LA SKINS FEST: Bad Press

ADMISSION & CAMPUS ACCESS:
Admission is free. Reservations are required. Campus access is limited to registered guests and USC students, staff, and faculty with current USC ID. 

RSVP

DESCRIPTION: 
“An Eye-Opening Exposé on Democracy and Journalistic Freedom.”—The Hollywood Reporter

When the Muscogee Nation government abruptly repeals its landmark Free Press Act to muzzle the tribe’s hard-hitting news outlet, defiant and foul-mouthed journalist Angel Ellis charges headfirst into a historic (and surprisingly funny) battle to restore her tribe’s press freedoms. Directed by Rebecca Landsberry-Baker and Joe Peeler, Bad Press is a timely documentary about a lone journalist fighting a corrupt system for her fellow citizens, and an enthralling, edge-of-your-seat nail biter that unfurls with the energy and suspense of a political thriller.

A screening of Bad Press will be followed by a conversation with its creators.

This event is presented in conjunction with LA SKINS FEST, a film festival that provides opportunities and outlets for Native American filmmakers and offers additional programming to encourage them, including a monthly writers group, monthly directors workshop, and youth multimedia workshops.

Bios:

Rebecca Landsberry-Baker is an enrolled citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the executive director of the Native American Journalists Association. She is a recipient of the 2018 NCAIED “Native American 40 Under 40” award and was selected to the Harvard Shorenstein News Leaders Fall 2022 cohort. Landsberry-Baker made her directorial debut with the documentary feature film, Bad Press, which was supported by the Sundance Institute, Ford Foundation JustFilms, NBC, and the Gotham. Bad Press premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and received the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Freedom of Expression. The film was also recognized with the One in a Million Award from the 2023 Sun Valley Film Festival.

Joe Peeler is a Sundance Award–winning director and editor whose work has appeared on NETFLIX, HBO, FX, ESPN, Hulu, and CBS. Joe began his career apprenticing under legendary director Peter Bogdanovich, and went on to edit Lucy Walker’s Academy Awards short-listed documentary short The Lion’s Mouth Opens; multiple episodes of the Netflix original series Flint Town; and Margaret Brown’s SXSW premiere documentary short The Black Belt. Most recently, Joe co-directed Bad Press, which premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and won the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Freedom of Expression.

Related events: 

LA SKINS FEST: Native American and Indigenous Short Film Showcase
Thursday, August 29, 2024, at 7 p.m.
Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108
For more info, click HERE.

LA SKINS FEST: Frybread Face and Me
Monday, October 14, 2024, at 7 p.m.
Norris Cinema Theatre
For more info, click HERE.

Presented by the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Outside the Box (Office), USC Visions and Voices, and the LA SKINS FEST. 

Images: Bad Press, 2023