September 25, 2008

Jean Bodon. Download image.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A film directed and produced by UAB communication studies Professor Jean Bodon, Ph.D., will be screened at the Library of Congress at noon on Wednesday, Oct. 22.

The award-winning film, "Howling With the Angels," tells the story of Jan Bodon, Bodon's father, who was a captain in the Czech Army during World War II. The elder Bodon was recruited to join the Nazis, but fled instead and joined the resistance movement. He later was selected to help in the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, the notorious "Butcher of Prague." The documentary, which was produced in 2006, explores the truth about Bodon's father's wartime experiences and his family's Jewish lineage. The film will be shown in Czech with English subtitles. "Howling With the Angels" is a winner of the Chicago International Film Festival's Hugo Award.

Bodon, who teaches television production, cinema and broadcasting in the UAB Department of Communication Studies, will attend the Oct. 22 screening and answer audience questions.

Bodon has worked as a feature film director and producer and a director of documentaries and television commercials. His works have been shown on HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, the Movie Channel, E!, TLC, Pay-Per-View and many other cable systems and networks throughout the world. His work also includes a book on Charlie Chaplin and "Cinema: An Introduction," prefaced by film director Robert Wise.

Bodon is a member of the Directors Guild of America and the Société des Réalisateurs de Films. In addition to filmmaking awards, in 2000 he was presented with the UAB President's Excellence in Teaching Award.