Author, filmmaker, oral historian and veteran G. Mark LaFrancis will speak at Nusz Hall at the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans at Mississippi State on Nov. 13 at 5:30 p.m. The Shackouls Honor College and the Center for America’s Veterans are cohosting this event. As part of the Shackouls Honor College year-long Orators Program, LaFrancis will speak on “Invisible Heroes –Living Among Us.” A meet-and-greet reception will precede his talk. This event is free to the public.
After serving in the armed forces for 23 years — including Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve — and receiving two Armed Commendation medals, LaFrancis has worked to tell the stories of various people through writing, film and photography. He has been recognized for many of his works on topics including his fellow war veterans to his current project that deals with the men and women of the civil rights era.
LaFrancis also takes the time to give back to the youth of Mississippi, being a part of creative writing workshops at high schools and as an instructor of film and photography at other schools.
Between his service in the armed forces, journalism, filmmaking, writing and being an educator, it is hard to pick out only a few things to highlight out of the multitude of LaFrancis’ work. With his most recent work of “The Parchman Ordeal: The Untold Story,” LaFrancis was able to turn his oral history into a film that garnered awards at several film festivals, including The Most Transformative Film at the 2017 Crossroads Film Festival.
Known not only for his work, but also his service, LaFrancis has created and spearheaded many clubs and programs that promote film and photography. They include the Film and Broadcast Program at Copiah-Lincoln Community College/Natchez campus, Institute for Young Film Makers, and The Chocolate Milk Cafe, a program for young writers.
For more information, contact Shackouls Honor College, 662-325-2522.
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