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The creators
of the documentary "A Measure of Our Humanity" and two students
representing the Periclean Scholars Class of 2006 traveled to Hollywood
to present the documentary at the second annual Artivist Film Festival
April 21-24.
School of Communications
alumna Katrina Taylor directed the documentary when she was a student
at Elon. "The Artivist film festival created a great opportunity
for our message," she said. "It was truly inspirational
to be surrounded by such talented and conscientious filmmakers."
Taylor was
accompanied on the trip by Tom Arcaro, an Elon sociology professor
who directs Project Pericles. Arcaro produced "Measure,"
three other documentaries and two CDs relating to the issue of AIDS
in Namibia as part of Elon's Pericles initiative to provide public
service and involve university students in making an impact in the
world. TV Services staff member J. McMerty has been instrumental
throughout the various production phases of the Pericles AIDS projects,
and he also made the trip to Los Angeles.
The festival
focuses on human rights, children's advocacy, animal advocacy and
environmental preservation. Filmmakers and activists from all over
the world gathered at Grauman's Egyptian Theater on Hollywood Boulevard
to view one or more of the 70 films showcased. The work represented
26 different countries.
The quality
and celebrity status of the films were as diverse as their filmmakers.
Meryl Streep, Joaquin Phoenix and Oprah Winfrey, who served as narrators
for three of the documentaries, were some of the A-listers involved.
Elon Periclean
Scholar representatives Danielle Buonocore and Amanda Taylor said
they were happy to be included in what they called "the best field
trip ever."
"It was sometimes
difficult to watch movie after movie about all these serious and
vital issues," Taylor said of the festival, "but I found
many of the pieces to be so phenomenal and truly inspiring, not
just to me but everyone there. It is amazing how one film can affect
its audience."
Gender, stigma,
poverty, education and justice are identified as key issues related
to the fight against HIV/AIDS. Taylor's film is designed to be an
educational tool, and many steps have been taken by Elon's Periclean
Scholars Class of 2006 to ensure that all four Elon documentaries
are available to middle schools and high schools, as well as colleges
and universities across the country.
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