Maxim Langstaff

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Maxim Kennedy Langstaff
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BornBorn 1959 (age 64)
Hartford, Connecticut
OccupationWriter • producer
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater
  • Connecticut College
  • National Theater Institute
Subject
  • Theater
  • Acting and Directing
Notable awardsNominated for: Emmy, Grammy, Realscreen, International Wildlife Film Festival
RelativesWilliam Brewster (Mayflower passenger) (ancestor), Sidney Howard (great uncle), Clare Eames (great aunt), Emma Eames (great aunt), John Langstaff (uncle)

Maxim Langstaff is a writer and producer with Grammy and Emmy nominations, recognized for his artistic vision and adaptability. His creative and editorial contributions span across various mediums, including print, TV, film, radio, and music, reaching a substantial global audience. Langstaff is notably acclaimed for his ability to construct narratives that offer profound insights into both the natural world and the human experience.

Career

Langstaff has an extensive background as a writer, producer, director, and performer. His works have been featured in various publications, including The New York Times, Philadelphia Enquirer, Gannett, Wildlife Conservation Magazine, Family Circle, SONY, Disney, and the Wildlife Conservation Society, among others.

He gained recognition for his collaboration with John Denver, wherein he wrote and produced the Wildlife Concert[1] in 1995. This production achieved considerable success, becoming the highest-rated music program in cable TV history. It also led to the release of two multi-platinum CD sets and one of the best-selling music videos ever issued by SONY.

He served as the creator, writer, and executive producer for the award-winning PBS Series and companion book "Soundbreaking (On Record: the Soundtrack of Our Lives)"[2]

Among his numerous credits, Langstaff produced and directed the live multi-media "Making of Sergeant Pepper"[3] with Sir George Martin (Beatles), which included Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, and Phil Collins. He also wrote, produced and directed the most comprehensive filmed history of the Beatles through the eyes of the Sir George Martin who signed, produced, and played on all their recordings.

Langstaff's award-winning work includes “Best Film” (short) at the International Wildlife Film Festival for "Wildlife Crisis" in 1994, and the “Parents Choice Award” for "The Jackfish", a collection of traditional folk songs recorded at Abbey Road Studios in 2002, which also included "Nottamum Town", "The Water is Wide", and "The Lark in the Morn".

As well he served as the writer and on-air host for the New England radio program "Off the Charts" (WERU), profiling iconic music artists and their history, reaching audiences through live broadcast and worldwide streaming. He has also appeared on numerous podcasts, including "Neutral Position" with Nick Palmisciano, currently available on YouTube.

Collaborations

Langstaff has collaborated with some of the greatest pop culture icons of the 20th century on projects he has created, written, and produced, including Sir George Martin, 
The Beatles
, Sir Paul McCartney
, Eric Clapton, 
Brian Wilson, 
The Bee Gees, 
Sir Elton John, 
Clive Davis, John Denver, 
Joni Mitchell, 
Dave Brubeck, John Prine
, B.B. King
, Tony Bennett, 
Burt Bacharach, 
Bonnie Raitt, 
Mark Knopfler, 
Herb Alpert
, Steve Winwood
, Frankie Vallie, 
Peter, Paul & Mary, 
Michael Tilson Thomas, 
Rascals, 
Cat Stevens, 
Dave Mason, 
Kitty Wells, 
Public Enemy, 
Gordon Lightfoot, 
Mary Chapin Carpenter, 
Earl Scruggs, 
Robbie Robertson
Gamble & Huff
Hans Zimmer
, The Monkees, Smokey Robinson, 
Ringo Starr, 
Lieber & Stroller, 
The Sherman Brothers
, Paul Anka, 
Stephen Schwartz, 
George Benson, 
Tommy James & the Shondells, 
Jack White
, Glen Campbell, 
Boston, 
Roger Waters, Jimmy Jam
, Kenny Rogers, 
Michael Feinstein, 
Jeff Beck, 
Carole King, 
Les Paul, 
Imogene Heap, 
Dave Grohl
, Vince Gill, 
Dee Dee Bridgewater, 
Willie Nelson.

Personal Life

Langstaff co-founded and served as the playwright-in-residence for the National Youth Theater at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. He is an alumnus of The Putney School, Connecticut College, the National Theater Institute, and the Breadloaf Writers Conference. He has served on the boards of Northeast Film, A.E. Howell Wildlife Refuge and Rehabilitation Center, the Deertrees Foundation, Millenia Music, and Revels Inc.

Working for the Wildlife Conservation Society, Langstaff managed the national effort for the largest and most successful fundraising initiative ($100M) ever undertaken for wildlife conservation, contributing to the first integrated global conservation initiative to save Tigers.

He is often found exploring wilderness rivers or mountain trails. A three-time Boston Marathoner, he currently lives in North Carolina with his wife and dog.

Public Speaking and Teaching

Langstaff's knowledge of American popular music, the Beatles, wildlife conservation, the arts, media, and business has made him a sought-after lecturer, teacher, and public speaker for PBS, the University of North Carolina, the Aspen Business Association, Maine Maritime Academy, Holly Springs Cultural Center, and North Carolina State University, among many others.

Family Legacy

From a long line of published writers and authors, Max’s great uncle is the Pulitzer Prize for Drama winning playwright, Sidney Howard, the man who wrote the script for “Gone With The Wind”. His great grandfather, author of Life’s Place in the Cosmos, A Genius in the Family, and Horseless Carriage Days was noted film pioneer/inventor, Hiram Percy Maxim, founder of the Amateur Film League.

Community Involvement

Langstaff co-founded and is the playwright-in-residence for the National Youth Theater at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. He has also served on the boards of various organizations, including Northeast Film, A.E. Howell Wildlife Refuge and Rehabilitation Center, the Deertrees Foundation, Millenia Music, and Revels Inc.

Filmography

Television

Year Title Notes
1992 "The South Bank Show" The Making of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Co-Writer, director and producer

Discography

  • Chetverg (July 9,2002, Russian Entertainment)

Awards and Nominations

Caption text
Year Nominee / Work Award Result
2017 Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music News & Documentary Emmy Award Nominated

References

  1. "John Denver: The Wildlife Concert". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  2. "SOUNDBREAKING Nominated for News & Documentary Emmy Awards". Backstage360. Backstage360.
  3. Tulber, Mark. "The Beatles: In Search of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". NC State University. Retrieved 29 August 2023.

External links

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