Faculty and Student-Produced Documentary Earns Regional Emmy Nomination

By Grace Collins ’23, January 17, 2020

The film highlights the life and legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

(Left to right) Kalia Kornegay ’18, Emily Varga ’18, and Christy Calcagno ’18 interviewing the Rev. James Netters at his office in Memphis.

(Photo courtesy of James Rada)

“With INFINITE HOPE: MLK and The Civil Rights Movement,” a documentary produced by Ithaca College faculty and students that captures life, leadership and legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., has been nominated for a Midsouth Regional Emmy Award. The film documents the stories of 15 people who participated in key events throughout the Civil Rights Movement, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Freedom Rides, and the Selma to Montgomery protest marches.

The documentary was produced in 2018 by Roy H. Park School of Communications faculty members James Rada, associate professor and chair of the Department of Journalism; and Chrissy Guest and Maria Mejia Yepes, both assistant professors in the Department of Media Arts, Sciences and Studies.

In addition, students Christy Calcagno '18, Kalia Kornegay '18, Emily Varga '18, Katie Jones '19, Elena Maria Piech '19, and Sophia Tulp '19 worked on the film as associate producers.

“A production team comprised of faculty and students to be competing for industry-level awards—it’s a concept akin to a college sports team competing with professional sports teams. It’s not supposed to happen, but our faculty and students are just that good.”

James Rada, associate professor

Rada said their work was exemplary.

“I have an overwhelming sense of awe and appreciation for the Park School for its ability to recruit faculty and produce students who can produce content for national news outlets,” he said. “A production team comprised of faculty and students to be competing for industry-level awards—it’s a concept akin to a college sports team competing with professional sports teams. It’s not supposed to happen, but our faculty and students are just that good.”

“With INFINITE HOPE” premiered in January 2019 and has aired on 250 PBS stations since then. Produced in cooperation with Memphis-based PBS affiliate WKNO-TV, the feature-length documentary joins the long list of national news collaborations that Ithaca College students and faculty have participated in, including NBC Nightly News and PBS NewsHour.

The Midsouth Regional Emmy Awards are sponsored by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and the winners will be announced at a ceremony on Saturday, February 15. To learn more about “With INFINITE HOPE: MLK and The Civil Rights Movement,” visit the film's website.