74.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesSt. John Film Society Presents Documentary on Nobel Prize Winner

St. John Film Society Presents Documentary on Nobel Prize Winner

The St. John Film Society will present Free Movie Night at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, Feb. 22, at the St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay. The film is titled “TAKING ROOT: The Vision of Wangari Maathai” (80 minutes, 2008). The filmmakers, Lisa Merton and Alan Dater, will introduce the film in person and be available after the screening for questions and answers.
This award-winning documentary tells the dramatic story of Kenyan Nobel Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai whose simple act of planting trees grew into a nationwide movement to safeguard the environment, protect human rights and defend democracy – a movement for which this charismatic woman became an iconic inspiration.
Filmmaker Lisa Merton began her career as a weaver. It was not until she started making films in 1989 that she fulfilled her intent to weave images that could inspire social change. She brings her interest in education, cultural diversity and social change, as well as her skill as a craftsman, to the filmmaking process.
Filmmaker Alan Dater began his film career in New York City, shortly thereafter working on documentaries as a freelance soundman and later as a director/cameraman. Many of these productions were broadcast on major U.S. networks and include “Lifeline,” an Emmy Award-winning medical
documentary series for NBC; “The Body Human,” an Emmy Award-winning medical series for CBS; and various National Geographic specials. Dater has gained extensive experience in film and video from working on many productions on the arts, social issues and education as well as projects for the corporate world. These productions include the feature film “Hi Mom,” directed by Brian De Palma and starring Robert De Niro, and the documentary “Johnny Cash: The Man, His World, His Music.” After moving to Vermont, Dater continued his freelance career and began producing independent films. The event is sponsored in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
For more information, call 715-0551.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.