Student-produced documentary at Ross examines French-U.S. relations

A group of University of Nebraska-Lincoln students from the College of Journalism and Mass Communications watched the recent riots in France with special insight. They traveled to Paris and its suburbs a year ago with film equipment and reporters' notebooks to document the status of Franco-American relations and the state of French culture. They visited the suburbs that have erupted in flames this fall, and over a 10-day period interviewed dozens of historians, educators, American ex-patriots and French government officials to get the story of a country and an alliance in flux.

On Dec. 1 their work, in the form of a documentary film and a companion magazine, will debut at 7 p.m. at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center, 313 N. 13th St. The premiere is free and open to the public, and will be followed by a question and answer session with the student film producers and reporters. The magazine will be available for purchase at the event.

"I Love You, I Hate You Too" is an hour-long documentary that explores the thin line between love and hate that the U.S. and France have danced across for more than 200 years. Producers Carrie Johnson and Kristen Hansen explore this complex dance through the history of two world powers ranging from Lafayette and Ben Franklin to Iraq and Jacques Chirac. The documentary includes analysis of current events in Paris within the context of a volatile alliance.

"I Love You -- Neither Do I," a full-color magazine produced by graduate and undergraduate student reporters, continues the exploration of French culture and Franco-American relations. Included in the 68 pages are stories by Kevin Abourezk, Dirk Chatelain, Erin Hilsabeck, Rachael Seravalli, Laura Schreier and Patti Vannoy. Photographs by student photojournalist Alyssa Schukar add stunning visual impact to the magazine. Advertising student Casey Griffith accompanied the group to study French promotional approaches through visits to media outlets and advertising agencies. A fluent French speaker, she also provided translation during interviews and overall promotional support of the project.

"This is a project crossing the three disciplines in the college -- students from advertising, broadcasting and news-editorial are all represented," said Will Norton, dean of the college. "It is an effort to apply in our projects the reality of convergence of media."

The documentary is dedicated to the memory of French historian Rene Maurice, who died in August 2005. Maurice, whose sister Etiennette Lefler teaches French at Lincoln East High School, wrote a book chronicling American ex-patriot communities in France and shared his insights with the UNL crew in a series of interviews excerpted in the film.

Also featured in the documentary and magazine are interviews with former Husker basketball star Leroy Chalk, an African American who has lived in Paris since leaving the UNL campus in 1971. Chalk teaches in the very neighborhoods that saw some of the worst rioting in recent weeks. His observations on race relations in the U.S. and in France provide a deeper understanding of the two cultures.

This is one of a series of International Depth Reporting Projects recently produced by students in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, a program committed to developing the cross-cultural communication professionals of the future. Past projects include a January 2003 trip to Cuba that resulted in a documentary, "Cuba: Illogical Temple," that won a Student Academy Award, and a magazine, "Cuba: An Elusive Truth," that was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. A group of students will leave in late December for a two-week trip to Sri Lanka to report on conditions one year after the tsunami.

"I Love You, I Hate You Too" producers: Johnson is a senior from Omaha studying in Grenada, Spain, this fall. She is an honor student who will graduate with highest distinction in May. Hansen of Lincoln is a Seacrest scholar in the master's degree program. She is finishing a documentary film shot on location in Cuba, during an archaeological dig at San Juan Hill.

"I Love You -- Neither Do I" reporters: Abourezk of Lincoln is a student in the master's degree program. He is also a full-time reporter and editor at the Lincoln Journal Star. Chatelain, originally from Rising City, graduated in December and is a sportswriter for the Omaha World-Herald. Hilsabeck, a Lincoln native, also graduated in December and works at the Hattiesburg (Miss.) American. Seravalli is a student in the master's degree program. She has reported for the Des Moines Register and the Lincoln Journal Star. A senior from Omaha, Schreier will graduate in December. Lincoln native Vannoy graduated in May and now works in Florida. Photographer Schukar of Lincoln will graduate in December. Griffith, also of Lincoln, handled advertising and promotion, will graduate in May.

CONTACT: Amy Struthers, Asst. Professor, Advertising, (402) 472-3528