Cal Poly to Screen Emmy-Nominated ‘California State of Mind’ Feb. 25

Cal Poly will host award-winning filmmaker Sascha Rice for a screening of her latest documentary, “California State of Mind,” from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, in the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center Pavilion. A discussion with Rice and Political Science Professor Michael Latner will follow the screening.

The documentary outlines the turbulent years of the 1960s, climaxing with the American dream story of the rise of California Gov. Edmund G. “Pat” Brown. Brown was responsible for pivotal state legislation, including The Fair Housing Act, The Fair Employment Act, The Master Plan for Higher Education, Highway Expansion, and The California Aqueduct.

Told through Rice’s perspective as a filmmaker and Brown’s granddaughter, the documentary shows a man’s tenacity in overcoming obstacles in an effort to shape the future of modern California. Tracing the important years of “the godfather of modern California,” Rice also provides an intimate look at the making of a political dynasty, which produced current California Gov. Jerry Brown, Pat Brown’s son (who also served as governor from 1975 to 1983); and daughter Kathleen Brown, who was elected California State Treasurer in 1990.

The Emmy-nominated documentary has been broadcast across the country in more than 50 cities, including New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago. It recently garnered a Grand Jury Prize for Cinematic Vision at the Sacramento International Film festival.

In addition to being a filmmaker, Rice is also a public speaker and teacher. She has appeared on numerous television and radio programs and has had much of her work broadcast internationally.

Sponsors for the event are the Cal Poly History, Political Science and Journalism departments and the College of Liberal Arts.

The screening is free and open to the public.