PBS SoCal KOCE and Southern California Public Radio KPCC Partner to Present Documentary Screening Series

LOS ANGELES, March 1, 2017 – This spring, PBS SoCal KOCE and KPCC In Person will present three Indie Lens Pop-Up community discussions surrounding documentary films by the award-winning series Independent Lens. Each event will include an early screening of a documentary film, followed by a hosted discussion about the important topics covered in the film.

“Core to our public media mission is to share the stories that are not covered by commercial media, and to spark dialogue about the issues that face our community,” said Jamie Myers, PBS SoCal COO & VP of Education and Community Outreach. “So we are thrilled to partner with our friends at KPCC to help bring the diverse Independent Lens to our community.”

“Echoing the sentiments of our colleagues and partners at PBS SoCal, we very much look forward to this series as a substantive catalyst for engagement as part of our regional public service," said Jon Cohn, KPCC’s Managing Producer, Forum Programs & Live Events.

The series of screenings will kick on March 8 off with "The Bad Kids," a film about at-risk students. The sneak preview will be followed by a conversation with KPCC’s education reporter Adolfo Guzman-Lopez and three young adults who have attended local alternative schools to discuss what worked, what didn’t, what they loved, and what would they have done differently.

PBS SoCal KOCE and KPCC In Person will present three local screenings for the following films from the new season of Independent Lens. All events are free and will be held at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. Each documentary will air on PBS SoCal in the weeks following the screening.

"The Bad Kids" – screening on Wednesday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m.
(Broadcast premiere on Monday, March 20)
Located in an impoverished Mojave Desert community, Black Rock Continuation High School is an alternative for at-risk students with little hope of graduating from a traditional high school. It's their last chance. This coming of age story shows extraordinary educators and talented students combatting the crippling effects of poverty.

"National Bird" – screening on Wednesday, April 5 at 7:30 p.m.
(Broadcast premiere on Monday, May 1)
National Bird follows whistleblowers who, despite possible consequences, are determined to break the silence around one of the most controversial issues of our time: the secret U.S. drone war. The film gives rare insight through the eyes of both survivors and veterans who suffer from PTSD while plagued by guilt over participating in the killing of faceless people in foreign countries.

"Real Boy" – screening on Wednesday, May 31 at 7:30 p.m.
(Broadcast premiere on Monday, June 19)
Real Boy is the coming-of-age story of Bennett, a trans teenager with dreams of musical stardom. During the first two years of his gender transition Bennett works to repair a strained relationship with his family. At the same time, he is taken under the wing of his friend and musical hero, celebrated trans folk singer Joe Stevens.

About PBS SoCal KOCE
PBS SoCal is the home to PBS for Greater Los Angeles and Southern California. We deliver the full schedule of PBS programs, plus content that is for, about and by the people of Southern California. Our content is available free through three broadcast channels, at pbssocal.org, on our mobile apps, and via connected TV services. And we provide the community with early education resources and cultural and educational experiences through partnerships, events and grassroots outreach. PBS SoCal has offices in Century City, Costa Mesa, and Los Angeles. Connect with us at pbssocal.org and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.

About Southern California Public Radio
Southern California Public Radio (SCPR) is a member-supported public radio network that operates 89.3 KPCC-FM in Los Angeles and Orange County, 89.1 KUOR-FM in the Inland Empire, 90.3 KVLA in the Coachella Valley, 89.9 FM in Santa Barbara, and 89.5 KJAI Ojai in Ventura County. Reaching more than 700,000 listeners every week, SCPR is the most listened-to public radio news service of any kind in Southern California. SCPR serves the diverse communities of Southern California with award winning local news coverage as well as the most National Public Radio (NPR) content available anywhere in the region. SCPR's flagship station, KPCC, has garnered more than 450 journalistic honors since 1999, more than all of the other radio stations in Los Angeles combined. SCPR features signature public radio programs from APM, the BBC and PRI. Listeners around the globe can access news, join blogs, download podcasts, as well as hear a live web stream at www.kpcc.org. KPCC In Person, SCPR’s events and engagement platform, regularly convenes forum programs and live events throughout the region.

About Indie Lens Pop-Up
Indie Lens Pop-Up is a neighborhood series that brings people together for film screenings and community-driven conversations. Featuring documentaries seen on the PBS series Independent Lens, Indie Lens Pop-Up draws local residents, leaders, and organizations together to discuss what matters most, from newsworthy topics to family and relationships. Make friends, share stories, and join the conversation. Can't attend in person? Find Independent Lens on Facebook for information on our online Pop-Up events.

About Independent Lens
Independent Lens is an Emmy® Award-winning weekly series airing on PBS Monday nights at 10:00 PM. The acclaimed series features documentaries united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement, and unflinching visions of independent filmmakers. Presented by Independent Television Service, 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.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Stacy Shaffer
714.241.4166
SShaffer@pbssocal.org