Ask Ken Burns

Thank you for "Unforgiveable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson." Have you considered following this remarkable film with additional biographies of boxers? You didn't end "Jazz" with Charlie Parker or "Baseball" with Ty Cobb.

Mr. Burns; One of the great architects of the twentieth century was my grandfather Albert Kahn.He not only helped spawn the industrial revolution, but he was a genius with his creative innovations and designs of early industrial factories. Also, subtly he had a tremendous impact on the labor movement. He has never received the recognition he deserves and I feel he would be a wonderful subject to consider doing a documentary of his life. If there ever was a "Horatio Alger story" here is one. There are a few family members that are still here plus his office, Albert Kahn Architects & Engineers, is still very active in Detroit, Michigan to assist your staff. All of us would be delighted to help you in any way. Thank you for attention.

Mr. Burns, thank you so much for your wonderful work. Your selection of soundtracks makes your already-masterful documentaries even more exceptional and moving. Where do you get your inspiriation for what soundtracks to use? Thank you.

Mr. Burns, I used to live in Walpole on Taggert road, and would share short hellos and discussions of the weather with you in the early to mid 90s. I did not know at the time I would be teaching students documentary production using your own films as guides so now I feel a bit daffy for not actually talking to you about your work. The main question I have is for my students. What process do you follow in collecting research for your productions. In particular, how do you decide what facts are most important to include in the production, and what facts may be interesting but less important? Can you outline your fact gathering and checking process? Thank you for this chance to converse.

Which national park is your favorite and why?

Mr. Burns,
Did you grow up in Virginia? I remember hearing you say that you and your father drove up to skyline drive in Front Royal one weekend. You stated this during the introduction to your new National Parks film.

Mr. Burns,
The world fell in love with your Civil War series, but your next effort on Baseball was widely criticized by baseball critics who decried the mistakes in the work -- I specifically remember Keith Obermann being very vocal about these. What was the cause of this -- actual mistakes or the audacity to take on this topic? And if there were mistakes, how did they make it through. Further, why were you so close to Bob Costas's face with your shot

After doing the film which National Park became your favorite or favorites?

Lee might have had his ideas on this topic and Grant his: At what point in your opinion was the Civil War really lost in the sense that the South could no longer go on? How long after that did it actually end?

Second Question--and maybe this is an easier one--why did it take so very long for the news of the end of the War and the Emancipation Proclamation to reach Blacks in the South? Was the delay deliberate or simply a matter of the slowness of communications in that era?

Third Question--I'm interested in the works of E A Poe and wonder if you've ever come across any connections between Poe and the Civil War--were his stories in any way foreshadowing emotions or scenes generated in the War, or is there any other connection.
Obviously since he died in 1849, he wasn't really 'involved' in any way; but I just wanted to know if you've ever found any soldier referring to the horrors in Poe's stories as similar to those experienced in the War. Or were most of the soldiers illiterate?

The National Parks System attempts to balance access to the parks which entails roads, public facilities, and limited shopping facilities with preservation and protection. Specific parks like the Smokey Mountains, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, and Yosemite are particularly impacted by the huge influx of visitors each year and many have argued that access and preservation / protection are not compatible goals. What is your view on where the balance should be struck?

You seem obsessed with analyzing and understanding the American soul. Have you ever thought of a film on stand-up comedy, the only truly American literary form?

What conclusions have you drawn about the nature of the American character through your years of research and filmmaking?

Dear Mr Burns,
You simply are an inspiration to watch, such grand epic story telling at it's best. What inspired you to take up documentaries in the first place? Was it a novel ,a love of history or a story that caused you to chase your dreams? Any idea's on your next film?
All the best to you,keep up the great work.

What if anything has surprised you the most throughout your life's journey?

How do you came up with the idea of incorporating still images in your documentaries (The Ken Burns Effect)? You're using video and that normally urges for moving pictures.

Looking back, do you feel there was any merit to the critique of your WWII project by Latinos who felt you excluded their presence in your interpretation of the war years, especially given a similar absence of Latinos in your versions of the history of Jazz and of baseball? If so, and even if you still don't see a merit in their position, how has the experience factored, if at all, in your interpretation of the history of US parks?

[...] PBS doc-maker Ken Burns is the next subject of a TIME 10 Questions interview, and time.com is soliciting questions for him right now. Burns' next documentary is The National Parks: America's Best Idea, a twelve-hour, six-part series [...]

Mr. Burns: Having spent a fair amount of time in our nation's national parks, I have been inspired by the experience and always leave questioning my place in the world and the afterlife. What lessons have you learned about yourself through your national park experiences and has that impacted your spiritual journey?

Hi Ken,

Love your work! The Civil War documentary was groundbreaking and I still love to pop in the videos every year or so. I wouldn't change a thing, but I wonder if, given the experience you've gained over the years if there is anything you would change about that show?

In 2008, you produced the introductory video for Ted Kennedy at the Democratic National Convention. What are your thoughts on the late Senator's goal of universal health care?

Mr. Burns,

Rumors and the local newspaper say you are considering a documentary on the Dust Bowl. Is this true and, if so, when will work begin?

Mr. Burns,

Did you find your love of film or history first? Whichever it was, what led you to the other?

Thank you.

Have you considered the role of Black Jockeys in America between 1880-1920 for a future project>

Would the focus be too narrow?

thank you for all your great work illuminating the "soul" of our great nation.

Dear Mr. Burns,
having heard about how you got the idea to create the documentary "The War", do you think that a documentary about the history of the American educational system would be a good idea ?

Mr. Burns: What challenges did you face filming in the National Parks? Any interesting encounters with wildlife along the way?