Triton College Faculty Member's New Film to Premiere Aug. 11

Seth McClellan, Triton College's Mass Communication instructor and an Oak Park resident, has produced and directed a short interview-based documentary about one of the most controversial and influential civil rights leaders, Rev. James Bevel. Its Chicago premiere is 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 11 at the Gene Siskel Film Center as part of Black Harvest International Festival of Film and Video. The film is centered on a candid, disconcerting, and powerful deathbed interview McClellan conducted with Rev. Bevel 10 days before he died of pancreatic cancer.

BEVEL'S LAST SERMON, 27 minutes long and shot in HD, paints a portrait of a fascinating, complicated man's final thoughts. Rev. Bevel was Dr. King's most influential collaborator and was largely responsible for the Children's Crusade, the March to Selma, and the Chicago Freedom Movement. His legacy was clouded by erratic behavior and a conviction for incest shortly before he died.

McClellan's previous documentary, KING IN CHICAGO, chronicled Dr. Martin Luther King's work with the Chicago Freedom Movement. It aired on PBS in Chicago in 2009, screened at 14 film festivals and for the City of Chicago Human Rights Commission, and played at universities.

"For KING IN CHICAGO, I created a linear and straightforward film," McClellan said, "because I knew it was an important story and I wanted it to reach as large an audience as possible. For BEVEL'S LAST SERMON, I've had the freedom to be much more experimental in my approach and focus on some of the contradictions in Rev. Bevel's life and philosophies. Most documentaries have a clear-cut agenda and viewpoint. With this film, I'm doing the opposite - highlighting the ambiguities and shadows and complicated humanity of my subject. I want the viewer to see a full portrait of my subject, the light and the darkness."

At Triton College, McClellan is the instructor of Mass Communication and teaches Digital Video and Video Editing courses. "We are aggressively expanding Triton's video production offerings. This fall we move into the TV station studio and will have a Mac lab with Final Cut. Triton's administration has been very supportive," McClellan said, "in part because the studio space was already there, so this new program has not needed a bunch of money during a time when money is just not available. And this is the new reality of the advances in video production - more important than lots of money and the fanciest equipment is telling a great story."

"It is a privilege to have Seth as a faculty member," said Jon Paver, Triton College Dean of Arts and Sciences. "The documentaries Professor McClellan has produced, serve as an inspiring example, and gives our students real-life ammunition for completing their goals. McClellan's experience in the industry is much more than just a valuable asset for Triton College - it is also a wonderful tool for improving student success."

BEVEL'S LAST SERMON also has or will play at festivals in Berlin, South Africa, Atlanta and Selma, Ala. Learn more about Seth McClellan's work at www.thorncreekproductions.com. Tickets for the premiere can be purchased at www.siskelfilmcenter.org/tickets.

Think Quality, Think Triton - www.triton.edu.