Festival 2004 Cover Story in the Daily Bruin

(Written by Justin Scott, DAILY BRUIN REPORTER, jscott@media.ucla.edu)

Not one, but two filmmakers will be honored in this year’s annual Festival of New Work, hosted by the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. Alumni Catherine Hardwicke and Gore Verbinski were both selected as Filmmaker of the Year, and will be present on select days during the week-long festival.

While both Hardwicke and Verbinski share very similar alumni-turned-success stories, their bodies of work bear little resemblance. For many, Hardwicke represents independent filmmaking, with last year’s gritty drama “Thirteen.” Meanwhile, Verbinski was the master behind such big-screen successes as “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” and “The Ring,” leading the debate over which direction students want to take in their careers.

“There are going to be people who (follow) Hardwicke, and there are going to be some that follow in the path of Verbinski, but that’s the great thing about our school,” said Angela Sostre, one of two student coordinators of the festival. “There’s such a variety of filmmakers in terms of stories they want to tell.”

And this year’s festival is sure to have more variety than ever, screening two nights of “directors spotlight” films at the Directors Guild of America Theatre. For continuing students, it is an opportunity to present the films they’ve worked on throughout the year, while graduating students present their thesis films, completed as a requirement for graduation.

“It’s a little like writing a book,” said Rachel Pearl, whose film, “The Shabbos Goy,” will screen at one of the spotlights. “You pour so much creative energy into your film, and you want people to absorb what you’ve been working on and take something away from it.”

For many graduating students, the festival stands as one of their final opportunities to grab the attention of industry executives before heading out into the real world.

“The students really spearheaded the shift to having two nights of spotlight by going out and getting enough sponsors,” said Sostre, who has two films screening at the festival. “And screening films outside the (campus) is a great way to bring people in and show them the diversity of our work.”

The films to be screened on the spotlight nights were narrowed down by a committee of 25 student volunteers and ultimately selected by a panel of industry members. According to Sostre, the decision to create two nights of spotlights was a result of the high level of talent brought to the table by this year’s filmmakers.

“It’s great to be able to show these films that are a product of so many long days and long nights, to have our family and friends see your work,” said Tamara Maloney, whose graduate thesis film, “The Three Body Problem,” will screen during one of the spotlights. “Of course, it would be great if someone in the industry takes note, but if not, that’s OK.”

But while showing off one’s film can be fun in itself, it’s hard to ignore the message the festival’s spotlight is trying to send: Being an alumnus of the program has the potential to lead to a successful filmmaking career.

“Our people go in both directions, so we really run the absolute gamut in terms of types of filmmakers that come out of our school,” said Hal Ackerman, a screenwriting professor and chair of the festival. “That’s the beauty of the program – we don’t pigeonhole anyone, and we encourage everyone to write from an individual perspective.”

While a lot of focus is paid to the films and filmmakers featured in the spotlight nights, the other festival screenings are just as important to student filmmakers.

“There are definitely people who are benefiting from being in the spotlight,” said Maloney, “but in the end, you really create your own opportunities. While it’s a beginning, it’s up to you and how you take control of your work.”

Having control over one’s work can be valuable in an industry where big budget is often synonymous with rules and stipulations. But for some, being offered a directorial position on a high budget movie can be difficult to turn down.

“I’m aiming to go out in the world as a commercial filmmaker with an independent mind,” said Maloney.

Finding a middle ground is exactly what the festival represents for many.

“Hardwicke is independent and has worked really hard to get where she is today,” said David Quantic, who directed “Garden of Eden,” which will screen on the festival’s opening night. “She likes doing everything, and expects people to work just as hard as she does on any of her projects.”

While Hardwicke’s spirit is admirable for many beginning filmmakers, it’s unclear if the independent route is where she will stay. Now working with bigger budgets following the success of “Thirteen,” her decisions might reinforce the idea that mainstream filmmaking has its perks.

“We’re raised on big blockbuster films,” Quantic added. “All of us want to make a ‘Matrix’ or a ‘Pirates of the Caribbean.’ It’s just fun to get to blow (stuff) up.”

Still, wherever these well-established alumni take their careers in the future, the paths they have followed to get to there are important models for many of the graduating student directors featured in this year’s festival.

“I admire both of them in different ways, especially the way Hardwicke has really been coming into her career,” said Sostre. “That’s where I’d like to see my career going, from starting off with a more independent film and then go to more bigger budget films later.”

But most student filmmakers will have to wait for the big bucks to come rolling in, and the festival might be just what those students aspiring for Hollywood glory need to hold them over.

“Needless to say, regardless if someone approaches me about my film, it’s a treasure to have the opportunity to screen it,” said Maloney. “It’s like a pat on the back.”

Related Program

Keywords

"gore verbinski" "catherine hardwicke" "hal ackerman" 

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