HALF PAST AUTUMN: THE LIFE AND WORKS OF GORDON PARKS is a comprehensive and insightful look at the life and works of one of the 20^th century's most prolific and diverse artists: Gordon Parks. The feature-length film chronicles his entire life, ranging from his early childhood in Fort Scott, Kansas, through his journey to become a preeminent figure in photography, fiction, poetry, music and filmmaking.

This candid portrait also explores America's social history through the life and work of a man who has witnessed watershed moments in American history, and shows how his work has contributed to a deeper understanding of those moments.

Directed by Craig Rice and written by Lou Potter, HALF PAST AUTUMN: THE LIFE AND WORKS OF GORDON PARKS is produced by Denzel Washington (Oscar&#174 winner for "Glory") and critically acclaimed filmmaker St. Clair Bourne ("John Henrik Clarke: A Great and Mighty Walk"). Narrated by Alfre Woodard (Emmy&#174 winner for HBO's "Miss Evers' Boys"), the documentary debuts THURSDAY, NOV. 30 (9:00-10:30 p.m. ET), exclusively on HBO, in honor of Parks' 88th birthday.

Other playdates: Dec. 3 (10:30 a.m.), 6 (7:00 p.m.), 8 (11:30 a.m.), 11 (3:30 p.m.) and 16 (2:45 p.m.).

Following a year of research, HALF PAST AUTUMN: THE LIFE AND WORKS OF GORDON PARKS was shot over five months at Parks' home in New York City, and on location in Brazil. Drawing on his vast body of photography and clips from his films, the documentary features archival footage of the turbulent '60s and '70s, as well as interviews with friends, family, colleagues, fans and others whose lives were affected by Parks.

Gordon Parks was born the last of 15 children to Sarah and Jackson Parks in Fort Scott, Kansas, in 1912. His formal education was limited by racism, but his faith in his abilities was strengthened by his parents. "You had to be strong," he recalls. "You had to have parents who would tell you differently: 'You had to make it, you should not let bigotry or discrimination stand in your way.' That's the way my parents were.

"Violence marred a good part of my youth and became my enemy. Fortunately, the common sense my parents pounded into me would help select the most powerful weapons to use against it: Photography, writing, music and film became those weapons."

After buying a camera as a young man from a pawnshop and landing his first assignment as a fashion photographer for a clothing store in St. Paul, Minnesota, Parks went to work at the Farm Services Administration (FSA), which was chronicling the country's social and cultural life. The FSA's Roy Stryker would have a profound influence on Parks' development as a photographer. "He told me, 'You just can't photograph a bigot and write "bigot" beneath the picture, because bigots have a way of looking just like everyone else. Sometimes they look better. You have to get to the root of bigotry and discrimination.' "

This advice inspired what many consider Parks' greatest image, "American Gothic," which depicts an African-American woman with a mop and broom standing beneath the American flag.

Parks credits Stryker with teaching him about people and humanity, and about his subjects. "The people in front of the camera are more important than the photographer - no matter how heralded he is. They can be poor as field mice, but if they don't want to give you their time, you don't have a story."

When the FSA closed in 1943, Parks began photographing models for Vogue, but his true ambition was to shoot for Life. "Every photographer wanted to be a Life photographer," he remembers. "I didn't really think that I had a chance -- it was limited there. There's 'x' number of white boy photographers who wanted to be a Life photographer."

Undeterred, Parks dropped in unannounced on Wilson Hicks, Life's picture editor, and landed a job. His time at the magazine was his most productive and creative period as a photographer. Although Parks' introspective photographs of celebrities like Ingrid Bergman and Gloria Vanderbilt brought fame and respect, his work chronicling the Civil Rights movement in the South had far greater impact.

As the best-known black photojournalist at a mainstream magazine, Parks was sought out by African-American organizations looking for recognition. He turned down an invitation from Eldridge Cleaver to become the public relations officer for the Black Panther Party. "Violence was not a thing for me," says Parks. "I had been taught that violence was wrong ever since I was a child. I had seen any number of my young friends perish through violence."

HALF PAST AUTUMN also pays homage to Parks' work as a filmmaker. At a major Hollywood studio he wrote and directed the 1969 movie "The Learning Tree," based on his memoir of his Kansas childhood. In 1989 the Library of Congress placed the movie on its National Film Registry. His second feature, "Shaft," chronicled the exploits of a black private eye, and was a smash sensation. "I didn't shoot 'Shaft' with the same serious eye that I used to direct 'The Learning Tree,' " acknowledges Parks. "What I did do was establish myself as a director who could do different kinds of films and make money."

"Shaft" went on to become a seminal film in African-American filmmaking, influencing many young black men and women, both then and today, as evidenced by John Singleton's recent hit remake. Music has always been another of Parks' great passions. Without formal training, Parks has composed classical and popular pieces, including scores for his films.

Parks' life has not been without sorrow. "Successful people pay a high price for their drive, for their vision, for their tenacity and their creativity. Gordon needed time to be alone, to emerge and to fuse with his talents," recalls Parks' second wife, Elizabeth Campbell Rollins.

Parks speaks poignantly of his relationships with his three wives, Sally, Liz and Genevieve, and his children. He remembers his son, Gordon Parks Jr., a budding photographer and successful director in his own right ("Superfly," "Three the Hard Way"), who died at age 41 in a 1979 plane crash.

Observes his friend, Gloria Vanderbilt, "It's hard to classify Gordon's progress as an artist because he is so multitalented. The depth of this talent makes it difficult to assess his work."

At a time when youth is a prized commodity, Parks proves that, at age 87, he still has a long way to go. "I still have a passion for living, so this is no farewell, but a gathering of moments that I hope will make the trials of others much easier to bear."INSPIRING VISION

HALF PAST AUTUMN is the centerpiece of a content-rich educational initiative developed by HBO for teachers, students and parents. Students in grades 6-12 will also be encouraged to participate in the "The Gordon Parks Inspiring Vision Award" contest. The effort is designed to inspire young people to experiment with art as a means to respond to the world around them. For award consideration, students are invited to submit photography and/or poetry that expresses their unique vision (see HBO.com for details after Oct. 30). Prizes include a trip to New York City, cash awards and Kodak cameras. HBO.com is working closely with Cable in the Classroom, The Weekly Reader and Turner Learning, Inc. on outreach and educational materials that will reach hundreds of thousands of students, parents and educators nationwide. A special marketing campaign targeting artistic and cultural entities across the country will also be launched, enabling institutions such as the Smithsonian and the Du Sable Museum of African American Culture in Chicago to inform their patrons about the program and related activities.

HALF PAST AUTUMN: THE LIFE AND WORKS OF GORDON PARKS is a Mundy Lane Entertainment Production in association with Cartouche Entertainment and Chamba MediaWorks, Inc. Director, Craig Rice; writer, Lou Potter; producers, Denzel Washington and St. Clair Bourne; narrator, Alfre Woodard; line producer, Bruce Nalepinski; editor, Sam Pollard; director of photography, Henry Adebonojo; additional photography, Hiro Narita; associate producer, Anita Womack; musical supervisor, Mario Sprouse; consulting producer, Robin Hickman; production associate for Gordon Parks, Johanna Fiore; creative consultant, Peter Kunhardt; executive producers, Cecil Cox and Craig Rice. For HBO: production executive, Bill Chase; supervising produce, Jackie Glover; executive producer, Sheila Nevins.

Contact Info:
Paul Marotta (HBO)
(212) 512-1322 5025