Film Producers Robert Greenwald and Christopher Sprinkle Debut the 2009 Mediamaker Series

Film Producers Robert Greenwald and Christopher Sprinkle Debut the 2009 Mediamaker SeriesOn Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 4:00 p.m. in Markstein Hall, Room 125, renowned documentary film producers Christopher Sprinkle and Robert Greenwald will discuss film as a way of informing the public about critical issues and inspiring change.  Focusing specifically on This Brave Nation, an inspiring documentary series that he produces, Sprinkle will talk about Brave New Film's use of documentary film, video and new media to effect social change. The series features five episodes which combine conversations between progressive activists as well as archival footage.  The documentarians will also expand on Brave New Film's use of viral video to bring light to critical issues such as the Employee Free Choice Act.About Robert GreenwaldRobert Greenwald, the founder of Brave New Films (BNF), is a producer, director and political activist.  Under his direction, BNF has produced a series of short and enormously successful viral videos, including the Fox Attacks and Real McCain campaigns that have been viewed over 35 million times in the past two years. These videos motivated hundreds of thousands to get involved in political and community action. Greenwald has produced and directed feature documentaries and fiction, including Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers (2006), Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price (2005), and Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism (2004).Prior to his documentary work, Greenwald produced and/or directed more than 55 television movies, miniseries and feature films.  Greenwald's films have garnered 25 Emmy nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, the Peabody Award and the Robert Wood Johnson Award.  He was awarded the 2002 Producer of the Year Award by the American Film Institute. About Christopher SprinkleBefore working at Brave New Films, Christopher Sprinkle created approximately 40 radio and video documentaries on subjects ranging from political party conventions to reformed drug dealers.  He created This Brave Nation, a five-part video documentary series that "brought together the most intelligent, passionate and creative voices of one generation with the activists, journalists and artists of the next (The Nation)." Recently, he wrote, directed and produced spots for American Rights at Work, Rock the Vote, and SEIU.Please note:  Robert Greenwald will be appearing via teleconference to CSUSM with producer Christopher Sprinkle appearing in person.CSUSM is proud to present a series of influential mediamakers presenting their work on campus. All events are open to the public and free.Lee Anne Schmitt presents California Company Town (2008)Wednesday, March 11 at 5:30 p.m., Markstein Hall, Room 125California Company Town casts a probing, clear-eyed gaze at the landscape of California towns abandoned by the industries that created them-onetime boom-towns now haunted by the twilight of the American promise.Ellen Spiro presents Body of War (2007)Tuesday, March 17, at 6:00 p.m., Arts Building, Room 240Body of War is an intimate feature documentary about Tomas Young, a 25 year old who was paralyzed from a bullet to his spine after serving in Iraq for less than a week.  The documentary is his coming home story as he evolves into a new person, dealing with his disability and finding his own unique and passionate voice against the war.  The film parallels his story with sobering facts about U.S. policy and the war in Iraq.  Produced and directed by Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro, featuring music by Eddie Vedder.Chris Munch presents a distribution talk workshop Tuesday, March 24, 2:00 p.m., University Hall, Room 439Chris Munch has made four distinguished feature narrative films as writer, director, and editor. Self-taught, Munch is one of the pioneers of American New Queer Cinema.Chris Munch presents Sleepy Time Gal (2008)Tuesday, March 24, 6:00 p.m., Arts Building, Room 240A quiet and subtle drama about a woman facing death in her fifties, The Sleepy Time Gal is not a conventional narrative, but neither is it inaccessible. Frances, played by Jacqueline Bisset, is an unglamorous fifty something woman dying of cancer and trying to set her tumultuous past right. Featuring Seymour Cassel and Martha Plimpton, the film shines with questions as much as answers. Sundance curator Trevor Groth wrote, "Munch brings a level of sophistication to his characters rarely seen in young directors."Cauleen Smith presents In the Fullness of Time (2008) in MARK 125Tuesday, April 7, 6:00 p.m., Markstein Hall, Room 125Smith's groundbreaking work repurposes the languages of physicists and astronomers to decode the rage and grief, elation and hope that surround the contemporary reality of New Orleans. A "sister from another planet" is sent to earth to explore the terrain and learn our ways.  In the process she must make sense of the passage of time, the enormity of loss, and the new landscapes of New Orleans.Minda Martin presents Free Land Tuesday, April 28, 7:00 p.m., Arts Building, Room 240This personal historical documentary examines what it means to be constantly looking for opportunity in the American Dream. Using family history, CSUSM Assistant Professor Minda Martin examines the unfulfilled promise of "The Land of The Free" in the United States of America, describing how this myth is translated into a belief in "free land," which has geographically and psychically uprooted people, created social inequalities, and left legacies of emptiness. 3rd Annual Student Media Festival  Friday, May 8, 7:00 p.m., location TBDThis event is a popular, competitive celebration of students' work from various departments around campus.About the Mediamaker SeriesThe 2009 Mediamaker Series has been made possible via funding from the Instructionally Related Activities Fee. Produced with the generous support of the Departments of Communication and Visual and Performing Arts, with the participation of Ethnic Studies and Film Studies. The series is curated and directed by Jonathan Berman, Minda Martin, and Kristine Diekman.