Movie Making in an Apocalyptic Time

Saturday, March 8, 2008

1:30p.m. – 5:00p.m.

Family Theater Productions

7201 Sunset Boulevard

Hollywood, California

Dr. Daniel McInerny, associate director of the Notre Dame Center for Ethics and Culture, and Dr. Michael P. Foley, assistant professor in the Great Texts Program at Baylor University will be moderating a lively afternoon’s discussion on the promises and the perils of telling stories in the entertainment industry.

In particular, we will be exploring questions such as the following—

· What is the special character of modern culture, and how is it reflected in contemporary cinema and television?

· What does Catholic culture, and Christianity generally, contribute to the craft of movie making? Does it merely warn us against gratuitous sex and violence or attacks against the Church, or does it contribute more substantially to the art of telling cinematic stories?

· What sorts of stories can Catholics and other Christians effectively tell in the modern world? Are we restricted to explicitly “religious” topics?

· Why are some of the best Catholic films made by non-Catholics?

· Do Catholics and other Christians working in the entertainment industry have a special vocation? If so, what is it?

A buffet lunch will be served at 12:00p.m. at Family Theater, so please come early to enjoy some time with colleagues in the industry.

Fr. Willy Raymond, C.S.C, National Director of Family Theater Productions, will offer Mass at Family Theater directly following the colloquium, to which everyone is also invited.

Seating at Family Theater is limited, so please respond as soon as possible in order to reserve your place at the colloquium.

You may RSVP and address all questions about the colloquium to Dr. Daniel McInerny, either by email at mcinerny.3@nd.edu, or by phone at 574-631-3788. We look forward to seeing you on the afternoon of March 8 for what promises to be a stimulating discussion!