Screening of THE FARAWAY NEARBY

Join us for the Screening of THE FARAWAY NEARBY! After the screening, there will be a discussion with the Director (Paula Froehle) and Co-Creator (Alan Lightman).

This event is free and open to the public.

The Faraway Nearby follows the tragic life of pioneer physicist Joseph Weber, whose pursuit of gravitational waves takes him on a dizzying journey from the height of acclaim to the depths of despair and disdain when he breaks the cardinal rule of science and clings to his ideas though his results can't be duplicated. Physicists, artists, and other creatives explore the emotional side of discovery and question whether the risk is worth the journey.

At the intersection of art and science, The Faraway Nearby illustrates Joe Weber’s struggle to be the first to ‘hear’ gravitational waves in space, a passion that consumed him until his death. It is a story of self sacrifice and the pioneering spirit, featuring interviews with Nobel Laureates Kip Thorne and Rai Weiss, astrophysicists Nergis Mavalvala and Rana Adhikari, psychologist Steven Pinker, and many others. Weber was a brilliant but misunderstood thinker who took astronomy to new heights through determination and creativity. Featuring artists Silas Riener and Lia Halloran, the film explores the relationship between diligent creative practice and the resilience necessary for scientific discovery, and how both help us understand our place in the universe.

About the speakers:

Paula Froehle- Director

A film director, visual artist, educator and entrepreneur, Paula has had a long and notable career in the arts, education, and entrepreneurship. As Co-founder & CEO of Chicago Media Project, she guides 50+ members in the philanthropic support of social impact documentary films. In addition to CMP, she oversees the CMP Invest/Impact & CMPAC equity funds, which provide equity investments in documentary films with commercial appeal. Paula is a member of the Gamechanger film fund, whose mission is to finance and produce feature films directed by women.
In the field of education Paula has developed and implemented unique curricula in media, the arts and impact at the graduate and undergraduate level, most recently for Saybrook University where she launched a Social Impact Media Specialization within their Transformative Social Change MA degree program. Prior to co-founding CMP, Paula was the Founding Academic Dean of Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy (TFA), where she developed and implemented an intensive, immersive BA degree program in filmmaking, recording arts, graphic design, animation, and game design.
As a filmmaker, she has directed 12 films and over 20 media projects. Her directing credits include her feature-length documentary, 'The Show Must Go On: An Intimate Portrait of the Flying Wallendas' which screened at numerous festivals and is distributed by MVD Entertainment Group. She is currently in development on several documentary projects.
As an entrepreneur, in addition to CMP & TFA, she has been involved in the founding of several startups including Opal Pictures design & film production company (2004-pres) and Atavistic Chicago (1988-2006).- IMDb Mini Biography By: Paula Froehle

Alan Lightman- Co-Creator

Alan Lightman is a novelist, essayist, physicist, and educator. Currently, he is a Professor of the Practice of the Humanities at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Until 2003, he was a senior lecturer in physics and John Burchard Professor of the Humanities at MIT.

Lightman was one of the first persons at MIT to hold a joint faculty position in both the sciences and the humanities. His thinking and writing explore the intersection of the sciences and humanities, especially the multilogues among science, philosophy, religion, and spirituality.

Lightman is a United Nations Scientific Advisory Board member, reporting directly to the Secretary-General. This Board aims to advise UN leaders on breakthroughs in science and technology and mitigate potential risks, including ethical and social issues.

Lightman is the author of the international bestseller Einstein's Dreams. and his novel The Diagnosis was a finalist for the National Book Award.[8] He is also the founder of Harpswell, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance a new generation of women leaders in Southeast Asia.

Lightman hosts the public television series Searching: Our Quest for Meaning in the Age of Science.

Host or Publisher Scheller Teacher Education Program at MIT