Virtual screening to feature Q&A with expert panel

Detroit, MI — Indie Lens Pop-Up presented by ITVS, Independent Lens, WKAR Public Media, the Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs at Wayne State University and MSU WorkLife Office at Michigan State University will present 9to5: The Story of a Movement. Academy Award-winning filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar angle their lens on the previously untold story of the campaign against the mistreatment of women in the American workplace.

The working women’s movement that inspired the lyrics of Dolly Parton's historic song “9 to 5” started with a group of Boston secretaries in the early 1970s and spread across the nation. Their goals were simple—better pay, more advancement opportunities, and an end to sexual harassment—and their unconventional approach attracted the attention of the press and shamed their reluctant bosses into change. 

WHAT: FREE virtual preview screening of 9to5: The Story of a Movement, followed by a community discussion about the beginnings of the 9to5 movement, and where we are now.

WHO:  Presenters: Indie Lens Pop-Up, WKAR Public Media and the WorkLife Office at Michigan State University, and the Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs at Wayne State University.

WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 28, 7 p.m.

RSVP: https://ovee.itvs.org/screenings/it7yn

For more information about the film, visit: pbs.org/9to5

After the viewing, join panelists as they discuss the beginnings of the 9to5 movement, and where we are now.

Scheduled panelists include:

Panel Moderator Jaimie Hutchison, Deputy Director, WorkLife Office at Michigan State University

Lane Windham, U.S. Historian, Georgetown University

Kim Cook, The Worker Institute at Cornell University

Amanda Walter, Department of History at Towson University

RSVP HERE to join the screening and conversation around 9to5: The Story of a Movement from the comfort and safety of your home. First-time registrants will create a free OVEE account and will be asked to provide their birthdate to verify their age as 13 or older. Accounts can be anonymous.

Presenting partners Indie Lens Pop-Up, WKAR Public Media, the Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs at Wayne State University and the Worklife Office at Michigan State University aim to spark enlightening conversations that shed light on these issues.  

9to5: The Story of a Movement premieres on Independent Lens Monday, Feb. 1, 10-11:30 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS Video App.

A New Kind of Virtual Event - OVEE

This film screening and conversation is a virtual event hosted by WKAR on the OVEE platform. OVEE stands for Online Viewing and Engagement Experience. Created by ITVS and funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), OVEE combines quality HD media and livestream content with the community-building conversation of social media in a single-screen experience.

About Indie Lens Pop-Up

Indie Lens Pop-Up is a neighborhood series that brings people together for virtual film screenings and community-driven conversations. Featuring documentaries seen on PBS's Independent Lens, Indie Lens Pop-Up draws local residents, leaders and organizations together to discuss what matters most, from newsworthy topics, to family and community relationships. Make friends, share stories, and join the conversation online. For more information, visit pbs.org/independentlens/indie-lens-pop-up

About Independent Lens

Independent Lens is an Emmy® Award-winning weekly series airing on PBS Monday nights at 10 p.m. The acclaimed series, with Lois Vossen as executive producer, features documentaries united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement, and unflinching visions of independent filmmakers. Presented by ITVS, the series is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people, with additional funding from PBS, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more visit pbs.org/independentlens. Join the conversation: facebook.com/independentlens and on Twitter @IndependentLens.

About The Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs at Wayne State University

The Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs at Wayne State University is the largest labor archives in North America and is home to the collections of numerous unions and labor-related organizations. Its collection strengths extend to the political and community life of urban and metropolitan Detroit, the civil rights movement in Michigan and nationally, and women's struggles in the workplace. It is also the home of the Wayne State University Archives.

About WKAR Public Media

WKAR Public Media is the Michigan capital region source for award-winning original television and radio, and the best from PBS and NPR. WKAR is part of Michigan State University College of Communication Arts & Sciences and includes WKAR TV, WKAR Radio, wkar.org, WKAR Radio Reading Service, WKAR Family, and WKAR Ready to Learn.

Contacts:

Meghan Courtney, Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs. Meghan.courtney@wayne.edu 

Bill Richards, WKAR Public Media. BillR@wkar.org, 517-432-0013