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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Filmmakers
Showcase Photographs from Arabian Gulf November
17, 2004 Orlando,
Florida - Filmmakers Christel and Calvin Crane will showcase
an exhibit of photographs from their latest documentary, “The
People & Culture of Bahrain.” The exhibition is sponsored
by the UCF (University of Central Florida) Office of
International Studies as part of U.S. International Education
Week (IEW2004) November 15-19. Taken during the recent filming
in Bahrain, the pictures illustrate the friendliness of the
Bahraini people and the high standard of living in this Arab
Gulf nation.
The
photos may be viewed at the Cultural Expressions exhibit being
held in the Cape Florida Ballroom (3rd floor) of the
Student Union on Friday, November 19, 2004. The exhibit is open
to the public and is part of a number of activities with
international emphasis at UCF.
The
University of Central Florida is becoming known for its
commitment to international understanding. The UCF Office of
Global Perspectives, home to Ambassador-in-Residence Harriet
Elam-Thomas of the U.S. Department of State, is one result of
this new emphasis. In establishing the Global Perspectives group
UCF President John C. Hitt set a new international course for
this large Southeastern institution. According to Dr. Hitt,
“it is vital to develop greater awareness of other cultures,
political orientations, economic approaches, ideologies,
religions and histories.”
“The
People & Culture of Bahrain” launched by the Cranes is
part of a larger communications effort that aims to build
greater understanding between Arab and Western cultures at the
secondary school level. The overall effort includes multiple
documentary films, educational websites based on educator needs
and a public relations effort. The overall project will involve
additional filming in the State of Oman, the United Arab
Emirates, the State of Qatar, and the State of Kuwait. The
Ministry of Information in Bahrain, along with the Ministry of
Education and Ministry of Interior, assisted the filmmakers
during a three-month stay in the Arabian Gulf archipelago. The
Ministry of Information of Oman announced plans last year to
welcome the filmmakers to the Sultanate in 2005.
The
producers were moved to launch their current educational
initiative after research revealed that few materials are
available to secondary school students or educators about the
region. The potential impact to young Americans is significant -
over 50 million will graduate from U.S. high schools over the
next decade. In a recent nationally syndicated radio interview
filmmaker Christel Crane said, “our future citizens must develop
some empathy and understanding of other cultures in order to
help make rational decisions about the West’s role in the
world.”
In
another communications project a secondary school enrichment
package designed by the filmmaking duo is being utilized by high
schools in 33 states. Included in the materials is their
four-part film series “The Long Way Home Project.” The films
aired on PBS in 2003 and 2004 and won the Gold Special Jury for
Documentary Television Series at the Houston International Film
Festival.
Calvin
Crane, Director of Photography, is on the faculty of the College
of Arts and Sciences, School of Film & Digital Media at UCF.
“The
People & Culture of Bahrain” is now being edited. More
information on the film, sponsors and underwriting opportunities
can be found at www.learnbahrain.com.
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