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Alumnus Brings Award-Winning Documentary Screening of ‘Wagonmasters’ to Belk Library at ASU Oct. 4

Sept. 18, 2012. Documentary filmmakers Chris Zaluski and Sam Smartt will present their film “Wagonmasters” at Appalachian State University on Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. in Room 114 of Belk Library and Information Commons. The screening is free and open to the public.

“Wagonmasters” tells the story of the car that was once the quintessential image of the American Dream and the dedicated enthusiasts who are fighting to keep that dream alive. Station wagons were America’s “workhorses on wheels.” Today, they conjure images of outdated family photos, over-sized hairdos and unfashionable wooden siding. In 2011, Volvo – the leading premium wagon manufacturer – announced that they will discontinue the sale of their last wagon model in the United States.

There are some, however, who still cling to these vehicles and what they stand for in American culture. “Wagonmasters” offers glimpses into the lives of such wagon enthusiasts, and tells the story of the station wagon as it represents a changing America over the last 100 years. At its heart, “Wagonmasters” is a film about reconnecting with America’s past as one of its most memorable chapters comes to a close.

Christopher Zaluski worked for The Roanoke Times in Virginia as a multimedia producer where he shot and edited videos, designed web and interactive graphics and reported on local news. He completed his undergrad work at Appalachian in electronic media and journalism, and is currently earning his Master of Fine Arts in documentary film from Wake Forest University. 

Sam Smartt is a Master of Fine Arts candidate at the Documentary Film Institute at Wake Forest University. He is a freelance editor and videographer, and recently finished his first feature documentary, “Any Given Friday,” which premiered at Cucalorus Film Festival in November 2010.

For more information contact Tom Hansell at University Documentary Film Services at 828-262-7730 or hansellts@appstate.edu 

University Documentary Film Services is a unit within Appalachian’s University College. University College consists of the university’s integrated general education curriculum, academic support services, residential learning communities, interdisciplinary degree programs and co-curricular programming – all designed to support the work of students both inside and outside of the classroom.