Silverdocs June 21 - 27, 2010

Join the Center for Social Media and American University's School of Communication at Silverdocs, Documentary Festival June 21 - 27. You can find the complete schedule at the Silverdocs website; listed here are special events for you to consider including two panel discussions with Center Director, Pat Aufderheide. See you at the docs! 

SPOTLIGHT ON SILVERDOCS TALENT: DOCUMENTARY ETHICS INSIDE THE FAMILY

Tuesday, June 23, 10:30 AM

An exploration of the challenges a range of Silverdocs directors have faced as storytellers, when using their family members as characters in their films. Introduced by:
Larry Kirkman, Dean, American University School of Communication

Moderator: Pat Aufderheide, professor and director, Center for Social Media

Presenters:
Doug Block, director, THE KIDS GROW UP
Kaleo La Belle, director, BEYOND THIS PLACE
Alexandra Codina, director, MONICA AND DAVID (invited)
Chico Colvard, director, FAMILY AFFAIR

Presented in Collaboration with American University School of Communication

FAIR USE, PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Friday, June 25, 4:20 PM

Teachers and students may have the best intentions, but whose responsibility is it to teach about the rights to the music and film clips used in those projects? What are a teacher’s legal rights in using film and music clips to teach with? Can you put those clips online? What happens when students use film and music clips in their work? What is public domain? What’s your legal liability and responsibility if it’s your assignment?

MODERATOR
Carleton Jackson, librarian, Nonprint Media Services, University of Maryland Libraries

PRESENTERS
Pat Aufderheide, professor and director, Center for Social Media, American University, School of Communication

Devin Cheema, director, Legal and Business Affairs for Experius Academy

Peter Jaszi, professor of law, American University

Jonathan Band, policybandwidth

On Coal River

Saturday, June 26, 6:45 PM

With the recent April 2010 Massey Energy Company coal mine disaster in West Virginia, ON COAL RIVER could not be more relevant. When residents of the Coal River Valley begin noticing that a host of medical problems are linked to a Massey-owned coal-waste dumping ground that sits above the local elementary school, they demand action. One former miner, Ed Wiley, takes matters into his own hands to lobby for a new school to be built far away from the dumping ground. Wiley, along with other members of his community, join together in a David-and-Goliath struggle to draw national attention to the dangers they face on a daily basis.

Friday 4:30
Direct from New York City, Reverend Billy and The Mountain Top Choir celebrate the World Premiere screening of On Coal River with an outdoor performance on the Heavenly Blue Staircase, downtown Silver Spring plaza.

Saturday
Post-screening discussion with filmmakers Francine Cavanaugh and Adams Woods, and film subjects Bo Webb, Judy Bonds, and Ed and Deb Wiley. Panel discussion moderated by Charles Lewis, investigative journalist, longtime 60 Minutes producer, founder Center for Public Integrity.