Presbyterian College to host “The Art of the Prank” in Southern Film Circuit

Presbyterian College to host “The Art of the Prank” in Southern Film Circuit

The Southern Film Circuit at Presbyterian College will present its first film, “The Art of the Prank,” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016 in the Herrington Peachtree Amphitheater. The screening is free and open to the public. Following the screening of the new documentary, the filmmakers along with the film’s subject and media prankster Joey Skaggs will engage the audience in a discussion about the film and their work.

Directed and produced by Andrea Marini, co-produced by Judy Drosd and Michele Malfetta, the 2015 documentary focuses on the life of multimedia hoaxer, Joey Skaggs. “Art of the Prank” website explains Skaggs by saying he “has been called everything from the World’s Greatest Hoaxer to a royal pain in the ass. He’s been threatened, assaulted, summonsed, subpoenaed, arrested, deposed, dismissed, trivialized, maligned, even thanked and praised. In fact, Skaggs is America’s most notorious socio-political satirist, media activist, culture jammer, hoaxer, and dedicated proponent of independent thinking and media literacy.”

The documentary follows the growth in an emotional and humorous journey to capture the essence of the satirist. Skaggs is essential in independent thinking and turning media hoaxing into perfection. Marini intertwines footage of moments when Skaggs pulls off his most challenging hoax involving film festivals. The trailer shows Skaggs pranking CNN publically having news anchors saying CNN was “embarrassed”, Skaggs talking with Oprah, and clips explaining why he does what he does. Marini explains that “With this movie I’ve tried to create something that will inspire people as much as I have been inspired. And like Joey always says, make them laugh and then make them think.”

“I believe ‘The Art of the Prank’ is an excellent way to kick off our fifth year hosting the Southern Film Circuit,” said Dr. Terry Barr, professor of English. “Playful and thoughtful–just what we need to work into another academic year. Students will be surprised as to how deeply we can go into the world of pranking.”

 

 



Presbyterian College is located on a striking 240-acre campus in Clinton, between Columbia and Greenville, S.C. Offering challenging academics and a culture of honor, ethics, and service that prepares students to be leaders in communities, PC offers its students the benefit of engaging with an exceptional faculty who take individual interest in their students’ well-being, both personally and in the classroom. The Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy opened in 2010, and is dedicated to the ideals of leadership, honor to the profession, and service to the community. For more information about Presbyterian College, visit www.presby.edu.

Written by Ashley Cowart, a senior English major from Woodruff, S.C.