Tag: Center for Social Media

Visiting Filmmaker Series – Spring 2012: Heather Courtney – “Where Soldiers Come From” – Thursday, March 1, 2012 from 2:30 – 7pm

Heather Courtney – “Where Soldiers Come From” Date: Thursday, March 1, 2012 – 2:30 – 7:00pm Join us for a Master Class with filmmaker Heather Courtney at 2:30 pm followed by a screening of the documentary “Where Soldiers Come From” and Q&A starting at 5:30 pm. WHERE SOLDIERS COME FROM is an intimate look at … Continue reading “Visiting Filmmaker Series – Spring 2012: Heather Courtney – “Where Soldiers Come From” – Thursday, March 1, 2012 from 2:30 – 7pm”

Heather Courtney – “Where Soldiers Come From”

Date: Thursday, March 1, 2012 – 2:30 – 7:00pm

Join us for a Master Class with filmmaker Heather Courtney at 2:30 pm followed by a screening of the documentary “Where Soldiers Come From” and Q&A starting at 5:30 pm.

WHERE SOLDIERS COME FROM is an intimate look at the young men who fight our wars and the families and town they come from. Returning to her hometown, director Heather Courtney gains extraordinary access, following these young men as they grow and change from reckless teenagers, to soldiers looking for bombs in Afghanistan, to 23-year-old veterans facing the struggles of returning home. The documentary looks beyond the guns and policies of an ongoing war to examine the war’s effect on the future of these young men, their parents and loved ones, and the whole community when young people go off to fight.

Heather Courtney has directed and produced several documentary films including Letters from the Other Side and

Los Trabajadores. With her current film, Where Soldiers Come From, she was a Sundance Edit and Story Lab fellow, and a 2009 recipient of the United States Artists fellowship. Her films have been funded by a Fulbright Fellowship, ITVS, the Sundance Documentary Fund, the Paul Robeson Fund, and the Texas Filmmakers Production Fund. She was recently named one of Film Independent’s Top 10 Filmmakers to Watch. Letters from the Other Side was the Closing Night film at the Slamdance Film Festival in January 2006, screened at numerous festivals around the world, and was broadcast on over 60 PBS stations. Los Trabajadores won the Audience Award at SXSW and the International Documentary Association David Wolper award, and was broadcast nationally on the PBS series Independent Lens. She was a co-director on Roger Weisberg’s Critical Condition, which aired nationally on POV in Fall 2008, and is a member of the acclaimed film distribution cooperative New Day Films. Prior to receiving her MFA in Film Production, she spent eight years writing and photographing for the United Nations and several refugee and immigrant rights organizations, including in the Rwandan refugee camps after the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Excerpted from the Center for Social Media site.

Visiting Filmmaker Series – Spring 2012: Gerry Wurzburg – “Wretches and Jabberers” – Thursday, February 16 from 2:30 – 7:00pm

Gerry Wurzburg – “Wretches and Jabberers” Date: Thursday, February 16, 2012 – 2:30 – 7:00pm Location: Wechsler Theater in the Mary Graydon Center of American University Join us for a Master Class with filmmaker Gerry Wurzburg at 2:30 pm followed by a screening of the documentary “Wretches and Jabberers” and Q&A starting at 5:30 pm. … Continue reading “Visiting Filmmaker Series – Spring 2012: Gerry Wurzburg – “Wretches and Jabberers” – Thursday, February 16 from 2:30 – 7:00pm”


Gerry Wurzburg – “Wretches and Jabberers”

Date: Thursday, February 16, 2012 – 2:30 – 7:00pm

Location: Wechsler Theater in the Mary Graydon Center of American University

Join us for a Master Class with filmmaker Gerry Wurzburg at 2:30 pm followed by a screening of the documentary “Wretches and Jabberers” and Q&A starting at 5:30 pm.

Gerry Wurzburg’s documentary chronicles the world travels of disability rights advocates, Tracy Thresher and Larry Bissonnette, in a bold quest to change attitudes about the intelligence and abilities of
people with autism. Until the 1980s, most children and young adults with autism in the US were excluded from normal schooling. Some were placed in mental institutions. Like many children with autism, Tracy and Larry grew up unable to speak. They faced a future of social isolation in adult disability centers. When Tracy was 23 and Larry 34, their lives changed when they learned to communicate by typing. Larry notes, “nothing I did…convinced people I had an inner life until I started typing.” In the film, Tracy and Larry take to the road to promote awareness of the hidden intelligence in those who face speech and communication challenges, connecting with others like them across the globe who struggle to find a means of expression.

Gerry Wurzburg is an Academy Award®-winning documentary producer and director whose work addresses disabilities, contemporary history, social justice, education and health. Major awards include an Academy Award® for the documentary Educating Peter, an Academy Award® nomination for Autism is a World, and the Cable ACE for Documentary Directing, among others. She is a recipient of three National Endowment for Arts grants, the Governor of Tokyo Prize and the Japan Prize. Her work is in the Broadcast Museum, the Lincoln Center Theater Library and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Library.

Excerpted from the Center for Social Media site.

Human Rights Film Series Screening Thursday, October 20 at 5:30pm

Not in Our Town: Light in the Darkness Thursday, October 20, 20115:30-8:00 PM In 2008, Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero was murdered in Patchogue, New York. Marcelo’s death was the tragic culmination of a wave of anti-immigrant violence in the community. Light in the Darkness chronicles the journey of Marcelo’s family and community members as they … Continue reading “Human Rights Film Series Screening Thursday, October 20 at 5:30pm”


Not in Our Town: Light in the Darkness

Thursday, October 20, 2011
5:30-8:00 PM

In 2008, Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero was murdered in Patchogue, New York. Marcelo’s death was the tragic culmination of a wave of anti-immigrant violence in the community. Light in the Darkness chronicles the journey of Marcelo’s family and community members as they react to their loss, the crime and the root causes of violence. The latest in the Not in Our Town series, the film carries on the tradition of documenting how communities organize and act together to prevent and repair the problems of hate crime to create an environment of safety and respect.

Visit the film website
Resource Page (PDF)

This film will be shown at the American University Katzen Arts Center with discussion to follow in the Abramson Family Recital Hall. For directions and parking, click here. This film is free and open to the public. Come early as seating is limited.

Film Screening – The People Speak – Tonight in Wechsler Theater 5:30pm

The School of Communication and Center for Social Media and the Department of Justice, Law and Society of the School of Public Affairs are hosting a screening of The People Speak tonight in Wechsler Theater at 5:30pm. See their invitation below: Dear students and faculty, What do Matt Damon, Pink, Josh Brolin, Kerry Washington, John … Continue reading “Film Screening – The People Speak – Tonight in Wechsler Theater 5:30pm”

The School of Communication and Center for Social Media and the Department of Justice, Law and Society of the School of Public Affairs are hosting a screening of The People Speak tonight in Wechsler Theater at 5:30pm. See their invitation below:

Dear students and faculty,

What do Matt Damon, Pink, Josh Brolin, Kerry Washington, John Legend, Marisa Tomei, and Bruce Springsteen have in common? Besides being celebrities, they all acted in the same movie! The School of Communication and Center for Social Media and the Department of Justice, Law and Society of the School of Public Affairs invite you to a screening of THE PEOPLE SPEAK.

Using dramatic and musical performances, The People Speak brings alive the letters, diaries and speeches of everyday Americans. This documentary feature film gives voice to those who spoke up for social change throughout U.S. history, forging a nation from the bottom up with their insistence on equality and justice. Howard Zinn fondly called them troublemakers, dissenters, radicals, and picketers!

Now, dozens of artists have come together to create a visual testimony to the important history of the United States – A People’s History of the United States! Join us on March 1st 2011 at 5:30 PM in Wechsler Theatre at the MGC building.

Professor Chana Barron will open the event with introductory remarks on power and justice. Democracy is not a spectator sport!

11th Annual Human Rights Film Series in Underway!

The School of Communication’s Center for Social Media is co-presenting the 11th Annual Human Rights Film Series along with the AU Washington College of Law Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. Films will be screened on Thursdays between September 23 and October 28 from 5:30pm – 8:00pm at the American University Katzen Arts Center, … Continue reading “11th Annual Human Rights Film Series in Underway!”


The School of Communication’s Center for Social Media is co-presenting the 11th Annual Human Rights Film Series along with the AU Washington College of Law Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law.

Films will be screened on Thursdays between September 23 and October 28 from 5:30pm – 8:00pm at the American University Katzen Arts Center, Abramson Family Recital Hall. Each screening will feature special guests and will be followed by an in-depth discussions of the films and the issues they approach.

Now if it was a Disney movie that was being ripped off…

You can bet a big dollar lawsuit would have been in the works, real quick. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4GR0DconsU&feature=player_embedded Kimba The White Lionvs. The Lion King

You can bet a big dollar lawsuit would have been in the works, real quick.

Making Your Media Matter Conference

Taking place February 7-8th, 2008, this year’s “Making your media matter” conference was quite a success. The Center for Social Media did a wonderful job organizing and executing this forum. I took some notes on the various sessions and have posted them below. Games for social change seminar Suzanne Seggerman (Games for change) Most people … Continue reading “Making Your Media Matter Conference”

Taking place February 7-8th, 2008, this year’s “Making your media matter” conference was quite a success. The Center for Social Media did a wonderful job organizing and executing this forum. I took some notes on the various sessions and have posted them below.

Games for social change seminar

  1. Suzanne Seggerman (Games for change)
    1. Most people are afraid of the printed word, novels, and films when they first come out, but over time accept them.
    2. Games are good at immersion in a new environment, as well as a chance to change a scenario safely.
    3. You have a different cognitive thinking when using video games versus reading.
    4. Games for change is a non-profit organization that assumes three things are important and attainable with video games:

i. Education

ii. Social change

iii. Culture

    1. Tries to shape the public outlook and increase the outlook for the positive.
    2. “Film was the dominant aspect of the 20th century, interactive media will be the dominant one of the 21st.
  1. Heidi Boisvert (ICED!)
    1. The game is out to teach users about the 1996 U.S. immigration policy. It’s a free role-playing game targeting high school and college students.
    2. The law itself has deported over 1.4 million people. It costs $95/day to detain someone. Human rights have been denied some of these detainees.
    3. The game allows you to play as an immigrant youth seeking asylum. It is a mix of civic questions and avoidance of immigration officers.
    4. Developed by over one hundred New York City youths from all over the boroughs.
    5. Emphasizes freewill of characters.
    6. Attempts to reframe the immigration debate from just illegal aliens.
    7. Launching February 18, 2008 on both PC/Mac platforms.
  2. Eric Brown (Impact Games)
    1. Created a for-profit company in order to launch Peacemaker, a game that addresses the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
    2. Emotional impact comes from connection to real life, not just spectacle. Games in include real footage.
    3. Their new online platform has constant updates (http://beta-ptn.impactgames.com)
    4. The “Play the news” option allows users to read and play other conflicts currently going on in the world. People can sign up by emailing beta@impactgames.com
  3. Ivan Marovic (A force more powerful)
    1. A single term strategy is a game, which it is a player versus the computer. As a protester you are trying to take down a government, non-violently.
    2. It teaches analytical skills and decisions without consequences that you would have in real life, like getting killed or thrown in prison.
    3. Ivan’s background is based in non-violence and had designed the game as a tool for others.
    4. Documentary films about political uprisings are framed with the filmmaker’s point of view, not the protester. And the film is always linear, with one solution.
    5. The game has 10 different scenarios, from fighting for women’s rights to a corrupt city or a government eroding the constitution. This allows the users to tweak each game and scenario according to the data they import.
  4. Dennis Palmieri (World without oil)
    1. More involved in television, but funded web based content. World without oil, was the first game they sponsored and hosted.
    2. World without oil ran for a finite time period in 2007. It corresponded to “real time,” a day equaled a day in this online reality.
    3. The programmers created a shell in which people using it created the content. These users made videos, blogs, and comics, which were hosted offsite.
    4. The users were sometimes so impacted by the game, that they changed their real lives, making themselves more environmentally friendly.
    5. http://www.filmocracy.com will allow users to mash-up content from “King corn”.

“Plight Entertainment”: Engaging audiences with difficult stories seminar

  1. Julia Bacha (Edited/co-wrote Control room)
    1. Directed Encounter point.
    2. Set from the point of view of civilians in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
    3. Was first released in film festivals, but as interest grew, was released for purchase then television networks.
  2. Giovanna Chesler (AU Professor)
    1. http://www.g6pictures.com
    2. http://www.periodthemovie.com
    3. Focused in on women who have taken drugs to stop their periods.
    4. The image/video was shot on 16mm film and non-synch audio was used.
    5. Rejected from every film festival it was submitted to.
    6. Distributors “got it” and it is being released through Cinema Guild.
    7. Latest project is web-based. http://www.hpvboredom.com follows primarily college students and their stories about sexually transmitted diseases.
  3. Bristol Baughan (Good Magazine)
    1. Graduated from SIS in 2004.
    2. Works for Good magazine, which allows is involved in film and the web.
    3. Started last year as a film studio.
    4. Michael Apted directed their first film, a documentary about soccer, but it was not theatrically released.
    5. Marshall Curry, who directed Streetfight, is doing a follow-up about NASCAR from the point of view of kids.
    6. Which way is home is a documentary about immigrants who leave their kids in the U.S. hoping they will be able to stay on their own.

Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes seminar

  1. Byron Hurt (Writer/director Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes)
    1. ITVS gave completion funds and the Ford Foundation covered him when he ran over budget.
    2. It took six years to shoot. While a fan of hip-hop, Byron is critical of the negative stereotypes that the music propagates (Misogyny, sexism, homophobia, etc.)
    3. His first film was rejected by PBS, I am a black man. But it helped create the template for Beyond beats and rhymes.
    4. Although there were documentaries about some of the issues his film focused in on, he tried to frame the issue of the manhood complex. Likewise, he tried to structure it so fans of hip-hop could enjoy it, without alienating non-fans.
    5. He has numerous screenings which he had the audience fill out surveys which he took very seriously. It actually altered how the film was edited.
    6. Although it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2006, but won no awards. However, the media really built up a buzz. ITVS used it as an outreach program.
    7. After it was broadcast, Firelight Media started to represent it and continued to be involved its community’s outreach.
  2. Sonya Childress (Firelight Media)
    1. Firelight Media was initially just a production house that used Beyond beats and rhymes as their first outreach project.
    2. The success of Beyond beats and rhymes was rooted in the fact Byron was such a fan of hip-hop while finding a great story.
    3. ITVS decided to air the program during their Independent Lens series. The problem was the ideal audience was not who do not typically watch PBS.
    4. Pre-broadcast was focused on service providers, teachers, organizations.
    5. Tried to empower organizations (Big brother, Boys and girls’ clubs, etc.) to utilize the film specific to each goal, created interactive content, advance screenings, and discussion guides.
    6. The Corporation for public broadcasting gave them funds for advertising and they premiered at 1.1 million. However, PBS continued to give supporting funds after the broadcast (Almost unheard of.).
    7. About a month after the broadcast, the Don Imus controversy happened where he blamed hip-hop for his comments.
    8. The biggest problem was the film never gave an answer/solution which frustrated some viewers.
    9. After the film aired, Byron has toured for the past two years so he is finally starting to step back so he can begin working on his next project.
    10. The majority of the places he is touring are historical black colleges and universities. The Ford Foundation helps subsidize his travel costs.
    11. Emulate what the norm is watching, but insert a subversive message.

Short shorts and hot platforms seminar

  1. Matisse Bustos-Hawkes (WITNESS Hub)
    1. Works with Witness, an organization that Peter Gabriel started 15 years ago which tries to get a video camera into different people hands to shoot their own stories.
    2. The hub (http://www.witness.org) is a website that allows users to upload content dealing with human rights.
    3. The creation of the site was a result of concern of the safety of filmmakers and those depicted in the content.
    4. They offer options (email, uploading, anonymous logins, etc.) for those without top equipment and those who live in places which are monitored. It allows you to also imbed other site’s videos.
  2. Leba Haber (Where My Ladies At?)
    1. Utilized http://youtube.com by creating her own video channel and embedding the videos in her own site (http://www.wheremyladiesat.com/). That way she did not have to host these videos. Cost-wise this is a very good idea.
  3. Melissa Roberts (Free Range Studios)
    1. Works closely with flash animation; example, Store wars.
    2. Current project, The story of stuff (http://www.thestoryofstuff.com) deals with where things come from, how they are made and where they go when they are thrown away.
    3. Site is very interactive, allows users to check all the facts, but is presented in a humorous way, appealing to all demographics.
  4. Leighton Woodhouse (Brave New Films)
    1. Brave New Films started as a feature documentary production house, but over time it has branched into online shorts, primarily hosted on their own channel at http://www.youtube.com.
    2. Three goals for every project:

i. Fix a target. No matter what the subject, have focus.

ii. Have a story.

iii. Ask people to take action at the end of the piece in a very specific clear way.

Upcoming event from the Center for Social Media – May 3

The Center for Social Media at AU and Women in Film and Video will be holding a session “Getting the Rights Right” on Wednesday, May 3. Everything filmmakers should know about copyright, public domain, creative commons and fair use. Panelists include: Pat Aufderheide, Director of the Center for Social Media, School of Communications, AU; Lauren … Continue reading “Upcoming event from the Center for Social Media – May 3”



The Center for Social Media at AU and Women in Film and Video will be holding a session “Getting the Rights Right” on Wednesday, May 3. Everything filmmakers should know about copyright, public domain, creative commons and fair use. Panelists include: Pat Aufderheide, Director of the Center for Social Media, School of Communications, AU; Lauren Cardillo, Independent Producer; Bonnie Rowan, Researcher; Dolly Turner, Music Industry Executive, and Laura Possessky, Entertainment Lawyer.

Wednesday, May 3
6:30 pm Networking
7:00-8:30 pm Program
American University
Wechsler Theater, Mary Graydon Center – 3rd Floor

RSVP
Space is limited. Advance RSVP Strongly Recommended Free for WiFv Members & AU Students with ID. $15 Non-members. Space is limited, so advance registration is highly recommended. RSVP through the member-only section of WiFv’s website or by sending an e-mail to exec@wifv.org.

The Center for Social Media puts on many interesting and worthwhile events. Check out their events calendar.