In Service: Pittsburgh to Iraq Next in New Media Film Series at University
Mar 11, 2010
The new documentary In Service: Pittsburgh to Iraq will be the next presentation in the New Media Film Series at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology.
Ralph Vituccio, an award-winning producer, director and writer who is on the faculty at the Entertainment Technology Center graduate program at Carnegie Mellon University, will present the documentary on April 8, 2010. Seating for this free event, which is open to the public, will be limited to 125 people.
“Ralph Vituccio’s work is always thoughtful, penetrating and perceptive and this project is no different. In Service highlights the struggles of servicemen and women without pushing an overt political agenda,” says Charles Palmer, associate professor of multi-media and Executive Director of the Center for Advanced Entertainment & Learning Technologies at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology.
Vituccio was director of multimedia on the documentary. The presentation is set for April 8, 2010, at the University, which is located at 326 Market Street in Harrisburg. The evening will begin with networking at 5:30 p.m., followed by the screening at 6 p.m. and questions from the audience immediately following.
The Iraq war has been a prime subject for documentary filmmakers. In Service: Pittsburgh to Iraq, presents a different facet of the story as seen through the eyes of Western Pennsylvanians serving as soldiers, government officials, and journalists. It tells the story of 15 men and women who served, survived, and returned from battlefields in and around Baghdad. The film weaves war footage shot by the soldiers themselves, interviews, and still photography into a cohesive narrative of how world events affect communities and touch the lives of those just down the street from ourselves. From surviving IED’s to interrogating Saddam Hussein, individuals from the region recount their tales unfolding on an international stage.
The event is free and open to the public. RSVP via email at CONNECT@HarrisburgU.edu or online at http://newmediafilms.eventbrite.com/
Vituccio has developed, written, and produced numerous films, videos, interactive web sites, and multimedia projects for Carnegie Mellon as well as many corporate and commercial clients. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Pittsburgh Filmmakers where he teaches film and video production. His media work has received several communication and media awards and his interactive training CD-ROMs on racism and teaching conflict management skills have both won National Educational Media Awards and International Television and Video Awards.
As an independent artist, Vituccio has received numerous grants in support of his work from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the Mid-Atlantic Region Media Arts Fellowship Program and the National Endowment for the Arts. In addition, he has been the recipient of three Media Fellowship Awards. Vituccio's documentary, "PERFORMANCE: The Living Art," won an Artist Distinction Award at the 1990 Berlin MedienOperative International Video Festival and has aired nationally on several PBS stations and internationally in several countries. His documentary, "When The Video Came," considers the early formation of video as an art form and profiles many of the original pioneers in the field. Vituccio is currently in production on, “Shipbreakers”, which is a documentary about the men who salvage huge cargo and ocean liners. Shot in both India and China, it looks at issues such as large scale work processes under the poorest of conditions, worker safety and environmental concerns.
Established in 2001 to address Central Pennsylvania’s need for increased opportunities for study leading to careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, Harrisburg University is an innovative and ambitious private institution that produces graduates who provide increased competence and capacity in science and technology disciplines to Pennsylvania and the nation. Harrisburg University ensures institutional access for underrepresented students and links learning and research to practical outcomes. As a private University serving the public good, Harrisburg University remains the only STEM-focused comprehensive university located between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
For more information on the University's demand-driven undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs in applied science and technology fields, call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu.