VIDEO: European TV Builds on Photojournalist Smith’s Famous “Pittsburgh Project”
Arte’s video web report is divided into five chapters that look at Pittsburgh’s image, heroes, economy, democracy and lifestyle. Click the image above to view them all.
Late in 2012, a two-man creative team from Arte (Association Relative à la Télévision Européenne) – a Franco-German television network that’s akin to the U.S.’s PBS – spent a week in Pittsburgh, filming interviews and footage of Pittsburgh today, vis a vis the famous black-and-white images of the city captured during the 1950s by the great American photographer W. Eugene Smith. These images are iconic of post-war America and illustrate the evolution in Pittsburgh and its environmental and economic transformation that spans over half a century.
The footage was used to create a short TV documentary that aired in France and Germany, as well as a five-episode web report on the Pittsburgh then and now – probing how this transformation was realized and the work that remains to be done. Promoting the project on Arte’s website, Producer Vladimir Vasak notes, “Pittsburgh is a city that has undergone total transformation: from a city of steel, industrialized and polluted, it is now green and high-tech … a miracle of which Americans are proud.”
With France and Germany being among the top global destinations for foreign direct investment into the Pittsburgh region, Arte’s program and web report provide reinforcement in those countries about the region’s 21st-century strengths and illustrate why Pittsburgh is a choice destination for business investment, as well as tourism. As it’s been said, “everything [including investment] begins with a visit.”
For regional residents, the web report is a great reminder of how easy it is to overlook what we have. Seeing the region through the eyes of our visitors from Arte makes it nearly impossible to not proclaim, “J’adore Pittsburgh!”
Check out two of the episodes below (“Visit Pittsburgh” and “Pittsburgh’s Renaissance”) and view the complete web report here. It’s divided into five chapters that look at Pittsburgh’s image, heroes, economy, democracy and lifestyle.
Phil Cynar
Phil Cynar is senior communications specialist at the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. By trade and by choice, he is a proud promoter of the Pittsburgh region.
2 Responses to VIDEO: European TV Builds on Photojournalist Smith’s Famous “Pittsburgh Project”
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A very cool look — through Franco-German eyes — at Pittsburgh, then and now. Check it out. The "Lifestyles" chapter features an episode, "Dinner at Susan's," featuring Mt. Lebo Municipality's own Susan Morgans, director of the municipality's public information office. Applause to her for hosting these international media for an evening at her home.
Hey Phil! WOW~ Pittsburgh is a world class gem of a city surround by beautiful green hills and ridges along with the Three Rivers. I also love the architecture in Pittsburgh! It's a mixture of modern and refurbished classic buildings! It's also a thriving city that is using "Green Technology" in buildings. I have always loved going to Pittsburgh and my Dad use to take us to KennyWood Park and to see the Pirates play at Three Rivers Stadium!