AFI Conservatory Alumni in the News – August 2012 Recap

So many of our AFI Alumni have been recognized over the past month on their work and accomplishments!

NBC has acquired an hour-long romantic comedy, tentatively titled CYRANO penned by Michael Palmer (AFI Class of 1999).

Dimension Films has acquired ANGRY LITTLE GOD for US Distribution. AFI Class of 2004 alum Daniel Stamm directed the film.

Warner Brothers has acquired a script from Vera Blasi (AFI Class of 1991) titled PONTIUS PILATE which follows the life of Lucius Pontius Pilate from his beginnings as “the sensitive son of a Roman Knight into a ferocious solider.”

An interview with Cinematographer Robert Elswit (AFI Class of 1977) regarding his work on THE BOURNE LEGACY.

Pete Villani (AFI Class of 2004) was named one of eight honorees for the Emerging Cinematographer Awards named by the International Cinematographers Guild.

AFI Alumni director Thymaya Payne (AFI Class of 2006) won the Boccalino D’oro (independent critics award) at the Locarno Film Festival for his documentary on Somali pirates STOLEN SEAS.

Directing Workshop For Women alumna Rachel Goldberg (Class of 2010), has shared the news that her short film NEIGHBORS has received First Place for the Alternative Spirit Award from the Rhode Island International Film Festival, and will screen on Friday, September 21 in Los Angeles at the Sunset Gower Studios as part of the NewFilmmakers LA Film series.

Directing Workshop For Women alumna Hanelle Culpepper (Class of 2002) directed an episode of 90210 this month, which featured Olympian Ryan Lochte.

And finally, be sure to check out this interview with Karen Maruyama, a member of the AFI Conservatory Directing Faculty, on her role Jay Roach’s THE CAMPAIGN.

Congratulations to all!

24 August 4 Permalink

Remembering Frank Pierson

We begin this note knowing we will “fail to communicate” the heavy heart we carry today with the news that Frank Pierson, the man who wrote the legendary line for COOL HAND LUKE, has passed away at the age of 87.

The great irony that it was he who etched the line into the pantheon of pop culture is that nobody could communicate like Frank.

With words imbued with wit and wisdom. With glances that had you stand a little straighter. With smiles that gave you the confidence to realize your dreams.

Frank served on the AFI Board of Trustees since 2005, providing invaluable oversight to the AFI Conservatory, where he also served as our Artistic Director. But perhaps Frank’s greatest gift to AFI was his role as leader of the Conservatory’s Narrative Workshop. Week in and week out – for decades – Frank moderated these sessions where teams of filmmakers present their work to their fellow Fellows. As you know, his only rule was that the filmmakers could not speak. They were to listen. And learn. Frank led these gatherings with an iron fist and an open heart – challenging and inspiring a new generation to make movies – and always, to reach for more.

When he retired from teaching two years ago, and we searched for a replacement, Frank requested we look for someone who would, first and foremost, make the class about the Fellows. Frank was always about the Fellows.

Someone once asked him what made a great filmmaker. His reply, “Two failed marriages and a short stint in jail.” His point – he would go on to explain – is that to tell a worthy tale one has to have lived.

Frank lived.

And he will continue to live at AFI – where an army of artists has been sent off into the world – hellbent on standing true to their beliefs – and to their stories.

Something they learned from the very best. Something they learned from Frank Pierson.

Our community will come together to remember Frank in the weeks to come, but we hope you will take a moment today to remember Pacino’s chant in DOG DAY AFTERNOON – “Attica! Attica!” – and know that Frank’s legacy will continue to echo across time. 

Sincerely, 

Bob Gazzale, President and CEO
Robert Mandel, Dean, AFI Conservatory

23 July 9 Permalink

A Message From Bob Gazzale, President and CEO of the American Film Institute

AFI CEO Bob Gazzale issued the following statement in response to last night’s tragic events in Aurora, Colorado.

“Movie theaters are magical places.  They bring us together to share our nation’s dreams - and even inspire us to stand in line at midnight to be among the first to see a cultural phenomenon.  At AFI - a community of artists and audiences - we mourn our fellow movie lovers and offer our deepest condolences to their families.”

20 July 33 Permalink

AFI Conservatory Alums Nominated For the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards

Congratulations are due today to our many, many AFI Conservatory Alums who have been honored with a 64^th Primetime Emmy Nomination.

Outstanding Drama Series
HOMELAND
Gideon Raff (AFI Class of 2003), Executive Producer

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
HOMELAND - “Pilot”
Gideon Raff (AFI Class of 2003), Written By

Outstanding Miniseries or Movie
AMERICAN HORROR STORY
Bradley Buecker (AFI Class of 2003), Co-Executive Producer
Dante Di Loreto (AFI Class of 1991), Executive Producer
Brad Falchuk (AFI Class of 1996), Executive Producer

Exceptional Merit In Documentary Filmmaking
HAVE YOU HEARD FROM JOHANNESBURG
Connie Field (AFI Class of 1997), Producer

Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series
VEEP
Allison Jones (AFI Class of 1981), Casting By

Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series
MAD MEN - “The Phantom”
Christopher Manley (AFI Class of 1994), ASC, Director of Photography

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series
MAD MEN - “Far Away Places”
Chris Gay (AFI Class of 2006), Edited By

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Comedy Series
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM - “Palestinian Chicken”
Steven A. Rasch (AFI Class of 1988), A.C.E., Editor

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Comedy Series
MODERN FAMILY - “Election Day”
Steven A. Rasch (AFI Class of 1988), A.C.E., Edited by

Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing For A Comedy Series
HOT IN CLEVELAND - “God And Football”
Mark Dashnaw (AFI Class of 1999), Edited by

Outstanding Picture Editing For Nonfiction Programming
AMERICAN MASTERS - “Johnny Carson: King Of Late Night”
Mark Catalena (AFI Class of 1994), Editor

Outstanding Main Title Design
AMERICAN HORROR STORY
Juan Ruiz Anchia (AFI Class of 1979), Director of Photography

Congratulations to all our Alums. We are very proud!

http://www.emmys.tv/

19 July 1 Permalink

AFI Conservatory Alum Ben Kitchens Honored by The American Society of Cinematographers

Congratulations to AFI Conservatory alum Ben Kitchens! He has received an Honorable Mention for his Cinematography on AFI Alum film NARCOCORRIDO from The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC)! 

A ceremony announcing the winners in each category was held at the ASC Clubhouse on June 16. The awards are designed to showcase the artistic abilities of the next generation of filmmakers, with a focus on their cinematographic abilities.

(AFI Alumni)

19 June Permalink

Mel Brooks and David Lynch Receive Honorary Degrees

Today at the 2012 AFI Conservatory commencement, we were proud to confer Doctorate of Fine Arts degrees honoris causa upon American comedy icon Mel Brooks and celebrated surrealist David Lynch for “contribution of distinction to the art of the moving image.” Both artists worked together on the Academy Award winning THE ELEPHANT MAN (1980), with Lynch as director and screenwriter and Brooks as executive producer. Brooks and Lynch join previous AFI Honorary Degree recipients including Robert Altman, Maya Angelou, Clint Eastwood, Roger Ebert, James Earl Jones, Nora Ephron, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Kathleen Kennedy, John Lasseter, Spike Lee, Helen Mirren, Haskell Wexler and John Williams.

For the first time, the AFI Conservatory commencement was held at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, which was declared a cultural landmark in 1968. AFI graduating class representative Vanara Taing spoke about the importance of films, acknowledging the American Film Institute’s tenet that movies matter by saying, “It’s not just a movie – it’s a time to transcend.” In her remarks, Taing referred to AFI as “graduate school on steroids – we make 110 films over two years together.” 122 graduates of the AFI Conservatory received degrees at the ceremony.

13 June 1 Permalink

AFI Conservatory Films Honored at the 39th Student Academy Awards

Congratulations to the AFI Conservatory thesis teams of NARCOCORRIDO and NANI, winners of the 39^th Student Academy Awards in the Narrative film category! At last Saturday’s ceremony, The Bronze Medal went to NANI, directed by Justin Tipping, and the Silver Medal went to NARCOCORRIDO, directed by Ryan Prows.

The AFI Conservatory, named the #1 film school in the world by The Hollywood Reporter for the quality of its instructors and speakers, and its “glittering parade of alumni,” was the only school at this year’s Student Academy Awards with multiple medal winners.

NARCOCORRIDO, directed and written by Ryan Prows, centers on a gravely ill border cop’s reckless cartel heist and the desperate souls destroyed in her wake. The AFI Conservatory thesis team also includes producer L. Onye Anyanwu, cinematographer Benjamin Kitchens, editor Jarod Shannon, production designer Callie Andreadis and story editor Shaye Ogbonna.

NANI, directed and co-written by Justin Tipping, tells the story of a teenage graffiti artist and an elderly nursing home resident who form an unlikely bond through misadventures in graffiti. The AFI Conservatory thesis team also includes producer West McDowell, co-screenwriter Joshua Beirne-Golden, cinematographer Soren Hiorth, editor Linda Jildmalm and production designer Bonnie Bacevich.

11 June Permalink