Blue Ridge PBS premieres “With These Hands: The Story of an American Furniture Factory,� at 5 p.m. on Nov. 21. This documentary tells the story of the Hooker Furniture Company
Blue Ridge PBS airs story of Hooker Furniture closure
Documentary filmed during last weeks, days of production in Martinsville, Va.
(Roanoke, Va.)—Blue Ridge PBS premieres “With These Hands: The Story of an American Furniture Factory,� at 5 p.m. on Nov. 21. This documentary tells the story of the Hooker Furniture Company, focusing on the last weeks and days of production in the Martinsville factory that closed in 2007 after 83 years in operation.
“‘With These Hands’ is an example of the top-quality documentary programming that people expect to see on Blue Ridge PBS,� said James Baum, station president and CEO. “The story of what happened to the Hooker Furniture plant has been repeated in many communities. This is also the story about the people who worked at the Martinsville factory, who lost their jobs to global competition.�
“With These Hands� follows the last load of kiln-dried wood down the assembly line as it is cut, honed, and assembled into fine furniture. Along the way, employees at the factory share their perspectives on work, community, and survival in a country devastated by deindustrialization and outsourcing. In spite of their misfortune, these people exhibit great pride in their work and a determination to carry on.
The documentary, produced by Unheard Voices Project in Winston-Salem, N.C., shows the impact of globalization's "race to the bottom" on skilled workers across America.
Visit www.BlueRidgePBS.org for more information about “With These Hands.�
About Blue Ridge PBS
Blue Ridge PBS is the 2010 winner of the regional Emmy Award for community service broadcasting. The winning production, “JobQuest,� exemplifies how the station is able to addresses the history, arts, culture, educational needs and economic health of an entire region. Founded in 1967, Blue Ridge PBS is the sole public multimedia enterprise serving 4 million individuals in portions of five states. The station’s 26,000 square-mile coverage area includes southwestern Virginia and bordering counties in Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and North Carolina. As the region’s storyteller and a locally owned entity, Blue Ridge PBS pursues stories and issues that speak directly to viewers. Further, over 200,000 schoolchildren and their teachers benefit from the station’s education services that provide a safe, trusted environment for innovative on-air and online learning. Blue Ridge PBS is comprised of WBRA-TV/DT in Roanoke, WSBN-TV/DT in Norton, and WMSY-TV/DT in Marion, Va. www.BlueRidgePBS.org
