Award-Winning Directors Socially Relevant Works Showcased in Virtual Event
By Dolores Quintana
Los Angeles public television station KCET has a rich legacy of producing groundbreaking and socially relevant programming, particularly through its Human Affairs division which was created in the late 1960s. In a special screening and panel discussion, three award-winning filmmakers who got their start at KCET – Jesús Salvador Treviño, Thandeka, and Lynne Littman – will insights into their work and its impact on May 18, 2023, at 5:30 pm
The event, KCET-TV Pioneers: Los Angeles Documentary in the 1970s, will be moderated by Joshua Glick, author of “Los Angeles Documentary and the Production of Public History, 1958-1977,” and feature screenings of three films that represent some of the best work produced by KCET during this period: Treviño’s “América Tropical,” Thandeka’s “Doin’ It at the Storefront,” and Littman’s “Number Our Days.”
“América Tropical” examines the whitewashing of a mural by Mexican artist David Alfaro Siqueiros that depicts U.S. imperialism and the exploitation of Indigenous populations across the Americas. The film was produced and directed by Treviño, who was part of KCET’s Human Affairs unit, and it is a powerful example of how television can be used to challenge dominant narratives and advocate for marginalized communities.
Thandeka’s “Doin’ It at the Storefront” was a pioneering program that featured interviews and performances by Black artists, writers, and activists, and it was produced entirely by a Black production team. In the surviving episode screened during the event, Thandeka interviews Tony Brown, the dean of Education at Howard University and executive producer of the PBS series “Black Journal.” The show was a critical success and an important example of how television can be used to amplify underrepresented voices.
Finally, Littman’s “Number Our Days” documents the culture and challenges of an elderly Jewish community in Venice, California. The film was produced in collaboration with anthropologist Barbara Myerhoff, and it is a testament to the power of documentary filmmaking to provide insight into communities that are often overlooked by mainstream media.
This virtual event will be illuminating to cinema fans and to others alike. You can register on the website here.
