We start out with Paul's background and how he got into following the world of Ufology. We talk about his first film within the genre, "Stanton T. Friedman is Real" and the serendipitous means by which Paul became director of the film and how it led to his career as a filmmaker. He talks about how being related to Stanton Friedman shaped his interest in the UFO mystery. He tells us what he thinks Friedman's greatest contribution to the field of Ufology is. This segues into a discussion on the film "Stanton T. Friedman is Real", how it's uniquely different from a lot of UFO related movies, acting as more biography than straight UFO film.

We move on to a more general discussion on UFO documentaries, including media coverage of said films and the paradox of making a film that can appeal to both laypeople and people with serious interest. He explains how he tailored his new film "UFOs : Best Evidence", with this paradox in mind. He also responds to his critics who claim that making a film like this would "accomplish nothing". From there, we discuss why most UFO documentaries today are "crap". We also discuss the problem of amateur made UFO films that hurt the overall genre of UFO documentaries.

We talk about how Paul's film, "Aztec 1948", came about including the making of the film and how's Paul's anti-Aztec opinion, post-filming, caused some controversy in the UFO field.

From there, we have an in-depth discussion on exopolitics, a movement which Kimball is harshly critical of. He explains where his opinion of the UFO phenomenon is fundamentally different from the exopolitics movement. He goes on to highlight his main criticisms of the expolitics movement. His brings his perspective, as a Canadian, to the Paul Hellyer story. He also explains why he thinks exopolitcs may be bad for Ufology as a whole and how the thinking of many in exopolitics with regards to "working with ETs" is flawed.

We find out what Paul thinks of Ufology taking on a more proactive approach and becoming more activist oriented. Following that, he explains how the "you're only as strong as your weakest link" argument applies to exopolitical whistleblowers. We talk about Roswell and how it can be looked upon as symptomatic of some of the problems of Ufology, what can be learned from Roswell with regards to UFO investigation, and why Roswell is destined to become a "myth" in human history, much like Robin Hood. This leads to Paul telling us what he thinks the biggest problem in UFO research is today. He differentiates between Ufology and what he sees as "serious UFO research".

We wrap up Part 1 with a preview of Paul's "New Frontiers Symposium", coming to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada next weekend (10.14.2006). What speakers will be there, why did he choose them, how is this different from a "UFO conference", and much more.

After winning multiple scholarships and awards - including the University Medal in History at both Acadia University and the University of Dundee, and the CLB Award at Dalhousie Law School - Paul graduated from Acadia in 1989 with an Honours Degree in History and Political Science, and in 1992 from Dalhousie with an LL.B. After working for the Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation and Salter Street Films, and as a consultant on film and television to the governments of Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, Paul founded Redstar Films Limited in 1999. His work as a producer and director since includes documentaries for networks including CBC, Vision, Bravo, SCN and Space: The Imagination Station, as well as the television series The Classical Now. Paul is a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers Society and the Society of Composers Authors and Publishers. He served as President of the Nova Scotia Film and Television Producers Association from 2002 to 2004, and is currently a member of the Film Advisory Committee for the Province of Nova Scotia.

His website is www.redstarfilms.blogspot.com/

topics discussed:
1 hr 39 min
10.7.06
202
Paul Kimball

Part 1 of 2