Indiana University East will host the premiere of the documentary film, 1:47, on Friday, April 4, at 8 p.m. in Vivian Auditorium. The black tie optional event will start with a reception at 6:30 p.m. in Whitewater Lobby. Tickets are $100 per person and can be purchased by contacting the IU East Office of External Affairs at (765) 973-8419.

1:47 tells the story of the 1968 explosion in Richmond and the city’s ordinary – and extraordinary residents – who responded to the disaster. The film makes use of black and white photographs, color slides, archival news film footage, and interviews from eyewitnesses, survivors, and those who worked to rebuild the city. 1:47 reveals the cause of the explosion and its effects on the city and people of Richmond and untangles the web of responsibility and blame that followed.

“It is our hope that those who come to see this film will leave with a better appreciation of the courage and sacrifice our community made in response to this tragic event,” said executive producer Rob Quigg. “We hope that by telling this remarkable story in film, we have preserved this event for future generations.”

Additional screenings will take place at IU East during the 40th anniversary weekend. Tickets are $5 per person and can be purchased at the Vivian Auditorium door for screenings on Saturday, April 5, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, April 6, at 2 p.m.

Throughout the weekend, a companion exhibit in The Gallery at IU East will display photographs and artifacts related to the explosion.

1:47 was written and directed by Jean Harper, assistant professor of English at Indiana University East. The film was produced and edited by Zack Parker whose most recent film, Quench, was the recipient of the best director award from the New York International Independent Film Festival. Videographer for 1:47 was Jim Krause.

Proceeds from the premiere weekend will support a special annual summer intensive course at IU East titled “On the Line: Creating Art from Life.” Working with award-winning faculty from IU East with expertise in nonfiction writing, poetry, fiction, and photography, students will write about and photograph places and people in east central Indiana and west central Ohio. The final product of the course will be an annual public gallery exhibit in historic downtown Richmond, showcasing the work of IU East students.

“The greatest artists and writers find inspiration in the world around them,” Harper said. “Our goal with this summer program is to inspire students to create works of art and literature in and about their own community. I also see this as a way to honor the memory of those who were lost in the downtown explosion. So many talented and gifted people were taken; we can never get them back, but we can remember their spirit, and honor that with our work of teaching and learning and making art out of the life around us.”

1:47 premiere at Indiana University East is sponsored by West End Bank, Creative Street Media Group, First Merchants Trust Company, First Bank Richmond, Monarch Beverage Company, US Bank, the City of Richmond, J.M. Hutton & Co., the Indiana University Foundation, and Wayne Bank and Trust. Additional supporters include CS Kern, Kessler’s Team Sports, Meijer, the Allan and Miriam Rosar Donor Advised Fund of the Wayne County Foundation, and Porter Advertising.

On Friday, April 4, 2008, there will be a special premiere of the documentary film 1:47 at Indiana University East.  This premiere will launch a weekend of screenings of the film; additional screenings will be held at Indiana University East on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., as well as 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 6, the 40^th anniversary of the explosion. 

The Friday night premiere is an extraordinary event, the proceeds of which will support a special annual summer intensive course at Indiana University East, beginning summer 2009.  In this course, which we are calling “On the Line: Creating Art from Life,” students will write about and photograph places and people in our community: East Central Indiana and West Central Ohio.  Within this rich and varied part of the country, stories abound in small towns, the countryside, places of work, and the fascinating people who call this place home.  These people and this place will be the subject matter; the choices which students can focus on are limitless: institutions such as churches or schools; the details of small town life or that of a particular neighborhood; places of work – a beauty shop, pet store, automobile repair shop, corner variety store, farm co-op, and more; special events such as weddings, births, funerals; unique individuals such as athletes, artists, teachers, clergy. 

Students will work on the subject matter of their choice with award-winning faculty from Indiana University East with expertise in nonfiction writing, poetry, fiction, and photography.  The month-long intensive will feature workshops in writing techniques in the three genres, and workshops in photographic technique.  Students will also have opportunities to meet one on one with instructors, present their written work at public readings, and connect with local and established professionals in the art world.  The course will cover how to find subject matter, how to capture it in writing and in images, and how to make the creative choices to shape what we encounter in the world into art.  The final product of the annual course will be a public gallery exhibit in historic downtown Richmond, Indiana, showcasing the work of students.

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To obtain tickets for the Friday night premiere, please contact the office of External Affairs at Indiana University East: 765-973-8419.  Premiere tickets are $100, and the event includes a reception (6:30 p.m.) before the film premiere (8:00 p.m.). 

Tickets for the Saturday and Sunday screenings will be available at the door of Vivian Auditorium in Whitewater Hall for $5.

On April 4th, 2008, our documentary film — 1:47 — will premiere. The premiere weekend is scheduled to have four showings of the film, Friday through Sunday. We are very excited to be able to offer that many showings of the film. At each showing one or more of the production team will be on hand to discuss the making of the film and answer questions following the screening. I personally will be at all four showings.

Here is an overview of the schedule that weekend (exact times to come in a future post):

On Friday evening, there will be a gala premiere of the film at Indiana University East. Information about tickets to this event can be obtained by calling the Office of External Affairs at Indiana University East. Their number is: 765-973-8444.

On Saturday, the film will be shown twice: an afternoon matinee, and an evening screening.

On Sunday afternoon, there will be a second matinee showing of the film.

Following the premiere weekend, 1:47 will be shown at other venues in the Richmond area, including Earlham College and the Richmond Art Museum. As dates and times for those showings are confirmed, I will post those here as well.

Then, in the summer, a DVD will be available for purchase of the film. We will continue working on that portion of the project after the premiere weekend, making extra material available on the DVD, as well as interviews with Rob Quigg, and some other members of the production team.

Thank you to all who have been sending us emails wishing us well on the project! We are very proud as well as humbled to have been able to put this together. I look forward to meeting many of you in person on the premiere weekend.

Jean Harper