A Hard Look at Chinese Adoption

A Hard Look at Chinese Adoption

Millersville University Professor Unveils Documentary

MILLERSVILLE, Pa., Oct. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "Dr. Chang continues to build his work and expose social issues in a high quality professional manner that captures the film festival world and will impact many viewers," said colleague and Millersville University of Pennsylvania associate professor Dr. Jennifer Wood.

Ask anyone in Millersville's communication and theatre department and they'll tell you that Dr. Changfu Chang is the hardest working professor. Lately, Chang has been working even harder than usual, completing his latest documentary "Ricki's Promise." Millersville University will have a screening of "Ricki's Promise" on Nov. 23, a follow-up to the film's world premiere at the Cincinnati Film Festival on Sept 28, where it was named a top nominee for best documentary.

The documentary, six years in the making for Chang and his team, tells the tale of Ricki Mudd, an 18-year-old adoptee from China who spends a summer in her homeland in an effort to find her identity and better understand her past. The documentary takes many twists and turns as it follows Ricki's journey as an American teenager living in Seattle to finding her Chinese birth parents and discovering why they put her up for adoption during China's "one-child" policy.

In addition to the Cincinnati Film Fest, "Ricki's Promise" was also accepted for screening at the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, the Saint Louis International Film Festival and the Lucerme International Film Festival in Switzerland.

"Ricki's Promise" is the "grand finale" of a documentary film series on international adoption.

"I've spent 15 years working on this series on adoptees and their families," said Chang. "The films look at how adoptees form their identities and the cultural struggles they endure. Watching them transform and discover themselves opens a new world for them. The end result is a positive message for society."

Calling "Ricki's Promise" his finest work to date, Chang also claimed it was one of the most difficult and consuming to produce due to travel (Chang flew to China five times and Seattle three times), budgeting and post-production work.

"I am eternally grateful for everything and everyone from Millersville University," said Chang. "My colleagues in the department and the students (many who are now alumni) were amazing.""

A trailer for "Ricki's Promise" is currently available for viewing on the film's website.

SOURCE Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Millersville University of Pennsylvania

CONTACT: Janet Kacskos, janet.kacskos@millersville.edu, 717-872-3723.

Web Site: http://www.millersville.edu


-------
Profile: intent