Phil Cousineau
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Philip Robert Cousineau (born 1952) is an American author, lecturer, independent scholar, screenwriter, and documentary filmmaker. He lives in San Francisco, California.
Early life and education
Phil Cousineau was born on 26 November 1952 in Columbia, South Carolina. He grew up Catholic just outside Detroit, with French Canadian roots. He studied journalism at the University of Detroit.
Career
Before turning to writing books and films full-time, Cousineau’s peripatetic career also included playing semi-professional basketball in Europe, harvesting date trees on an Israeli kibbutz, painting 44 Victorian houses (also known as Painted Ladies in San Francisco), teaching, and leading art and literary tours to Europe. He has worked as a sportswriter and taught screenwriting at the American Film Institute (AFI).
American mythologist Joseph Campbell was a mentor and major influence; Cousineau wrote the documentary film and companion book about Campbell's life, The Hero's Journey. The author of more than 25 nonfiction books, and contributed to magazine publications including Parabola, and Paris magazine. Cousineau has more than 15 documentary screenwriting credits to his name, including the 1991 Academy Award-nominated Forever Activists.[citation needed]
His best known works include Soul: An Archaeology, Readings from Socrates to Ray Charles, which Los Angeles Times columnist Jonathan Kirsch reviewed as "Inspiring, often mind-blowing, sometimes even a little scary," and the best-selling book, The Art of Pilgrimage: The Seeker's Guide to Making Travel Sacred.
Cousineau worked with religion scholar Huston Smith on three books as well as four documentary films on contemporary Native American issues. His books have been translated into nine languages.
Cousineau is the host and co-writer of the Link TV television series, Global Spirit, interviewing guests such as Robert Thurman, Karen Armstrong, Andrew Harvey, Deepak Chopra, and Joanne Shenandoah. The first season of Global Spirit was presented by John Cleese and broadcast on PBS-TV stations nationwide in the United States in 2012 and 2013.
A self-avowed night owl, Cousineau published Burning the Midnight Oil, a book of essays and poems about finding inspiration in the night, in 2013.
Filmography
| Date | Title | Role | Production | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | The Hero's Journey: The World of Joseph Campbell | screenwriter | Narrated by Peter Donat | |
| 1990 | Forever Activists: Stories from the Abraham Lincoln Brigade | screenwriter | film by Connie Field and Judith Montell. Narrated by Ronnie Gilbert, nominated for an Academy Award Best Documentary, Features. (1990). | |
| 1992 | Wiping the Tears of Seven Generations | screenwriter | Kifaru Production | |
| 1993 | The Presence of the Goddess | screenwriter | film by Christy Baldwin. Narrated by Isabel Allende | |
| 1995 | The Red Road to Sobriety | screenwriter | Kifaru Production | Narrated by Benjamin Bratt, about the Native American Sobriety Movement. |
| 1995 | Ecological Design: Inventing the Future | screenwriter | Ecological Design Project production | Narrated by Linda Hunt, competed at Sundance Film Festival in 1995. |
| 1996 | The Peyote Road: Ancient Religion in Contemporary Crisis | screenwriter | Kifaru Production | Narrated by Peter Coyote. |
| 1996 | Your Humble Serpent: The Life of Reuben Snake | screenwriter | Kifaru Production | Awarded "Best Documentary", at Red Earth Film Festival |
| 1999 | Wayfinders: A Pacific Odyssey | screenwriter | Maiden Voyage Productions | PBS documentary, directed by Gail Evenari. Narrated by Napuanalani Cassidy and Patrick Stewart |
| 2005 | A Seat at the Table: Struggling for American Religious Freedom | screenwriter | Kifaru Production | Screened at the American Indian Film Festival, San Francisco in 2003. |
| 2006 | The Roots of Fundamentalism: A Conversation with Huston Smith and Phil Cousineau | self | GemsTone Production |
Bibliography
- Cousineau, Phil (Dec 2013). Burning the Midnight Oil: Illuminating Words for the Long Night's Journey Into Day. Viva Editions. pp. 244 pages. ISBN 978-1-936-74073-4.
- Cousineau, Phil (Sep 2012). The Painted Word: A Treasure Chest of Remarkable Words and Their Origins. Gregg Chadwick (illus.). Viva Editions. p. 336. ISBN 978-1-936-74017-8.
- Smith, Huston; Phil Cousineau (Sep 2012). . New World Library. pp. . ISBN 978-1-608-68071-9.
- Cousineau, Phil (February 2011). Beyond Forgiveness: Reflections on Atonement. Huston Smith (foreword). Jossey-Bass. p. 272. ISBN 978-0-470-90773-3.
- Cousineau, Phil (April 2010). . Gregg Chadwick (illus.). Viva Editions. pp. . ISBN 978-1-57344-400-2.
- Cousineau, Phil (January 2010). The Oldest Story in the World. Sisyphus Press. p. 84. ISBN 978-0-9626548-9-3.
- Cousineau, Phil; Scott Chamberlin Hoyt (September 2009). The Meaning of Tea: A Tea Inspired Journey. Talking Leaves Press. p. 362. ISBN 978-0-615-20442-0.
- Cousineau, Phil (May 2008). . Conari Press. pp. . ISBN 978-1-57324-299-8.
- Smith, Huston; Cousineau, Phil (December 2005). A Seat at the Table: Huston Smith in Conversation with Native Americans on Religious Freedom. University of California Press. pp. . ISBN 978-0-520-24439-9.
- Cousineau, Phil (2004). The Blue Museum: Poems. Sisyphus Press. p. 152. ISBN 978-0-9626548-2-4.
- Cousineau, Phil (November 2003). . Quest Books. pp. . ISBN 978-0-8356-0833-6.
- Smith, Huston; Cousineau, Phil (September 2003). The Way Things Are: Conversations with Huston Smith on the Spiritual Life. University of California Press. pp. . ISBN 978-0-520-23816-9.
- Cousineau, Phil (October 2001). Coincidence Or Destiny? Stories of Synchronicity That Illuminate Our Lives. Wes Nisker (foreword). Red Wheel / Weiser. p. 224. ISBN 978-1-57324-712-2.
- Cousineau, Phil (May 2001). . Stephen Larsen (foreword). Conari Press. pp. . ISBN 978-1-57324-299-8.
- Cousineau, Phil (May 2000). The Book of Roads: Travel Stories. Sisyphus Press. p. 227. ISBN 978-0-9626548-1-7.
- Cousineau, Phil (November 2000). . Robert A. Johnson (foreword); Eric Lawton (photography). Conari Press. p. 224. ISBN 978-1-57324-509-8.
- Cousineau, Phil (June 1999). The Art of Pilgrimage: The Seeker's Guide to Making Travel Sacred. Conari Press. p. 288. ISBN 978-1-57324-593-7.
- Cousineau, Phil (June 2012). . Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari; Anniversary Edition. ISBN 978-1-57324-080-2.
- Cousineau, Phil (February 1994). . HarperCollins Publishers. pp. . ISBN 978-0-06-250239-1.
- Cousineau, Phil (February 1993). . Eric Lawton (photography). HarperCollins Publishers. pp. . ISBN 978-0-06-250239-1.
- Cousineau, Phil (September 1991). Deadlines: A Rhapsody on a Theme of Famous and Infamous Last Words. Sisyphus Press. p. 121. ISBN 978-0-9626548-0-0.
- Densmore, John; Phil Cousineau (August 1990). Riders on the Storm: My Life with Jim Morrison and The Doors. Delacorte Press. p. 319. ISBN 978-0-385-30033-9.
- Cousineau, Phil (August 2014). The Hero's Journey: Joseph Campbell on His Life and Work. The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell. Stuart L. Brown (foreword). New World Library; Third Edition paperback. p. 336. ISBN 978-1-60868-189-1.
- Cousineau, Phil (August 2003). The Hero's Journey: Joseph Campbell on His Life and Work, Centennial Edition. Stuart L. Brown (foreword). New World Library. p. 288. ISBN 978-1-57731-404-2.
- Cousineau, Phil (May 1990). The Hero's Journey: Joseph Campbell on His Life and Work. Stuart L. Brown (foreword). Harper & Row. p. 255. ISBN 0-06-250102-X.