OXFORD, Miss. – One year ago, Oxford and the University of Mississippi were abuzz as thousands of people worked round-the-clock to prepare for the community’s biggest event in a lifetime, the first presidential debate of the 2008 campaign.
Things have returned to normal this fall, and most of the excitement around town is focused on football and a No. 4 national ranking for the Rebels. But the UM Media and Documentary Projects Center is set to help everyone relive the exhilaration with “The Debate Starts Here: The Presidential Debate Comes to Ole Miss,” a 45-minute documentary that premieres Friday (Sept. 25) on campus.
The 4 p.m. screening in the Overby Center Auditorium marks the one-year anniversary of the debate. The event is free and open to the public.
Producer Matthew Graves, a filmmaker at the center, compiled the film from hundreds of hours of footage shot over the months leading up to the debate. It features interviews with university officials, Oxford residents, national journalists and politicians, as well as a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the efforts required to transform the Ford Center for the Performing Arts and to create the mammoth Media Filing Center.
“This film reflects our mission to document the significant events in our community and to create an archive for those that follow,” said Andy Harper, director of the Media and Documentary Projects Center. “We believe this documentary captures perfectly the spirit and excitement of a diverse community coming together for a singular purpose.”
For assistance related to a disability, call 662-915-1692. For more information on the Media and Documentary Projects Center or to watch a trailer of “The Debate Starts Here,” visit http://olemissmedia.com .