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  New York NewsreelNew York Newsreel

  In 1967, independent filmmakers and activists including Robert Kramer launched the Newsreel movement in order to take active part in social resistance. The media’s distortion of the large-scale anti-war rally that took place in front of the Department of Defense in 1967 triggered the Newsreel movement which instantaneously spread nationwide. To separate itself from other Newsreel organizations in Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Vermont, the New York center was called the New York Newsreel, which changed its name to Third World Newsreel in 1974. Some fifty-odd members including Geri Ashur, director of Janie’s Janie (1971) and Christine Choy of To Love, Honor & Obey, were actively involved in the New York Newsreel, quickly putting together works on social issues and activism that media outlets would usually shy away from, and distributing the films to schools and activist organizations. Their goal was to promote resistance against war, imperialism and discrimination based on sex, class and race. The films co-directed by women filmmakers who worked at New York Newsreel include Make Out (1972), She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry (1967), and Up Against the Wall, Miss America (1968). Other works include, Columbia Revolt (1968), Summer ’68 (1969), No Game (1968), Black Panther (1968) and People’s War (1969).