Wide-screen
films make appearance at CPAC
By
Lauren Nelson
On-line Forty-Niner
The
dream of every college student is to walk
into a class for the first time and think,
"I wish I had this class every day,"
after hearing the professor deliver an
inspirational lecture that makes them
fall in love with the subject. While the
dream not always fulfilled, but the film
and electronic arts department is attempting
to make dreams come true with the 9 th
Annual Wide-Screen Film Festival going
on through Sunday at the Carpenter Performing
Arts Center on the Cal State Long Beach
campus.
Through
film screenings and live interaction with
some of the filmmakers, students will
learn styles, techniques, and be inspired
to pursue their dreams of filmmaking.
Hollywood director and cinematographer,
John Bailey, is this year's artist-in
residence whose long list of films include
"How To Lose a Guy in Ten Days,"
"The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya
Sisterhood" and "As Good as
it Gets." Bailey has selected a wide-range
of films to be viewed for their inspirational
value and artistic importance, as well
as their cinematography.
"Virtually,
they are four very intense human dramas,"
Bailey said. "Each has used camera
in a way that reinforces the dramatic
effect."
Each
of the films selected influenced and inspired
Bailey while he took the steps to becoming
a filmmaker and artist. It is the hopes
of the department that the experience
will leave the students in awe and ready
to take action in their own careers, but
most of all, to discover the artists within
themselves.
"I
hope they come away with renewed sense
of excitement about the breadth of film
work."
The festival was founded by Gary
Prebula to honor the wide screen film
aesthetic, a camera format that manipulates
how the human eye would see it. It is
an academic event that shuts down the
department for five days as film students
learn and work with professionals.
The
students get insight from one of the greatest
living cameramen and get a practical idea
of the industry, says Prebula.
"An
actual film print is an honor to be able
to see, the quality is magnificent,"
says Dinna Hemana, film student and assistant
producer of the festival. Hemana attended
last year's festival where Steven Spielberg
was the artist-in-residence. It's like
comparing a rented movie to one you watch
at a theater, she says.
Also
in attendance will be Matthieu Kassovitz,
who is known for his film role as the
boyfriend in the artistic indie film,
"Amelie." "La Haine,"
which he wrote and directed, will be viewed
at the festival.
The
films that will be screened and discussed,
including two that Bailey cinematographed
and one that he directed are "Aguirre,"
"Battle of Algiers," "China
Moon," "Rules of the Game,"
"Mademoiselle," "Sunrise,"
"Wages of Fear," "La Haine,"
"In the Line of Fire," "Contempt"
and "Silverado."
Cliff
Kessler, a senior theater major is one
of the many students who will be used
in one of the festivals lighting workshops
to show examples of how lighting is manipulated
in film.
"I
get to see what it's like to work with
a professionals who have inspired me in
the past," Kessler said.
"Just
like theater, cinema is an art that takes
time and compassion to create. I admire
the dedication to create a work of art."
"Virtually,
they are four very intense human dramas."
--
John Bailey,
cinematographer
Events
Listing
What:
9 th Annual Widscreen Film Festival
Where:
Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing
Arts Center1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long
Beach, Ca 90805
When:
Wed. ? Sun. For ticket information and
film screening schedule call (562) 985-7000.
