BTMC_Poster5b Blueprint America: Beyond the Motor City, is a PBS documentary that examines how Detroit—a symbol of America’s diminishing status in the world—may come to represent the future of transportation and progress in America. It is being screened at 7:30 pm this Saturday evening at the historic A.E. England Building at Civic Space Park in downtown Phoenix. The FREE screening is being co-sponsored by the Downtown Voices Coalition.


Beyond the Motor City is directed by filmmaker Aaron Woolf, who also directed ‘King Corn, a documentary looking at the effects of agricultural subsidies. In Beyond the Motor City, Aaron examines how Detroit, a grim symbol of America´s diminished status in the world, may come to represent the future of transportation and progress in America.

The documentary asks whether it´s time to fundamentally change the way Detroiters—and by extension all Americans—get around. Detroit is seen as the crucible in which the nation´s ability to move toward a modern transportation infrastructure is put to the test:

The film explores Detroit’s historic investments in infrastructure—from early 19th-century canals to the urban freeways that gave The Motor City its name and made America’s transportation system the envy of the world. But it also reveals that over the last 30 years, much of the world has left Detroit—and America—behind, choosing faster, cleaner, more modern transportation.

In a journey that takes us into the neighborhoods of Detroit and then beyond to Spain, California, and our nation’s capital, Beyond the Motor City urges us to ask how a symbol of America’s urban decay might transform itself into a model of urban revitalization. Can we finally push America’s transit system into the 21st century?



Tony Arranaga, the Light Rail Blogger will be introducing the film, and moderating a discussion afterwards. As well, work by local artist Sean Deckert will be showing before and after the film. Sean’s photo series explores the Light Rail and its influence on community. The original work is currently on display at the Fair Trade Cafe on Roosevelt and 1st Ave.


Details:

“Beyond the Motor City” directed by Aaron Woolf

Saturday, June 12, 2010, 7:30 pm (doors open at 7:00)

A.E. England Building, Civic Space Park, 424 N. Central Ave

Running Time: 86 minutes

FREE