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Readthe article that appeared in The Topeka Capital Journal.
 

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LIFE AFTER 9-11: War,Repression, The Media, and You
Drawing on over a quartercentury of experience as a grassroots organizer and activist- filmmaker,Barbara Trent brings a rare approach to today's events.  Her presentationis graced with the emotion of a woman who has seen the frontlines hereand abroad.  Ms. Trent's analyses the costs of war, globalization,and media hypocracy by juxtaposing examples from the news with  footagefrom recent trips to New York City, both after the 9-11 attacks and during the World Economic Forum protests.  As the director of theAcademy Award winning The Panama Deception  and the  criticallyacclaimed Coverup: Behind the Iran-Contra Affair,  Trent's talk becomesan increasingly crucial counter-message as the drumbeat for war on terrorism, drugs, the poor, indegenous movements and dissent thumps ever louder.
 

THE SEARCH FOR TRUTH:The Responsibility of the Media, The Government, and the American Public
Barbara Trent presentsher documentary, The Panama Deception, as a springboard for analyzing currentdomestic and international events as well as an illuminating case studyof government deception and media disinformation.  It is a poignantand alarming reflection of what is unfolding today. This presentation exposesthe forces controlling our media as well as our government's covert polices. The Panama Deception reveals the untold story of the US invasion, the shockingevents of the assault, and the true motivation for the invasion, explaininghow and why the mainstream media collaborated with the US government tocensor information and deceive the public. Reada recommendation of this lecture. Readthe Action Alert. Readthe article that appeared in The Colorado Daily. Viewphotos.

A Woman of Courage:The Evolving Role of An Activist
Barbara Trent will speakabout her lifelong commitment to change, reflecting on the personal costs,successes and failures.  Her story chronicles anti-war activism inthe 60's and 70's; the drug culture and addressing problems of abuse; herexperience as a welfare mother; training organizers under president Carterfor Peace Corps and VISTA; her ongoing efforts to democratize the mediaculminating in her fearless journalistic work in Panama which won her anOscar in 1993;  her creativity in assisting her mother and fatherto a dignified death; and present efforts to respond to a future threatenedby war, globalization, and the relentless attack on civil liberties inthe name of anti-terrorisim. Readrecommendations of this lecture. Viewflyer for Metropolitian State College of Denver. Viewflyer for Lou Douglas Lecture Series

The Government, Drugs,Your Freedom, and Your Future
The film COVERUP: Behindthe Iran Contra Affair discloses the historical involvement of the US governmentand the CIA in facilitating the shipment of illegal drugs into the US,from the heroin epidemic of the Vietnam war to the cocaine and crack epidemicof the Contra war in Nicaragua.  COVERUP reveals a tangled tale ofpolitics, hostages, weapons, assassinations, covert operations, and a planto suspend the Constitution of the United States..  A screening plusQ&A wtih director Trent sheds light on this story of war for profitand ideological fanaticism that eerily repeats itself today.  Reada recommendation of this lecture. Readthe Action Alert. Viewphotos.

The Economics of Censorship
Ms. Trent outlines whythe news, including TV documentaries, reflect a monolithic perspectiveand explains why the "free press" of the United States presents no realthreat to the present arrangement of power and wealth in this country.Drawing from over 15 years as a filmmaker, she walks her audience throughthe obstacles to a courageous and independent media with anecdotes drawnfrom her own experience producing, directing, and distributing three controversialand award winning feature documentaries. Readthe article that appeared in The Times-News.

Taking it to the Theaters
A workshop on self-distributionof issue-oriented film and video based on the model created by the EmpowermentProject for the distribution of COVERUP: Behind the Iran Contra Affairand Academy Award winning The Panama Deception. Appropriate forserious filmmakers. This is a best presented as a two to three hour workshopand includes a manual. Reada recommendation of this lecture.

How To Make IndependentDocumentary Films
A talk that includes:what it takes to produce a documentary, how to budget, how to assemblea team, how to raise money, how the editing process works, what's involvedin post production, ethical issues that arise, and how to distribute yourfilm. You'll also hear Barbara's unique insights on how to get issue orientedor "difficult" film funded, made and distributed. For serious filmmakers.This is best presented as a three to four hour workshop. Reada recommendation of this lecture.

Other Topics: "ChoosingPeace"; "How the World Works, and Why We Choose to Care"

To book Barbara to speakat your institution contact: 
Empowerment Project
2007 Jo Mac Road
Chapel Hill NC 27516
Phone: 919.967.1963
Fax: 919.967.1963
Email:

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