Pitt-Greensburg VOICES Series welcomes first speaker on October 11 | Events of local interest

Award-winning producer, screenwriter, and director Melissa Martin will visit the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg as the inaugural speaker for the university’s VOICES series in McKenna Hall on Wednesday, October 11th at 6 p.m. Pulling back the curtain on the magic of production. 137 (150 Finoli Drive, Hempfield Township).

Although Martin’s appearance is free and open to the public, Pitt-Greensburg writers and digital storytellers will highlight the importance of place and the important role independent films play in American culture, according to an email release from campus. The focus is on making it easier to understand.

Among Martin’s many credits: as producer/writer/director of the critically acclaimed and award-winning independent film The Bread, My Sweet, set in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Strip District; This includes the work of

“Our students, especially those in our creative writing and digital storytelling classes, are learning about the essential role of place: the places we grew up in, the places we left, and the places that no longer exist. I “The place we have only in our memories is in our creative work,” says the English professor, who co-directs the VOICES series with assistant professor of English and award-winning Pittsburgh author Dave Newman. Lori Jaquiera said.

In addition to creative writing, Newman teaches Pitt-Greensburg College’s first screenwriting class (which will boost the college’s digital storytelling offerings), and is particularly excited about Martin’s visit. .

“Melissa Martin’s movie “The Bread My Sweet,” which Hollywood changed to “Bella’s Wedding,” is the most beautiful, authentic Pittsburgh movie I’ve ever seen.” “It’s one of those things,” Newman said. “This place is full of grit and heart and the rich ethnic history that our city was once known for. Of course that history is still there, but now there are hip mini-golf bars on the Strip. and fighting for space. Martin captures a true side of Pittsburgh that has endured beyond the superficial changes that Pittsburgh often touts.”

The Bread, My Sweet screened at over 20 film festivals and was released theatrically across the United States. It was distributed worldwide by Fox International, on DVD by Universal/Screen Media, and on ShowTime, Starz, The Sundance Channel, and network television.

Martin is also the writer, director, and co-creator of the web series “The Honorable.” Another of his web series, Dog Bytes, for which Martin is the writer and director, has received significant international attention. The first episode is an award-winning stand-alone short story. This film and the entire series were screened at more than 20 of his film festivals, including Berlin, Cape Fear, and Cannes.

“Flour Baby,” “Paper Umbrellas,” and “Weekend in Toronto” are all short films directed by Martin. She also co-wrote the screenplay for the feature film Dear Zoe, starring Sadie Sink, which was released internationally last year.

A writer and director of live theater, Martin also directed “Mercy and the Fireflies” for the Pittsburgh Playhouse Repertory Company and directed the first regional production of Bryony Lavery’s “Frozen.” She often directs at Barebones Productions in Pittsburgh, including the critically acclaimed Glengarry Glen Ross, Steady Rain, A Streetcar Named Desire, and most recently, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and “Rule of Seconds”. And “Lobby Hero” is all for Barebones.

Martin teaches graduate screenwriting at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama.

“Melissa Martin’s career is incredibly diverse,” Newman added in the release. “We’re so lucky to have her come to Pitt-Greensburg. The first time I saw ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ was with Melissa as the director. It was a very intense experience. She was in crisis. It captures the fallen characters so well. Pittsburgh is lucky to have such talented artists who capture the streets, the stories, the people, or the people of any city.”

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Based on the campus’ long-running Written/Spoken Word series, VOICES is an “experiential learning experience that connects undergraduate writers with award-winning authors, poets, writers, and storytellers,” Pitt-Greensburg said. It shows the focus.

VOICES readings are funded by the Pitt-Greensburg Academic Village and the Office of Academic Affairs.

For more information about this series or the Creative & Professional Writing Program at Pitt-Greensburg, please visit www.greensburg.pitt.edu or contact Jakiela at loj@pitt.edu.