Screening and Discussion of Hotel Rwanda at Saddleback College – September 13th at 7:30 p.m.

The Cinema-Television-Radio department at Saddleback College is thrilled to present Hotel Rwanda, starring Don Cheadle, on September 13^th at 7:30 p.m. in the McKinney Theatre.

Admission is free but come early due to a limited 400-seat capacity. Writer/Producer/Saddleback faculty member Keir Pearson will be available following the screening for a question and answer session.

In 2000, Pearson heard the story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager living in Rwanda during the Rwandan Genocide. Fascinated, he interviewed Rusesabagina and wrote the script for Hotel Rwanda, sending it to director Terry George, who fell in love with the story. The film was released in 2004 to positive reviews. George and Pearson shared an Oscar nomination for best original screenplay. Also securing Oscar nominations were Don Cheadle and Sophie Okonedo for their performances.

Pearson graduated from Harvard University in 1989. During the 1990s, he also participated in the 1992 Summer Olympics with the American rowing team. He recently wrote the screenplay for the 2013 film Chávez, about the civil-rights activist and labor organizer César Chávez, who founded the United Farm Workers union. Pearson teaches directing and advanced screenwriting at Saddleback College.

For more than 20 years, the Cinema-Television-Radio Department (CTVR) at Saddleback College has been known for giving students hands-on experience. This means students design, shoot, and edit their own film. CTVR always puts the concept of bringing the “real world” into the classroom as a priority. Shooting on the latest technology including Red Digital Cinema and Final Cut Pro 7 HD, Saddleback offers the full set of filmmaking tools such as dollys, steadicams, and industry-standard lighting, camera, and audio packages.

The department’s productions each year are featured in the Newport Beach Film Festival, and students constantly transfer to the top university film schools or they are placed in desirable internships and jobs. Saddleback’s CTVR Department is offering courses designed to help students succeed in the field, including outstanding 1 to 2 day workshops for students who want to specialize in a specific area of filmmaking. CTVR continues to teach the approach of concept to final edit in terms of visual storytelling, aesthetics, composition, directing, producing, cinematography, lighting, audio, and editing. CTVR is an elite film school at Saddleback College and was featured in Movie Maker Magazine.

Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community.  Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers over 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals.  For more information, please visit www.saddleback.edu and for Fine Arts information, please visit www.saddleback.edu/arts.

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