Nancy’s documentary film work deals with creative individuals in the fields of writing, art, the natural world, and community building.

FILM

ART FOR THE PEOPLE: Eric Bransby, American Mural Artist

This beautiful bio-documentary film reveals the life and work of Eric Bransby, a respected and admired artist known for his dozens of extraordinary public murals in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Utah. Bransby is an authority on the history and technique of mural painting and one of the few living painters qualified to work in the Buon Fresco medium. Now 103 years old, Eric is a dedicated, inspiring and caring teacher and an integral part of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center’s rich history.

Art for the People: Eric Bransby, American Mural Artist is scheduled to premiere at the Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival, 2019.

A GARDEN EXPERIENCE: Growing Organic

For many positive health, nutrition, and environmental reasons, the business of selling organic food is booming. However, choosing organic can be significantly more expensive than ordering conventional food. One way to go organic and save is to tend your own organic garden. This inspiring program documents a year in the life of a large organic community garden. From spring tilling, planting, board meetings, potlucks, wildlife sightings, and harvesting, to fall closing and community outreach, it follows a hearty group of organic gardeners as together they deal with the challenges and share the rewards of an organic gardening experience. The message is clear, if these determined gardeners in southern Colorado can succeed in going organic, so can other gardening enthusiasts everywhere as well.

Produced by Nancy Bentley and John Atkinson.
Original music composed and performed by Jim Scott and George Ulrich

Available with Chip Taylor Communications.
Click HERE for the trailer and ordering information.

TALKING WALLS

Colorado Springs enjoys a unique place in the American mural arts movement from the early days of the Depression and Works Progress Administration (WPA), to the current renewal of mural painting. Four acclaimed local mural artists are featured in the film: Eric Bransby, Patricia Musick, Kim Polomka, and Douglas Rouse. Concrete Couch, a community arts organization with the mission of enriching community through public art, is also featured. Scores of beautiful, rarely seen murals are shown throughout the film and time-lapse segments reveal the step-by-step creation of two unique murals. Today, Colorado Springs has well over 250 public murals. At the heart of the film is the challenge of how to support public art and mural artists who use the large canvasses of the city’s walls to express their stories and creativity.

MARY CALHOUN: The Making of a Storybook

(Film) Chip Taylor Communications. 1998.
Produced by Colorado SD#11. 96/08DE Closed-Captioned PI 20 min

This highly acclaimed program plays two roles. First, as a biography, it offers viewers a personal glimpse of Mary Calhoun, the beloved children’s author of more than fifty children’s books, including Hot-Air Henry, Cross-Country Cat, Henry the Christmas Cat, A Shepherd’s Gift, and Flood; then, in the role of storyteller, the award-winning author sits down with elementary school-age children to tell them about her life as an author and to introduce them to the writing process of a storybook.

* Shown at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival

Review: “Highly Recommended. This excellent biography reveals why Mary Calhoun is such a loved author and storyteller.” -School Library Journal

I’VE GOT YOUR NOSE!

Produced by Chip Taylor. 04/10DE Closed-Captioned PI 10 min.

Narrating her popular children’s book, I’ve Got Your Nose!, author Nancy Bentley tells the rib-tickling story about Nahzella, a witch, who loves her old cat, O.C., loves her cottage, and loves making magic spells with her magic spell book, but she hates her nose – a cute little “button” fit for a princess, but not a witch. So Nahzella sets out with O.C. to find a new nose. Along the way she meets a farmer, a baker, and a butcher who have wonderful noses, she thinks. But with every magic spell, she ends up getting a bit more than just a new nose! In the end, she learns an important lesson about liking her own little nose. Author: Nancy Bentley. Illustrator: Don Madden. Associated Book: I’ve Got Your Nose

Review: “Highly Recommended. An excellent short story that teaches children at a young age to be happy with who they are and how they look.” -National Media Review