(Posted October 25, 2010)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Filmmaker Chris Ivey will screen his documentary "East of Liberty" followed by a question and answer session at Juniata College at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 2 in Neff Lecture Hall in the Von Liebig Center for Science.

"East of Liberty" delves into the issues of gentrification and discrimination and marks a change from the light-hearted pieces that have characterized Ivey's earlier works like television commercials for Jones Soda and music videos for rapper J-Live .

This event is open and free to the public.

Ivey's documentary series depicts the economic slump and the negative effects of a poor Pittsburgh neighborhood. Ivey chronicles the well intentioned but ineffective urban planning that ultimately hastened the neighborhood's demise and led to empty shopping malls, displaced residents, and a general suffering of community members.

Yet, within this story of tragedy and longing there is a glimmer of hope for the residents of this neighborhood who have seen their homes defaced, have been displaced from their apartments and forced to watch their apartment buildings being razed.

Ivey captures beautifully the sentiments, frustrations, and aspirations of an entire community as they search for renewed growth in a poor Pittsburgh community. He also manages includes a wide perspective on the city's development and his interviews include those of policy makers, community activists, scholars, and residents.

Ivey is not new to filmmaking and some of his other works include a PBS documentary on AIDS, music videos, freelance work for local TV and award-winning TV commercials. He says that documentary film making, "has helped me find my voice."

Written by Caitlin Bigelow '11

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.