Carvin Eison, Professor of Journalism and Broadcasting, had the documentary he directed, July ’64, added to the American Archive of Public Broadcasting (AAPB) a collaboration between the Library of Congress and Boston-based public media producer GBH.
Carvin Eison
“We made a film that has resonance today and it brings a smile to my face whenever I think about it,” Eison said. “It has become the basis for so many other films I have seen students in this community work on.”
The goal of the Library of Congress with this collaboration is to “preserve for posterity the most significant public television and radio programs of the past 60 years.” The AAPB collection accepts contributions from multiple sources, including public television, where Eison’s documentary, July ’64, first aired on the PBS series, Independent Lens.
“I received an email one day that said my film was selected for the Library of Congress and I said, ‘This can’t be true’ so I immediately contacted Chris Christopher (Producer of July ’64),” Eison said. “There are literally thousands of great films, and for the Library of Congress to select our film, it humbles me to think we did something so… right.”
July ’64 dives into the historic three-day race riot in Rochester, NY in July 1964. What began as a routine arrest at a street dance in a predominantly black neighborhood ended with the National Guard being called to a northern city for the first time during the era of the Civil Rights Movement. The film documents the civil unrest that took place in Rochester at that time.
“It was former Assemblyman David Gantt’s idea to make the film,” Eison said. “He knew the people that knew the history of that event, like Constance Mitchell, Franklin Florence, were getting older and it was important to tell the story for posterity, and they tell it with such passion. It is such a powerful piece of work because of that.”
Eison received funding for the film through PBS as part of an “open call,” an initiative where independent filmmakers can pitch concepts directly to PBS for funding. The documentary aired on February 14, 2006. It won multiple awards, including a nomination for Best Director and Best Program at the 2005 New York State Emmy Awards.
“There are literally thousands of great films, and for Library of Congress to select our film, it humbles me to think we did something so… right.”
Carvin Eison
“The response for the film was beautiful because it touched a nerve,” Eison said. “It was responsible. It doesn’t say this is bad and this is good. It presents the information and allows you the viewer to determine the veracity of that information.”
Eison draws on the lessons he learned while directing July ’64 to guide current students in understanding what it takes to direct a film.
“I caution young students interested in film making, know the story you are telling and be familiar with it,” Eison said. “It’s a bigger story than you and you need to be true to that story. Don’t be afraid to allow the story to grow and change.”