Professional Motion Picture Production and Distribution NEWS
THIRTEEN Launches a New Short Film Initiative, Picturing America on Screen, Online and On-Air on Public Television Nationwide
By StudentFilmmakers.com
posted Sep 19, 2011, 16:03
America's history is explored through 25 short films enhancing the National Endowment for Humanities Picturing America project.
America's history is explored through 25 short films enhancing the National
Endowment for Humanities Picturing America project.
(New York) Picturing America on Screen, the new video online and on-air companion
to The National Endowment for the Humanities' (NEH) Picturing America initiative
was launched today. The series of video segments can be accessed and explored
at thirteen.org/picturing-america.
The initial Picturing America initiative gave public and private schools, libraries,
and communities the opportunity to learn about our nation's history through
its artistic heritage. The initiative is composed of 40 carefully selected works
of art spanning several centuries created by American painters, sculptors, photographers,
artisans and architects.
Picturing America on Screen is a production of THIRTEEN for WNET New York Public
Media, one of America's most prolific and respected public media providers.
For nearly 50 years, WNET has been producing and broadcasting national and local
arts programming to the New York community.
In creative perspectives from nine filmmakers, illuminated by commentary from
a range of participants, experts and scholars, Picturing America on Screen provides
a unique and original opportunity for introducing Americans to their artistic
heritage and to the possibilities inherent in using art to teach and understand
America's past.
The 25 films vary in length, some contain a single art work and some combine
two or three of the art works. For example, one segment pairs the Emanuel Leutze
painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware with the James Karales photograph
of the Selma to Montgomery March. Though the pieces were created more than a
century apart, they share a surprising compositional symmetry and depict equally
inspirational and monumental moments in our nation's history. This film can
be found on the Picturing America on Screen website (thirteen.org/picturing-america),
along with the 24 other video segments that comprise the initiative.
"We find ourselves in the midst of one of our most historic presidencies,
an unsettling economic environment which challenges creative thinking and a
time of great transition in the world," said series producer and filmmaker
Gail Levin "Picturing America and now Picturing America on Screen holds
a certain resonance by allowing participants to expand the way they see history
and current events through an enjoyable and interactive experience."
Funding for Picturing America on Screen is provided by the National Endowment
for the Humanities (NEH). Producers are Richard Hendrick, Arash Hoda, Rob Issen,
Gail Levin, Brian O'Connell, Richard O'Connor, Sam Pollard, Carol Stein and
Pamela Mason Wagner. Picturing America on Screen is a production of THIRTEEN
for WNET New York Public Media. Executive Producer is Susan Lacy; Gail Levin
is Series Producer; Prudence Glass is Consulting Producer.
Resources:
http://www.thirteen.org/picturing-america
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