Arts Festival
REEL PEOPLE
Featuring Composer Jongnic BontempsSoAL’s 2024 Reel People Arts Festival seeks to explore diversity in filmmaking and media in Georgia and beyond. The festival will celebrate the filmmakers, composers, creators, and stories that defy the historical homogeneity of Hollywood. All events are free and open to the public. Check out the full Arts Festival schedule below. |
Schedule of Events |
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Wednesday, March 27 |
Faculty Spotlight: Prof. Patrick Brennan Screens and Discusses The Celluloid Closet (Rob Epstein et al, 1995)
Time: 7:00 pm MGA partners with The Douglass Theatre to present The Celluloid Closet, a documentary highlighting the history of LGBT characters and representation in film, with discussion led by MGA's own Prof. Patrick Brennan. This film is rated R. Contact: Dr. Patrick Brennan FLYER TRAILER |
Thursday, March 28 |
MGA Student Art Exhibition (runs through April 5)
Location: SoAL Building Lobby | Macon Campus The 2023-2024 Student Art Exhibition is a juried exhibition featuring Middle Georgia State University art students. The exhibition in Macon will run from March 28 through April 5. Join us for a reception and awards celebration in Cochran on April 11 to reveal winners in categories such as 2-D design, 3-D design, student choice, as well as best of show. Contact: Dr. Sheree' Keith |
Thursday, March 28 |
Faculty Spotlight: Prof. Zardosht Afshari Screens and Discusses His Recent Films, She Does Not Smile (2022) and An Endoscopy (2023)
Time: 5:30 pm MGA's own Prof. Zardosht Afshari will present two of his own short films, She Does Not Smile (2022) and An Endoscopy (2023). In She Does Not Smile, Samantha, a music composing student in the U.S., hears someone playing a Middle Eastern musical instrument in the next room. She is determined to find the player. An Endoscopy (2023) follows a film student as she accompanies an international student for his endoscopy, with the agreement that he will be her subject in a documentary. Contact: Prof. Zardosht Afshari FLYER TRAILER 1 TRAILER 2 |
Monday, April 1 |
Faculty Spotlight: Prof. Michael Gaffney Screens and Discusses His Score for Dear Daughter (A Short)
Time: 2:00 pm Michael Gaffney presents 'Dear Daughter', a short film for which he composed the music. The film is currently touring various film festivals; he will present the film, and follow it with an open Discussion and Q&A forum. Contact: Prof. Michael Gaffney FLYER TRAILER |
Wednesday, April 3 |
Faculty Spotlight: Prof. Zardosht Afshari Screens and Discusses His Recent Films, She Does Not Smile (2022) and An Endoscopy (2023)
Time: 3:30 pm MGA's own Prof. Zardosht Afshari will present two of his own short films, She Does Not Smile (2022) and An Endoscopy (2023). In She Does Not Smile, Samantha, a music composing student in the U.S., hears someone playing a Middle Eastern musical instrument in the next room. She is determined to find the player. An Endoscopy (2023) follows a film student as she accompanies an international student for his endoscopy, with the agreement that he will be her subject in a documentary. Contact: Prof. Zardosht Afshari FLYER TRAILER 1 TRAILER 2 |
April 2, 3, 4 |
By the Way, Meet Vera Stark by Lynn Nottage
Time: 6:00 pm Student actors perform By the Way, Meet Vera Stark, a comedy about an African-American maid who dreams about being a star. Contact: Prof. Cindy Sams FLYER |
Monday, |
Georgia Film Academy Information Session and Video Game Trailer . Time: 11:00am; 12:00pm - 3:00pm Learn all about the Georgia Film Academy's industry certifications, including Digital Entertainment, Esports & Game Development. Then head outside and experience the games yourself with Middle Ga Game Trailer! The trailer will be located outside of Haynes Hall from 12pm to 3pm. Contact: Dr. Heather Ness-Maddox FLYER |
Monday, |
Composer Jongnic Bontemps Screens and Discusses His Score for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (Steven Caple, Jr., 2023)Time: Reception at 5:00 pm, Screening at 6:00 pm SoAL welcomes renowned composer Jongnic Bontemps, who has worked on over 50 projects in film, television, and video games. His work has been heard in various award winning films at Cannes Film Festival, Warsaw International Film Festival, Pan African Film Festival, American Black Film Festival, as well as on television networks like HBO, BET, Disney and in various cinemas worldwide. The screening will be preceded by a reception in the Arts Complex Rehearsal Hall beginning at 5pm. Contact: Prof. Michael Gaffney FLYER TRAILER |
Tuesday, |
Music Workshop with Composer Jongnic Bontemps
Time: 2:00 pm Renowned composer Jongnic Bontemps leads a music workshop. All are welcome to attend. Contact: Prof. Michael Gaffney |
Tuesday, |
MGA Chamber Singers
Time: 7:30 pm MGA's Chamber Singers performs. Contact: Dr. Justin McAdara |
April 9, 10, 11 |
Moonlight and Magnolias by Ron Hutchinson
Time: 7:00 pm Moonlight and Magnolias tells the story of how, in 1939, Hollywood producer David O. Selznick locked himself, director Victor Flemming, and screenwriter Ben Hecht in his office for five days where the three men, subsisting on nothing but peanuts and bananas, completely rewrote the screenplay for Gone with the Wind. It's the hilarious, true story of how Hollywood's most famous and highest-grossing film was actually written. Contact: Prof. John Iverson FLYER |
Thursday, |
MGA Student Art Exhibition Reception and Awards
Time: 3:00 pm The 2023-2024 Student Art Exhibition is a juried exhibition featuring Middle Georgia State University art students. Join us for a reception and awards celebration to reveal winners in categories such as 2-D design, 3-D design, student choice, as well as best of show. The exhibition in Cochran will run from April 8 through April 18. Contact: Dr. Sheree' Keith |
Thursday, |
MGA Percussion Ensemble
Time: 7:30 pm MGA's Percussion Ensemble performs. Contact: Dr. Justin McAdara |
Monday, |
Georgia Film Academy Information Session and Video Game Trailer Time: 11:00am; 12:00pm - 3:00pm Learn all about the Georgia Film Academy's industry certifications, including Digital Entertainment, Esports & Game Development. Then head outside and experience the games yourself with Middle Ga Game Trailer! The trailer will be outside of the Arts Complex from 12pm to 3pm! Contact: Dr. Heather Ness-Maddox FLYER |
Monday, |
Film Screening: Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (Steven Caple, Jr., 2023) Time: 6:00 pm Join SoAL for a second screening of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, featuring music composed by Jongnic Bontemps. Contact: Prof. Michael Gaffney FLYER TRAILER |
These events are sponsored by MGA's School of Arts and Letters, with generous support from the Linda Harriet Lane Fund, a component fund of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia, and in partnership with the Douglass Theatre. Additional support comes from the MGA Honors Program.
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