In 2012, filmmaker Leon Gerskovic chronicled the journey of 16 Virginia Tech students as they transformed a derelict industrial space into a community park and amphitheater in a small Virginia town. His film “Reality Check” documents the creation of the Clifton Forge Masonic Amphitheater.

Reality Check” will premiere in Hancock Hall 100 on Thursday, March 28 at 7 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session with the filmmaker. The event is free and open to the public.

The film provides an inside look at the complete process as architecture students in the design/buildLAB, led by College of Architecture and Urban Studies faculty members Keith and Marie Zawistowski, worked together to gather community input, develop a design, and build the amphitheater.

The amphitheater, which opened for its first performances during the summer of 2012, has been widely recognized for its positive impact on the community and for the quality of its design. It was recently named American-Architects Building of the Year 2012, an impressive feat for a student project competing again renowned firms and professional architects from across the country.

“Reality Check” filmmaker Leon Gerskovic has a passion for telling meaningful stories. His cross-cultural upbringing sparked his curiosity about the way people view each other and the world around them. As a digital media producer for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Leon's work in documentary filmmaking and online media seeks to unveil the narrative of technical content.

Following its premiere at Virginia Tech, the film will be available for screenings at other universities and organizations by request.

Free parking is available in the Perry Street Lots and the Perry Street Parking Garage. Find more parking information online or call 540-231-3200.

 

 

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