Do Not Disturb. Berliner's expertise in audio and Clockwise out emotionally, psycholog- visual art is wonderfully evident from top center: ically, and — I suppose — • in the signature style of his film, Alan Berliner, literally, from everything." a veritable collage of words and Alan Berliner, However, that doesn't images about names and the Alan Berliner, mean that he isn't moving meanings they generate. Allen Berliner, on to his next artistic proj- The aesthetic impact of the Allen Berliner, ect. Berliner, who also cre- film is one of Berliner's primary Allen Berliner, ates audio and visual instal- goals. "I want to give everyone Alan Berliner, lations, will be artist in resi- who watches this film a really Alain Berliner, dence at the Walker Art interesting cinematic experience. Allan Berliner, Center in Minneapolis later I want the way that I tell the Alan Berliner, in the year. He has also story to be as interesting as the Akin Berliner, been commissioned to make story that I tell." Alan Berliner a large, interactive sculpture Berliner himself narrates this and Alan tided Gathering Stones for animated story about the mean- Berliner. the Holocaust Museum ing of names. He looks at clips Houston that will open in from old film reels of people and March 2002. invents names for the He interviews And his films continue to receive people on the street about what they acclaim. In July, they will be shown in think of their own names. He visits another retrospective at the San same-name societies such as the Jim Francisco Jewish Film Festival. Smith Society and the National Linda Much of Berliner's work incorpo- Convention. He discusses the broad rates the concept of identity, which social consequences of naming. has undergone a revolution in the When he interviews his parents, inter- 20th century. The Sweetest Sound rogating them about their choice of the makes use of the new information era name "Alan," they seem comfortably and the ease of so-called "ego-surfing," disinterested in their son's project. "My the activity of finding your name else- parents are used to being characters in where on the Internet. the films. It's not a problem anymore." But, as Berliner discovers, it's some- Indeed, it isn't the first time that how discomfiting to share your name Berliner has positioned his family as with someone else. It elicits a strong subjects for his projects. His award- feeling of competitiveness. Although, winning documentaries, Nobody's on the surface, Berliner's latest film Business and Intimate Stranger, have gives a knowing wink to self-absorp- each in part explored the importance of tion, he is ultimately looking at a far the family in the formation of identity. more universal truth. "Whether they're biographies of my "Everyone has a name. It's sort of relatives or explorations of my ancestry like the tips of our noses: we never or genealogy, my films are always really look at them or think about about who I am, where I come from, them," remarks Berliner. "Yet we all and how I got here" says Berliner. "Not have some relationship to [our] name only inevitably, but inexorably, they are — whether we can express it or not, related to the fact that I am Jewish." unconsciously or otherwise — that's Berliner, who spent nearly three factored in to what we do and who years researching, writing, shooting we are." and editing The Sweetest Sound, is not yet certain what his next film will be. As he puts it, he's currently "erasing all The Sweetest Sound airs 10 p.m. the files." Tuesday, June 26, on WTVS Says Berliner, "It's a journey through (Channel 56) and other PBS sta- and across and within an enormous tions nationwide. universe, so it takes a while to clear ❑ HOTEL BARONETTE 27790 Novi ROAD (ON THE PERIMETER OF THE TWELVE OAKS MALL) Romance Getaway PACKAGE FOR TWO INCLUDES: *LUXURY ROOM & CHAMPAGNE *'MANAGER'S RECEPTION $189. 00* * includes tax and gratuity *DINNER AT THE PRESTIGIOUS NO. VI CHOP HOUSE & LOBSTER BAR *INDOOR POOL, WHIRLPOOL & SAUNA wrFULL AMERICAN BREAKFAST BUFFET •AVAILABLE FRIDAY, SATURDAY OR SUNDAY EVENINGS RESERVE YOUR ROOM TODAY 800.395.9009 OR WWW.HOTEl_SARONETTE.COM of Auburn Hills Serving memorable Italian lunches and Dinners since 1939 Open Seven Days Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. • Friday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. • Sunday 12 noon to 9 p.m. 885 Opdyke Road (Across from the Silver Dome) 248 • 373.4440 Leather Bottle Italian/American Bar & Grill Fresh Fish • Steaks • Ribs • Chicken • Banquet Facilities for groups up to 100 • Homemade Soups & Rolls • Great Pizza Nth _Y 16 oz. Handcut Filet in■ Buy 1 entree get a second entree 1/2 OFF Excludes daily specials & all-u-can-eat specials at with Zip Sauce $25.95 Includes Soup or Salad, Bread Basket, Potato & Vegetable Open 7 Days A Week 20300 Farmington Road, Between 7 & 8 Mile on East Side (248) 474-2420 Senior Citizen Discount 10% Off Total Food Bill