Jonathan Dana & life-affirming power of film; Songwriters Showcase.

On location in Hollywood, Ruth Copland talks to renowned  Hollywood independent film producer Jonathan Dana about his 40+ year career, the creative power of film to change the world and the inspiring films that he has been involved with. These include Oscar-nominated The Invisible War (directed by Kirby Dick and produced by Amy Ziering) about sexual assault in the US military, and We Were Here (a film by David Weissman and Bill Weber) about the genesis of the AIDS epidemic in the Castro in San Francisco. We talk about how the disturbing revelations of The Invisible War have had a tremendously positive effect in stimulating debate and action in Washington DC to address this previously 'invisible' shocking state of affairs, and how We Were Here shows the personal and community issues raised by AIDS and the incredibly compassionate response of the Castro community that inspired 'The San Francisco Model', which modelled for the country the way to deal with AIDS compassionately. Ruth Copland and Jonathan Dana also chat about the state of the independent film business and the role of women in film amongst many other interesting subjects. Hour 2 continues with Ruth Copland interviewing the latest round of finalists in the Santa Cruz Songwriters Showcase. The organisers of the Showcase, Ken and Barbara Capitanich, are in the studio along with finalists Claire Tromblee, Josh Lowe, and August Bullock performing live.