The Turn Out: A film screening, discussion, and concert

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You are cordially invited to a sneak peek of The Turn Out, a hybrid feature film directed by Pearl Gluck, assistant professor of communications (film-video) at Penn State, followed by a panel discussion and a concert by local musicians Chris Rattie & The New Rebels.

Based on the testimony of sex trafficking survivors, anti-trafficking activists, and truck drivers, The Turn Out is a fictionalized narrative about a trucker who must decide if he will stand up against trafficking at his truck stop. Some of the truckers and survivors are featured in the film.

The film will screen at The State Theatre in State College at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 16. The screening is free with a suggested donation that will be contributed to two inspiring survivor-led organizations, The Freeman Project and Survivor’s Ink.

A concert by Chris Rattie, who composed the original soundtrack for the film, will take place upstairs following the screening and discussion. Rattie will play some of the original songs written for the film with NattyLou Race.

Directly following the screening of the film, a panel of special guests will discuss the film as activism. Moderated by Matt Jordan, associate professor of communications, the panel will include Chris Rattie; Barbara Freeman, a survivor-activist who inspired the film and appears in the film as well; Sheridan Miyamoto, assistant professor of nursing and a faculty member for Penn State's Child Maltreatment Solutions Network; and Susan Mathias of Transitions PA, part of the Pennsylvania Alliance Against the Trafficking of Humans.

We are committed to maximizing prevention, identification, and effective community-based support for victims of trafficking. It is our hope that the arts can stimulate activism by making this important issue accessible to all and encourage engagement to work together to find solutions. We invite you to join us.

Please share the attached flyer with your students. Invite your classes and anyone you feel might appreciate the film, the music, and the dialogue.

Click here to watch the TEASER for the film. Click here to get tickets.