Filmmaker reaches out from studio near campus

After encouragement from the University, independent documentary filmmaker Louis Massiah has opted to bring his studio, his work and his connections closer to campus.

Massiah, a nationally recognized filmmaker specializing in science films and historical documentaries, recently moved his Center City studio -- Scribe Video Center-- to 42nd and Chestnut streets. With a bigger, cheaper and newer location, Massiah hopes to have greater interaction with the University community and be more accessible to students.

"If there are students that have very clear things that they want to say -- film and media are very helpful modes of communication," the native Philadelphian said.

Massiah has been involved with the University in previous years, teaching courses for the Africana Studies program and serving as the Center for Africana Studies Artist-in-Residence. Earlier this fall, University President Amy Gutmann encouraged him to move closer to campus.

"He already has the kinds of ties that make our community vibrant culturally and educationally," Gutmann said of Massiah. "Bringing him closer on our campus is wonderful."

Scribe is currently employing Penn work-study students and attracting film students from around Philadelphia.

"Already more students have taken advantage [of Scribe] because we're project-oriented," Massiah said, adding that he does not just teach "skills in an abstract way."

Massiah started out studying science at Cornell University. He quickly grew interested in film and attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for graduate school.

In 1982, Massiah started Scribe in an effort to provide Philadelphia with a place for diverse people to come together over their love of film.

The city "at that time did not have any media arts center," he said.

Over time, Massiah has made at least 20 science films and "historical documentaries dealing with racial, political issues that begin in the African-American community."

Associate Director for the Center for Africana Studies Gale Garrison said that because Massiah's work is already internationally known, it is a "privilege to have someone of that stature" at Penn.

"He has a great voice, talent," Garrison added.

Massiah's work has dramatically increased some Penn students' interest in film.

Jamese Wells, who graduated from the College in 2003, took two of Massiah's classes during her senior year and now works for Scribe.

"When I was at Penn, I felt really sheltered," Wells said. "Through Scribe you meet really important people in Philadelphia."

Wells said that during her undergraduate experience, she was searching for ways to effect social change. If Scribe were on campus during that time, she said she "would have been more exposed to the connection between art and activism earlier."

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