4/29/07
I went to a terrific event tonight at the Castro Theatre in San
Francisco. This week celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the San
Francisco International Film Festival. Many of you may not know it,
but the San Francisco Festival was the very first film festival in the
United States. The first year included such films as PATHAR PANCHALI
(FIRST OF S. RAY'S APU TRILOGY), IL GRIDO by ANTONIONI, THRONE OF BLOOD
by KUROSAWA, AND VISCONTI'S SENSO (with ALIDA VALLI).
This evening, the festival-goers were treated to a new documentary
called FOG CITY MAVERICKS about the San Francisco Bay Area's influence
on film from the early experimental works by Eadweard Muybridge to the
digital revolution created by Lucas and Industrial Light and Magic .
The highlight of the event was a q-and-a session with a very
influential panel:
George Lucas (AMERICAN GRAFFITI/STAR WARS)
Chris Columbus (HOME ALONE, RENT, HARRY POTTER, MRS. DOUBTFIRE)
Saul Zaentz (Producer of THE ENGLISH PATIENT, ONE FLEW OVER THE
CUCKOO'S NEST, THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING, AMADEUS)
John Lasseter (of Pixar and now head of Walt Disney Animation, director
of CARS)
Unfortunately, neither Francis Ford Coppola or Sofia Coppola appeared
but there was a surprise guest in the audience. None other than Madame
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi!
It was quite an evening for mavericks of all sorts!
Channing Thomson in San Francisco
Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com
___________________________________________________________________
How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List
Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L
The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
