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Our first artist-in-residence, at the 2002 festival, was CSULB alumnus Steven Spielberg. Some of the films Mr. Spielberg screened were: On the Waterfront, Dr. Strangelove, Easy Rider and Fellini’s 8 1/2. With Mr. Spielberg’s help we were able to bring a number of distinguished guest speakers to the festival. Celebrated director Paul Mazursky shared many insights about Federico Fellini’s artistic method and working process. Stanley Kubrick’s longtime partner James B. Harris discussed in detail how the script for Dr. Strangelove was developed. Academy Award winning actress Eva Marie Saint discussed Elia Kazan, Marlon Brando, the Black List and the ways in which actors and directors collaborate. Peter Fonda, Karen Black and Toni Basil talked about improvisation, cinéma vérité and other techniques that were used to create the controlled chaos of Easy Rider. Several master classes were also held, including a four-hour lighting workshop taught by acclaimed cinematographer Allen Daviau (E.T., Empire of the Sun). Panavision donated a 24P Hi Def camera for this event and Kodak presented Mr. Spielberg with their Artist-in-Residence Award. We also screened The Long Road Home, the first feature of recent CSULB graduate Drew Johnson, as part of an intensive called “Making Your First Feature.” Drew brought along his co-writer, lead actors, producers and director of photography. The 2002 festival, which was generously sponsored by Panavision and Kodak, was covered in feature articles in both The Long Beach Press Telegram and The Los Angeles Times.
The artist-in-residence at the 2003 festival was acclaimed cinematographer
and director John Bailey. In addition to showing some of his own work
(American Gigolo, China Moon, In
the Line of Fire and Silverado), Mr.
Bailey screened an eclectic collection of classics, including Sunrise,
The Wages of Fear, Battle of Algiers, Aguirre:
The Wrath of God and
La Haine. Mr. Bailey discussed these films and their influence on his
own work in a two-hour interview held on the theater stage opening
night. He also attended all the screenings where he offered additional
insights about each of the films to the audience. We were once again
able to bring a number of distinguished guest speakers to the festival,
including the great German director Werner Herzog, the current French
auteur and phenom Mathieu Kassovitz, master film editor Anne V. Coates,
producer Gail Katz and preservationist Mike Pogorzelske. Several master
classes were also held, including a lighting workshop and a directing
workshop, both of which were taught by Mr. Bailey. Panavision again
donated a 24P Hi Def camera and Kodak donated 10,000 feet of 16mm film
to our students. The festival, which was sponsored by Panavision and
Kodak, was once more covered in the Press Telegram and LA Times.
The artist-in-residence for the 2004 festival (October 27-31) is acclaimed horror film director and writer Wes Craven. In addition to screening his own master works A Nightmare on Elm Street, New Nightmare and the entire Scream trilogy, Mr. Craven will show such memorable films as Nosferatu, Frankenstein, The Bad Seed, Blow-Up, The Virgin Spring and Don’t Look Now. Actress Patty McCormack (The Bad Seed), author James Curtis (biographer of James Whale) and director Nicolas Roeg (scheduling permitting) have already agreed to attend as guest speakers. Mr. Craven will teach a directing class and participate in an opening night discussion about the films and their influence on his own work. An as yet to be named cinematographer will teach a lighting workshop as well.
Mission Statement
The goals of the festival
and its workshops are as follows: (1) To deepen our students and
the general public’s
understanding of the social, cultural, historical, aesthetic and theoretical
aspects of the cinema both as an art form and as a mass medium through
screenings, lectures and guest speaker events. (2) To establish the
festival as an important critical and historical project which archives
the creative development, interests and influences of major film artists.
(3) To better educate students, both our own and those from nearby
secondary and post-secondary institutions, and to foster in them a
deeper appreciation of the art and craft of cinema by giving them the
invaluable opportunity to participate in master classes on directing,
cinematography, writing and producing which are taught by successful
industry professionals. (4) To assist students in networking and making
industry contacts who will be able to advise and mentor them both before
and after graduation. (5) To function as a non-profit organization
and so use all ticket revenues after costs to support student scholarships,
academic research and, in collaboration with the UCLA Film and Television
Archive, the cause of film preservation and restoration. (6) To enhance
the reputation of the Department, College and University through a
high profile industry-centered event.
Parent organization
The Film and Electronic
Arts Department at CSULB is an innovative academic program that emphasizes
both professional and liberal arts education. Alumni include working
professionals in every aspect of the entertainment industry, including
the directors Steven Spielberg and David Twohy (The Chronicles of
Riddick). The department is part of CSULB’s College of the
Arts, which in addition to Film, offers degree programs in Art, Dance,
Design, Music and Theatre Arts. The College of the Arts is home not
only to the Widescreen Film Festival, but the California Repertory
Company, the University Art Museum and the California Institute for
the Preservation of Jazz.