Musician and civil rights activist harry belafonte is one of the subjects of our newest film, the last white knight. With highschool seniors of charleston, morgan freeman. Jul 24, 2009 prom night in mississippi, which first premiered at the 2009 sundance film festival, started airing this week on hbo. In 1997, academy awardwinning actor morgan freeman offered to pay for the senior prom at charleston high school in mississippi under one condition. A compilation of film resources about african americans and featuring african americans available in the msu. A high school girl named donna keppel is traumatized after witnessing her former teacher, richard fenton, brutally murder her entire family after he had become dangerou. Prom night in mississippi facing history and ourselves. Prom night in mississippi this film documents the first nonsegregated prom held in charleston mississippi which occurred in 2008. Rtm productions hbo documentary films docurama firm.
Or that saltzmans film, far from capturing a dying tradition, taps into a new era of educational segregation in this country. The high school in a small mississippi town prepares for its first integrated senior prom. Dear programmer, inspired by the determination of cambodians to save their threatened heritage, i initially set out to make surviving bokator to capture this unique moment in cambodian history, the early days of the struggle to revive one of the worlds most ancient martial arts, bokator. A group of white parents in charleston staged a private whites only prom, but saltzman and his crew were denied permission to film it. Prom night in mississippi traces the tumultuous events leading up to. Rent prom night in mississippi 2009 on dvd and bluray. Several white families refused to participate you can find an article and youtube video here, but charleston mississippi population 2,000 now has an integrated prom. Despite the subject matter, prom night in mississippi is surprisingly buoyant with the hope and joy of these kids. Watch prom night in mississippi full movie online 720p, 1080p hd download free. Dessa vez ela foi aceita pela east tallahatchie county school. The school refused and continued holding racially segregated proms until 2008a saga detailed in the documentary prom night in mississippi. In hbo documentary of a mississippi school, history is afoot.
As the film unfolds, we delve deeply into the heated race issues that tear apart this tiny community, and realize that this troubling segregation has. The great achievement of prom night in mississippi is it ability to bring the viewer fully and completely into the subculture of a small southern high school in the most rural part of an. But i put it to you that a prom night with morgan freeman is not entirely the same as the movie prom night in mississippi featuring morgan freeman. Cast and crew credits for prom night in mississippi, 2009, directed by paul saltzman, with at turner classic movies. The filmmaker although a firsttime feature director, paul saltzman is a twotime emmy awardwinning film and television. May 14, 2012 twentyseven years later, charleston resident and academy award winning actor morgan freeman offered to finance the prom under the condition it be integrated. Heathers dad, glenn, walked her down the isle, her sister was her maid of honour and her niece was her flower girl. Distinguished veteran actor morgan freeman narrates this experiment in reintegration. Last night, hbo aired prom night in mississippi, a documentary starring actor morgan freeman, who, in 2008, offered to pay for the senior prom at mississippi s charleston high school under one. In 1997, academy awardwinning actor morgan freeman offered to pay for the senior prom at charleston high.
Prom night in mississippi might not be as zippy as some other documentaries about high school life including american teen, but its both sobering and refreshing in its honesty, making it a mustsee for families with teens who are mature enough to handle the film s complex themes. Prom night in mississippi and the social sciences 2 abstract based in the small town of charleston, mississippi, prom night in mississippi is a film created and directed by paul saltzman. The multiaward winning feature documentary, prom night in mississippi. After watching prom night in mississippi i realized how hard it was for those students to face segregation in their society. Consequently, like a skinny boy in an oversized tux, it has to pad. Theatrical trailer for the feature documentary prom night in mississippi. Advise and dissent 2012 prom night in mississippi 2009 nanking 2007 in between days 2006 the puffy chair 2005 brother to brother 2004. From the credits of hbos documentary prom night in mississippi. You can purchase prom night in mississippi on dvd starting jan. Five minutes before the bell, i have them discuss their notes and the movie in their small groups and write down any last notes they might want to. Prom night in mississippi isnt the only freeman film this year that. The poster, i note, informs us that this is prom night in mississippi with morgan freeman. Mainly the film is obliged to circle around the absent centre of the conflict, the dark heart of the very issue under scrutiny.
The film crew of pnim tries to film the white prom. Students attending the school faced issues such as racism, discrimination, and segregation even though the school was in fact integrated. Morgan freeman talks about his prom night in mississippi. In 1997, actor morgan freeman, a resident of the small town of charleston, mississippi, offered to pay for the senior prom at charleston high school under one condition. Michael schaus senior design strategist scotiabank linkedin. Hbo will be airing the prom night in mississippi documentary on july 20th.
Once the film is completed, allow 20 minutes for the members of small groups to. Jul 20, 2009 prom night in mississippi, a forceful documentary to be shown monday on hbo, disabuses the blind, or the naysaying, of any such delusions. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. As the film unfolds, we delve deeply into the heated race issues that tear apart this. Prom night in mississippi on dvd prom night in mississippi. See actions taken by the people who manage and post content. Nov 12, 2009 prom night in mississippi plays like a sidebar to his upcoming opus an interesting sidebar, and with a famous name attached, but not quite worthy of the feature treatment it gets here. The film stars an ensemble cast including brittany snow, scott porter, jessica stroup, dana davis, collins pennie, kelly blatz, james ransone, brianne davis, johnathon schaech and idris elba. Documentary films african american studies research guide. Filmed on location in mississippi, prom night in mississippi was directed by canadian director paul saltzman with his wife patricia aquino acting as producer. Two teenage girls in essex went allout for their prom night, arriving in. In charleston mississippi, the local high school still has separate prom dances for their seniorsone for black students and one for white students. What are the songs from prom night in mississippi answers. Though released first, this film was not even conceptualized.
Prom night in mississippi this film documents the first. As the film unfolds, we delve deeply into the heated race issues that tear apart this tiny community, and realize that this troubling segregation has less to do with the students than their parents. The documentary follows a group of 2008 charleston high school high school seniors in charleston, mississippi as they prepare for their senior prom, the first racially integrated prom in charleston history. The film follows students of both races as they plan the dance. Paul saltzman, the director of prom night in mississippi, a 2008 documentary about racism and race relations in a small town in mississippi, will visit lawrence university next week for a showing and discussion of the film the documentary, created in partnership with oscarwinning actor morgan freeman, will be shown at 7. Prom night in mississippi this is a political forum that is nonbiasednonpartisan and treats every persons position on topics equally. Prom night in mississippi premieres monday, july 20 at 9pm. Decorating for prom, students and student advisers put finishing touches on a ballroom at a banquet. Prom night in mississippi is a 2009 canadianamerican documentary film written and directed by paul saltzman.
I stop the film briefly about twice to ask students to share what they have written down so far. In 2008, actor morgan freeman offers to pay for a mississippi high schools firstever integrated senior prom. Acclaimed canadian filmmaker paul saltzman stopped by q to promote his new film prom night in mississippi about the first integrated prom in charleston, mississippi. Prom night in mississippi documents the challenge to that tradition by students, with the help of morgan freeman.
Whats most significant about prom night in mississippi is not that an interracial prom was organized, but that the historic events took place less than a year ago. If youre looking for some inspiration this prom season, this film is the place to get it. The prom was funded by morgan freeman, a charleston resident, and exposed racial tension in the town, mainly among administrators and parents of the students of the high school. Prom night in mississippi trailer movie trailers and videos. Prom night in mississippi received its world premiere at. Morgan freeman, a charleston resident, makes the school an offer. The directorproducer, mr salzman, hopes that the featurelength documentary with morgan freeman, prom night in mississippi, will be shown at next years sundance film festival. Prom night was official selection at sxsw 2011 and rooftop film festival 2011. To purchase dvds of prom night in mississippi use this link.
A high school in a smalltown in mississippi prepares for its first integrated senior prom. Prom night in mississippi is a documentary that shouldnt exist, since the issue it explores forthrightly and tenderlyintegrationbelongs in the distant past, not the uncertain present. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing prom night in mississippi near you. Freeman has an idea to subsidize a high prom in his home town of charleston, mississippi where the black population is the vast majority. Ultimately, prom night in mississippi captures a big moment in a small town, where hope finally blossoms in black, white and a whole lot of taffeta. In 2008, the actor and charleston native offers to pay for the prom if its. This time the school board accepted, and history was made. With the inspiration of hollywood star morgan freeman, moving beyond prejudices campaign to fight prejudice and bullying is spreading. Morgan freeman talks about his prom night in mississippi the. But prom night in mississippi serves as a powerful reminder that, despite. Harsh lessons of division and racial intolerance infect the lives of charleston highs students. One teenager in glasgow completed her stunning prom look with a. The integrated prom, as you see in the film, just was a marvelous affair, he said.
As one child says in the film, some people dont want to go to the integrated prom because they think that its not right. If you think you have to move to hollywood to get started in film, think again. Prom night was released by sony pictures and screen gems. New video group in 1997, actor morgan freeman, a resident of the small town of charleston, miss. As paul saltzmans film reveals, his first version of the offer, in 1997, was rejected. Prom night in mississippi, had its gala premiere last night in. In 2008, the actor and charleston native offers to pay for the prom if its integrated.
Donnas senior prom is supposed to be the best night of her life, though a sadistic killer from her past has different plans for her and her friends. Jan 21, 2010 the great achievement of prom night in mississippi is it ability to bring the viewer fully and completely into the subculture of a small southern high school in the most rural part of an. It received a special jury award for the dancing at videofest24. Integrated senior prom in charleston, mississippi 2008 intro duration. Prom night in mississippiandy and principal bucky duration. Travelling around, i came to the conclusion that it was no worse than any.
Click the film s title to watch the movie at snagfilms and browse snagfilms sundance film festival channel for more sundance classics. We watch the first 24 minutes of so of prom night in mississippi. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. Jul 22, 2009 the film crew of pnim tries to film the white prom. The film focuses on the racial segregation that occurs in the towns only high school, charleston high school, particularly how they still have racially segregated proms. Dec 18, 2009 if youre looking for some inspiration this prom season, this film is the place to get it. The best bit is one boy who ends up with two dates to the prom. Canadian filmmaker paul saltzman follows students, teachers, and parents in the leadup to the big day. What is morgan freemans proposal to the students at charleston high school.
Which makes prom night in mississippi that much more important to watch. But such is the reality of prom night in mississippi, which scrutinizes a pintsized towns travails when the school board finally consents to try out a firstever colorblind fete. Prom night in mississippi to get screening, discussion. Prom night in mississippi 2008 movie theaters moviefone. Prom night in mississippi is a beautiful documentary showing off the worldculture and how they are still able to interact with one another without be scared of the opposite race. Although their school was integrated they were still having a segregated prom.
I mean, okay, i might have gone to my prom if id been promised morgan freeman. Students and their parents in the prom night, england. Our film follows the charleston high senior class of 2008 preparing and attending their historic, first integrated prom, in the context of strong emotions, traditions, and conflict inherent in race relations in the community, and in the deep south. Prom night in mississippi 2009 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Some of the white kids come to the conclusion that it must be that their. Toronto filmmaker and former civil rights worker paul saltzmans doc prom night in mississippi turns. Paul saltzman is a twotime emmy award winning, toronto based film and television. Prom night in mississippi download watch prom night in. He is currently completing his 2nd feature, the documentary the last white. With brittany snow, scott porter, jessica stroup, dana davis. Prom night in mississippitheatrical trailer youtube. Rent prom night in mississippi 2009 starring morgan freeman on dvd and bluray. Whether you want to be in business for yourself in the mississippi film industry, or whether you want to go all the way to hollywood, the mississippi film connection is the place to start. Freeman shares some of his insights in the last white knight, but the actor plays a much more central role in prom night in mississippi.
Also the tone of the film is not hysterical or condemning anyone. As you watch the film, answer the questions in the space provided. Jan 21, 2009 prom night in mississippi reveals racial divides. In 1997, academy award winning actor, morgan freeman, who lives in the charleston, mississippi community, offered to fund the firstever integrated senior prom in. The preparations for the prom and the personal relationships between our characters are woven together to create the intimacy and drama that culminates on prom night in mississippi. Prom night in mississippi traces the tumultuous events leading up to charlestons first integrated prom through intimate conversations with students, families, faculty members and freeman himself. Prom night in mississippi 2009 documentary on free. Last night was the premiere of the hbo documentary prom night in mississippi.
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