Why make a film about Pauline Oliveros?

Through Pauline Oliveros and Deep Listening, I finally know what harmony is…
It’s about the pleasure of making music. -- John Cage, 1989

Pauline Oliveros, a distinguished American composer who played a major role in the development of experimental music, passed away peacefully on November 24, 2016. Born in 1932 in Houston, Texas, Oliveros pioneered collaborative mixed-media compositions with electronic sounds, light projections and theatrical elements during the 1960s. She also created tape music compositions now considered classic works in the history of electronic music and contributed to the early development of free improvisation. Oliveros embraced the infinite variety of sounds in our world. She viewed this sonic multiplicity as a “a grand composition” and was committed to developing and teaching perceptual skills that made it possible for both musicians and non-musicians to appreciate this global “sound environment.” She extended this praxis to “Deep Listening,” a form of meditative art that focuses not only on the sounds of the external world, but also on the more ephemeral sounds of our innermost thoughts. Listening, for Oliveros, is a foundation for collaborative work and a means to form communities, which can cultivate an appreciation of human diversity. This film will powerfully convey Oliveros’ profound message at a time in human history when it is most needed." -- David W. Bernstein, Head of Music Department, Mills College


In this time of divisiveness and disillusionment, we hear again and again the complaint that the American public feels it is “not being listened to.” Pauline Oliveros dedicated her entire life to providing an antidote for this very malaise. The world could certainly use her presence right now, but sadly she is no longer with us to offer her council. Deep Listening: The Story of Pauline Oliveros, has thus become a crucial conduit for passing along Pauline’s wisdom and illuminations.

To those who encountered her, or are familiar with her work due to a knowledge of the avant garde and contemporary American music, Pauline was an indisputable giant of the American arts. It can be easily argued, in fact, that there is no other post-war artist who contributed so much to the cultural landscape. Pauline can easily be elevated to elite status simply for her work as a composer. However, that barely scratches the surface of her contributions. In her unusually prolific six decade career, Pauline also made invaluable contributions as a groundbreaking improviser, multi-media guru, technological innovator, writer, teacher, mentor, philosopher, humanitarian and as an advocate for women and people with disabilities.

While Pauline has been widely recognized by a variety of institutions, it is the filmmaker’s hope that “Deep Listening: The Story of Pauline Oliveros”, can broaden that recognition to the public as a whole. Perhaps, through Pauline, we can all learn to really listen.

Pauline and I shared the feeling that her story was made for me to tell. I looked for many years for a subject about which to do my first feature length documentary. When my neighbor in upstate New York introduced me to Pauline, I knew I had met a person who would inspire me throughout the inevitably lengthy process of making a film. I also felt an instant obligation to share the story of this incomparable sonic icon. In the process of making this film, Pauline and I became close friends. Through Pauline, I found a language to explain and express thoughts I had entertained my whole life around the importance of listening and how that can impact and expand community.

I also had the good fortune to follow Pauline for nearly three years, filming rehearsals, workshops, performances, recording sessions, and various community activities. I saw how she inspired an expansive creativity within her community in Kingston, NY and with the world class musicians she regularly created work with. In addition, I filmed over thirty interviews. With Pauline ‘s guidance and her warm reputation, I was able to record interviews with artists whose cultural impact is comparable to Pauline’s. In Pauline’s absence, her creative partner and spouse IONE, trustees and community, all offered their continued support and guidance to tell Pauline’s story the best way I could posthumously.

Now that Pauline has left this plane, I feel an even greater obligation to tell her story. I can think of few other people of the last century whose message of healing, unity and unbridled creative expression is more deeply needed at this time in history. I am so honored to have been in conversation with her and have the experience and ability to capture some essence of Pauline, that can be shared in the world now through this independent film.

I dedicated my life to music and filmmaking from an early age. In all those years, I never met a subject like Pauline Oliveros, whose compelling story and life’s work provided me with such a perfect opportunity to align both my passions. I felt it crucial, when making this film about Pauline, to whom listening is the center of her private and artistic world, that I as the filmmaker contribute my knowledge of music and sound recording, and to be an editor who listens. I believe Pauline chose to work with me on this documentary film because of my experience as a recording engineer, and the way I present sound in my films. Soon after we met, Pauline invited me to mix a recording of her with friend and collaborator Miya Masaoka, and to record and mix a trio with Nels Cline and Thollem McDonas, which turned out to be Pauline’s final recording.

As Pauline herself said “I never tried to build a career, I only tried to build a community”. As an artist coming of age in the 1950’s as a woman who identified as queer, Pauline had to overcome many obstacles placed in front of her by society. She did this largely by always being committed to the idea that, through their art, artists have a responsibility to bring people together. During her life, Pauline built an incredible world-wide community.“Deep Listening: The Story of Pauline Oliveros” is not only a film about a crucial piece of American cultural evolution, but a vehicle through which we can continue to expand Pauline’s community and its commitment to listening and understanding.

Deep Listening: the Story of Pau!ine Oliveros, has been Daniel's primary focus since a conversation with Oliveros started them down this path. During the process, Daniel created documentary shorts on the work of Oliveros: Don't Call Them Lady Composers, Montoge for lmprovisors, which were shown in museums and festivals in CA, NY, UK, Spain and Switzerland. Additionally, Daniel acted as video consultant on the exhibition of Pauline's work at El Centro de Creacion Contemporanea de Andalucia, Cordoba, Spain. Daniel has written and directed several narrative short films that have featured at festivals around the world. Seasoned in film and television, Daniel has worked on commercials, music videos, TV shows, and feature films across a career spanning 25 years. Most recently, he edited the award-winning post-Katrina documentary feature Forced Change, 2022. Daniel is passionate about youth arts education, both as an educator and as director of Forge Media, an apprentice-based production company offering film students professional experience working on videos for local organizations focused on supporting and building community. Daniel is a musician, producer, and recording engineer, mixing sound for picture, and music recordings of artists including Lionel Loouke, The Felice Brothers, Karen Ann, and the recordMoleculor Affinity, a trio with Pauline Oliveros, Thollem McDonas, and Nels Cline.

IONE is an author, playwright director, and text-sound artist in her own right. Ione taught and performed around the world with Pauline Oliveros, her spouse and creative partner. Together, they created contemporary music theater narrative works, including Njinga the Queen King: The Return of o Warrior performed at BAM, Io and Her and the Trouble with Him and The Lunor Opero: Oeep Listening For_Tunes performed at Lincoln Center Damrosch Park. IONE's film, Dreoms of the Jungfrau, was shown in the US, Spain, and Ireland. The Nubion Word for Flowers, a Phantom Opera, the apex of her collaboration with Pauline Oliveros, premiered at Roulette Intermedium, and The Nubion Word for Flowers: Pocket Edition in which IONE is solo performer with a team of media artists, premiered at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. IONE's significant memoir, Pride of Family; Four Generations of American Women of Color, was named a Notable Book by The New York Times. Artistic director of the Deep Listening Institute for 15 years, lone is currently a consultant at the Center for Deep Listening® in Troy, New York. As founding director of The Ministry of Maät, Ione presents workshops and retreats, encouraging a vibrant international community of artists, and seeding the work of Pauline Oliveros and others in collective community. A recent work is Touch for Irish National Opera, with Irish composer Karen Power. IONE is a member of the Distinguished Mentors Council of Composers Now.