Season 2016 Overview
Preview: Season 29 | 30s
Late, great director Mike Nichols, Janis Joplin, Fats Domino, Maya Angelou and more.
The 30th anniversary season of American Masters kicks off with the profile of one of America’s late, great directors Mike Nichols followed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Amy Berg’s Janis Joplin Documentary; rock legend Fats Domino; and the remarkable story of Maya Angelou -- iconic writer, poet, actress and activist. More films to be announced.
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Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo...
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Season 2016 Overview
Preview: Season 29 | 30s
The 30th anniversary season of American Masters kicks off with the profile of one of America’s late, great directors Mike Nichols followed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Amy Berg’s Janis Joplin Documentary; rock legend Fats Domino; and the remarkable story of Maya Angelou -- iconic writer, poet, actress and activist. More films to be announced.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch American Masters
American Masters is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
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How do today’s masters create their art? Each episode an artist reveals how they brought their creative work to life. Hear from artists across disciplines, like actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, singer-songwriter Jewel, author Min Jin Lee, and more on our podcast "American Masters: Creative Spark."Providing Support for PBS.org
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Now PlayingPreview: S29 | 30s | Late, great director Mike Nichols, Janis Joplin, Fats Domino, Maya Angelou and more. (30s)
Preview: S29 | 30s | The first American Masters magician, plus August Wilson, American Ballet Theatre and more. (30s)
The Essential Ingredients for an August Wilson Play
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Clip: 1/20/2017 | 35s | Ruben Santiago-Hudson shares the essential ingredients for any August Wilson play. (35s)
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Clip: 1/20/2017 | 35s | Ruben Santiago-Hudson shares why Wilson's work is so timeless and universal. (35s)
August Wilson and African American Culture
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Clip: 1/20/2017 | 20s | Ruben Santiago-Hudson describe August Wilson's work for the African American community (20s)
Clip: 8/3/2016 | 1m 28s | Fran Drescher talks about how the character of Lucy resonated with women across America. (1m 28s)
American Ballet Theatre: A History
Preview: 5/15/2015 | 3m 31s | Ric Burns’ documentary on the rich, 75-year history of the preeminent ballet company. (3m 31s)
Photography Inspired by Pedro E. Guerrero
Preview: 1/30/2016 | 6m 14s | View the photos and workshops inspired by "Pedro E. Guerrero: A Photographer’s Journey." (6m 14s)
Preview: 9/25/2015 | 1m 37s | Meet 15 women who define contemporary American culture in Greenfield-Sanders’ new film. (1m 37s)
Rosie Perez: Roles for Women of Color, Over 40
Clip: 9/25/2015 | 1m 4s | Rosie Perez, an Oscar-nominated actress, questions the roles offered to women of color. (1m 4s)
Laurie Anderson: On Identity and Her God Complex
Clip: 9/25/2015 | 1m 28s | "I am a New Yorker one, I’m an artist two, I’m a woman three,” says Laurie Anderson. (1m 28s)
Filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders: The Women's List
Clip: 9/25/2015 | 3m 53s | The "List" films of the photographer-filmmaker are his "portraits come to life." (3m 53s)
Fashion Designer Betsey Johnson on Inspiration and Deadlines
Clip: 9/25/2015 | 1m 18s | Betsey Johnson is an award-winning fashion designer known for whimsical, feminine designs. (1m 18s)
Comedian Margaret Cho on Her Parents
Clip: 9/25/2015 | 2m 18s | Margaret Cho is an American stand-up comedian known for social and political critiques. (2m 18s)
Photography Work in the Mad Men Era - Pedro E. Guerrero
Clip: 9/18/2015 | 1m 58s | Photographer Pedro E. Guerrero talks about his magazine work in the 1950s and 60s. (1m 58s)
Photographer Pedro E. Guerrero, Master of Interior Lighting
Clip: 9/18/2015 | 2m 25s | Guerrero rose above challenges to make his interior lighting look natural. (2m 25s)
Photographer Pedro E. Guerrero and Sculptor Louise Nevelson
Clip: 9/18/2015 | 2m 33s | Pedro E. Guerrero describes his work with Louise Nevelson, a sculptor based in New York. (2m 33s)
Pedro E. Guerrero's Photographs of a Connecticut Church
Clip: 9/18/2015 | 1m 20s | Pedro E. Guerrero documented The United Church of Rowayton, designed by Joseph Salerno. (1m 20s)
Pedro E. Guerrero's Photographs Help Architect See a Problem
Clip: 9/18/2015 | 1m 20s | Guerrero's photographs allowed architect Frank Lloyd Wright to see a flaw in a design. (1m 20s)
Pedro E. Guerrero's Frank Lloyd Wright Photographs
Clip: 9/18/2015 | 2m 26s | Pedro E. Guerrero's photos taken with a 4x5 large format camera show texture and depth. (2m 26s)
Pedro E. Guerrero Photo Campaign
Preview: 9/18/2015 | 30s | Share your photos of architecture, design and sculpture with #PedroPBS on Instagram. (30s)
Pedro E. Guerrero: A Photographer's Journey - Preview
Preview: 9/18/2015 | 3m 7s | The story of Pedro E. Guerrero (9/5/17 - 9/13/12), a Mexican American photographer. (3m 7s)
Filmmaker Interview on Photographer Pedro E. Guerrero
Clip: 9/18/2015 | 5m 30s | Raymond Telles and Yvan Iturriaga co-directed and co-produced a film on the photographer. (5m 30s)
Alexander Calder: Works Photographed by Pedro E. Guerrero
Clip: 9/18/2015 | 2m 19s | Guerrero photographed Calder's works at his home, his studios, and around the world. (2m 19s)
Filmmaker Interview with Rex Miller: Making "Althea"
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Clip: 9/4/2015 | 2m 45s | A photo Althea Gibson with his mother was the film director's original inspiration. (2m 45s)
Althea: Race in the Sport of Tennis
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Clip: 9/4/2015 | 1m 21s | Althea Gibson wasn't concerned with representing her race, she just wanted to play. (1m 21s)
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Preview: 9/4/2015 | 2m 24s | The story of Althea Gibson, queen of the highly segregated tennis world in the 1950s. (2m 24s)
Althea Gibson at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills
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Clip: 9/4/2015 | 1m 49s | Home movies of Althea Gibson practicing at the esteemed club in New York City. (1m 49s)
Harper Lee Live Q&A: Joy Brown and Mary McDonagh Murphy
Clip: 7/13/2015 | 30m 11s | Questions about Harper Lee, her history and her new novel are answered in a live Q&A. (30m 11s)
Harper Lee: From Mockingbird to Watchman
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Clip: 7/13/2015 | 13m | In an American Masters exclusive, Murphy reports on meeting with Lee on June 30, 2015. (13m)
Preview: 7/10/2015 | 1m 49s | An updated version of Mary McDonagh Murphy’s 2012 film in time for Harper Lee's new book. (1m 49s)
Clip: 5/15/2015 | 2m 55s | Daniil Simkin of American Ballet Theatre and former dancer Susan Jaffe address perfection. (2m 55s)
Ric Burns: Filmmaker Interview on American Ballet Theatre
Clip: 5/15/2015 | 10m 3s | Director Ric Burns describes the art and technology of capturing dance on film. (10m 3s)
Misty Copeland, American Ballet Theatre Soloist
Clip: 5/15/2015 | 1m 16s | Misty Copeland joined American Ballet Theatre in 2001. (1m 16s)
The Language of Ballet: French and Fit for a King
Clip: 5/15/2015 | 2m 41s | The language of the ballet is in French; it all began in France with King Louis XIV. (2m 41s)
How Ballet Dancers Partner and Rehearse
Clip: 5/15/2015 | American Ballet Theatre dancers Gillian Murphy and Marcelo Gomes talk about partnering.
Dancer Julie Kent on Beauty and Humanity
Clip: 5/15/2015 | 1m 58s | Julie Kent of American Ballet Theatre speaks about beauty and humanity in dance. (1m 58s)
The Choreographers of American Ballet Theatre
Clip: 5/15/2015 | 2m 1s | The company was unique since its founding for not being devoted to one choreographer. (2m 1s)
American Ballet Theatre in the Rehearsal Studio
Clip: 5/15/2015 | 2m 17s | Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie guides dancers Julie Kent and Ethan Stiefel in a duet. (2m 17s)
Jascha Heifetz Tests Itzhak Perlman's Skills
Clip: 4/16/2015 | 2m 25s | Itzhak Perlman recalls his first encounter with Jascha Heifetz as a teenage student. (2m 25s)
Jascha Heifetz: Patriotic Service During World War II
Clip: 4/16/2015 | 2m 8s | Violinist Jascha Heifetz toured military bases for the USO during World War II. (2m 8s)
Jascha Heifetz: Passion in His Playing
Clip: 4/16/2015 | 2m 51s | One can hear the passion in Heifetz' violin playing, even if his stance was impassive. (2m 51s)
Jascha Heifetz Lives the Good Life
Clip: 4/16/2015 | 58s | "After I came to America, my one aim, it seems, was to enjoy myself," said the violinist. (58s)
Jascha Heifetz: God’s Fiddler Promo
Preview: 4/16/2015 | 25s | Discover the mysterious violin virtuoso (25s)
Jascha Heifetz: God’s Fiddler Preview
Preview: 4/16/2015 | 36s | Discover the violin virtuoso through Itzhak Perlman, students and archival performances. (36s)
Jascha Heifetz: Estrellita Encore Song
Clip: 4/16/2015 | 1m 18s | Jascha Heifetz arranged a popular Mexican song to include in his Mexico City concert. (1m 18s)
Jascha Heifetz Concerts for 1923 Japan Earthquake Victims
Clip: 4/16/2015 | 1m 23s | In 1923, Heifetz gave concerts for Japanese quake victims, and to raise money for them. (1m 23s)
Filmmaker Peter Rosen on Key Assets of Jascha Heifetz Film
Clip: 4/16/2015 | 5m 34s | Rosen describes key assets that allowed him to make the film and tell a new story. (5m 34s)
Scene from "Fences," a Pulitzer Prize-Winning Play
Clip: 2/20/2015 | 1m 2s | August Wilson's "Fences" won a Pulitzer Prize and four Tony Awards in 1987. (1m 2s)
Ruben Santiago-Hudson's Skills for "Seven Guitars" Role
Clip: 2/20/2015 | 54s | The actor learned how to play harmonica for his Tony Award-winning role in Seven Guitars. (54s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
Support for PBS provided by:
Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo...