Welcome to Tin Roof Video, the website of independent documentary filmmaker Kevin Balling (that's me!!). The films below were all produced during the twenty-nine years that I taught production at Appalachian State University. These films were produced with the generous support from two National Endowment for the Arts Regional Fellowships, two North Carolina Arts Council Fellowships for Video and Film, the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, The Beldon Fund, The Benton Foundation, The Kaltenborn Foundation, Greenpeace, The Sierra Club and Appalachian State.
I am no longer teaching, and can devote more time to producing. If you have a need for production work, whether documentary, promotional, event, or another purpose, please contact me here.
Thank you.
I am no longer teaching, and can devote more time to producing. If you have a need for production work, whether documentary, promotional, event, or another purpose, please contact me here.
Thank you.
"BATHANTI" 2013 (Running Time 72:42 ) (Producer, Director, Camera, Editor)
I traveled with writer Joseph Bathanti to the places that inspire his poetry, novels, short stories, and essays. From the streets of Pittsburgh to the rural landscapes of North Carolina, ”BATHANTI” reveals the writer’s style, inspirations, and influences. Interviews with the author are blended with the insight and perspective of writers Michael Parker, Robert Morgan, Heather Ross Miller, Abigail DeWitt, Kay Stripling Byer, and Ron Bayes. The filmmaker utilizes location footage, photos, archival film, text, and soundtrack to interpret readings of the author's work. During the editing of the film, Joseph was appointed Poet Laureate of NC.
Watch Excerpt/Purchase
I traveled with writer Joseph Bathanti to the places that inspire his poetry, novels, short stories, and essays. From the streets of Pittsburgh to the rural landscapes of North Carolina, ”BATHANTI” reveals the writer’s style, inspirations, and influences. Interviews with the author are blended with the insight and perspective of writers Michael Parker, Robert Morgan, Heather Ross Miller, Abigail DeWitt, Kay Stripling Byer, and Ron Bayes. The filmmaker utilizes location footage, photos, archival film, text, and soundtrack to interpret readings of the author's work. During the editing of the film, Joseph was appointed Poet Laureate of NC.
Watch Excerpt/Purchase
"HEMP AND THE RULE OF LAW" 2004 (Running Time 54:40)
(Producer, Director, Camera, Editor, Writer, Researcher)
Blending history with current events "Hemp And The Rule Of Law" traces the hemp's legendary past in U.S. agriculture and chronicles the politically-charged debate to return the crop to American farmers.
Watch Excerpt/Purchase DVD
(Producer, Director, Camera, Editor, Writer, Researcher)
Blending history with current events "Hemp And The Rule Of Law" traces the hemp's legendary past in U.S. agriculture and chronicles the politically-charged debate to return the crop to American farmers.
Watch Excerpt/Purchase DVD
"BENEDICTION" 1997 (Running Time 14 minutes) (Producer, Director, Camera, Editor)
A short film that was shot entirely in my vegetable garden. I filmed the entire life cycle of the garden, from May through November. Images are put to a constructed soundtrack that includes vocal ensemble, Tibetan singing bowls, Latin Mass, Buddhist chant, and natural sound. The garden is seen as a sacred place, and a metaphor for the natural cycle of all life.
Watch Film
A short film that was shot entirely in my vegetable garden. I filmed the entire life cycle of the garden, from May through November. Images are put to a constructed soundtrack that includes vocal ensemble, Tibetan singing bowls, Latin Mass, Buddhist chant, and natural sound. The garden is seen as a sacred place, and a metaphor for the natural cycle of all life.
Watch Film
"VOICES FROM THE GARDEN" 1992 (Running Time 23:30)
(Producer, Director, Co-Camera, Editor, Writer)
The Cree and Inuit in the sub-arctic wilderness of northern Quebec fight to stop Phase 11 of the world's largest hydro-electric project. Phase 1 flooded 11,000 square miles of their land and disrupted their hunting, fishing and trapping way of life.
Watch Film
(Producer, Director, Co-Camera, Editor, Writer)
The Cree and Inuit in the sub-arctic wilderness of northern Quebec fight to stop Phase 11 of the world's largest hydro-electric project. Phase 1 flooded 11,000 square miles of their land and disrupted their hunting, fishing and trapping way of life.
Watch Film
"WHILE THE AGES ROLL ON...A MEMORIAL" 1990 (Running Time 29:03)
(Producer, Director, Co-Camera, Editor)
The Old Regular Baptists are one of the most traditional religious sects in America. They live in a small geographic pocket in the coal mining region of Appalachia. The preachers, mostly coal miners, are not ordained but "called" to preach. This film was shot in one weekend, in Pike County, KY during the "Family Memorial" of Raymond Smith and his wife Maudie. Family Memorials are annual, traditional events where families pay tribute to their deceased family members. My interest in this topic is not religious, but cultural and ethnographic.
Watch Film
(Producer, Director, Co-Camera, Editor)
The Old Regular Baptists are one of the most traditional religious sects in America. They live in a small geographic pocket in the coal mining region of Appalachia. The preachers, mostly coal miners, are not ordained but "called" to preach. This film was shot in one weekend, in Pike County, KY during the "Family Memorial" of Raymond Smith and his wife Maudie. Family Memorials are annual, traditional events where families pay tribute to their deceased family members. My interest in this topic is not religious, but cultural and ethnographic.
Watch Film
COMING SOON!!!
"DOC AND MERLE" 1986 (Running Time 56 Minutes)
This Film was co-produced with Joe Murphy. We shared all positions of Producer, Director, Camera, Editor, Researcher.
Joe and I filmed legendary musicians Doc and Merle Watson over the course of two years, from 1983-85. It was my first film. "Doc and Merle" offers an intimate glimpse into the father and son's lives and music.
Watch Excerpt/Purchase
This Film was co-produced with Joe Murphy. We shared all positions of Producer, Director, Camera, Editor, Researcher.
Joe and I filmed legendary musicians Doc and Merle Watson over the course of two years, from 1983-85. It was my first film. "Doc and Merle" offers an intimate glimpse into the father and son's lives and music.
Watch Excerpt/Purchase
