On October 26th, 6pm, the Long Beach Public Library and MuiscUNTOLD screened the film “Reel Injun: On the Trail of the Hollywood Indian” for community members at the Long Beach Main Library in downtown Long Beach, California. A crew from the local news magazine, Snapshot: Long Beach, was on hand to cover the story.
A panel discussion followed the film screening featuring:
Cindi Moar Alvtre, Tongva, PhD Candidate, UCLA Dept. Of Wold Arts
and Culture.
Larry Smith, Co-Host, KPFK Radio “American Indian Airwaves”
Claudia Jurmain, Director/Special Projects & Publications, Ranchos Los Alamitos
Craig Stone, Professor of American Indian Studies and Art, CSULB
Afterward, the members of the audience were eager to share their impressions of the film, memories of growing up Native, and thoughts of the current state of Native American identity both in Hollywood and right here in Long Beach.
News Coverage and Discussion highlights from this season of Community Cinema
Community Cinema 2010/2011 Scheduled Films
Community Cinema, produced by the Independent Television Service (ITVS), is a free monthly screening series featuring films from the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Independent Lens.
October 26, 2010
Reel Injun: On the Trail of the Hollywood Indian
By Neil DiamondKemosabe? Loincloths, fringed pants, and feather headdresses? Heap big stereotypes. REEL INJUN is an entertaining trip through the evolution of North American Native people (“The Indians”) as portrayed in famous Hollywood movies, from the silent era to today. Jim Jarmusch, Clint Eastwood, Graham Greene, John Trudell and others provide insights into the often demeaning and occasionally hilariously absurd stereotypes perpetuated on the big screen through Hollywood’s history.
For more information visit:
www.itvs.org/films/reel-injun
November 30, 2010
Deep Down
By Sally Rubin and Jen GilomenBeverly May and Terry Ratliff grew up on opposite sides of a mountain ridge in eastern Kentucky, where coal is king. When a mountaintop removal coal mine encroaches on their community, the two find themselves on opposite sides of a debate that divides their community and the world — who controls, consumes, and benefits from the planet’s dwindling supply of natural resources? In a small town in dire economic straits and high unemployment, the coal company’s offer to buy land and provide jobs can be hard to resist. What can a community do when it must choose between its present and its future?
For more information visit:
http://www.itvs.org/films/deep-down
December 28, 2010
The Calling
Danny Alpert, Series DirectorA behind-the-scenes look at young Americans — Christian, Jewish, Catholic, and Muslim — preparing to become the nation’s next generation of religious leaders, THE CALLING explores the forces that are drawing a new generation of young people to serve their communities and their faith. The Calling offers entertaining, often surprising stories on how faith is lived in a modern, largely secular world.
For more information visit:
http://www.itvs.org/films/calling
January 25, 2011
For Once In My Life
By Jim BighamFor Once in My Life is the story of a unique band of singers and musicians, and their journey to show the world the greatness – and killer soundtrack – within each of them. The 28 band members have a wide range of mental and physical disabilities, as well as musical abilities that extend into ranges of pure genius. In a cinema vérite style, the film explores the struggles and triumphs, and the healing power of music, as the band members’ unique talents are nurtured to challenge the world’s perceptions.
For more information visit:
February 22, 2011
Me Facing Life: Cyntoia’s Story
By Daniel BirmanCyntoia Brown was an average teenager in an American town. But a series of bad decisions led the 16-year-old into a situation that ended with her killing a man who had picked her up for sex. She was sentenced to Life in a Tennessee Prison meaning, in her case, she will serve a minimum of 51 years. This film challenges our assumptions about violence and explores how factors such as biology and family history can doom some young people from the start.
For more information visit:
March 29, 2011
Pushing the Elephant
By Beth Davenport and Elizabeth MandelWhen civil war came to Rose’s Congolese village, she was separated from her five-year-old daughter, Nangabire. Rose managed to escape with nine of her 10 children and was eventually resettled in Phoenix, Arizona. More than a decade later, mother and daughter are reunited in the U.S. where they must come to terms with the past and build a new future.
For more information visit:
http://www.itvs.org/films/pushing-the-elephant
April 26, 2011
Bhutto
By Duane BaughmanAs the first woman to lead an Islamic nation, former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s life story unfolds like a tale of Shakespearean dimensions. She evolved from pampered princess to polarizing politician in the most dangerous country on Earth. Accused of rampant corruption, imprisoned, then exiled abroad, Bhutto was called back to Pakistan as her country’s best hope for democracy. Struck down by assassins, her untimely death sent shock waves throughout the world, transforming Bhutto from political messiah to martyr in the eyes of millions around the world.
For more information visit:
May 31, 2011
Welcome To Shelbyville
By Kim A. SnyderSet in the heart of America’s Bible Belt, Welcome to Shelbyville focuses on a small Southern town as they grapple with rapid demographic change and issues of immigrant integration. The film captures the complexity of the African American, Latino, white, and Somali subjects as their lives intertwine against the backdrop of a crumbling economy and the election of a new president.
For more information visit:
http://www.itvs.org/films/welcome-to-shelbyville
June 28, 2011
Two Spirits
By Lydia NibleyFred Martinez was one of the youngest hate-crime victims in modern history when he was brutally murdered at 16. Two Spirits explores the life and death of a boy who was also a girl, and the essentially spiritual nature of gender.
For more information visit:
Community Cinema, produced by the Independent Television
Service (ITVS), is a free monthly screening series featuring films
from the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Independent Lens.
1. CATALYST FOR CONNECTING COMMUNTIES
Every month between September and May, Community Cinema presents an
upcoming Independent Lens program. We work with leading organizations,
local communities and public television stations to provide community
engagement around the important social issues raised in the films. After
each screening, we feature panel discussions with leading community based
organizations, special guest speakers, information, resources and
other programming designed to help people learn more and get involved.
2. NATIONAL FORUM FOR PRESSING SOCIAL ISSUES
ITVS convenes thousands of community members nationwide for dialogue,
education and awareness around hard-to-tackle issues such as the
death penalty, homophobia, racism, globalization and freedom of religion.
Participants walk away educated and empowered with resources and
action steps. Last season, Community Cinema produced 450 events,
worked with more than 1000 partner organizations and welcomed more
than 40,000 participants to events around the country.
3. SHOWCASE FOR ENTERTAINING AND IMPACTFUL
DOCUMENTARIES
Community Cinema provides a chance to explore the world of the
acclaimed PBS series Independent Lens outside your living room.
Independent Lens takes you on a journey to unexpected places to meet
ordinary people living extraordinary lives; stories not told anywhere else on
television. The award-winning series features documentaries and a limited
number of fiction films, each one bringing to light unforgettable stories
about a unique individual, underrepresented community or moment in
history.
COMMUNITY CINEMA
Community Cinema, produced by the Independent Television
Service (ITVS), is a free monthly screening series featuring films
from the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Independent Lens.
1. CATALYST FOR CONNECTING COMMUNTIES
Every month between September and May, Community Cinema presents an
upcoming Independent Lens program. We work with leading organizations,
local communities and public television stations to provide community
engagement around the important social issues raised in the films. After
each screening, we feature panel discussions with leading community based
organizations, special guest speakers, information, resources and
other programming designed to help people learn more and get involved.
2. NATIONAL FORUM FOR PRESSING SOCIAL ISSUES
ITVS convenes thousands of community members nationwide for dialogue,
education and awareness around hard-to-tackle issues such as the
death penalty, homophobia, racism, globalization and freedom of religion.
Participants walk away educated and empowered with resources and
action steps. Last season, Community Cinema produced 450 events,
worked with more than 1000 partner organizations and welcomed more
than 40,000 participants to events around the country.
3. SHOWCASE FOR ENTERTAINING AND IMPACTFUL
DOCUMENTARIES
Community Cinema provides a chance to explore the world of the
acclaimed PBS series Independent Lens outside your living room.
Independent Lens takes you on a journey to unexpected places to meet
ordinary people living extraordinary lives; stories not told anywhere else on
television. The award-winning series features documentaries and a limited
number of fiction films, each one bringing to light unforgettable stories
about a unique individual, underrepresented community or moment in
history.
COMMUNITY CINEMA
