The Omni Center's Video Underground

February 22: The Weather Underground

2009-02-16T15:30:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, February 22 at 7pm, Omni will show the Academy Award-nominated documentary The Weather Underground, tells the story of a group of radical young women and men who tried to violently overthrow the United States government during the late 1960s and 70s. Screentime is 92 minutes. For more about this film, go to http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/weatherunderground/film.html

February 8: PETE SEEGER: POWER OF SONG

2009-01-27T18:36:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, February 8 at 7pm, the Omni Center for Peace will host a free movie screening in the Sanctuary of the United Campus Ministry located at 902 West Maple at Storer Ave. in Fayetteville. This week's movie will be PETE SEEGER: POWER OF SONG (see below).

For more about this film, go to
http://www.jimbrownfilms.com/seeger.html

In PETE SEEGER: POWER OF SONG, the only authorized biography, Jim Brown documents the life of one of the greatest American singer / songwriters of the last century. Pete Seeger was the architect of the folk revival, writing some of its best known songs including “"Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” “"Turn, Turn, Turn” and “"If I Had A Hammer."

Largely misunderstood by his critics, including the US government, for his views on peace, unionism, civil rights and ecology, Seeger was targeted by the communist witch hunt of the Fifties. He was picketed, protested, blacklisted, and, in spite of his enormous popularity, banned from American television for more than 17 years. With a combination of never-before-seen archival footage and personal films made by Seeger and his wife, PETE SEEGER: POWER OF SONG chronicles the life of this legendary artist and political activist.

December 28 at 7pm: "Joyeux Noel" and "Peace on Earth"

2008-12-20T05:09:00.000-08:00

Joyeux Noel (Merry Christmas)
In 1914, World War I, the bloodiest war ever at that time in human history, was well under way. However on Christmas Eve, numerous sections of the Western Front called an informal, and unauthorized, truce where the various front-line soldiers of the conflict peacefully met each other in No Man's Land to share a precious pause in the carnage with a fleeting brotherhood. This film dramatizes one such section as the French, British and German sides partake in the unique event, even though they are aware that their superiors will not tolerate its occurrence. (Taken from imdb.com) For more about this film, go to http://www.merrychristmas-themovie.com/ Runtime: 116 min

"Peace on Earth" is a 9 minute cartoon about a post-apocalyptic world populated by animals.

December 14: Donya

2008-12-02T09:13:00.000-08:00

Omni's Video Underground will show an Iranian film called Donya instead of Persepolis (apparently Persepolis' studio or distributor wants Omni to pay a lot of money to show Persepolis) on December 14 at 7pm in the Sanctuary on the main floor of the United Campus Ministry located at 902 West Maple at Storer Ave. in Fayetteville.

Middle East expert and University of Arkansas Joel Gordon will be on hand to comment on the film and answer questions from the audience. Dr. Gordon teaches and writes on modern Middle East history and memory, politics and culture, film, music and media, and religion. He is a two-time Fulbright scholar, and has also been awarded fellowships from the Social Science Research Council and the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE). Dr. Gordon currently serves as book review editor for the International Journal of Middle East Studies, and has served on the ARCE governing board.

The Omni Center shows a series of free movies every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month (unless noted otherwise). Admission is free but donations are appreciated.

Here is a blurb about the film from imdb.com: Donya was a huge hit in Iran, further solidifying Hedieh Tehrani's position as the top female box office draw. It is a very funny look at the relationship between an ultra conservative religious married man (Sharifinia)and a care free, modern single woman (Tehrani). Tehrani's charms slowly, but surely, erodes Shrifinia's traditional values, resulting in a series of hilarious events. Donya is well written and very well acted. Sharifinia is particularly good as the confused conservative guy. In fact his success in this role led him to being type cast in many similar roles. Donya is a prime example of those Iranian films which are loved in Iran but go neglected by international film festivals. A classic comedy from Iran.

November 23: The Meatrix

2008-11-17T05:25:00.000-08:00

Omni's Video Underground will show the movie "The Meatrix" (a humorous film about factory farming/modern meat production) and other short films on Sunday, November 23 at 7pm in the Sanctuary on the main floor of the United Campus Ministry located at 902 West Maple at Storer Ave. in Fayetteville.

The Omni Center shows a series of free movies every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month (unless noted otherwise) Admission is free but donations are appreciated.

For more about the movie, go to www.themeatrix.com/

Synopsis from imdb.com: Moopheus the Cow finds Leo the Pig at a family farm and informs him that corporations are taking over the way farms used to be. By taking the blue pill, Leo can remain at ease in his current situation, or by taking the red pill, Leo can see just how far the rabbit hole goes. Of course, he chooses the red pill, and so continues the spoof of "The Matrix" (1999), complete with techno music, fake motion control camera movements and completely blank environments from which gun racks (or in this case, pigs) shoot out. Seeing these animals wear sunglasses and trench coats is priceless, but the information the movie gives on factory farming is far more significant.

September 28, "UNCOUNTED" (a film on election fraud)

2008-09-18T06:19:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, September 28, the Omni Center for Peace will show the film on election fraud called "UNCOUNTED".
The movie starts at 7:30 pm in the Sanctuary on the main floor of the United Campus Ministry located at 902 West Maple at Storer Ave. in Fayetteville.

For more information about this film, go to http://www.uncountedthemovie.com/

Screentime: 81 minutes

For more information, contact Gerald Sloan at 575-6302 or gsloan @uark.edu

Synopsis from uncountedthemovie.com: UNCOUNTED is an explosive new documentary that shows how the election fraud that changed the outcome of the 2004 election led to even greater fraud in 2006 - and now looms as an unbridled threat to the outcome of the 2008 election. This controversial feature length film by Emmy award-winning director David Earnhardt examines in factual, logical, and yet startling terms how easy it is to change election outcomes and undermine election integrity across the U.S. Noted computer programmers, statisticians, journalists, and experienced election officials provide the irrefutable proof.
UNCOUNTED shares well documented stories about the spine-chilling disregard for the right to vote in America. In Florida, computer programmer Clint Curtis is directed by his boss to create software that will “flip” votes from one candidate to another. In Utah, County Clerk Bruce Funk is locked out of his office for raising questions about security flaws in electronic voting machines. Californian Steve Heller gets convicted of a felony after he leaks secret documents detailing illegal activities committed by a major voting machine company. And Tennessee entrepreneur, Athan Gibbs, finds verifiable voting a hard sell in America and dies before his dream of honest elections can be realized.
UNCOUNTED is a wakeup call to all Americans. Beyond increasing the public’s awareness, the film inspires greater citizen involvement in fixing a broken electoral system. As we approach the decisive election of 2008, UNCOUNTED will change how you feel about the way votes are counted in America.

September 14: The Future of Food

2008-09-06T05:04:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, September 14, the Omni Center for Peace will show the film The Future of Food. The film covers the proliferation of genetically engineered food in recent times.

Our discussion facilitator after the film will be Calvin Bey, a local promoter of organic gardening.

The movie starts at 7:30 pm in the Sanctuary on the main floor of the United Campus Ministry located at 902 West Maple at Storer Ave. in Fayetteville.

For more information about this film, go to www.thefutureoffood.com

Screentime: 58 minutes

For more information, contact Gerald Sloan at 575-6302 or gsloan @uark.edu.

Synopsis from thefutureoffood.com: THE FUTURE OF FOOD offers an in-depth investigation into the disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods that have quietly filled U.S. grocery store shelves for the past decade.

From the prairies of Saskatchewan, Canada to the fields of Oaxaca, Mexico, this film gives a voice to farmers whose lives and livelihoods have been negatively impacted by this new technology. The health implications, government policies and push towards globalization are all part of the reason why many people are alarmed by the introduction of genetically altered crops into our food supply.

Shot on location in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, THE FUTURE OF FOOD examines the complex web of market and political forces that are changing what we eat as huge multinational corporations seek to control the world's food system. The film also explores alternatives to large-scale industrial agriculture, placing organic and sustainable agriculture as real solutions to the farm crisis today.

August 24: MEETING RESISTANCE

2008-08-11T21:14:00.000-07:00

On August 24, the Omni Center for Peace will show the documentary film MEETING RESISTANCE at 7:30 pm in the Sanctuary on the main floor of the United Campus Ministry located at 902 West Maple at Storer Ave. in Fayetteville.

Synopsis from meetingresistance.com: What would you do if America was invaded? MEETING RESISTANCE raises the veil of anonymity surrounding the Iraqi insurgency by meeting face to face with individuals who are passionately engaged in the struggle, and documenting for the very first time, the sentiments experienced and actions taken by a nation's citizens when their homeland is occupied. Voices that have previously not been heard, male and female, speak candidly about their motivations, hopes and goals, revealing a kaleidoscope of human perspectives. Featuring reflective, yet fervent conversations with active insurgents, MEETING RESISTANCE is the missing puzzle piece in understanding the Iraq war. Directed by Steve Connors and Molly Bingham, this daring, eye-opening film provides unique insight into the personal narratives of people involved in the resistance exploding myth after myth about the war in Iraq and the Iraqis who participate. Through its unprecedented access to these clandestine groups, MEETING RESISTANCE focuses the spotlight on the "other side", clarifying why the violence in Iraq continues to this day and providing a deeper understanding of both the toll of occupation and the human condition of resistance. Screentime: 84 minutes. For more about this film, go to http://meetingresistance.com/

For more information, contact Gerald Sloan at 575-6302 or gsloan @uark.edu

April 27: Sophie Scholl -The Final Days

2008-04-12T05:57:00.000-07:00

On April 27, OMNI will screen film about German anti-Nazi resister Sophie Scholl. The facilitator for discussion following "Sophie Scholl" will be University of Arkansas History professor Dr. Evan Bukey. Runtime: 120 min

SYNOPSIS from http://www.sophieschollmovie.com/

The true story of Germany's most famous anti-Nazi heroine is brought to thrilling life in the multi-award winning drama SOPHIE SCHOLL-THE FINAL DAYS. Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film of 2005, SOPHIE SCHOLL stars Julia Jentsch in a luminous performance as the young coed-turned-fearless activist. Armed with long-buried historical records of her incarceration, director Marc Rothemund expertly re-creates the last six days of Sophie Scholl's life: a heart-stopping journey from arrest to interrogation, trial and sentence.

In 1943, as Hitler continues to wage war across Europe, a group of college students mount an underground resistance movement in Munich. Dedicated expressly to the downfall of the monolithic Third Reich war machine, they call themselves the White Rose. One of its few female members, Sophie Scholl is captured during a dangerous mission to distribute pamphlets on campus with her brother Hans. Unwavering in her convictions and loyalty to the White Rose, her cross-examination by the Gestapo quickly escalates into a searing test of wills as Scholl delivers a passionate call to freedom and personal responsibility that is both haunting and timeless.

SOPHIE SCHOLL-THE FINAL DAYS received three Lolas (German Oscars) including the Audience Award and Best Actress Award to Jentsch for her brilliant characterization of the title role. The film also won two Silver Bears for Best Director and Best Actress at the 2005 Berlin International Film Festival.

April 13: "Speaking Freely: Susan George on Neo-liberalism"

2008-03-26T20:43:00.000-07:00

Here is a synopsis from http://www.cinemalibrestore.com
Susan George, author of more than a dozen books, is the Chair of the Planning Board of the Transnational Institute in Amsterdam, a fellowship of scholars living throughout the world whose work is intended to contribute to social justice. Born in the United States and now living near Paris, George became a French citizen in 1994. From 1999 to 2006, she served as Vice-President of ATTAC France (Association for Taxation of Financial Transaction to Aid Citizens). She is currently focusing her attention on the issue of neo-liberal globalization and engaged in a a campaign to democratize the World Trade Organization. Screentime: 52 minutes

March 30: A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash

2008-03-12T10:46:00.000-07:00

On March 30, at 7pm the Omni Center for Peace will show the documentary film, A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash at 7pm in the Sanctuary on the main floor of the United Campus Ministry located at 902 West Maple at Storer Ave. in Fayetteville.
Admission is free but donations are appreciated.

Northwest Arkansas Sustainability Center founder Matthew Petty will facilitate a discussion of the film afterwards.

Here is a synopsis of its official website (www.oilcrashmovie.com), the film tells the story of how our civilization’s addiction to oil puts it on a collision course with geology. Compelling, intelligent, and highly entertaining, the film visits with the world’s top experts and comes to a startling, butlogical conclusion – our industrial society, built on cheap and readily available oil, must be completely re-imagined and overhauled.

According to the Internet Movie Database,
(see http://imdb.com/title/tt0776794/awards)
this film has won 5 awards from the following film festivals.
2007 Barcelona Cinema Festival
2006 Palm Beach International Film Festival
2006 Tahoe Reno International Film Festival
2006 Zurich Film Awards
2006 Galway Film Festival

For more about this film, go to http://www.oilcrashmovie.com.

For more information, contact Gerald Sloan at 575-6302 or gsloan @uark.edu

March 9: Beyond Treason

2008-02-26T10:57:00.000-08:00

On March 9, the Omni Center for Peace will show the documentary film Beyond Treason at 7pm in the Sanctuary on the main floor of the United Campus Ministry located at 902 West Maple at Storer Ave. in Fayetteville.
This film documents US government funded experimentation upon its own citizens conducted without their knowledge or consent of those citizens. Screen time: 100 min.

For more about this film, go to http://www.beyondtreason.com/

For more information, contact Gerald Sloan at 575-6302 or gsloan @uark.edu

2008 OMNI-NWACC Spring Film schedule

2008-02-12T17:40:00.000-08:00

The NorthWest Arkansas Community College chapter of the Omni Center has announced its 2008 Spring Film Festival schedule. All screenings are free and last from about 6:30 to 9:00 pm. I have attached some posters and flyers for it to this email. They will show these movies in Room B102, Shewmaker Center 1100 Southeast Eagle Way, Bentonville (On the north side of the North West Arkansas Community College campus)
For more information, contact Edrene McKay at EdreneMcKay @ cox.net or 479-855-6836.

Click here to view trailers for these movies.

FEBRUARY 27, FAST FOOD NATION

A dramatic exploration of the fast food industry that ultimately reveals the dark side of the "All American Meal."

MARCH 12, BONHOEFFER

A portrait of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German theologian who was imprisoned and killed by the Nazis for plotting to assassinate Hitler.

MARCH 26, Deliver Us From Evil

The story of Father Oliver O'Grady, an active pedophile, who was sheltered by the Roman Catholic Church.

APRIL 3, Sicko

Michael Moore’s acclaimed documentary indicting the highly profitable American health care industry that sacrifices essential health services in order to maximize profits.

APRIL 9, Jesus Camp

This Oscar-nominated documentary offers a look at a revivalist subculture where devout Christian youngsters are being primed to deliver the fundamentalist community's religious and political messages.

APRIL 17, PARAGRAPH 175

Reveals the Nazi persecution of homosexuals under Paragraph 175, the anti-sodomy provision of the German penal code.

APRIL 22, TRASHED

A documentary on the history, politics and economics of trash, which focuses not only on the problem, but also on solutions.

APRIL 23, For the BIBLE tells me so
A documentary about five Christian families struggling with homosexuality and how the religious right has used its interpretation of the Bible to stigmatize the gay community.

February 10: No End in Sight (the Iraq war documentary)

2008-01-13T20:52:00.000-08:00

On February 10, the Omni Center for Peace will show the Iraq war documentary No End in Sight at 7pm in the Sanctuary on the main floor of the United Campus Ministry located at 902 West Maple at Storer Ave. in Fayetteville.
Synopsis from video.aol.com: "The first film of its kind to chronicle the reasons behind Iraq’s descent into guerrilla war, warlord rule, criminality and anarchy, No End In Sight is a jaw-dropping, insider’s tale of wholesale incompetence, recklessness and venality." Screen time: 102 min.
For more about this film, go to http://noendinsightmovie.com/

January 13: Reverend Billy and The Church Of Stop Shopping

2007-12-29T23:54:00.000-08:00

The Omni Center for Peace will screen the film Reverend Billy and The Church Of Stop Shopping in its series of free movie screening at Video Underground in the Sanctuary on the main floor of the United Campus Ministry located at 902 West Maple at Storer Ave. in Fayetteville. The Omni Center will screen these movies at 7pm on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month. For more information, contact Gerald Sloan at 575-6302 or gsloan @uark.edu
For more about the film, go to http://www.playloud.org/revbilly.html
Click on the image below to watch a trailer of this movie.

Film Schedule for November and December 2007

2007-11-24T19:09:00.000-08:00

The Omni Center for Peace has announced the next 3 films in its series of free movie screenings at Video Underground in the Sanctuary on the main floor of the United Campus Ministry located at 902 West Maple at Storer Ave. in Fayetteville. The Omni Center will screen these movies at 7pm on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month. For more information, contact Gerald Sloan at 575-6302 or gsloan@ uark.edu

To learn more about the Omni Center for Peace website, go to http://omnicenter.org/

November 25: The Corporation
Since the late 18th century American legal decision that the business corporation organizational model is legally a person, it has become a dominant economic, political and social force around the globe. This film takes an in-depth psychological examination of the organization model through various case studies. What the study illustrates is that in its behaviour, this type of "person" typically acts like a dangerously destructive psychopath without conscience. Furthermore, we see the profound threat this psychopath has for our world and our future, but also how the people with courage, intelligence and determination can do to stop it. (Taken from imdb.com) Runtime: 145 min. For more information about this film, go to http://www.thecorporation.com/
Click on image to see movie trailer.

December 9: Who Shot My Brother?
"As German Gutierrez searches for the gunmen who tried to kill his brother, he exposes the root causes of the violence in his native Colombia." (Bullfrog) "The question in the title leads the narrator and us, the audience, into the many sides of Colombian violence: labor union leaders, civilians attacked from the air; hostages taken by left-wing guerrillas; victims who have lost limbs to landmines. The various armed actors (military, guerrillas, paramilitaries) are shown, and the extent of U.S. involvement is exposed with astonishing footage.
Avoiding oversimplification and stereotypes and focusing on real people, this film shows the beauty of Colombia and presents some remarkable people who courageously struggle against the violence, such as doctors, displaced people starting a new community, and, most notably, the courageous politician Oscar Gutierrez, the filmmaker's brother." (Berryman) "WSMB is at turns horrifying and inspiring, both difficult to watch and impossible to ignore. (It is) essential viewing for all who wish to understand the conflict in Colombia...., the third-largest recipient of U.S. military aid, not counting Iraq and Afghanistan." (Director of Programs, Center for International Policy) (Taken from bullfrogfilms.com) Runtime: 95 minutes. For more about this film, go to http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/wsmb.html
Luis Restrepo (a native of Colombia and University of Arkansas Spanish Professor) will be the guest speaker. For more information and reviews for this film, go to http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/wsmb.html
Runtime: 95 minutes. Click the image below to see a preview of the movie in Spanish with French subtitles.

December 23: Joyeux Noel (Merry Christmas)
In 1914, World War I, the bloodiest war ever at that time in human history, was well under way. However on Christmas Eve, numerous sections of the Western Front called an informal, and unauthorized, truce where the various front-line soldiers of the conflict peacefully met each other in No Man's Land to share a precious pause in the carnage with a fleeting brotherhood. This film dramatizes one such section as the French, British and German sides partake in the unique event, even though they are aware that their superiors will not tolerate its occurrence. (Taken from imdb.com) For more about this film, go to http://www.merrychristmas-themovie.com/ Runtime: 116 min.

Past Video Underground Screenings

2007-10-22T23:25:00.000-07:00

September 24, 2007: "9/11 Press For Truth" - Out of the grieving thousands left behind on September 11th, a small group of activist families emerged to demand answers. In 9/11 Press For Truth, six of them (including three of the famous "Jersey Girls") tell for the first time the powerful story of how they took on the powers in Washington—and won!—compelling an investigation, only to subsequently watch the 9/11 Commission fail in answering most of their questions. For more about this film, go to http://www.911pressfortruth.com/#
Click on image to see movie trailer.

Sunday, October 28th: "Why We Fight" -
He may have been the ultimate icon of 1950s conformity and postwar complacency, but Dwight D. Eisenhower was an iconoclast, visionary, and the Cassandra of the New World Order. Upon departing his presidency, Eisenhower issued a stern, cogent warning about the burgeoning "military industrial complex," foretelling with ominous clarity the state of the world in 2004 with its incestuous entanglement of political, corporate, and Defense Department interests. This documentary that examines America's policies
regarding making war, most recently the Iraq war and what is termed "the Bush doctrine" that includes pre-emptive strikes. More info at www.sonyclassics.com/whywefight/
Click on image to see movie trailer.

November 11: Ghosts of Abu Ghraib
The familiar and disturbing pictures of torture at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison raise many troubling questions: How did torture become an accepted practice at Abu Ghraib? Did U.S. government policies make it possible? How much damage has the aftermath of Abu Ghraib had on America's credibility as a defender of freedom and human rights around the world? Acclaimed filmmaker Rory Kennedy looks beyond the headlines to investigate the psychological and political context in which torture occurred. (Taken from hbo.com) Runtime: 82 min. For more information about this film, go to http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/ghostsofabughraib/index.html

Click on image to see movie trailer.