The Amerikans - Turning an Interested Lens on People Amongst Us

Filmed on location in Wellington, Ohio, Episode 13 of "The Amerikans" shares the story of Don Downs -- an electrician by day and at night a bee sting therapist.

These lovely videos from the series The Amerikans aim to do honor to the less than ordinary lives of ordinary people. Here are two of my favorites: an electrician who practices bee sting therapy at night and a second generation funeral director.

From the project page:

"From the heart of the heart of the country come The Amerikans. These relationship-based documentaries are created in close cooperation with their participating subjects. Each episode allows its star to define and share his or her imagination, in film styles customized to the story at hand. The magic of this collaborative approach lies in revealing the extraordinary richness of the inner lives of ordinary people. The Amerikans is an on-going project that celebrates the creative and complex communities in which we already live, even if unknowingly."

 

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Filmed on location in Lorain, Ohio, Episode 12 of "The Amerikans" shares the exceptional story of Walter A. Frey, Jr. -- funeral director, organist and collector of beautiful ties.