Spring Break
Film department screens sneak peaks of new films
by Andrea Fineman
Managing Editor
Arts | 11/11/08
Posted online at 1:25 AM EST on 11/11/08
As Film Studies becomes Brandeis' newest major, some students may be noticing the Film department's plethora of events as well. Last week, actor Richard Jenkins made an appearance at Brandeis for a question-and-answer session following a screening of his Oscar-nominated film The Visitor. And, this Thursday, actress Melissa Leo is coming to Brandeis to talk about her recent film, Frozen River, while actor Mark Ruffalo will speak on Saturday night about his upcoming film, What Doesn't Kill You.
Where are all these events coming from?
Professor Alice Kelikian, chair of the Film Studies department, has been organizing high-profile film events for some time now. Some may remember last month's screening of the documentary The Terror's Advocate with the filmmaker, Barbet Schroeder, or the screenings of both Errol Morris' Standard Operating Procedure and Werner Herzog's Encounters at the End of the World; all of these happenings were organized by Prof. Kelikian.
Says Kelikian, "My whole role in all of this is to encourage a variegated and rich film culture at Brandeis."
"I don't just want to do art house cinema. I don't want to just do indie film. I want to also include Hollywood," she said.
Recent alumnus Scott Feinberg is helping Kelikian add Hollywood players to her equation. Feinberg, who began blogging about the Oscar race a few years ago, now blogs about film for the Los Angeles Times, which often features taped question-and-answer sessions between its bloggers and high-profile actors. Said Kelikian, "I thought, what better opportunity to have some of these encounters happen at Brandeis? We're taking advantage of Scott's availability to include actors and actresses [in our program of events]."
"Brandeis, I knew, was looking to do exciting things with film and was welcome to having exciting things going on," Feinberg said. "The invitation is from Brandeis to these Oscar contenders, and I'm the middle man. … We videotape the Q&A that follows the screening, and that goes on my blog."
Where are all these events coming from?
Professor Alice Kelikian, chair of the Film Studies department, has been organizing high-profile film events for some time now. Some may remember last month's screening of the documentary The Terror's Advocate with the filmmaker, Barbet Schroeder, or the screenings of both Errol Morris' Standard Operating Procedure and Werner Herzog's Encounters at the End of the World; all of these happenings were organized by Prof. Kelikian.
Says Kelikian, "My whole role in all of this is to encourage a variegated and rich film culture at Brandeis."
"I don't just want to do art house cinema. I don't want to just do indie film. I want to also include Hollywood," she said.
Recent alumnus Scott Feinberg is helping Kelikian add Hollywood players to her equation. Feinberg, who began blogging about the Oscar race a few years ago, now blogs about film for the Los Angeles Times, which often features taped question-and-answer sessions between its bloggers and high-profile actors. Said Kelikian, "I thought, what better opportunity to have some of these encounters happen at Brandeis? We're taking advantage of Scott's availability to include actors and actresses [in our program of events]."
"Brandeis, I knew, was looking to do exciting things with film and was welcome to having exciting things going on," Feinberg said. "The invitation is from Brandeis to these Oscar contenders, and I'm the middle man. … We videotape the Q&A that follows the screening, and that goes on my blog."
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