Hollywood has declared war on America.

Three Eastern alums will come Lumpkin Auditorium to discuss the perceived war on American values that that comes from Tinsletown.

Andrew Rodgers, the director of the RiverRun International Film Festival; Luke Ryan, an executive at MTV Films; and Dann Gire, the president of the Chicago Film Critics Association will discuss this perceived war at a panel discussion.

“It’s unique to have three people from this department in the entertainment industry,” said journalism professor Brian Poulter.

Ryan, Rogers hold journalism degrees from Eastern, and Gire was editor in chief of the Daily Eastern News in 1974.

“It’s nice to have alums who have been successful in this area and obviously the whole question of how Hollywood affects society is a burning issue that should make for an interesting discussion,” said Journalism Department Chair James Tidwell.

Poulter will moderate the discussion, which he has been planning for four months.

Gire will discuss film criticism and how modern technology has allowed anyone to call themselves a film critic, without receiving proper training. Ryan will discuss how Hollywood is perceived to be un-American because it asks questions about things that are not always pleasant, said Poulter.

“Some people think Hollywood assaults American values,” Poulter said. “This panel will ask if this is true, is it un-American to ask questions?”

Rodgers will focus on independent film festivals.

“I will probably talk about the importance of independent films and film festivals in general,” said Rodgers. “I believe that it is critically important that we celebrate movies that portray different cultures and perspectives. And film festivals are one of this country’s greatest forums for showcasing new and interesting cinematic voices.”

Rodgers said that Hollywood allows audiences to be exposed to new ideas and become better, more educated people.

“A lot of people want more out of life, they want to be exposed to different viewpoints and experience new things,” said Rodgers. “And for those who take the time to seek out new ideas, the reward is often very clear, you become a much more interesting and “well-rounded” person.”

Poulter taught Ryan and Rodgers while they were journalism undergraduates at Eastern.

“I had two of them in class, and I had to shoo them out of my office,” said Poulter. “These three didn’t go to Harvard, they didn’t go to Yale, they went to Eastern. It’s what you make of it.”

All three men have made the most of their education. Rodgers wrote for the Chicago Tribune, Zap2it.com and worked as a publicist for the Sundance Film Festival and currently runs the RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston Salem, N. C., while working as an adjunct professor in the film department at the North Carolina School of the Arts.

Ryan was previously the director of development at New Line Cinema and is currently in charge of acquisitions, development and production of feature films at MTV studios and currently teaches classes in producing, genre and story design at UCLA. Gire serves as president of the Chicago Film Critics Association and has worked as a film critic at the Daily Herald for more than 30 years and serves as an adjunct faculty member at William Rainey Harpers College’s English and journalism departments.

“This panel will be beneficial to students because it’s helpful to realize the people that sit next to you may be movers and shakers in a few years,” Poulter said.

Eastern President Lou Hencken said that these alums coming back to the university will show students that anything is possible.

These alumni say to students, “I went to Eastern Illinois University and this is what I have accomplished,” said Hencken. “These three in particular will make a presentation to students who will hopefully think, ‘here are three successful people who were sitting where I am just a few years ago.'”

In addition to showing students anything is possible, the panelists are down to earth.

“They are all self depreciating and very humble, they approach everything with no ego,” Poulter said. “Hopefully students will come and have the nerve to ask good questions.”

“Hollywood Jihad: the War on American Values,” a panel discussion, will take place at 7 p.m., Thursday in Lumpkin Hall auditorium. The panel is free and open to the public.