Arkansas PBS > Engage > Pressroom > AETN, Hendrix College host Community Cinema featuring free advance screening of 'The Calling'
Posted 23 Nov 2010
The Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN) and Hendrix College invite the public to a free screening of "The Calling" as part of Community Cinema Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 6 p.m. at the Murphy Building on Hendrixs campus in Conway.
"The Calling," a groundbreaking four-hour documentary series that follows the stories of seven young Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim Americans who are training for religious leadership, takes viewers into the unknown world of seminaries to reveal the real people "behind the robes." Embarking on life paths that demand tremendous personal sacrifice and commitment, these seminarians must uphold timeless truths in an era that values quick fixes and hot trends, and face a public that challenges the very relevance of their mission. A new look at an old job, "The Calling" presents a fascinating look at how faith is lived today.
"The Calling" follows its subjects from their first days of training, through years of study, and into their early practice as religious leaders. They debate theology and philosophy, learn to deliver sermons, perform their first weddings and funerals, and counsel people in crisis. Although from different ethnic, geographic, and religious backgrounds, the young people featured in "The Calling" share similar traits: theyre charismatic and likeable, driven and self-reflective, confident yet humble. Each is seeking to reconcile the modern world with their ancient faith, balancing egos with a desire to serve, and blazing new paths to leadership while preserving age-old traditions.
In addition to the broadcast, "The Calling" will be supported by Whats Your Calling? (WYC), a digital and community engagement campaign that explores the notion of calling from both religious and secular perspectives, through a variety of media and written commentary. Through this content and user discussion, WYC (www.whatsyourcalling.org) will engage participants in conversations about why and how people are following their calling, seeking to make the world a better place through art, politics, business, music, aid, sports, medicine, philanthropy, media, religious leadership, and beyond.
The screening will be held in the Murphy Building, located on the Hendrix campus at the corner of Washington Avenue and Winfield Street in Conway. Refreshments will be provided, and parking is available in lots adjacent to Bailey Library. For more information, call AETN at 800-662-2386, or visit www.aetn.org/engage.
A community discussion will be held with religion and faith experts following the screening. Part one of "The Calling" will air on AETN Monday, Dec. 20, at 8 p.m. and part two will air Tuesday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m.
Community Cinema, a free monthly screening series engaging communities through film produced by the Independent Television Service (ITVS), features monthly screenings followed by panel discussions with leading organizations, local communities and special guest speakers. The program is designed to help people learn about and get involved in the social issues raised in the documentaries.
Hendrix, founded in 1876, is a selective, residential, undergraduate liberal arts college emphasizing experiential learning in a demanding yet supportive environment. The college is featured in the 2010 edition of the Princeton Review as one of the countrys best 371 colleges, was identified as the nations top Up and Coming liberal arts college for 2010 by U.S. News and World Report, and is ranked among 44 Best Buy colleges by the 2010 Fiske Guide to Colleges. Hendrix has been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. For more information, visit www.hendrix.edu.
The Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN) is Arkansas's statewide public television network that enhances lives by providing lifelong learning opportunities for people from all walks of life. AETN delivers local, award-winning productions and classic, trusted PBS programs aimed at sharing Arkansas and the world with viewers. AETN depends on the generosity of Arkansans and the State of Arkansas to continue offering quality programming. For more information, visit www.aetn.org, or follow the AETN blog at www.aetn.org/engage. AETN is broadcast on KETS (Little Rock), KEMV (Mountain View), KETG (Arkadelphia), KAFT (Fayetteville), KTEJ (Jonesboro), and KETZ (El Dorado).