Communication, Media & Design, Spring 2020

Santa Monica College Unveils Spring 2020 Communication, Media & Design Series

Line-up Begins with Film Screening February 26

SANTA MONICA CA — Santa Monica College (SMC) unveils its Spring 2020 Communication, Media & Design Series with a line-up of film screenings and presentations by industry professionals, who will talk about their work and developments in the fields of communication, media, and design today. The series starts February 26 with a screening of Hip Hop documentary AND iDANCED and a Q&A with Kid N Play member Christopher “Play” Martin and SMC film and media studies instructor Timothy Conley.

All presentations in the series are free and will be held at either the SMC Center for Media and Design (1660 Stewart St., Santa Monica), or the main campus of Santa Monica College (1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica). Seating is strictly on a first-arrival basis.

Street parking is restricted around the SMC main campus and extremely limited around the Center for Media and Design.Attendees are encouraged to arrive via the Expo line, the bus, or a ride-sharing service.

The Communication, Media & Design Series line-up for spring 2020 is:

• Wednesday, February 26 — “AND iDANCED: Film Screening and Q&A with Christopher “Play” Martin, Moderated by Timothy Conley,” at 2:30 p.m. in the SMC Student Services Center, Orientation Hall (S183). Kid N Play member Christopher “Play” Martin and SMC film and media studies instructor Timothy Conley will present AND iDANCED, a documentary on the women and men who danced, helped create unforgettable performance presentations for 80s-90s rappers and singers, and contributed to making Hip Hop a global phenomenon. The event is sponsored by the SMC Associates, SMC Communication and Media Studies Department, SMC Design Technology Department, and SMC’s Black Collegians Program.

• Thursday, February 27 — “True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality: Film Screening and Discussion” at 11:15 a.m. in Stromberg Hall (HSS 165). SMC faculty and justice reform advocates present the HBO documentary True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality. Stevenson is the Alabama attorney whose life is the basis for the filmJust Mercy. As founder/executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, he continues his decades-long effort to eradicate racial discrimination in the criminal justice system. Stevenson and his staff have won reversals, relief, or release from prison for more than 135 wrongly condemned prisoners on death row. The event is sponsored by the SMC Associates, SMC Communication and Media Studies Department, SMC Design Technology Department, and SMC’s Black Collegians Program. Additional sponsors: SMC Public Policy Institute and SMC’s Law Pathway Program.

• Thursday, March 19 — “Grease: Film Screening and Q&A with Director Randal Kleiser” at 7 p.m. in the SMC Center for Media and Design, Auditorium 180. Director Randal Kleiser will screen and discuss his popular musical rom-com Grease, and talk about his new book, Grease: The Director’s Notebook, and his current work in virtual reality narrative series. He is known for his 12-part 360-degree virtual reality series Defrost and other experimental approaches. The event is sponsored by the SMC Associates, SMC Communication and Media Studies Department, and SMC Design Technology Department.

• Tuesday, March 24 — “Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound: Film Screening and Q&A with Midge Costin”at 7 p.m. in the SMC Center for Media and Design, Auditorium 180. First-time filmmaker Midge Costin, the Kay Rose Professor in the Art of Sound Editing at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, will present Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound. The award-winning documentary explores the history and aesthetics of sound design and aural appreciation, and includes interviews with cinematic notables such as Barbra Streisand, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Ryan Coogler offering fascinating insights into this mysterious (and often overlooked) cinematic dimension. The event is sponsored by the SMC Associates, SMC Communication and Media Studies Department, and SMC Design Technology Department.

• Thursday, May 14 — “Amplify Your Voice with Audio Podcasts: Kristina Lopez and John Asante” at 7 p.m. in the SMC Center for Media and Design, Auditorium 180. Podcast producers Kristina Lopez and John Asante will share their expertise and advice on how to launch a podcast, build an audience, and take a production to the next level. Lopez — a 2017 AIR New Voices scholar and a digital producer for “The Hilarious World of Depression,” “Brains On,” and more — and Asante, managing producer at podcast production company Neon Hum Media, have worked for years to increase diversity in the industry and to ensure the voices of more communities are heard. The event is sponsored by the SMC Associates, SMC Communication and Media Studies Department, and SMC Design Technology Department. Additional sponsor: SMC’s Adelante Program.

All programs are subject to change without notice, and new events may be added to the series. Up-to-date details are posted at smc.edu/eventsinfo and available by calling the SMC Office of Public Programs at 310-434-4100.

Santa Monica College is a California Community College accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).