Experiencing Interruptions?

Shadows on the Wind

Remembering friends who passed during the first 10 years of AIDS in San Francisco, 1981-1991.

  • R. Christian Anderson
    Director
    When the World Came to San Francisco
  • R. Christian Anderson
    Writer
    When the World Came to San Francisco
  • Grover James Taylor
    Producer
    Manhattan Montage
  • Eleni Larchanidou
    Producer
  • R. Christian Anderson
    Producer
    When the World Came to San Francisco
  • Chris Clark
    Singer
    Lady SIngs the Blues
  • John Thomas Bullock
    Music
    The Ghosts of San Francisco
  • R. Christian Anderson
    Lyrics
    When the World Came to San Francisco
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental, Music Video, Short
  • Genres:
    Documentary, LGBTQ, Silent, music video, gay
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes 42 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 12, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - R. Christian Anderson

A proud gay filmmaker who was born in Los Angeles and raised in Hollywood, his passion for motion pictures came at an early age. His mother, Lita, was a radio personality for station KMPC, at the time a music and entertainment station. He was performing on live radio in commercials by the age of 3.

At the age of 9, his mother married Raymond D. Bowman, a jazz and classical music impresario and noted music critic who taught and encouraged Christian to write. At age 12 he met legendary dance pioneer Ruth St. Denis, who encouraged his love of art and shared her life and career with him.

In 1969 Christian volunteered to serve in the United States Air Force where he was trained as an illustrator and worked on military training films with the Aerospace Audiovisual Service (MAC), and worked with one of the first units to produce films on video tape, rather than film stock. He received an Honorable Discharge for his service.

By 1973 he moved to San Francisco where he freelanced as a graphic designer, creating numerous posters, brochures, print ads and collateral materials over the next couple of decades.

He directed his first feature-length film "Defcon 2012" in 2008. In 2015 he co-wrote the song "The Ghosts of San Francisco," sung by Chris Clark for the film "When the World Came to San Francisco", which he also wrote and directed. The music video of which won the "Mixed Genre Jazz Film Award" at the "New York Jazz Film Festival" in Harlem in November 2016.

Today he is married and lives in Las Vegas, Nevada where he continues to write, compose, and direct films. He is a member of ASCAP.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I lived in San Francisco from 1972 to 1995 and for most of that time I lived in near the Castro. When the AIDS epidemic hit, we didn't know what it was, how it spread, how to treat it, or who would get it next. In the 80s and 90s I lost over 40 close friends and acquaintances. It was a terrifying time. I vowed that I would make a tribute to their memory and this film is the result. I had incredible kindness extended to me by the Bay Area Reporter who kindly allowed me to use the images of the men from their obituary columns. I intentionally did not mention any statistics because I just wanted the viewer to see their faces and understand how young most of them were when they passed.