Event to Explore Film and Social Consciousness in the Digital Age

INDIANAPOLIS – A panel of experts will explore film and social activism in the digital age during an event that will include screening one one-minute student films and the showing of the film “Good Night and Good Luck.”

“Film and Social Consciousness in the Digital Age” will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Basile Auditorium at the Herron School of Art and Design, 735 W. New York Street. “Good Night and Good Luck” will be shown in its entirety, beginning at 8 p.m, April 6, 2006.

The event is free and open to the public.

Panelists will include HeathCliff Rothman, Founder, FilmYour Issue; Brian Owens, Executive Director of the Indianapolis International Film Festival; Yeng Felipe, MSN Spaces; Ratona Harr, USA Today; David Hoppe NUVO; Johanna Segesser, Toshiba; Christopher Vice, Chairperson, Department of Visual Communication Design, IU Herron School of Art and Design, IUPUI.

Film is amidst a cycle of social activism. Not since the golden era of 1970s have films been such aggressive social agitators -- from issue-oriented films like Syriana, North Country and Brokeback Mountain to mass-appeal documentaries like Fahrenheit 9/11, Supersize Me and the upcoming Inconvenient Truth. And there is the internet, where bloggers, vloggers, alternative newssites and personal sites are posting personal films and promoting issue films to receptive niche audiences. Is Hollywood’s social consciousness just this year's fashion -- or a genuine trend? If it is a genuine trend, then why? How is the internet impacting activism? And how is technology impacting filmmaking and activism?

In addition to the panel discussion, screenings one-minute student films, including “Film Your Issue “competition national-semifinalists from IUPUI, will be shown, along with screening of clips from the award winning film “Good Night and Good Luck” directed by George Clooney.