ADDITIONAL INFO

PACIFIC STREET FILMS productions are distributed by several companies:

Cinema Guild is PSF’s long-time non-theatrical distributor: https://cinemaguild.com/
Education distribution through Alexander Street/ProQuest: https://alexanderstreet.com/
For other inquiries, contact us directly through this website.

JOEL SUCHER has written for a number of web platforms and periodicals on topics ranging from Hollywood to Wall Street. You can access his work at:

DONATIONS

Pacific Street Films is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by federal law.
Please use CONTACT US if you need a receipt for your contribution. Thank you.

HELP US HONOR THE LEGACY OF MAGGIE NEWMAN

Maggie Newman studied directly with Professor Cheng Man Ching in New York from 1964 until his death in 1975.

Maggie Newman (1924-2025) was an American treasure in the world of Tai Chi. As one of Professor Cheng Man-ch’ing’s six original students in New York City, she studied with him from 1964 until his death in 1975 and taught his Yang Short Form for over 50 years.

Before Tai Chi, Maggie was a professional modern dancer with Paul Taylor’s troupe, a kabuki master, and an aikido black belt. She brought this artistry and discipline to her teaching, establishing schools in New York, Philadelphia, and Rochester, and touching the lives of thousands of students with her grace, wisdom, and generosity.

Her friend and student Joel Sucher, documentary filmmaker and co-founder of Pacific Street Films, captured her philosophy and teaching in a series of interviews conducted in 2000.

As Joel wrote: “My original form instructor at Shr Jung was a remarkable woman by the name of Maggie Newman… [she] embodies the best of Tai Chi and its centuries-old legacy.”

Maggie’s influence continues to ripple through the Tai Chi community. Students remember her charging just eleven dollars per class—raising her rate by only one dollar in twenty years. As one student recalled, when money was tight, Maggie would say simply: “You can owe me into the next life.”

Your contribution will help memorialize Maggie’s teachings and ensure that her legacy—her emphasis on following the chi, staying present in each movement, and practicing Tai Chi as a spiritual discipline—continues to inspire practitioners for generations to come.

Once preservation is complete, the materials will be housed as part of the Pacific Street Films Collection at the Harvard Film Archive.