Ken Burns
Air Date: July 4, 2009
In the world of PBS, Ken Burns is a rock star. Producer of such films as The Civil War, Baseball, Jazz, and The War, Burns is, quite simply, the preeminent historical documentary filmmaker in the country, if not the world. Now, with long-time co-producer Dayton Duncan, Burns has completed a new film, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. This six-part series, airing this fall on KCTS 9 and PBS, tells the history of the national parks through the intimate stories of the men and women who fought for the parks’ creation and preservation.
In this Conversations at KCTS 9, Enrique Cerna talks with Ken Burns about his life and career – how he decided to become a documentary filmmaker, what influence and inspiration he gained from his parents, and how he decides the subjects of his films. Plus, inside details about The National Parks: what went into the film, why it took 10 years to create, and the one experience he had as a child that helped shape the film.
