Page 12 - the NOISE July 2014

The summer carries along with its heat the opportunity to get out of it! Dark cool screening rooms transport us to another
time and place. And good film festivals glean the best of what’s out in the Independent world and brings it back home. Most film fes- tivals are excuses to visit great cities in North- ern Arizona. Prescott Film Festival (PFF) is no exception, now celebrating its fifth year with five “cool” days in July that promise films, workshops and parties. Mark your calendars for the July 23-27th and don’t miss a culture of films that will enhance your body, mind and spirit.
This writer asked Helen Stephenson, di- rector of PFF, some questions about what festival attendees can expect when they at- tend PFF.
Where do you find your films?
We curate films from different festivals. Starting in January we look at what other fes- tivals — mostly US fests — have chosen as official selections and curate our films from there. We used Withoutabox for the first time this year and got a sharp increase in non- curated films.”
Any surprises coming this year?
Wednesday 7/23 we are showing an In- die 3-D film about horses. Thursday 7/24, at 7:30PM, Ed Asner and Mark Rydell (director of The Rose, On Golden Pond and The Cow- boys) will present a one act play.
Friday 7/25, thanks to Weinstein Company and producer Mike Menchel we will have the Arizona Premiere of One Chance fol- lowed by a Q & A with Mr. Menchel. A Cabaret after-party ends the night!
Saturday 7/26 in the afternoon Mr. Rydell will present The Cowboys and he will chat about his time working with John Wayne. Saturday evening, Jodorowsky’s Dune, host-
ed by Sci-fi writer Alan Dean Foster, fol- lowed by a Cabaret after-party.
Sunday morning 7/27 High School and Se- dona Film School (SFS) shorts will be hosted by Dr. Garcia from the Arizona Humanities Council. Sunday afternoon, an Arizona Wine Tasting followed by the documentary Ameri- can Wine Story, the film features some Arizo- na winemakers. We will promote Yavapai Col- lege’s Vitaculture & Enology Program on the Verde Campus and we hope to have some winemakers present. After the film, we will have the “It’s a Wrap” awards ceremony and celebration party.
Any workshops?
Thursday 7/24 from 5-6PM: “Writing for Television” from Fred Finchman, who had a 30-year career with ABC. Saturday 7/26 at 10AM, Miles Levin started his student film at the age of 15 and three years later he has completed Project User, and it’s a feature! The film is presented by Dr. Suzanne Walden- burger. Miles will be present for a Q & A.
Saturday at 12:30-1:45PM Tom Campbell presents Underwater Cinematography, and he has traveled the world shooting amazing underwater footage for National Geographic and The Discovery Channel. Saturday from 2:15-3:15PM,
Philip Sedgwick presents “Breaking In: Screenwriting Workshop.” Last year Philip’s workshop was the best attended on re- cord! Saturday from 3:30-4:30PM, Alan Dean Foster will speak on the book Dune, and the influence the book had on the sci-fi community.
Sunday 7/27 at 9:30AM “Student Shorts” is hosted by Dr. Garcia. And Sunday at 12:30- 2pm, Dr. Garcia will host a discussion on “Sto- rytelling.” Sunday at 2:15-3:15pm “Make ‘Em Ache, Make ‘Em Heal,” a screenwriting work- shop with the one and only Philip Sedgwick.
What are some of the films we should look forward to?
In Prescott, horse films, mental health films and Arizona films are always the most popular. We have one film from an Arizona filmmaker about mental health and I’m sure we will have a large audience for it.
Unsound is about a young man who comes home from serving in the military to find that his mother’s mental health has deteriorated. American Nurse is a documentary based on a book and audiences have been anxiously waiting to see this one! We hope to have at least one of the subjects of this documen- tary at the screening. Wrenched comes from a Sedona Film School graduate ML Lincoln. The film’s about Edward Abbey who started the practice of “monkey-wrenching” projects he felt were detrimental to the environment. Look also for: The Forgotten Kingdom, Ant- arctica and Walking the Camino. Look for the short programs too!
Great, thanks Helen and good luck with the fifth anniversary! Check out Prescott- FilmFestival.com for more information on this proven festival, and for tickets and show times!
The Sedona International Film Festival continues with its year round programming at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre in Sedona. Look for another eclectic selection of varied films and live shows!
7/1-2 — Fading Gigolo and Lucky Them
7/3 — Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia 7/5-9 — The Railway Man and The Love
Punch
7/6 — The National Theatre of London’s A
Small Family Business
7/10-11 — A Short History of Decay (with
the filmmakers!)
7/11-13 — Live Event: Sinatra and Friends
... Direct from Las Vegas
7/17 — Alive Mind Cinema Series: Daugh- ters of Dolma
7/18-23 — A Long Way Down
7/25-30 — Life Itself
Look at: SedonaFilmFestival.com for
more great cinematic news.
The second year of the Jerome Indie Film & Music Festival ended mid June with some promising possibilities for next year and some things to work on. They need to advertise the festival better, more than just a blog and a Facebook page. They might want to differentiate the film festival, with its standard time blocks, and their music festi- val, with a lackadaisical fun-loving approach. Films were blocked one on top of the other without time to get to other desired film blocks, without time for Q & A’s and without time to compensate when a technical prob- lem occurs.
They seemed too concerned with playing “lots” of films, instead of finding gems. Maybe
instead of running five venues simultane- ously, 4/5ths of which were empty, with two workshops, why not fill up two film theatres and one workshop? Sometimes less is more, and the filmmakers will be happier with ac- tual people in their shows. The organizers might research other film festivals, talk to other experienced festival directors and be willing to build on what they already do well.
Next year is where everything falls into place. This is a great location for a film festi- val and people will flock there if the “film fes- tival” hits its stride. Or just do a music festival. The possibilities are endless, if they do their homework. Go for it Jerome ... the third time is the charm!
| Bob Reynolds may enjoy a few gummi worms with his matinee. bob@thenoise.us
CW FROM TOP LEFT: The Cowboys directed by Mark Rydell; Jodorowsky’s Dune hosted by sci-fi author Alan Dean Foster; American Wine Story hosted by Dr. Garcia from Arizona Humanities Council; and One
Chance with producer Mike Menchel — are all featured at the Prescott Film Festival July 23-27.
12 • JULY 2014 • the NOISE arts & news • thenoise.us