Film
festival gives audience wide view
By Jill Thomsen
Daily Forty Niner
 Sometimes
there is nothing like seeing a movie on
the big screen. The Eighth Annual
Cal State Long Beach Widescreen Film Festival
offered four days of workshops, panel discussions
and screenings focused on educating and
entertaining students and the community
on the art of filmmaking.
Gary Prebula, artistic director for the
festival, said the event was changed this
year in order to devote it to CSULB film
and electronic arts students, who participated
in workshops over viewing the films as well
as various seminars, including one with
alumni Drew Johnson regarding his experiences
making his first feature film.
“I think the festival was very informative,
and the workshops with the teachers were
good,” said senior film and electronic arts
major Richard Par.
The festival offered eight public film screenings
selected by artist-in-residence Steven Spielberg.
Spielberg chose the films based on their
influence on his filmmaking as well as their
importance to film students.
The films ranged from Francois Tuffant’s
ode to movie-making “La Nuit Americaine”
to Francis Ford Coppola’s epic “The Godfather”
to James Dean’s signature role in “Rebel
Without a Cause.”
Spielberg was unable to attend the event
due to his post-production work on “Catch
Me If You Can.”
Festival producer and co-artistic director
Rory Kelly said he was disappointed
that Spielberg did not come.
“I know he will come in the future,” Kelly
said.
Each of the eight films attracted a unique
audience from the general public, especially
Friday night’s screening of 1969 counterculture
classic “Easy Rider.” Peter Fonda, writer,
producer and star of the film was on hand
to discuss the making of the film along
with co-stars Karen Black and Toni Basil.
Fonda, who was on hand over an hour before
the screening to meet and talk to fans,
said seeing the film on the big screen in
such a beautiful theater was great.
Debbie Ruffalo of California Harley-Davidson
said the screening was an excuse for the
hog chapter to get together and go on a
ride.
“It’s weird because I’ve never seen it,
and to see it on this huge screen, knowing
Peter Fonda is here, is very cool,” Ruffalo
said.
Film and electronic arts sophomore Nick
Shundo said he enjoyed seeing “Raging Bull,”
another black and white masterpiece, on
the big screen.
“Seeing it in the original format it was
meant to be seen made a difference,” Shundo
noted.
Kelly was also excited about seeing Scorsese’s
boxing biography, especially from a brand-new
print that had never been shown before.
“I can never get enough Raging Bull,” he
said.
Actress Eva Marie Saint attended Thursday
night’s screening of 1954 best picture winner
“On the Waterfront” and discussed working
with actor Marlon Brando on the picture,
which was her first film role.
“[Brando] was a prince to work with, a very
giving actor,” Saint said
“It’s almost an out-of-body experience.
I can remember what I was thinking during
the scenes.” Saint said when asked about
watching the movie on screen.
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