15m; U.S.
Director: Laura Fishman
Synopsis: How the WGA won a fair share from the entertainment industry.
Contact: lfishman@ucsc.edu
Category Archives: Entertainment Industry
Even the Rain (También la Lluvia) [2010]
103m; Spain/Mexico/France
Director: Icíar Bollaín
Cast: Gael García Bernal, Luis Tosar and Karra Elejalde
Synopsis: A Spanish film crew comes to Cochabamba, Bolivia in 1999 to make a film about Christopher Columbus. The intent is to do a revisionist account portraying Columbus not as a hero, but as a conqueror. The film crew is not well financed and looking to cut costs, which includes to indigenous Bolivians being hired to star in the movie. At the same time, a mounting wave of protests is occurring, with one of the film extras serving as a major leader, over the privatization of Cochabamba’s water supply. The film crew becomes entangled in the protests in an ever more complex and deep ways. A superb film about the intersections and limits of art and politics.
Starkiss: Circus Girls in India (2003)
77m; Netherlands/India
Director: Jascha de Wilde, Chris Relleke
Synopsis (IMDB): This documentary provides an interesting look at the life of young girls (as young as 7)who are basically sold to the circus as performers. Some parent’s, having received advances on their daughter’s contracts, abandon them for years. Others, pay occasional visits to their daughters, often coming for another advance. The girls are basically jailed, unable to communicate with anyone other than their trainers and guard. A well done documentary providing some really poignant shots and candid interviews.
Strictly Background
84m; U.S.
Director: Jason Connell
Cast: Terry Bolo, Geoffrey Gould and Cecilia Hartfeld
Synopsis (IMDB): For decades, film and television audiences have watched their favorite stars with little thought or concern for the people standing behind them. All of that is about to change as “Strictly Background” explores the charm and determination of some of Hollywood’s hardest working actors, professional “extras.” Turning industry convention on its head, this humorous & heartfelt documentary follows ten background actors as they navigate their way on and off the set. Both a behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood and a character-driven film, “Strictly Background” is a dynamic exploration into the pursuit of stardom and the real life struggle to stand out
Stuntman (1980)
A fugitive stumbles on a movie set just when they need a new stunt man, takes the job as a way to hide out, and falls for the leading lady.
Director: Richard Rush
Writers: Lawrence B. Marcus (screenplay), Richard Rush(adaptation), and 1 more credit »
Stars: Peter O’Toole, Steve Railsback and Barbara Hershey
Sullivan’s Travels (1941)
90m; U.S.
Director: Preston Sturges
Cast: Joel McCrea, Veronica Lake and Robert Warwick
Synopsis (IMDB): Sullivan is a successful, spoiled, and naive director of fluff films, with a heart-o-gold, who decides he wants to make a film about the troubles of the downtrodden poor. Much to the chagrin of his producers, he sets off in tramp’s clothing with a single dime in his pocket to experience poverty first-hand, and gets some reality shock.
Swimming With Sharks (1994)
101m; U.S.
Director: George Huang
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Frank Whaley and Michelle Forbes
Synopsis: A young Hollywood executive becomes the assistant to a big time movie producer who is the worst boss imaginable: abusive, abrasive and cruel. But soon things turn around when the young executive kidnaps his boss and visits all the cruelties back on him.
Le Franc (1994)
44m; France
Director: Djibril Diop Mambéty
Cast: Dieye Ma Dieye, Aminata Fall and Demba Bâ
Synopsis (IMDB): A penniless, fast-thinking musician buys a lottery ticket which he glues to his back door, in hopes of eventually retrieving his instrument from his exasperating landlady. The ticket wins, and our hero begins a harrowing odyssey throughout his shanty town, carrying the door on his shoulder all the time
Mardi Gras: Made in China (2005)
72m;
Director: David Redmon
Synopsis (IMDB): This examination of cultural and economic globalization follows the life-cycle of Mardi Gras beads from a small factory in Fuzhou, China, to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and to art galleries in New York City.
Never Turning Back: The World of Peggy Lipschutz (2007)
30m; U.S.
Director: Jerri Zbiral
Synopsis: Celebrates the life and work of 90 year old artist and activist Peggy Lipschutz, who pioneered the “chalk-talk”— a performance art form combining drawing and music before a live audience. This film explores Peggy’s unwavering commitment to art, peace, justice and social change.
Contact: http://www.neverturningback.net/index.html jerri@thecollectedimage.com jerrizbiral@yahoo.com
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