Laurie:
Just asking. You mentioned you are pursuing “RASHOMON” through interlibrary
loan. Does this require any special fee for the interlibrary loan of this film
(DVD)? Is there a fee to be a member of your local library? Interlibrary loan
is probably the cheapest way to access a film like “RASHOMON” because it is
such an established classic.
Joel
From: cinemaexp-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <cinemaexp-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf
Of Laurie Graves
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2018 9:39 AM
To: cinemaexp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [cinemaexp] Re: [cinemaexp] Re: [cinemaexp] Prior Local Screening of
“HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING”
Hi, Abbott--
Thanks for mentioning this. And I expect you're absolutely right that the film
did not attract much attention from the community at large. But what a
screening to miss, with the director there! Wish I had known about it, and yet
again, I wish I lived closer to Waterville.
As for Rashomon, I hope it's not entirely off the list. If for some reason we
can't get What Price Hollywood, then I think it would be a better substitute
than the Bergman doc, which, after all, is a doc, not a classic. And if we
don't show it this year, how about considering it for next year?
While we're on the topic of Rashomon...I've requested it through interlibrary
loan. Should be here sometime next week. Just in time for Thanksgiving? ;)
Finally, winter is here, at least for today.
Laurie
On 11/16/2018 8:40 AM, Nancy Meader wrote:
Hello all,
To answer Joel's most pressing questions, I have looked back and found
Steve Wurtzler's email to the campus. He brings films for his courses, and
invites the campus at large to attend as well. The film was shown in Arey, one
of the science buildings, on October 24, with the film maker, RaMell Ross, in
attendance for Q&A. Now, I "cannot tell a lie". The Red Sox were in the
playoffs and so.... we....well, I really WOULD like to see that film.
The fact is that Nancy and I have attended several of Steve's offerings of
the sort. His classes will be there along with perhaps 5 or 6 faculty people
and maybe a friend or two from outside. I doubt that this screening would have
raised the slightest alert in our community at large. I do recall feeling very
conflicted and hoping that Steve would forgive our absences. But the red meat
that night was the Red Sox.
Life went on.
Steve had said in his post that if there were only one film to be seen this
year, that this was the one. The trailer suggests a very dynamic camera and
editing style. I expect the film to be an unusual one in its form and likely in
much of its content. I think you folks who are able to access more than I can
might delve a bit. Certainly be sure to check out the trailer. Overall I'm
certain that the people our publicity efforts would reach would not have been
aware of Steve's screening nor of the film itself. Maybe a couple of
exceptions.
While you're at it, check out the trailer for the newly restored DAUGHTERS
OF THE DUST. That's a goodun for sure! Maybe a relative of HALE COUNTY.
I understand all of Joel's misgivings about old classics' ability to draw
an audience. I became so used to classes where I could just plain REQUIRE them
to attend the screenings. Of course I couldn't keep some of them from falling
asleep in the dark, but it was a step in the right direction.
As for RASHOMON, I gather it's La lal la la, la la la la, hey hey hey
Goodbye. So be it.
Avanti un altro! Abbott
----- Original Message -----
From: Joel Johnson <mailto:joel_johnson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: cinemaexp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:cinemaexp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2018 12:49 AM
Subject: [cinemaexp] Prior Local Screening of “HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS
EVENING”
Abbott and others:
Thank you, Abbott, for your input. I think there seems to be consensus
developing around at least three or four of those you listed in your five
choices.
You may recall that I was a proponent for “HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS
EVENING.” I did, however, become a bit concerned when you mentioned in your
e-mail that Steve Wurtzler had shown “HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING”
at Colby. This had not come up in our prior discussions and could make a
difference in our decision to show it. Was this shown as part of a class (and
viewing would have been limited to those in the class and maybe a few others)
or was this a special event that was open to everyone affiliated with the
college and/or the general public? When was it shown at Colby? Obviously a lot
of our regulars might not be aware of campus screenings, but some segment of
our potential audience may have already seen the film depending to whom the
film was intended to be shown. When you are dealing with audiences for whom a
very good two-screening total would max out at 40-50, having a dozen or so
potential audience members exposed through a prior screening could
significantly cut into that.
You had been a proponent of “ICEMAN” after our group screening. After that
screening the three guys (you, Bob, and me) were quite enthusiastic about it,
though both Alice and Nancy were clearly much less enthused. The filmmakers did
make a deliberate choice about using an archaic language and eschewing
subtitles for that language. This makes the film much more visual, but also
limits nuanced communication of concepts. The film does raise issues of man’s
violent nature and does show a lot of brutal violence. You did not comment on
“ICEMAN” in this recent e-mail or in any of the others earlier this week. Are
you still interested in this film?
It is a team decision on including “RASHOMON” and there is certainly some
sympathy to the idea of showing it. It is, of course, an established classic
and not only is it on those lists of all-time best films, but it is usually
quite near the top of those lists. The question about showing it has never
been—as it often is with our other films—"is it good enough to deserve to be
included?” The answer to that is clearly “yes!” The question is “will people
come to see it?” Our audience tends to be middle-aged and up. Our selection
team is pretty representative of our regular audience with lots of retirees.
“RASHOMON” has been a remarkable film for cinephiles to watch for a very long
time. Janus Films has had it as part of its catalogue for decades. I remember
seeing it in their catalogue when as a grad student I was trying to set up a
film series at UMaine. It is now available through Amazon via both streaming
and DVD/Blu-Ray. It is available in a Criterion package with lots of extras
plus in other sets or individual discs. It has shown on TCM, though I can’t
remember when. Similarly it has also had one or more special screenings at
Railroad Square Cinema though it is not clear exactly when it was last shown. I
suspect that all of the people in our typical and usual audience have had
opportunities to see “RASHOMON” a number of times and many—if not most—have
taken advantage of that opportunity at least once. Furthermore if presented
with the opportunity to see the film as part of our film series, they would
have other opportunities to see the film—some of which would be for less money
than our ticket prices or with special features that would enhance its viewing.
Classic films tend not to attract our best audiences, but I suspect this film’s
prominence as a classic probably would make it even more difficult to attract a
good audience. Yes, showing it on the big screen is qualitatively a superior
way to see a film. Unfortunately, that doesn’t guarantee that we would attract
a good-sized audience. Anyway that is my caveat about including it. When we
show new films especially—but even less well-known older classic films—we are
presenting our audience with something that—while unlikely to be among the
all-time great films—is something they may have never seen, never heard of, and
may only rarely have other opportunities to see again.
Joel
From: cinemaexp-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:cinemaexp-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:cinemaexp-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> <cinemaexp-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On
Behalf Of Nancy Meader
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2018 2:17 PM
To: cinemaexp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:cinemaexp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [cinemaexp] Re: Alice's choices
Hello all.
I hear my greeting echoing in a vacant room , but....
Here's my response to Alice's listing, based upon my viewing of trailers
and readings of various reviews. Of course I also rely on the comments by you
all, as well as upon our live discussions of hopes and purposes.
In no special order I would vote to schedule RAMEN SHOP, WHAT PRICE
HOLLYWOOD, THE THIRD WIFE, THE SEARCH FOR BERGMAN, and HALE COUNTY THIS
MORNING,THIS EVENING. I was less taken via trailers with UNTRADUCTOR, THE
INTERPRETER, RAFIKI, and BUDAPEST NOIR, and while 3 FACES is by a director
whose work I admire, the trailer didn't grab me.
I was unable to see HALE C T M T E when Wurtzler brought it to Colby. It
looks like a fantastic piece (Do recall that I viewed THE TREE OF LIFE three
times, or was it four?) It could be a structural challange for many, so maybe
it would become the substitute for GENESIS 2.0 and bring up the rear?.
Above I list only 5 films, and so, encouraged by Laurie's openess to the
idea, I reintroduce RASHOMON as a sixth. The film introduced Kurasawa and
Mifune to the West. It was made, I believe, in 1950. FIVE YEARS ONLY after the
first A bombs killed over 150,000 civilians in Japan! LOOK at that film with
that understanding in mind. And how many have done that??
Enuf said.
I'm content, and it was nice to be able, once again, to enter into the
planning of the series. VV Abbott
----- Original Message -----
From: Alice Johnson <mailto:alice_johnson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: cinemaexp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:cinemaexp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2018 11:26 AM
Subject: [cinemaexp] Re: Alice's choices
Here's my line up..
I hope the table translates into your e-mails...
1/12-13/19
1.“RAMEN SHOP”
2. “WHAT PRICE HOLLYWOOD?”
1/19-20/19
NO Movie Women's March - 2019
1/26-27
1. “THE THIRD WIFE”
2. “RAMEN SHOP” or “UNTRADUCTOR”
2/2-3
1. "3 FACES"
2. “THE THIRD WIFE”
2/16-17
1. HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING
2. “UNTRADUCTOR” or “RAFIKI”
3/2-3 (MJFF Film)
1. “THE INTERPRETER” (Slovakia’s submission for 2019 Best Foreign-language
Oscar nomination
2. “BUDAPEST NOIR”
3/19-17/19
1. “WHAT PRICE HOLLYWOOD?”
2. “SEARCHING FOR INGMAR BERGMAN”
Alice
--
Laurie Graves
hinterlandspress.com
hinterlands.me
