Kaja + Michael
A Familiar Wilderness, a documentary commissioned for the opening of the Shedd Aquarium’s Oceanarium, documents an aboriginal fisherman, Roy Cranmer, fighting to preserve the ‘Namgis band’s historic fishing grounds and land of origin while protecting the vibrant ecosystems and salmon populations that have sustained the Pacific Northwest Coast region for centuries. Also known by the anglicized name Nimpkish, the ‘Namgis are part of the Kwakwaka’wakw (initially named the Kwakiut’l by Franz Boas) First Nation and have their homeland in what is now British Columbia, on the northern end of Vancouver Island. Hoffman has maintained a long relationship with the ‘Namgis band, having been adopted into the Cranmer family at the Cranmer potlatch in November 2017. This video was a collaborative effort with the First Nation people of Alert Bay, B.C., and continues to be shown there at the U’mista Cultural Centre.
Raw footage shot for the award-winning series The 90’s. This tape begins with interviews with Larry Makinson and Joshua Goldstein of the Center for Responsive Politics, a group that tracks the money that is donated to members of Congress. It is followed by interviews with teenage skateboarders about the 1992 presidential election; an interview with 8th grader Erika Becker; video of a senate subcommittee hearing on the Iran-Contra affair; and video of journalist Mike Waldman inviting congressmen to a party.
Raw footage shot for the award-winning series The 90’s. This tape features an interview with Myron S. “Mike” Waldman, journalist for Newsday, as he completes an article about an upcoming unemployment bill.
Raw footage shot for the award-winning series The 90’s. This tape features members of Congress suggesting people they’d like to see run for president, plus footage inside Roll Call, a newspaper specifically for and about members of Congress.