February 24, 2009
College presents screening of independent film
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A 2004 docu-drama that chronicles the making of one of the most influential independent films of all time will be screened later this week at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
The College of Mass Communication and Media Arts’ Diversity Committee presents “Baadasssss!” at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 26, in the Soundstage, room 1116 of the Communications Building. The screening is for students, faculty and staff. Admission is free. Organizers are accepting donations of kiddie craft items, such as coloring books and crayons, for a toy drive for children in Egypt.
The screening is in celebration of Black American History Month, said Novotny Lawrence, interim assistant chair and an assistant professor in the Department of Radio-Television.
The movie chronicles the 1970 film “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadassss Song,” which was produced, directed, edited, scored and starred in by Melvin Van Peebles. The movie, Lawrence said, “attempted to articulate the black experience on celluloid.”
In “Baadasssss,” Van Peebles’ son, Mario Van Peebles, plays the role of his father, recounting the making of the original film, Lawrence said.