Historical documentary on natural stone in the works

Words: Garen Graves/Public/News/20120621120000-1.jpg" width="600" height="338" border="0" alt="The documentary will trace the evolution of man and stone from prehistoric times to today." />
The documentary will trace the evolution of man and stone from prehistoric times to today.
MS International (MSI), one of the industry's largest stone distribution companies, is making it possible for the Marble Institute of America to produce a major new documentary that memorializes the global historic relationship between mankind and natural stone. Funding for the documentary will be provided by MSI.

The 35-40 minute documentary will be based on a creative concept by Mr. Manu Shah, founder of MSI of Orange, California. The documentary will trace the evolution of man and stone from prehistoric times to today's thriving use of natural stone as one of the premier decorative building materials used in commercial buildings and homes around the world.

Mr. Shah commented, "Natural stone has played an instrumental role in the advancement of civilization over thousands of years. In developing this documentary, we look forward to working with the MIA to further expose both the historical significance of natural stone and the continued impact the natural stone industry has on all of our lives."

Bill Levy Productions, Inc. of Beachwood, OH, which has produced MIA video programs for almost a decade, will work with the MIA-MSI team to create the program. The documentary will premier at StonExpo in Las Vegas, January 2013.

"We are thrilled with the opportunity to work with Manu Shah and the rest of the MSI team on this historic project," said Gary Distelhorst, executive director of MIA. "Our goal is to create a video documentary that is entertaining, educational and compelling. In his outline proposing the production, Mr. Shah has done a remarkable job of laying the groundwork for visualizing the story."

To develop the program, sound bites from a wide range of experts will be blended with images to create a visual montage showing how stone emerged from being a necessary part of prehistoric man's tools of life, to his major source of shelter.

Finally, the production will describe how natural stone captured the imagination of the design community in the 1990's, creating a world-wide boom for stone usage in kitchens, baths and other parts of the home, an explosion that has created a worldwide industry employing millions of people and one of the few industries supporting rural regions of the world.
Properties and Advantages of Brick Cavity Walls
June 2026

Many compound words are self-explanatory "descriptive names." Sunglasses are glasses that block the sun. A fireplace is a place to build a fire. A cavity wall is exactly that: a wall assembly that contains a cavity. Previously, this concept was used prim

Technical Talks
Read More
The “Small Job” Safety Trap: Why Safety Sometimes Fades When the Spotlight Disappears
June 2026

Before I was fortunate enough to lead Malta Dynamics, I spent a couple of years as a traveling salesman for the company. My territory covered the entire country (and some beyond), and in a typical year, I visited more than 100 jobsites across nearly every

Greg Brown
Safety Library
Read More
Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace
June 2026

As a business owner and leader, taking the mental health of your employees seriously and understanding how it can impact their work is essential. In fact, one in five adults experiences a mental health condition annually. Addressing mental health is more

Patrick Cunningham
MAP Partner
Read More
Bonding with Masonry 2026: Q2
June 2026

This issue’s questions come from a Mason Contractor and an Engineer. What questions do you have? Send them to info@masonrymagazine.com, attention Technical Talk.

David Biggs
Bonding with Masonry
Read More
Interested in working with us? Learn about and join the Masonry Alliance Program →