Presenting ... The 2005 TCF ShortDocs: Stories About Games

As we’d hoped, this year’s batch of commissioned ShortDocs interprets the topic of games from every which way, as you'll see (and hear) below. Chosen from nearly 100 story proposals from producers around the world, and then produced over the summer of 2005, the ShortDocs were first presented publicly at a Listening Room in September and then at the opening session of the Third Coast Festival Conference in October, where each producers was on hand to talk about his/her program.

Click on the headphone icons below to listen to the 2005 TCF ShortDocs.

The Ambassador of Go
by Blake Eskin

Most Americans have never heard of Go, an ancient board game that has simpler rules than chess but such complex strategy that computers can’t even beat a talented amateur. In China, however, it's part of daily culture - there are 30 million Go players and two Go channels on TV. Feng Yun is one of only two women in history to become a 9-dan Go professional - the game's highest ranking. And she’s faced even greater challenges since reaching the top of her game. (5:44)

"There was a whole lotta hundreds..."
by Michael Kavanagh

In America's high schools, students are playing a game whose only rule is to break the rules. "There was a whole lotta hundreds..." is a collection of stories about crib notes, secret codes, and elaborate heists, as told by the players and the referees: students and teachers from across the country. (6:09)

The Rules Will Be Different
by Melissa Robbins

Hear how the political became personal in the wake of the 2000
Presidential Election for one recount lawyer in Florida, who takes us
behind the scenes as a renowned game theorist elaborates on
the boundaries of contest and archival audio brings us back to the days
of hanging chads. (7:57)

Tongues Twisting
by Judith Sloan

Clapping games and tongue twisters in multiple languages turn into rich stories when Judith Sloan records young immigrants in a theatre workshop. Memories
of life "back home", broken families, and thoughts about dual realities are woven together with rhythm games and performances as the kids reveal the game of adapting to life in America. (photo ©2004 Elena Greenlee) (7:20)