Brian Lindstrom
Brian Lindstrom (born February 12, 1961) is a documentary filmmaker. In 2013, Lindstrom directed Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse. The film examines the life of a man diagnosed with schizophrenia who died in police custody in Portland, Oregon on September 17, 2006. Alien Boy: the Life and Death of James Chasse is distributed by Breaking Glass Pictures and has been shown at film festivals in the US and Canada. Production on Alien Boy began in 2007[1] and ended in 2013.
Brian Lindstrom | |
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Brian Lindstrom in 2011 | |
Born | Portland, Oregon | February 12, 1961
Occupation | Filmmaker |
Language | English |
Citizenship | United States |
Alma mater | Lewis & Clark |
Subject | documentary |
Notable works | Mothering Inside 2015 Finding Normal 2007 |
Spouse | Cheryl Strayed |
Lindstrom made Finding Normal in 2007, a cinema-verite documentary following three long-term addicts trying to rebuild their lives with the help of peer counselors. Lindstrom made the film in 2007 on a budget of $5,000, shooting and editing himself. Finding Normal won awards at the Astoria International and Longbaugh Film Festivals, and was broadcast on Oregon Public Broadcasting. Finding Normal is the only film ever to be shown to inmates in solitary confinement at Oregon State Penitentiary.
Other films directed by Lindstrom include the documentaries Kicking, To Pay My Way With Stories, and Writing Myself. His award-winning narrative short, Lucy's Room, is adapted from the short story "Surprised by Joy," by Charles Baxter. He was awarded a Telly for work on The Visionaries, a PBS documentary series hosted by Sam Waterston.
Since 1994 Lindstrom has taught in the Northwest Film Center's Young Filmmaker's Program, using video as a tool of empowerment for at-risk youth. He has made many films with youth in Portland, rural Oregon, Texas, Idaho and the South Bronx.
Lindstrom was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, and graduated from Parkrose High School.[2] He holds an MFA in screenwriting and film directing from Columbia University and as an undergraduate, he attended Lewis & Clark College, receiving a degree in Communications in 1984. He was mentored by retired Lewis & Clark professor Stuart Kaplan, who inspired Lindstrom to pursue a career in film making.[3]
Lindstrom is married to the writer Cheryl Strayed. They have two children and live in Portland, Oregon.
Filmography
- Mothering Inside[4] (2015)
- Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse (2013)
- To Pay My Way With Stories (2012)
- Writing Myself
- Finding Normal (2007)
- Kicking (2004)
References
- "Giving 'Alien Boy' help across the finish line". The Oregonian, February 8, 2011
- Vondersmith, Jason (January 31, 2013). "Rose City's turn on global stage". Portland Tribune. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
- "Alien Boy," by Drew Lenihan, The Pioneer Log. Lewis & Clark College's Student-Run Newspaper, Vol. 76, Iss. 4. Feb. 18, 2011 ed.
- https://www.darkhollowfilms.com/product/mothering-inside/
External links
- Brian Lindstrom official site
- Brian Lindstrom on IMDb
- Alien Boy: the Life and Death of James Chasse