|
Sep 13, 2011
Los Angeles (September 13, 2011) — Film Independent, the
non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los
Angeles Film Festival, and The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) celebrates
the launch of the Film Independent at
LACMA Film Series, presented by The
New York Times, on Thursday, October 13.
The inclusive series offers unique film experiences, bringing together
Film Independent’s large community of filmmakers and wide spectrum of
audiences, with LACMA’s commitment to presenting cinema in an artistic and
historical context. The new program will
present classic and contemporary narrative and documentary films, artists and
their influences, emerging auteurs, international showcases, special
guest-curated programs, in addition to conversations with artists, curators and
special guests. Film Independent at LACMA is under the curatorial leadership of
esteemed film critic Elvis Mitchell in collaboration with LACMA Film
Coordinator Bernardo Rondeau and Film Independent’s programming team.
Film Independent at LACMA has The
New York Times as presenting sponsor and Ovation, the only television
network dedicated to all forms of artistic expression, as a premier
sponsor. The series is also made
possible by grants from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association® and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences. Barco, a worldwide leader in
digital cinema, has generously supported the new film series by outfitting
LACMA’s Bing Theater with a new, top-of-the-line digital cinema projector.
“I couldn’t be happier about being part of Film Independent at LACMA.
What’s important to me is to bring the kind of excitement to the film series
that the medium gives me in all its permutations: keeping alive the tradition
of programming the classic canon so that the theater’s loyal audience feels
protected, while adding new elements to the mix that ensures the interest of a
new crowd. Community—new and old—is key
to the Bing’s future. I’m honored to be
part of furthering that tradition,” said Film
Independent at LACMA Curator Elvis Mitchell.
Award-winning director Jason Reitman is the film series’ Live
Read creator and will serve as the first guest artist, bringing classic
screenplays to life with some of today’s best actors. Over the next months, these entertaining
evenings will examine, celebrate and reinterpret the movies whose words are
deep in our memories and give audiences a fresh perspective and the opportunity
to watch an actor take a character from start to finish as one does in a play.
“One of my favorite moments as a filmmaker is the first table
read of my screenplay. It usually takes
a few pages for the actors to find their footing, but soon enough they click
into gear, and by the end it feels like watching a movie. This should be a fun way to bring people into
what has always been a closed process.
I’m thrilled to bring the Live Read to Film Independent at LACMA and create a unique event for my hometown,”
said Jason Reitman.
Film Independent at LACMA will launch with programming that
represents the broad range of films and cinematic events that define the new
series, with the regular weekly schedule beginning on October 27. All events will start at 7:30 pm.
- October 13 – World Premiere of The Rum Diary
– Director Bruce Robinson (Withnail & I) returns to the
screen with an adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson’s novel, a gonzo-eye’s
view of a world first charted by Graham Greene. Writer Paul Kemp hits the streets of
Puerto Rico only to find true emotional instability at the newspaper where
he works. The Rum Diary is a passion project produced by its star,
Johnny Depp, and co-stars Amber Heard, Aaron Eckhart and Richard Jenkins. Director Bruce Robinson and actors Johnny
Depp, Amber Heard and Aaron Eckhart will be in attendance. FilmDistrict will open the film
nationwide on October 28, 2011.
- October 16 at 8:30pm – Martha Marcy May Marlene – Writer-director Sean Durkin’s arresting
first feature film was the winner of the Directing Award at the 2011
Sundance Film Festival. The film
follows a struggle to reclaim the soul of a young woman (Elizabeth Olsen)
by her sister (Sarah Paulson) and the charming and coercive cult leader (John
Hawkes) that seduced her away. This
will be a special members-only screening for Film Independent, LACMA Film
Club and New York Times Film Club members. Writer-director
Sean Durkin and actress Elizabeth Olsen will be in attendance.
- October 18 – Modern Times (1936) – Is
there a better time to show a restored print of Charlie Chaplin’s
hilarious and potent commentary on the swing of labor conditions? Set during the Great Depression,
Chaplin’s Little Tramp battles for his survival in an ingeniously conceived
series of tableaux that display the comedian’s ability to make audiences
laugh and sigh. Modern Times will be preceded by
the 1922 short Pay Day, one of
the most ferocious tests of his physical wit and aplomb. Talent
to be announced.
- October 20 – Live Read of The Breakfast Club, directed by
Jason Reitman – In the debut of this new series,
creator Jason Reitman has selected John Hughes’ classic The Breakfast Club (1985). With a carefully cast selection of
actors reading the script together for the first time, it’s a rare chance
to see these artists shape start-to-finish performances on the fly, while
responding to well-known (and loved) material. Surprise
cast!
- October 27 – Accattone (1961)
– Director Pier Paolo Pasolini’s film is an absorbing view from the gutter
that forever changed the definition of Italian Neorealism. The film stays on the heels of the
hustler Accattone as he preys on one young woman after another. Franco Citti, one of the many
non-professional actors discovered by Pasolini, hauntingly embodies the
lead role, abetting Pasolini’s creation of a somber and unforgettable tone
poem—which was later fittingly saluted by Morrissey in his song “You Have
Killed Me.” Talent to be announced.
Michael Govan, LACMA Director and CEO, said, “I am thrilled with
Elvis Mitchell’s first run of films programmed for LACMA’s new film series.
Elvis is breathing new life into the program with exciting and unique events
and a blend of classic, independent, and foreign cinema. I am especially looking forward to guest
artist Jason Reitman’s Live Read event, which is a fantastic way for audiences
to gain insight into what goes into creating a film. Engaging filmmakers in
events at LACMA is exactly what we want to do in making film a more central component
of our curatorial mission.”
“New York Times readers are enthusiastic fans of film. They look
to us for critical insight on individual films and for overall coverage of the
industry. We are pleased to collaborate with LACMA and Film Independent on this
compelling film series, which demonstrates our commitment to the discovery and
showcasing of great films while deepening our role in Los Angeles,” said Lou
Fabrizio, Vice President of Entertainment Advertising at The New York Times.
Ticketing
Tickets to attend Film
Independent at LACMA are $10 for the general public, $7 for LACMA members,
and $5 for Film Independent, LACMA Film Club and New York Times Film Club
members. In addition, there will be at
least six free members-only screenings for Film Independent, LACMA Film Club
and New York Times Film Club members throughout the year. Tickets go on sale September 15 to members of
Film Independent, LACMA Film Club and New York Times Film Club, and September
22 to the general public. To purchase
tickets, please visit www.lacma.org or call
323-857-6010.
About Film Independent
Film
Independent is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization that champions
independent film and supports a community of artists who embody diversity,
innovation, and uniqueness of vision. Film Independent helps filmmakers make
their movies, builds an audience for their projects, and works to diversify the
film industry. Film Independent’s Board of Directors, filmmakers, staff, and
constituents, is comprised of an inclusive community of individuals across
ability, age, ethnicity, gender, race, and sexual orientation. Anyone
passionate about film can become a member, whether you are a filmmaker,
industry professional, or a film lover.
Film Independent produces the Spirit Awards, the annual celebration honoring
artist-driven films and recognizing the finest achievements of American
independent filmmakers. Film Independent
also produces the Los Angeles Film Festival, showcasing the best of American
and international cinema and the Film Independent at LACMA Film Series, a
year-round, weekly program that offers unique cinematic experiences for the Los
Angeles creative community and the general public.
With
over 250 annual screenings and events, Film Independent provides access to a
network of like-minded artists who are driving creativity in the film industry.
Film Independent’s Artist Development program offers free Labs for selected
writers, directors, producers and documentaryfilmmakers and presents
year-round networking opportunities. Project:Involve is Film
Independent’s signature program dedicated to fostering the careers of talented
filmmakers from communities traditionally underrepresented in the film
industry. For more information or to
become a member, visit FilmIndependent.org
About
LACMA
Since
its inception in 1965, LACMA has been devoted to collecting works of art that
span both history and geography-and represent Los Angeles's uniquely diverse
population. Today, the museum features particularly strong collections of
Asian, Latin American, European, and American art, as well as a contemporary
museum on its campus. With this expanded space for contemporary art, innovative
collaborations with artists, and an ongoing Transformation
project, LACMA is creating a truly modern lens through which to view its rich
encyclopedic collection.
Location
and Contact:
5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90036 | 323 857-6000 | lacma.org
Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: noon-8 pm; Friday: noon-9 pm; Saturday, Sunday: 11
am-8 pm; closed Wednesday
For more information, visit www.lacma.org.
Press Contact: Miranda Carroll, mcarroll@lacma.org or 323
857-6543
|
