June Mack

Return to Faculty

June Mack's films have garnered 22 international awards in film festivals around the world. Her work has been seen on national television as well as festival screenings in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Slovenia and across the U. S. Mack is currently a professor of Television and Film at UAB, with previous teaching posts at Ohio University, Florida State University Graduate Film Conservatory, and Ringling School of Art and Design.

Professional work includes music composition, theater directing, dance and choreography, playwriting, screenwriting, film producing and directing. Mack has worked on more than 50 theater productions and 70 films.

Areas of special interest include film as experiential education, holistic education with emphasis on environmental studies, creativity theory and community arts. She has worked extensively in curriculum development designed to promote creative thinking. June Mack holds an interdisciplinary B. A. in Music Composition, Theater, and Philosophy from Hollins College in Virginia; an M. F. A. in Film Production from Florida State University and an M. Ed. from Harvard University.

CURRENT FILM PROJECTS:

"The Youth Violence Project"

       This project encompasses two feature-length films being produced by Mack and her students.  These films explore through interviews as well as fictional scenarios the roots of youth violence in today's society. This project is a community-wide effort connecting high schools, law enforcement officials, parents, teachers and youth with filmmaking students and faculty at UAB. It is being produced as a model project for communities across the country. A team of youth and adults who participated in the project are traveling across the U. S. to present the process and resulting video to those who wish to organize a joint community project around the problem of youth violence. This comes at a time when results from other forms of intervention are lacking significant success.

Working Title: "Bigger than Your Pocketbook"

         This documentary explores what can happen when government and business interests become tightly entwined.  A proposed highway on the outskirts of Birmingham, Alabama has citizens in an uproar. Alabama Department of Transportation cites development as the purpose for the 52-mile beltline. It will increase accessibility and thus encourage economic growth in several small towns. Two large businesses will also gain financially due to ownership of property along the route.

         Opponents cite that it will cut through the Cahaba River Watershed which is the home of 69 rare and imperiled species of plants and animals. The watershed also supplies drinking water to 60% of metropolitan Birmingham. Traffic volume does not justify the need for the beltline which will actually increase a traffic problem by funneling traffic into the most heavily traveled portion of the connecting interstate. Some say the right of eminent domain is being abused because property owners must give up their land, providing financial gain for some at the expense of others. This begs the larger question:  if a highway is built to bring revenue to specific entities and is not the most logical route for traffic, is land truly being taken for public use or for private gain?

         This film documents the struggle between economics and the environment, a central theme in today's world. How can we mediate the collision between the basic human desire for financial improvement and the impact of development on our dwindling natural resources? How can responsible government respond to this tug of war? As urban sprawl moves across rural America at an alarming rate, we are challenged to find the answers.

"Hank Williams, Sr.: Along for the Ride"

       This feature-length documentary contains interviews of ex-band members of the late, great country music star. Fifty-four years after Hank Williams' death his popularity and musical influence are as strong as ever. Those who were with him as his career unfolded -- from school house concerts in rural Alabama to international acclaim as one of country music's greatest stars -- look back at his short life and magical rise to stardom. This piece is now being distributed nationally by the National Educational Telecommunications Association. Press information and photos can be found at:

http://main.uab.edu/show.asp?durki=76410

"There's always time to dance."

Hank Williams:  Along for the ride

Ms. Mack's VITA

Email Ms. Mack