BFCA Member Profile
John Pungente
- Primary Outlet:
- Formerly CCI Entertainment
- Website:
- http://www.beyondthescreen.com
- Biography:
- John J. Pungente, SJ, is a Canadian Jesuit priest who has worked in media and in education for over 40 years. He has reviewed movies on radio and television both locally and nationally. He has co-authored Media Literacy: A Resource Guide (1989), Meet the Media (1990), More than Meets the Eye: Watching TV Watching Us (1999) and Finding God in the Dark: The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Go To The Movies (2004). He has degrees in English, Film, and Theology as well as three honorary doctorates for his work in media. Working out of Toronto, Pungente is creator and host of BEYOND THE SCREEN a national TV show on Bravo! He was also creator and host of the national award-winning Bravo! television show - SCANNING THE MOVIES - which premiered in 1997 and ran for ten seasons. SCANNING THE MOVIES was praised by TV critics and drew its audience from viewers of all ages. SCANNING THE MOVIES and BEYOND THE SCREEN have one feature in common - for each episode media educator, Neil Andersen, prepares a study guide which is posted on line for teachers in high school and university . Pungente is producer of the award winning video A HEART TO UNDERSTAND, and the award winning teaching kits SCANNING TELEVISION and SCANNING TELEVISION 2. Since 1985 Pungente has given over many presentations across Canada and Australia, in Europe, Great Britain, the USA and Japan. Pungente is also president of the Canadian Association of Media Education Organizations (CAMEO) and Director of the Jesuit Communication Project in Toronto.