Youth Produced And Directed Film To Premiere On August 14, 2015

Helping to Inspire Positive and Healthy Opportunities for Progress Inc. (HIP HOP Inc.) is pleased to announce the premiere of Pottstown: The Kidumentary. The premiere will be held at the Olivet Boys and Girls Club – The Ricketts Center, 640 Beech Street, Pottstown, PA 19464 on August 14th, 2015 at 6:00pm.

Pottstown: The Kidumentary is a youth led, youth directed and youth produced film about the Borough of Pottstown and the people that make it great. The kidumentary was produced over the summer by youth participating in the summer learning program of HIP HOP Inc. in partnership with the Olivet Boys and Girls Club – The Ricketts Center. The primary goal of the summer learning program and the development of the kidumentary were to develop key 21st Century Life Skills in written and verbal communication, listening skills, video production and editing, team work and academic based research.

“We are proud of the work of the youth of HIP HOP Inc.”, stated Shay Peterson, Vice President of HIP HOP Inc., who went on to say, “The development of Pottstown: The Kidumentary was not only a fun hands on experience for the youth involved, it helped youth to develop core skills that will increase the likelihood of post-secondary success, while exposing youth to careers in production, technology, research and communication.”

For ticket information please visit: www.hiphopinc.org.

For more information please contact:

HIP HOP Inc.

Ralph E. Godbolt, President and CEO

rgodbolt@hiphopinc.org

Spotlight’s Off, But Reading’s Challenges Remain

A 1947 topographic map of the Reading, Pennsylvania area. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The journey to tell a television Christmas story in poverty-stricken Reading began two summers ago in holiday-decorated Hope Lutheran Church on North Front Street.

A national TV audience, estimated at more than 1.4 million homes, observed the 2012 Christmas Eve broadcast of “One Christmas Story: People Rich in Spirit,” a production of Odyssey Networks, a New York-based multifaith media coalition.

It was a story designed to depict Reading’s hope and faith amid economic challenges. At the time, it sparked energy and excitement.

But, one year later, at Christmas 2013, many of the city’s social challenges remain unchanged.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article/20131222/NEWS/312229955/1052#.UrbPPPRDsxI

Christmas Eve Special On Reading Airs Tonight

A 1947 topographic map of the Reading, Pennsylvania area. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Reading PA – The one-hour CBS Christmas Eve special focusing on Reading’s hopeful holiday spirit amid poverty will be broadcast tonight at 11:35 pm without commercials in the “David Letterman” time slot.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=438823

Free Showing Of ‘The Greenest Building’ Documentary Followed By Discussion In Pottstown

Tuesday, November 6th 

7:00 PM

Grace Lutheran Church – “The Lounge”

660 N. Charlotte Street

Pottstown, Pa

After the VOTE, you are cordially invited to a FREE viewing of the award winning documentary, “The Greenest Building.”  This is an hour long documentary, narrated by David Ogden Stiers.  The Greenest Building explores the myth that a “green building” is a new building and demonstrates how renovation and adaptive reuse of existing structures fully achieves the sustainability movement’s “triple bottom line” – economic, social, and ecological balance.

Click Here for preview:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyY4DnTapN4&feature=plcp

Discussion to follow.

Consider running for Ward Representative/Council Seat in 2013.  There can be no greater contribution or satisfaction than aligning with other candidates in the Reform Movement to guide the future of Pottstown.  Run on the issues, not party affiliation.  Team work will be key.  Information will be available at this event.

Wards 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 are up for re-election.

Photographer To Release Shenandoah Documentary This Fall

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Schuylkill County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer was on his way to the coal region to scout ideas for a film about working-class America, all hell was breaking loose in Shenandoah.

David Turnley remembered the call he received en route from New York City to Schuylkill County.

“As I was heading to the coal region, a friend of mine called and said, ‘You should go to Shenandoah, Pa., where four of the town’s star sons, all straight-A students and football players, have been charged with killing an undocumented Mexican immigrant,” Turnley recalled. “I thought, ‘Well, I guess I should go to Shenandoah.’ ”

He stayed two years, filming, shooting photographs and documenting the events surrounding the beating death of Luis Eduardo Ramirez Zavala.

Read more: http://republicanherald.com/news/photographer-to-release-shenandoah-documentary-this-fall-1.1355046

Christmas Eve Special About Reading’s Poverty To Be On CBS

A 1947 topographic map of the Reading, Pennsylvania area. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Reading and its struggles with poverty will be the Christmas story this year on CBS.

The network has asked Odyssey Networks, a multifaith media coalition, to produce an hourlong special to be broadcast on Christmas Eve, said the Rev. Eric Shafer, Odyssey senior vice president and a Berks native.

“We’ve decided to come to Reading to tell ‘One Christmas Story: People Rich in Spirit,’ ” he said. “The special will rejoice in the true spirit of Christmas through the words of the Gospel, glorious choral music and the unique character of the community in Reading.”

Shafer said the Collegiate Churches of New York City have already given a $50,000 grant toward the television production and plan to award an additional $50,000 to help fight poverty in the city.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=389931

Filmmaker Turns Lens On Pennsylvania Coal In Documentary

A shortage of anthracite coal may have landed Kelly Brown her first movie role.

Brown, assistant manager at coal seller F.M. Brown’s Sons Inc., 717 Lancaster Ave., went on camera last month when documentary filmmaker Alexis Manya Spraic came to town.

Spraic, whose credits include a 2010 Sundance Film Festival selection, is traveling the world to make a film on the future of global energy. Titled “POWER,” it is intended to portray the deeply personal nature of the world’s ultracomplex energy problem.

Read more: http://businessweekly.readingeagle.com/?p=2463