JACKSON, Miss. – One of America’s most prolific documentarians, Ken Burns, sits down to discuss filmmaking and history on the season premiere of MPB’s television series "Conversations", airing April 7 at 10 p.m.
Interviewing the award-winning filmmaker is his good friend, renowned pianist and current Ole Miss artist-in-residence, Bruce Levingston.
Burns stresses that history is not simply what once was.
“My lifelong work is to try to awaken those seemingly past moments and remind us of their relevancy today,” said Burns.
His latest documentary, “Jackie Robinson,” premieres on MPB TV on April 11 and 12 at 8 p.m. The two-part, four-hour film examines the on and off-field life of the man who lifted a nation and an entire race on his shoulders when he crossed baseball’s color line in 1947.
MPB caught up with Burns as he was in Oxford to deliver the speech at the fall convocation of Ole Miss’ Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.
New episodes of MPB’s "Conversations" continue throughout the spring and into the summer. The show engages fascinating people for in-depth discussion about their lives, successes, struggles, and visions. Whether they call Mississippi home or are just passing through, these people offer insight into our world. From businessmen to benefactors, you’ll get to know them all on Conversations.
A few of the names you can look forward to seeing on "Conversations" in coming weeks include brothers Vernon and Dennis Dahmer, former head of MEMA Robert Latham, former Governor and First Lady William and Elise Winter, Richard “Dickie” Scruggs, historian and author Victoria Bynum, former Governor Haley Barbour, acclaimed pianist and composer Bruce Levingston and many more.
###
Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) provides educational and public affairs programming to Mississippians through its statewide television and radio network. MPB enhances the work of educators, students, parents and learners of all ages by providing informative programming and educational resources. MPB’s locally-produced programming focuses on the people, resources and attractions that reflect Mississippi’s unique culture and diverse heritage. Children’s television programs constitute a major portion of the daytime and weekend morning schedules. MPB provides a valuable resource to Mississippians in disseminating information as part of the state’s emergency preparedness and response system. Since 1970, MPB has won over 400 national, regional and statewide awards, including Emmy®, Edward R. Murrow and Parents’ Choice® Awards. For more information on MPB, its programs, mission or educational resources, please visit www.mpbonline.org.
