor leaders, including Cesar Chavez and Jesse Jackson. Commissioned by the AFL-CIO/ Hotel and Restaurant Workers International Union (HEREIU), premiered at the National AFL-CIO Convention, 1999. Won the Paul Robeson Award, Newark Black Museum, 2000. "STRIPPED AND TEASED: TALES FROM LAS VEGAS WOMEN" (2000) Director. Released in a limited theatrical run, and chosen by film critic Kenneth Turan of the LA Times as "Pick of the Week," in October, 1999. The film played at numerous film fests, winning the Gold Apple Award at the National Educational Media Market, Best Documentary at Rivertown and Sedona, and the Top Ten Booklist selects for 2000. Distributed by The Cinema Guild and Films Transit through Jan Rofekamp, the film has been broadcast in Canada, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Sweden and France. "UNCOMMON GROUND" (1994) Director. A film that follows five inner-city Los Angeles youth on a trip to South Africa, and compares riot-torn L.A. to apartheid. UNCOMMON GROUND won many awards, including the International Documentary Association's David Wolper Award, Best Documentary at the Rivertown Fest, Emerging Vision in the Atlanta Film Festival, Chris Award, JOEY award, and many international screenings. Co-produced by Marco Williams, Distributed by New Day Films. AWARDS & FELLOWSHIPS: Film Independent 2007 Director's Lab, Los Angeles for JUA KALI, 2007 American Film Institute AFI Film FESTIVAL. World Premiere, for NO SWEAT, 2006 International Documentary Assoc. Finalist for VIEW FROM A GRAIN OF SAND, 2006 National Endowment for the Arts, for VIEW FROM A GRAIN OF SAND, Media Grant, 2002 Pioneer Film Grant for VIEW FROM A GRAIN OF SAND, 2003 Earth Vision Award, International Environmental Film Festival for FALLON, 2004 Best Documentary, Lake Arrowhead Film Festival, for FALLON, 2003 American Library Association (ALA) Top Ten Videos of 2001 for ONE DAY LONGER, 2001 Paul Robeson Award, Newark Black Museum for ONE DAY LONGER, 2000. Booklist "TOP TEN ADULT VIDEOS" Award for STRIPPED AND TEASED, 1999 National Endowment for the Arts, Nevada Travel Grant, Japan Tour, 1999 California Council for the Humanities Grants, STRIPPED AND TEASED AND UNCOMMON GROUND Golden Apple Award, National Educational Media Network, 1994 and 2000 Slamdance On The Road Tour for STRIPPED AND TEASED, 2000 Best Documentary, Rivertown Fest and Sedona Film Festival for STRIPPED AND TEASED, 1999 Silver Award, Houston Film Festival for STRIPPED AND TEASED, 1999 Honorable Mention, Columbus Film Festival, STRIPPED AND TEASED, 1999 Best Documentary, Feminale, Cologne, Germany for STRIPPED AND TEASED, 1999 Women's Film Fund, Paul Robeson Grant, STRIPPED AND TEASED,1996 International Documentary Association, (IDA) Wolper Award for UNCOMMON GROUND, 1994 SONY/Streisand Award for Emerging Women Directors, 1993 Best Documentary, Honorable Mention, SXSW Film Fest for UNCOMMON GROUND, 1993. Eastman Kodak Product Grant Award for UNCOMMON GROUND, 1993 John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Peace Award for UNCOMMON GROUND 1991. American Film Institute, Indie Film and Videomaker's Award, UNCOMMON GROUND, 1993 Motion Picture Association Award--UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television. Director's Guild of America, Film School Screening Award, 1992. Funding Exchange, The Women's Fund, Grant to Women Filmmakers, 1991.