FIRST PUBLIC SCREENING OF PORT ORAL HISTORY DOCUMENTARIES AT LA HARBOR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Documentaries Produced by Emmy Award Winners

SAN PEDRO, Calif. ─ April 20, 2009 ─ A public screening of four documentaries based on the Oral History Project for the Port of Los Angeles will be held on Sunday, April 26, 2009. The screening highlights the last day of the annual four-day LA Harbor International Film Festival at San Pedro’s historic Warner Grand Theater.  

The Oral History Project and the documentaries were produced by Emmy award recipients Jon and Nancy Wilkman of Wilkman Productions. The Wilkmans are local historians who co-authored the book Picturing Los Angeles.

The Oral History Project was produced for the Centennial Celebration at the Port of Los Angeles and is a one-of-a-kind collection of narratives from fishermen, dock workers, ship builders, yachtsmen, community leaders, terminal operators, Port employees, elected officials, and local residents. The oldest participant, Candelario Gonzalez of Wilmington, came to the harbor area in the 1920s and was 101 years old when he was interviewed.

The documentaries use pictures and words to trace the growth of the Port of LA-Long Beach from a mudflat into the fifth busiest port complex in the world, reflecting the cultural and historic changes of the surrounding communities. The four documentaries are: From Mudflats to a Modern Port (1542-1920); The Making of an International Port (1921-1940); War, Peace and Prosperity (1941-1960); and The Past is Prologue (1960-2008).   The port documentary series is part of the film festival DocSunday presentations.  For exact show times, go to the LAHIFF website at www.laharborfilmfest.com.

The Port of Los Angeles is America’s premier port and has a strong commitment to developing innovative strategic and sustainable operations that benefit the economy as well as the quality of life for the region and the nation it serves.  As the leading seaport in North America in terms of shipping container volume and cargo value, the Port generates 919,000 regional jobs and $39.1 billion in annual wages and tax revenues.  A proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles, the Port is self-supporting and does not receive taxpayer dollars. The Port of Los Angeles – A cleaner port.  A brighter future.