Join us on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at 7:00pm for our next free Indie Lens Pop-Up event: a virtual screening of Mr. SOUL! PBS North Carolina, together with RiverRun and the State Library North Carolina, proudly present this exclusive screening opportunity, to be accompanied by a post-film panel discussion. You must register in advance for this event via the link here: RSVP via this link for the screening.

In this upcoming episode from the acclaimed PBS documentary series Independent Lens, we explore the life and public broadcasting variety show of Ellis Haizlip—Mr. SOUL! Before Oprah, before Arsenio, there was Ellis Haizlip—Mr. SOUL! On the heels of the civil rights movement, the public television variety show SOUL!, offered an unfiltered, uncompromising celebration of Black literature, poetry, music, and politics—voices that had few other options for national television exposure. Guided by the enigmatic producer and host Ellis Haizlip, the series was among the first to provide expanded images of Black Americans on television and recognize the vibrancy of the Black Arts Movement. The film celebrates the groundbreaking PBS series against the backdrop of a swiftly changing political and social landscape, while profiling Haizlip, the charismatic man behind one of the most culturally significant and successful TV shows in U.S. history. With participants’ recollections and archival clips, Mr. SOUL! captures a critical moment in culture whose impact continues to resonate.

Engagement throughout the post-film panel discussion is encouraged and you will be able to ask questions via the chat feature. We will make every attempt to get to all questions submitted. You must register in advance for access to the screening link.

RiverRun’s Indie Lens Pop-Up is a neighborhood series that brings people together for film screenings and community-driven conversations. Featuring documentaries seen on PBS’s Independent Lens, Indie Lens Pop-Up draws local residents, leaders and organizations together to discuss what matters most, from newsworthy topics to family and relationships.