Screening of "deepsouth" Brings Filmmaker Lisa Biagiotti to Ole Miss

by: Karson, Mallory, Amber, and Jared  

A screening of "deepsouth," a documentary about the soaring number of people infected with HIV/AIDS in the south was shown Tuesday, March 26 at the Overby Center

The film chronicled the lives of four people: Josh, who had been infected with HIV, Monica and Tamela, who host an annual retreat for infected persons, and Alabama AIDS activist Kathie Hiers.

It took the director and producer, journalist Lisa Biagiotti, three years to finish. In her film, there is not a single expert opinion, though it is based on various research studies. Rather, Biagiotti said she chose to take a different route with her documentary by using the visual medium of film to create a more personal experience for her audience. Instead of statistics, Biagiotti focuses on the environment that people infected with HIV/AIDS  live with in the south.

“HIV is a social illness,” said Biagiotti. “Where I found higher rates of HIV I found higher rates of poverty.”

In addition to being part of the post-screening panel, Biagiotti also visited journalism classes throughout the day. She spoke to students about her personal involvement with the film and gave advice for future independent journalists.

“I saw an opportunity to tell a real story on a tired topic,” said Biagiotti. “I’m really interested in underreported stories and looking at things in different ways. I worked in mainstream media and it’s not as satisfying as going out and having access to people’s lives.”

Lisa Biagiotti fielding questions from the audience after the screening of "deepsouth." 

Biagiotti and members from the film field questions from Robert Nylander of the McClain Institute during the post-screening panel. (From Left: Robert Nylander, Cedric Sturdevant, Joshua Alexander, and Lisa Biagiotti)