Free Virtual Valley Talks Continue with Slatersville Documentary

WOONSOCKET, R.I. – Virtual Valley Talks, a series of free virtual historical lectures by the Museum of Work & Culture, continues on Wednesday, May 6 at 4pm when critically acclaimed filmmaker Christian de Rezendes will present Slatersville: The Catholics are Coming!.

In this talk, documentarian de Rezendes will discuss the complexities of filmmaking and producing through the lens of his upcoming historical documentary series, Slatersville: America’s First Mill Village. He has been working on the series, which will cover two centuries of history, for several years. Though the series is not set to premiere until 2021, de Rezendes will share a work-in-progress segment highlighting the French-Canadian immigration and the Museum of Work and Culture during his presentation. This exciting preview will include on-camera interviews with MoWC Director Anne Conway, Woonsocket historian Ray Bacon and several others. Filmmaker Jason Allard, who provided drone footage for the project, will also speak. 

Register to receive an invitation to this Zoom event by emailing mowc@rihs.org.

Through his company, Breaking Branches Pictures (est. 1996), de Rezendes has produced critically acclaimed feature films including 41, a documentary about the youngest victim of the Station Nightclub Fire, Getting Out of Rhode Island, a fully improvised dramedy feature, Alzira’s Story, the family inspired documentary, and Raising Matty Christian, a documentary about a man born without full limbs whose accomplishments inspired thousands. To date, his work has received more than 35 filmmaking awards. Many of his twenty plus directing credits have been broadcast on PBS and screened internationally at film festivals. De Rezendes continues to direct, film and edit promotional pieces for a wide variety of corporate, non-profit and commercial clients as well as his own projects. 

Other Virtual Valley Talks will include:

May 20: Writer & Providence College Professor Emeritus Norman Desmarais presents insights from his book Untold Stories from World War II Rhode Island.

Additional dates forthcoming.

About the Museum of Work & Culture

The interactive and educational Museum of Work & Culture shares the stories of the men, women, and children who came to find a better life in Rhode Island’s mill towns in the late 19th- and 20th centuries. It recently received a Rhode Island Monthly Best of Rhode Island Award for its SensAbilities Saturdays all-ability program.