Call for Artists: First Person America

Call to Filmmakers / Writers / Photographers:

First Person Arts, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the art of the personal story announces First Person America: In These Hard Times, a national competition for filmmakers, writers and photographers. It is a great opportunity for film makers to stretch their creativity and get national recognition.

For further details on the competition go here.

TONIGHT @ CINEFAMILY SARAH SILVERMAN PRESENTS: Where's Poppa?

Comedy Death Ray Series:
Where's Poppa?

presented by Sarah Silverman

According to tonight's host, Sarah Silverman, "I chose Where's Poppa? because I saw it once, and it blew my mind." We can vouch for the virtues of Carl Reiner's 1970 jet black comedy, which is an absolute classic of crass, loud, tush-baring tastelessness. George Segal stars as a schlamazel dying to throw his nutty, senile mom (Ruth Gordon, perfect as always) off a proverbial train. Matters are complicated when he meets the woman of his dreams, played to WASPy perfection by Trish Van Devere. Says Sarah: "It's so hardcore and silly, and funny in a way that I think is emerging now. I was surprised it existed then. Also, I only saw it once, and to be honest I fell asleep at the end. It wasn't the movie's fault, it just happens when I watch movies in bed. So it will be nice to know how one of my favorite movies ends." Come find out how it ends (and begins) tonight-- you haven't lived until you've seen Ruth Gordon wack a gorilla-suited George Segal in his hairy, hairy balls.
Dir. Carl Reiner, 1970, 35mm, 82 min.

More Here...

QUEER GAZING

EXPLORING GAY FILM AESTHETICS

Co-presented with Outfest [Spielberg Theatre] QUEER GAZING:

Whether it’s "lavender," "pink," gay or queer in visual and narrative design, homosexuality’s influence in cinema is now pretty much mainstream. But is there an actual "gay film aesthetic"? How have "homo-revisionist" readings of classic films added creative depth to gay cinema's foundation? Take a wild ride through everything from homoeroticism to the establishment of the queer POV called "The Gay Gaze" and rediscover queer cinema in more of its flamboyant glory. Thomas Ethan Harris instructs. Film clips will be used to inspire an open dialogue with the audience.

Click for more information about the Cinematheque's Seminar Series.

Call for Artists | Day of the Dead at El Pueblo Historical Monument

Call for Submissions:
Sacred Memories: Cross-Cultural Celebrations
of Day of the Dead

From October 19 to November 27, 2009, El Pueblo Historical Monument will present Sacred Memories: Cross-Cultural Celebrations of Day of the Dead. Sacred Memories follows El Pueblo's acclaimed 2007 exhibition which explored celebrations that venerate the departed including Dia de los Muertos, first observed by the indigenous people of Latin America, China's Qingming, and other rituals practiced in United States, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean. Artists are asked to submit for consideration two and three-dimensional work (including ofrendas/altars) that examines rituals honoring the deceased and/or pays tribute to departed ancestors.

Submissions should be sent to:
History Division, El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument
125 Paseo de la Plaza, Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90012.
All submissions must be received by August 1, 2009.

For more information, call 213.485.8432 or email mariann.gatto@lacity.org.

at REDCAT JUNE 5 & 6

Dance Camera West

Screendance: A New Visual Language

Focusing on the intersection of cinematography and choreography, this annual festival offers a selection of some of the most compelling dance for camera and dance media works from around the world. The Dance Camera West Festival returns to REDCAT with three all-new programs of experimental shorts as part of its month long celebration of dance film at venues across Los Angeles.

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SKYLIGHT BOOKS JUNE In-Stores Announced

Highlights Include -

Adrian Tomine & Seth
Seeshu Foster
Benjamin Nugent
Dean Warmen
Wayne White
King Middle School Writers Club

The 2007 "New York Times Book Review" Notable Book now in paperback
Lauded for its provocative and insightful portrayal of interpersonal relationships, Adrian Tomine's politically charged "Shortcomings" was one of the most acclaimed books of 2007. Among many interviews and reviews in outlets around the country, Tomine was interviewed by Terry Gross on NPR's "Fresh Air" and also in "The Believer," "New York" magazine, and "Giant Robot." "Shortcoming"s landed on countless "best of" lists, including those in "Entertainment Weekly" and "The New York Times"; was praised by Junot Diaz in "Publishers Weekly"; and was the subject of a solo review in "The New York Times Book Review" that drew comparison between Tomine and Philip Roth. The groundbreaking graphic novel now returns in paperback.

First serialized in The New York Times Magazine "Funny Pages"
The celebrated cartoonist and "New Yorker" illustrator Seth weaves the fictional tale of George Sprott, the host of a long-running television program. The events forming the patchwork of George's life are pieced together from the tenuous memories of several informants, who often have contradictory impressions. His estranged daughter describes the man as an unforgivable lout, whereas his niece remembers him fondly.

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Damien Hirst

Take Part in a Damien Hirst Performance

For the exhibition (see Below), Tate Modern will recreate Damien Hirst’s performance shown at Cologne’s ‘Unfair’ art fair in 1992. Identical twins will sit beneath two identical spot paintings for the duration of Pop Life: Art in a Material World. Tate Modern is appealing for identical twins to take part in this performance. If you're willing to travel to the UK and would like to be involved, please email twins@tate.org.uk.

Pop Life: Art in a Material World 1 October 2009 – 17 January 2010

Pop Life: Art in a Material World will propose a re-reading of one of the major legacies of Pop Art. It takes Andy Warhol’s influential practice as a starting point, exploring his notorious provocation that ‘good business is the best art’. It looks to the various ways that generations since the 1980s have created their own brands, engaged in self-promotion and developed ideas around the mass media, celebrity and the artist’s persona. Among the artists represented will be Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, Keith Haring, Martin Kippenberger, Jeff Koons and Takashi Murakami.