Joe Fab is an award-winning and Emmy-nominated producer, writer and
director with more than 35 years experience in film and video
production, media and communications, event production and the live
presentation of plays and music.
In 2007, Fab represented the United States as a special cultural envoy
to Kuwait at the personal invitation of the U.S. Ambassador to that
country. He addressed filmmakers, students and educators, speaking
about the documentary and independent film industries in an effort to
build understanding and collaboration, and he was honored at a
reception at the American Embassy.
Recent honors include the prestigious 2006 Christopher Award, given for
achievements in media that "affirm the highest values of the human
spirit." Also in 2006, Billy Campbell, president of Discovery Networks
U.S., presented him the Discovery and Imagination Award - an honor
whose two previous recipients were Christopher Reeve and Dr. Jane
Goodall.
Fab has received wide acclaim for his recent work as producer, writer
and co-director of the feature documentary "Paper Clips", which enjoyed
a successful theatrical release nationwide, ran for a year on HBO, is
now appearing in theatres internationally and is available on home
video. "Paper Clips" has been praised by critics and received numerous
film festival awards, both from juries and audiences. It was named one
of the top five documentaries of 2004 by the National Board of Review
and received the Jewish Image Award in recognition of its promotion of
cross cultural communication. In addition to the roles mentioned above,
Mr. Fab is particularly proud to have co-written the lyrics sung by
bluegrass artist Alison Krauss on the film's soundtrack.
His career has brought him the privilege of working with Presidents
Clinton, Carter and Bush (both George H. W. and George W), as well as
an array of other political figures, from Sam Nunn to Orrin Hatch. In
2005, he produced the premiere presentation of a new poem by Dr. Maya
Angelou, performed by the author herself. He has written for such
diverse actors as Gregory Peck, Mary Steenburgen, Shirley Jones, Robert
Prosky and Alan Alda, and personalities like Mary Matalin, James
Carville, Willard Scott and Al Roker - to name but a few. As a
producer, he has presented literally scores of entertainers, including
such artists as Tony Bennett, Eartha Kitt, Tina Turner, Placido
Domingo, Reneé Fleming, Cher, Charlotte Church, Cathy Rigby, Marty
Stuart, Wayne Newton, Boy George and Culture Club, Jose Feliciano,
LeAnn Rimes, Karen Akers and many, many more.
Since 1998, he has produced and written the opening ceremonies for the
annual Christmas Pageant of Peace, featuring an hour of entertainment
by internationally known performers and the lighting of the national
Christmas tree by the president of the United States -- this event is
broadcast live via satellite and seen around the world.
Recent television productions include programs for the Discovery
Channel and the History Channel, as well as the NBA-focused documentary
"Crossover," which he executive produced in conjunction with Penny
Marshall and Magic Johnson for Showtime.
Fab counts among the many great gifts in his professional life the
opportunity to work with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
since 1989, just after it was founded. EGPAF was the first organization
to bring attention to the special plight of children with HIV/AIDS and
has grown to be a leading force on their behalf both internationally
and in the U.S. Producing and writing short films and live events for
that organization has permitted him to work closely with children and
families living with HIV/AIDS in Africa and all across the United
States. These life-altering experiences have helped inspire him to make
young people an important focus of his work whenever
possible.
