MADE IN L.A. Screens on Capitol Hill

Filmmakers Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar went to Washington, D.C. last week for a screening on Capitol Hill of MADE IN L.A., which documents the lives, struggle and personal transformation of three Latina immigrants working in garment factories. This event included comments and conversation with ?Congresswoman Diane Watson; ?Congressman Luis Gutierrez, chair of the Hispanic Congressional Caucus’ Immigration Taskforce; Frank Sharry, founder and executive director of America’s Voice; Bill Mefford, director of civil and human rights for the United Methodist Church and a leader of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition; and Angela Kelley, director of the Immigration Policy Center at the American Immigration Law Foundation, with brief opening remarks presented by Ted A. Garcia, senior vice president, television content, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and Sally Jo Fifer, president and CEO of ITVS. Simon Kilmurry, executive director of American Documentary, Inc. | P.O.V., was also in attendance. Read the filmmakers report below for an account of this screening.

For the last year and a half, since our broadcast premiere on PBS’s P.O.V., we have been traveling with MADE IN L.A.––co-produced by Semilla Verde Productions, Inc., ITVS and American Documentary, Inc. | P.O.V. We wanted to put a human face on the many issues that intersect in the film: immigration and immigrant workers, labor rights, “sweatfree” organizing and women’s empowerment. In recent months, as immigration reform has returned to the national dialogue, we have put special emphasis on providing MADE IN L.A. as a tool to humanize immigrants’ stories.

We have recently launched a May Day Community Screening Campaign with national organizations in an effort to put a human face on the issues of immigration, immigrant workers’ rights, and supporting humane immigration reform. This Capitol Hill screening was part of this effort––in the midst of the Hispanic Congressional Caucus’s Historic Family Unity listening tour, congressional and community leaders came together to discuss the film and the current state of the immigration debate.

Congresswoman Diane Watson opened the event, which was sponsored by the Congressional Entertainment Industries Caucus, which she chairs.

“As we watch MADE IN L.A., I’d like you to take in the journey that these courageous women made staring directly into the face of adversity and remember one word: perseverance… You’ll see that Lupe and Maura and Maria could have been any of us if born under different circumstances. It is my hope that we as lawmakers and concerned citizens will take the information from today’s film and discussion and apply it to our continuing fight for fair wages, for decent working conditions, and a safe place to work without the threats of abuse regardless of one’s immigration status,” Watson said.

Congressmember Luis Gutierrez, chair of the Hispanic Congressional Caucus Immigration Taskforce spoke about the Historic Family Unity listening tour and how these experiences have shaped his views on the need for immigration reform. He commented how he cried when he saw the film and later added: “MADE IN L.A. is a breathtaking and deeply touching depiction of the human cost of our immigration crisis. I’m thrilled my colleagues and I had the opportunity to screen this movie on Capitol Hill. I urge anyone who is uncertain about the need for humane reform to see this movie.”

Frank Sharry, founder and executive director of America’s Voice, framed the film with passion and humanity: “MADE IN L.A. is a beautiful film… that will challenge all of us to continue to stretch so that America becomes what it might yet be rather than what it’s recently become. And when we do, I think the ‘stars’ of the movie will make all of us feel proud that we were made in America.”

The panel that followed the screening explored some of the previous efforts to pass immigration related legislation, and highlighted the wonderful work of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, Immigration Policy Center, America’s Voice and many other organizations that are working to facilitate a national dialogue around the issues of immigration and immigrant workers.

We are happy and honored that MADE IN L.A. was able to contribute, even in a small way, to this national dialogue, and that both the event and the publicity around it helped get the film into the hands of lawmakers, and policy professionals. We were touched by ITVS President and CEO Sally Jo Fifer’s comment that “MADE IN L.A. represents exactly that kind of deep, authentic filmmaking that breaks new ground and brings us new understanding.”

-Filmmakers Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar

Tags: Capitol Hill, Hispanic, immigrants

ITVS Joins Filmmakers and Partners to Take Indie Lens’s LIONESS to Congress

Director of Communications Dennis Palmieri joined ITVS president and CEO Sally Fifer, Senior VP for Content Management Jim Sommers and VP of International Distribution Tamara Gould for a special ITVS-sponsored presentation to Congress of the Independent Lens film LIONESS, which looks at war through the eyes of women and the U.S. military policy that bans them from combat, by Meg McLagan and Daria Sommers. Read Dennis’s report below from today’s Capitol Hill screening.

Over the years, ITVS has had the opportunity to bring a number of films to Capitol Hill to help Congress better understand the roles of public broadcasting and independent producers in educating and engaging the American public. Today’s presentation of LIONESS was a dramatic and highly impactful event that set the stage for a groundbreaking conversation about the role of women in the military—specifically women in combat situations, and the support and services (and recognition!) needed when they come home.

The event was made possible through a unique partnership between ITVS and two leading veterans’ service organizations––Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)––and of course the LIONESS filmmakers Meg McLagan and Daria Sommers who’ve spent years building partnerships in the veterans’ community.

Held in the House Veterans Affairs Committee Hearing Room, the event drew more than 150 people (standing room only, tightly packed in a room that seats only 88), including members of Congress, dozens of Congressional staff, veterans’ service organizations, numerous veterans and active duty soldiers, along with representatives from PBS, Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and ITVS.

The event opened with brief remarks from four members of Congress, led by Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA), followed by Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD), Susan Davis (D-CA) and Judith Biggert (R-IL). Each praised the service of the four “Lionesses” who were present and thanked the filmmakers for bringing the story to light.

Members opening remarks were followed by short presentations from CPB President Patricia Harrison, who spoke eloquently about the metaphor of the “Lioness” and the unique role of public broadcasting in telling this story. Pat was followed by Dr. Betty Mosely Brown, associate director of the Center for Women Veterans at Department of Veterans Affairs, and Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Filmmakers McLagan and Sommers created a special 20-minute version of their film, which included key scenes and background information, providing a thorough synopsis of the issues—a remarkable feat of editing and storytelling. The selection also included candid, personal footage of the women, which allowed the audience to form a bond with the characters.

The event concluded with a panel discussion that featured the four “Lioness” soldiers: Maj. Anastasia Breslow (currently stationed in Korea), Staff Sgt. Ranie Ruthig, Spc. Becky Nava and Spc. Shannon Morgan. Their straight talk and fearless honestly about their experiences––both in Iraq and back at home––was riveting.

The “Lionesses” and both filmmakers were presented with American flags that had been flown over the U.S. Capitol—a gift of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose representative was on-hand to make the presentation.

There are many days when I am very proud to work in public broadcasting, when I feel like we make a real difference, and when I see clearly the important role of independent media makers in bringing these untold stories to life. But today has definitely been the best day yet.

-Dennis

Check out a clip below of today’s event on Fox 5 News (Washington, DC):

Tags: Capitol Hill, Military, women