Index of University Press Releases

Feb 19, 2007

Internationally acclaimed filmmaker to speak at DWU

MITCHELL, S.D. — Angela Tucker, documentary filmmaker and cinematographer, will be the third presenter of the 2006-2007 McGovern Film Series at Dakota Wesleyan University. She will be substituting for Kirsten Johnson, who has been delayed due to a rigorous filming schedule in Darfur, Africa.

Tucker will discuss her 2004 documentary, “Deadline,” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22 at the Sherman Center on the DWU campus.

“She received her undergraduate degree at Wesleyan University (Connecticut) in Theater and African-American Studies, and did her graduate studies in Film from Columbia University where she received a Dean's Fellowship, a grant from the Academy of Arts and Sciences, and two Milos Forman Finishing Funds awards,” said Donald Simmons, director of the McGovern Center at Dakota Wesleyan University.

The film, which she produced with co-directors Kirsten Johnson and Katy Chevigny, tackles the controversial topic of capital punishment, which captured the attention of South Dakotans last summer when Governor Mike Rounds delayed the planned execution of Elijah Page until July 2007 because of a conflict over whether the process should involve two or three drugs. The issue is currently being reviewed by the legislature in Pierre.

“Deadline,” which was broadcast on NBC's “Dateline” in July 2004 to an audience of 5.5 million people, has been praised by critics for approaching the topic of capital punishment in an intelligent, compassionate and balanced manner.

Tucker has been involved with a number of other film projects during her career. She was the line producer for “Beyond the Steps: The Alvin Ailey Dance Company” for PBS' “Great Performances” and a field producer for the upcoming documentary film, “Election Day” which will premiere in March 2007 at the SXSW Film Festival. She directed the short film, “The Birthday Girl” which will premiere at the Harlem Film Festival, and produced the short film, “Shook,” which won awards at The Oakland Film Festival and The Juneteenth Film Festival. She has written articles for The Independent Film and Video Monthly and Media Rights and was a juror for The 2005 and 2006 Tribeca Underground Film Festival and NYC Shorts.

“When I first spoke with the film’s directors about the possibility of visiting DWU to speak to our leadership and public service majors,” said Simmons, “I had no idea the death penalty would be such a big political issue in South Dakota. This is a unique opportunity for our students to learn from one of the best documentary filmmakers working today.”

Individuals interested in attending the screening of “Deadline” and the subsequent panel discussion on the death penalty are encouraged to check the McGovern Center Web site (www.mcgoverncenter.com) for regular program updates.

The program is sponsored in part by funding from the South Dakota Humanities Council, a state program of the National Endowment for the Humanities.