This is a conference that I usually attend and have presented at several times since 1996 when it was called the National Media Education Conference. It is excellent for all those who wish to integrate media literacy into life, school curriculum, and religious education/catechesis. Here is the latest press information: 2009 NAMLE NATIONAL CONFERENCE, AUGUST 1-4 NAMLE (formerly AMLA) will hold its 2009 annual conference this August in Detroit, MI. Featured will be the latest theory,... Read more
Uncommon Productions, the same company that brought us the 2007 Gabriel Award-winning documentary about dispossessed Haitians on Dominican sugar plantations, The Price of Sugar, has released a dramatic feature based on true events that took place in 2000-2001: American Violet. American Violet is the story of Dee Roberts (played by an amazing newcomer, Nichole Beharie), a 24-year old single mom living in city projects of fictitious Melody, TX. She has four girls by three different fathers, and as events turn out, this... Read more
By now everyone knows the story of this brilliant and gifted singer from Scotland, millions watched the judges for Britain’s Got Talent go from skeptical (if not disrespect) to amazement, and, thankfully, the grace to show it. The audience, too. YouTube won’t allow the video to be embedded, but here is the link to Susan Boyle sings “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miz – I watch it, listen to it, over and over because the performance moves me so... Read more
I received this press release from HBO today and I am pasting it here to get the word out: this will be the first time in 8 years that Schindler’s List has been on television. The story of the USC Shoah Foundation Institute will premiere immediately after. April 21; times below. HBO TO PRESENT SCHINDLER’S LIST APRIL 21, HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY, MARKING THE FIRST TIME IN EIGHT YEARS THE OSCAR (R) WINNER HAS BEEN SEEN ON TELEVISION;... Read more
Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland) has pretty much directed a new masterpiece. State of Play, based on the BBC series by Paul Abbott, is a political thriller, a conspiracy that reaches from Congress to the industrial war complex to the conscience of the press and the audience. It is also a big horray for the endurance – and accountability – of the printed word vis-à-vis the blogosphere. Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck are excellent. This is an intelligent... Read more
The Hurt Locker Watch the trailer at apple.com/trailers Did you see this movie trailer on apple.com? The film stars Jeremy Renner and Anthony Mackie. It’s in theaters on June 26, 2009. Watch it and tell me what you think. Here is my review of Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker that I posted last summer from the Venice Film Festival (where our Catholic Jury -SIGNIS – gave it our Grand Prize). The film opens June 26, 2009 in the... Read more
Talk about an “Ah ha!” moment! Yesterday I attended a workshop at the Catholic Library Assoication’s annual gathering and heard comic genius Gene Luen Yang speak about the Catholic Church and Comics. Yang gave a fascinating history of comics, the roots of comic book heroes in the Hebrew Bible, the Church’s iffy relationship with and attitude toward comics from the 1930’s on (I know a lot about the Legion of Decency and movies but I had never heard of the “List... Read more
The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler CBS airs newest installment from Hallmark Hall of Fame By Sr. Hosea Rupprecht, FSP April 2, 2009 Based on the true story of Irena Sendler, a 2007 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Hallmark Hall of Fame’s latest film, The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler, airs on CBS, Sunday April 19th from 9:00-11:00 pm. Starring Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Anna Paquin (The Piano, True Blood), this movie tells the remarkable story of... Read more
Last November I had the privilege of responding to Walden Media co-founder Micheal Flaherty’s lecture at USC. Here is the text of my response: The Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at USC Religion and Film Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies USC Lecture Series 2008-2009 Brave Knights and Heroic Courage and Holy Moments Featured Speaker: Micheal Flaherty Co-Founder of Walden Media Producers of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian and Amazing Grace... Read more
Eye on Entertainment Sr. Rose’s April 2009 Movie Reviews Confessions of a Shopaholic The International Gomorrah Frozen River Everlasting Moments He’s Just Not that into You Eye on Entertainment Sr. Rose’s March 2009 Movie Reviews Gran Torino Seven Pounds Che (I & II) Last Chance Harvey Marley & Me The Reader Read more
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