October 20, 2009

Philadelphia's First Person Festival is dedicated to presenting personal stories in the form of memoirs and documentary films. This year, the Westphal College has joined in partnership with the First Person Festival to do a mini-version of the fest at Drexel. We'll be presenting two outstanding documentaries and the filmmakers will be on campus for classroom engagements and to speak with the audiences following the screenings. The first film is William Kunstler: Disturbing The Universe, &about the controversial lawyer who defended the Chicago Seven, Attica State Prison rioters, a number of Black Panthers and some of those charged with the first World Trade Center bombing. Kunstler's daughter Emily, along with her sister Sarah, produced and directed the film which gives a highly personal look at life growing up with a passionate advocate of human and civil rights who had a penchant for taking on unpopular and controversial defendants leading to complicated and conflicted feelings for his daughters, who sometimes had to deal with their lives being in danger from irate citizenry who resented their father's advocacy. David Rudovsky, a leading civil rights and criminal defense attorney will join Emily Kunstler and Dean of the Earle Mack School of Law, Roger Dennis, to discuss Kunstler's life and legacy on Monday, November 9th at 7 PM in the Bossone Auditorium. This First Person Festival at Drexel screening is being co-sponsored by this college and the Earle Macke School of Law, and admission is free.

Still Bill is a documentary about Bill Withers, the singer-songwriter responsible for such monster hits as "Just the Two of Us,' "Ain't No Sunshine' and "Lean on Me.' Withers, an articulate man and independent thinker, found the music industry increasingly difficult to navigate and he withdrew from the spotlight for 23 years refusing to give interviews and not releasing new music although he continued to record. That is until filmmakers Damani Baker and Alex Vlack convinced him to tell his story in this compelling and thoughtful movie that explores Wither's issues with the music industry and his life as an outstanding songwriter and performer who has uniquely led his life in his own way. Filmmakers Baker and Vlack will do a Q&A after the screening on Wednesday, November 11th at 7 PM in Bossone.

DETAILS:

• William Kunstler: Disturbing The Universe, Monday, November 9, 7 PM
• Still Bill, Wednesday, November 11, 7 PM
• Bossone Auditorium, 3128 Market St.
• Free and open to the public
• For more information, call 215-895-1029