Archive for December, 2009
A Year-End List of Our Own: Top Five on Beyond the Box
What a year it has been! As we prepare to ring in 2010, we thought we’d take a look back at some of the most popular blog posts and create a year-end list of our very own. Check out the top five most visited blog posts from the past year.
5. Crips and Bloods: Made in America Live Webcast Panel
On April 14, Community Cinema, in partnership with the City of Los Angeles, screened Crips And Bloods: Made in America, a film that examines the conditions that have led to the devastating gang violence among young African Americans growing up in South Los Angeles. The event was also broadcast live on Beyond the Box with questions fielded from an online chat room, Twitter and a live audience in Los Angeles. The video recording is available to watch.
Read more >>
4. Recently Funded by ITVS
ITVS funds, distributes and promotes new programs produced by independent producers primarily for public television and beyond. Filmmakers from across the United States and around the world received funding and were announced on the blog. The Newly Funded category collectively received a high volume of traffic and showcases the diverse range of films funded by ITVS.
Check out the lists >>
3. Independent Lens Announces Maggie Gyllenhaal as New Host
We could hardly keep the secret any longer. Earlier this year, we announced that Maggie Gyllenhaal would be the new host of Independent Lens. No stranger to the indie film world, Gyllenhaal has starred in a wide-range of films including Secretary (2002), for which she received a Golden Globe nomination, Donnie Darko (2001) and Sherrybaby (2006), where she received her second Golden Globe nomination. Be sure to go see her in the upcoming films Crazy Heart, alongside Jeff Bridges and Nanny McPhee, and the Big Bang with Emma Thompson.
Read more >>
A Girl’s Life Premiering Tonight on Public Television
“A Girl’s Life on PBS is a Wednesday TV pick… Author Rachel Simmons interviews parents, teachers, and social workers helping young women face the challenges of adolescence in the 21st century.”
- The Seattle Times
The American girl is becoming more and more powerful –– and she knows it. She competes on the athletic field and regularly outperforms boys in the classroom. But this picture of empowerment can also be deceiving. In A Girl’s Life, author Rachel Simmons brings together the latest research on the psychological, physical, and emotional development of girls, to help parents, educators and all concerned better understand the obstacles girls face during their adolescent years.
A Girl’s Life premieres tonight, December 30 at 8:00 PM on public television (check local listings).
Feeling Young At Heart This Holiday Season
Young@Heart director Bob Cilman doing a run-through of the James Brown classic "I Feel Good"
As a gift to our audiences, Community Cinema presented the heart-warming and inspiring hit documentary YOUNG@HEART this December. Many of our events — more than 42 nationwide — included live performances. Exceptional seniors shared their talents and personal stories of courage, persistence, and triumph in the face of adversity. If you are lucky enough to live in Denver, you have one more chance to attend a free Community Cinema event tonight at the Starz Film Center. A few more events occur in January.
Our national partners create unique ways for audiences to learn more about the link between creativity, culture, and aging. The mission of the National Center for Creative Aging is to foster an understanding of the vital relationship between creative expression and healthy aging and to developing programs that build on this understanding. Learn more about their public awareness campaign “The Art of Aging: Creativity Matters” and the center’s free online resource guide “Creativity Matters: The Arts and Aging Toolkit.”
WTTW Reception for young musicians and their families at the Chicago Cultural Center
Local partners connect our audiences with “on the ground” resources to turn the passion they experience during the film into action in their community. Audience members have said after an event, “I’m going to look for a local choir for my husband!” and “Made me want to join a chorus even if I can’t sing.” Our partners included such distinguished and esteemed partners as the Jazz Institute of Chicago, WTTW Channel 11, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center (BMAC), KETC, the Missouri History Museum, the SIFF Cinema at Seattle Center, the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Office of Los Angeles Councilwoman Janice Hahn, Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, and Project:Involve. Project:Involve’s mission is to foster diversity in the film industry and to promote independent film making.
Our events included many super seniors who keep young at heart by performing their talents into their 70′s, 80′s, 90′s, and beyond. Watch videos and see photos from our events. › Continue reading
Scenes From a Parish Premiering Tonight on Independent Lens
“[Scenes From a Parish] unfolds in a series of incredibly diverse personal stories as both O’Brien and his fractious flock struggle to hold fast to their faith in the face of dire circumstances.”
- Chicago Tribune
When a young, irreverent priest arrives at Saint Patrick Parish in Lawrence, Massachusetts, he discovers the unexpected––boiling ethnic tensions in a changing working-class community. Filmed over four years, the film follows the diverse personal stories of Father Paul O’Brien and his unruly flock as they struggle to hold onto faith in the face of desperate circumstances.
Scenes From a Parish premieres tonight, December 29, at 10:00 PM on Independent Lens on PBS (check local listings).
Rent Independent Lens and Global Voices Episodes on iTunes
Looking to watch something from the comfort of your home over the holidays?
Check out the PBS Indies page on iTunes where you’ll find more than 20 indie films from Independent Lens, Global Voices and other public television series and broadcasts.
Each film is now available for rent for $2.99 or for purchase at $9.99.
A selection of films include: ADJUST YOUR COLOR: The Truth of Petey Green, THE ATOM SMASHERS, BANISHED, the Oscar-nominated DAUGHTER FROM DANANG, A DREAM IN DOUBT, LAKSHMI AND ME, THE LOSS OF NAMELESS THINGS, MAPPING STEM CELL RESEARCH: TERRA INCOGNITA, MARCH POINT, MILKING THE RHINO, OPERATION FILMMAKER, POWER TRIP, RED WHITE BLACK & BLUE, A SON’S SACRIFICE, STRANDED: The Andes Plane Crash Survivors and ESTILO HIP HOP.
Happy Holidays from ITVS!
Dear friends and colleagues,
We want to take this opportunity to wish you a warm and happy winter holiday. We look forward to connecting with you in the new year!
Sincerely,
The team at Beyond the Box Blog and ITVS
Ask Programming: International Call Questions
With the ITVS International Call deadline quickly approaching on February 5, 2010, the ITVS programming staff takes some time out to answer a few of your frequently asked questions:
Q. How does the International Call work?
A. Through the International Call funding initiative, ITVS works to:
1. Seek out international projects. We work closely with international media markets, film festivals and producer organizations to find and attract the most compelling television project proposals from around the world.
2. Select the best projects created by international independent producers. The International Call incorporates a peer-review process involving distinguished industry professionals (filmmakers, commissioning editors, broadcasters, etc.) from around the world.
Cynthia Kane, ITVS International Program Manager, posing in front of the International Call submissions library.
3. Fund and manage projects to completion. Through the International Call, we provide production funds in exchange for a license for domestic broadcast; strategic commissioning commitments vary. ITVS works with producers to ensure that all programs meet broadcast and editorial standards.
4. Find U.S. television distribution outlets. Working with the producer, public television and other outlets, we negotiate U.S. distribution through public or cable television.
5. Maximize impact. Through publicity and community outreach campaigns, we help programs find and impact audiences.
In the News: The Latest on ITVS Programs
TV Guide: Independent Lens: SCENES FROM A PARISH [PDF]
Irish-Catholic churchgoers in Lawrence, Massachusetts, struggle with the “love thy neighbor” concept.
Read full review >>
Paste Magazine: The Ten Best Food Documentaries of All Time
THE REAL DIRT ON FARMER JOHN and KING CORN are among ten films listed on Paste Magazine’s Best Food Documentaries. Both films previously aired on Independent Lens.
Read full review >>
The Wall Street Journal: Speakeasy: Filmmaker Vanessa Gould Goes BETWEEN THE FOLDS of Origami World
Although origami, or paper folding, is primarily seen as an old-fashioned pastime, the art form is still making its mark in pop culture.
Read full review >>
NPR: The Picture Show: The Most Exciting New Art Medium: Paper
The extent of my origami experience consists of those little square fortunetelling devices from fourth grade, so I had my doubts about the prospect of an origami documentary. But Vanessa Gould’s BETWEEN THE FOLDS — and I risk sounding like a total nerd here — is awesome.
Read full review >>
YOUNG@HEART and a Day of Jazz at the Chicago Cultural Center
WTTW Reception for Young Musicians and Their Families
This past Saturday, Community Cinema hosted a truly one-of-a-kind event for the film YOUNG@HEART in Chicago at the Chicago Cultural Center. ITVS National Community Cinema Coordinator, Naomi Walker, shares her experience at the event.
Thanks to our wonderful partner the Jazz Institute of Chicago who teamed up with Community Cinema, WTTW Channel 11 and The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs to present a screening of YOUNG@HEART and a day of jazz greats both young and old at the Chicago Cultural Center.
The event began at 12:15 PM with a concert by Chicago Public School’s All-City Youth Jazz Ensemble. The young people showed their dedication, passion and talent and played a wide range of jazz forms. Shaunese Teamer, Manager of Community Outreach and National Publicity at WTTW, invited the young musicians and their families and friends to a reception after the concert. The Ensemble and their fans mingled with WTTW members in the beautiful rotunda at the Cultural Center. Our guest speakers all met at the reception to the delight of the jazz aficionados in the crowd. Jazz legends Fred Anderson, Mwata Bowden, and Willie Pickens have all known each other for years. Mwata and Willie have made regular appearances at Fred’s famous club, The Velvet Lounge.
L to R: Fred Anderson, WTTW's Shaunese Teamer, Mwata Bowden, ITVS' Naomi Walker, and Willie Pickens
Over 150 people braved the shopping hordes and the snow to come downtown for the free screening of YOUNG@HEART.
Shaunese Teamer welcomed the crowd and gave a hearty kudos to Independent Lens for its 10+ years of groundbreaking programming.
Audience members commented that the film inspired them to want to go
into show business and take to the stage. Here are some of their other
comments from after the event.
“I’m going to look for a local choir for my husband!”
“Made me want to join a chorus even if I can’t sing.”
“Their singing keeps them going. That gives them something to live for.”
“IT WAS SUPERB! Made our holiday great.”
L to R: Mwata Bowden, Fred Anderson, and Willie Pickens
After the film, the jazz legends came onstage and shared their stories of persistence, passion and their secrets to longevity. Jazz was in its infancy when they were starting out, so there was no one to really show them the way. Now each of them makes it a point to mentor young musicians. Willie and Mwata each spoke of the great contribution that the Velvet Lounge has made in giving jazz musicians young and old a place to experiment and continually push the envelope. Earlier this year, both Mwata and Willie participated in a star-studded tribute to Fred Anderson on his 80th birthday, where Fred’s compositions were performed by a large orchestra in Millenium Park.
Multi-instrumentalist Mwata Bowden speaks about passion.
Community Cinema Featured on Channel 9 in Washington, D.C.
Local TV station WUSA Channel 9 in Washington D.C. featured an in-studio interview with local Community Cinema Coordinator Michon Boston on Thursday, December 3, 2009. Watch Michon discuss the Community Cinema program, local partners and upcoming films in her live TV interview.
Upcoming Screenings
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A free monthly screening series, Community Cinema features films from the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Independent Lens.
In over 50 cities nationwide, screenings are followed by lively panel discussions that bring together citizens, organizations and public television stations to encourage dialogue and action around important and timely social issues. Last season, over 40,000 people attended 500 events nationwide.
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