The American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre launches a seminar series for filmmakers this Fall, designed to offer filmmakers both practical information for obtaining the right exposure for their films, as well as an opportunity to explore aesthetics. The Cinematheque’s general programming (which has provided audiences with opportunities to see classics and new work from a collective of cinema’s most intriguing voices for over 25 years), has often been referred to as the world’s most inexpensive film school and inspiration for film making. These seminars on making the right choices for your film in the festival world, publicity for the independent filmmaker, understanding alternative forms of distribution and more, will offer filmmakers an opportunity to learn what the next step, is, once they complete a film.
The September/October seminar slate includes NAVIGATING FILM FESTIVALS (September 23 & 26, 2007) and Creating A More Visually Comprehensive Cinema (October 26 & 28, 2007), bothwith independent film consultant and festival programmer Thomas Ethan Harris. Additional seminars will be announced at a later date.
All seminars are at the Spielberg Theatre at the historic Egyptian (6712 Hollywood Boulevard between Highland and Las Palmas) in Hollywood.
Special Ticket Prices: $20 General Admission; $15 Student/Senior and $12 Cinematheque Members.Guests subject to availability.
Tickets available through www.fandango.com
NAVIGATING FILM FESTIVALS SEMINAR
Sunday, September 23, 2007:
Egyptian (Spielberg) Theatre
The Sunday, September 23rd program is “Navigating Film Festivals,” a 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM Seminar. For most emerging filmmakers, the goal of launching a film on the festival circuit begins with one ultimate dream: SUNDANCE! But what lies beyond Sundance for you and your film? In this interactive forum/discussion/seminar, presented just in time for “festival season,” film festival programmer/film consultant Thomas Ethan Harris offers filmmakers practical skills to navigating the world of film festivals to maximum effect. What are the most significant film festivals and showcases you should be considering right now before that ultimate Sundance dream fades and you are stuck with a very good film andno place to show it? Topics to be discussed will include: A survey of both the world’s and the United States’ most important film festivals. A breakdown and discussion of what particular film festival’s are looking for and what individual festivals respond to as they build their yearly list of selected films. (The genres, tones, filmic styles, running times that most interest individual film festivals.) How to strategize the best festival release for your particular film. The growing importance of community and genre film festivals to your film. The design and importance of your film’s press kit and key art. The where, whens and hows of submitting your film. A list of film festivals to AVOID and why! AND — Secret “insider tips” on submitting your film to help you get selected!
Thomas Ethan Harris has served as the Director Of Programming for numerous organizations and non-profits including the Los Angeles Film Festival, the Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films and the Palm Springs Cultural Center where he currently serves as Artistic Director. The experience of overseeing these selection committees has given Harris a unique insight into the contemporary world of film festivals. Whether you are currently submitting your film to festivals or whether you are in production on your film or even if you are just prepping your first film, EVERYONE is encourage to attend this insightful, stimulating and empowering discussion of film festivals and film festival release strategizing. Tickets: $20 General Admission; $15 Student/Senior and $12 Cinematheque Members.
NAVIGATING FILM FESTIVALS
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Egyptian (Spielberg) Theatre
The Wednesday, September 26th program is a repeat program of the NAVIGATING FILM FESTIVALS seminar. It will take place 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM Seminar. See above 9/23 for description.
Creating A More Visually Comprehensive Cinema
Thursday, October 25, 2007 | Egyptian (Spielberg) Theatre
The Thursday, October 25th program is Creating A More Visually Comprehensive Cinema, a 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM Seminar. Film festival programmer/film consultant/film producer Thomas Ethan Harris will offers insights into how filmmakers can create a more visually comprehensive cinema in this interactive forum/discussion designed to empower emerging filmmakers with greater artistic knowledge of how to achieve the visual and aural potential of cinema. Harris will discuss how and why it is important to your immediate career to move beyond the most basic forms of cinematic language and into a highly creative arena where all the visual/aural elements involved in the design of cinema (Mise-en-scene, the Close-Up, the long take, color schemes, editing, sound design, production design etc.) are used more completely to create deeper thematic meanings and to build complex character delineation. Film clips and close textual analysis of films will be used to inspire an open dialogue with the audience.
Harris will also address why it is important for new filmmakers to begin to think more carefully and rigorously about their images and the necessity of creating a more intricate, complex and personally realized cinema. It is time to get back in touch with your creative visual instincts!
The experience of watching over 16,000 independent features (and even more shorts!) in the last ten years, has given Harris a unique insight into the contemporary world of independent filmmaking. Harris will also be discussing the current trends (in narrative, character, visualization…) on the Independent film circuit, how to move beyond them and what lies ahead in the immediate future for a new generation film artists.
Creating A More Visually Comprehensive Cinema
Sunday, October 28, 2007 | Egyptian (Spielberg) Theatre
The Sunday, October 28th program is repeat program of the Creating A More Visually Comprehensive Cinema, a 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM Seminar. See above 10/25 for description.
THE PROGRAM IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
Updates at www.americancinematheque.com
Thomas Ethan Harris Biography
Thomas Ethan Harris holds a Masters Degree in World Film History/Film Theory and Criticism from the University of Southern California, School of Cinema-Television. From 1996-2002 Thomas served as Director of Programming/Co-Creator of the highly regarded Los Angeles Film Festival (LAFF). Under his guidance, the Los Angeles Film Festival introduced such films as THE CRUISE (Artisan), THE CHATEAU (IFC), DEAD MAN (Miramax), GEORGE WASHINGTON (Cowboy), KAATERSKILL FALLS (IFC), BETTER LIVING THROUGH CIRCUITRY (Palm Pictures), THE LIFESTYLE (Sony Classics) and KISSING
JESSICA STEIN (Fox Searchlight). He is credited with having introduced to the film world such acclaimed contemporary filmmakers as Academy Award nominee Bennett Miller (CAPOTE), New York Film Critics Circle Prize Winner, David Gordan Green (ALL THE REAL GIRLS), Charles Wurmfeld (KISSING JESSICA STEIN) and Thomas Bezucha (THE FAMILY STONE). Also in 1995, Mr. Harris founded (with Margot Gerber) and programmed the American Cinematheque’s critically acclaimed, on-going screening series, THE ALTERNATIVE SCREEN. The Alternative Screen, which celebrated its 10th Anniversary in 2005, focuses on cinema that is more expressive in its narrative dimensions and more formally challenging than most American film work today. Upon leaving LAFF in late 2002, Mr. Harris was selected as one of Variety’s “TOP 10 Industry Professionals to Watch” in the American Independent Film arena. Mr. Harris has served as a jury member to countless film festivals and as the Director Of Programming to both the Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films (2003-4) and the Palm Springs Native American and Indigenous Peoples Film Festival (2005-present). Most recently, Mr. Harris has offered his talents as a curator and a consultant/film festival creator to the International Emerging Talent Film Festival in Monte Carlo, Monaco, which had its film festival debut in May 2007. Currently Mr. Harris serves as the co-creator and Artistic Director of the Palm Springs Cultural Center which focuses on emerging talent in all realms of the arts. Since 2003, Mr. Harris has owned and operated his own successful Los Angeles-based consulting business which works closely with a variety of film artists and producers from all over the United States and the international film community in all aspects of film financing, film production, screenwriting, film direction and visualization. Harris’ company was founded with the principle that we have yet to see the potential of cinema and we must secure a way for a new generation of film artists and for new filmic expressions. Among his many clients are filmmakers from Argentina, China, England, France, Norway, Uruguay, and the United States and such motion pictures as THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, BIG EDEN, KISSING JESSICA STEIN, ADIOS MOMO, Disney’s 2004 Oscar-nominated Salvador Dali/Walt Disney short DESTINO, TWO SOLDIERS, winner of the 2004 Academy Award for “Best Live Action Short Film” and RYAN, winner of the 2005 Academy Award for “Best Animated Short Film”.
