Balloon Man

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Audience Member Bill Costen (Ballon Man) has lived a REMARKABLE life. From football (NFL), to being a pioneering African American hot air balloon pilot to educating and sharing through his traveling Costen Cultural Exhibit - what a life! Balloon Man is a wonderful gift from daughter (Producer/Director Chantal Potter) to her father Bill. Bill Costen makes an impression in person as an elegant gentleman and his story as told in this documentary also makes a lasting impression. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member From a football field to a hot air balloon launch field, Bill Costen's story is an awesome one. I have not had the pleasure of meeting him, as many of my friends have, so this was a real treat to learn about his amazing life. This documentary is now on my "top ten" list of favorite films. I look forward to watching it again and again. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member This is one of the most enjoyable, sincere, compelling and positive documentaries I've seen in a great many years. Not your usual biographical film where you're looking at your watch or fast-forwarding...Balloon Man gripped me from the start and had me in tears when it ended. This well-written, powerfully-directed and visually engaging story combines a treasure trove of interviews, archival video, stunning cinematography and creative animation effects to make a powerfully engaging story that's also extremely family-friendly. In addition to showing us the life of a truly incredible and multi-talented man, Bill Costen, it lifts us up towards the sky with all of the stunning ballooning scenes with their colors, mystique and close calls with danger. I watched it last night and the visuals are still bouncing around in my mind. Written, directed and produced over the course of ten years by his daughter, the talented Chantal Potter, the film also presents an incredibly frank and honest history lesson going back to the days of Martin Luther King, Jr., as Bill navigates life as a talented young Black man who's initially held back by bigotry in high school, where he's only allowed to play a total of two minutes of football in actual games, who later earns his way into the NFL, suffers another let-down, but then achieves the literal highest heights of success as a master balloon pilot. In these tough and decisive times, with so much negativity around us, Balloon Man presents the most motivational, positive and racially-inclusive story you could want. This is truly a film that must be seen and shared, and enjoyed by both adults and children for whom this American history needs to be known and appreciated. And with so many bad people dominating the headlines, it's heartwarming to see an honest, kind, loving, hard-working and spiritual family man getting all the attention. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member I just finished watching this movie with my 11-year-old son. There are very few movies that he has watched start to finish. This is one of them. The visual images of hot air balloons are stunning. Bill Costen's life story is inspirational. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member I predict "The Balloon Man" is going into the archives of American Film Classics. Chantal Potter's Production rises to a level that left me breathless and looking for a sequel. The story line, videography and entire production was superbly edited. Bill Costen, Her Dad is "walking on a cloud" down here on the ground where life can be funky and real. The decades of video glows and flows with continuity. My wife and I were glued to our T.V. 1:37-minutes after purchasing the documentary. The Costens reflect generations of wholesome family values as American As Apple Pie. Bill, Lynda, Jarrell "Follow The Butterfly", Brandon And Baby Sidney. Sequel: "From Balloon Man To The Costen Cultural Exhibit(African American History In Real Time". Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Audience Member My wife and I just got finished watching Balloon Man! Well worth your time and money to support this project. Chantal Potter and Bill Costen have created a treasure that must be shared with every family! I absolutely love it! Bill Costen you have every right to be proud of your daughter! Balloon Man is a beautiful testimony of the love and respect that she has for you and the family. The documentary was absolutely beautiful! ❤️ Timeless. I will watch over and over. A great piece of art on so many levels. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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