March 2023 Newsletter

Dear Cinema Students,  
 
Some of you have been asking about career development opportunities and internships.  The CSU Entertainment Alliance can support you through this process. Go here to learn about career resources and internship opportunities. 
 
Be sure to also check out the Entertainment Alliance's events page here. Upcoming events include Career Launcher FAQ Webinar and Music Forward Foundation. 
 
As always, feel free to connect with a faculty advisor to discuss your path through the major and future possibilities. Go here to reach an advisor.  
 
Hope your semester is going great!

Scott Boswell 
Undergraduate Advising Coordinator 
Schedule an Appointment​ 
Pronouns: he/him

CINEMATOGRAPHY MASTER CLASS SERIES SPRING 2023 

Attention all film enthusiasts and students! The highly anticipated Cinematography Masterclasses (CINE 650) have started! Led by industry experts and professionals, these masterclasses will cover a range of topics. We are very fortunate to invite three renowned award-winning Cinematographers, the members of the prestigious American Society of Cinematographers (ASC): Dave Perkal, ASC; George Mooradian, ASC; and Nancy Schreiber, ASC. 
 
The Seminar session (open to the public) will include a screening of selected film scenes and clips, with analysis of visual storytelling techniques, and a Q&A with the guest speakers. 
 
The Workshop session (enrolled students) will include live demonstrations of lighting and camera techniques, as well as instruction in current workflow practices. 
 
First Session: Dave Perkal, ASC
Seminar: Friday, March 10, 6:30 - 8 p.m., FA 101
Workshop: Saturday, March 11, 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., FA 143

Second Session: George Mooradian, ASC
Seminar: Friday, March 17, 6:30 - 8 p.m., FA 101
Workshop: Saturday, March 18, 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., FA 143

Third Session: Nancy Schreiber, ASC
Seminar: Friday, April 7, 6:30 - 8 p.m., FA 101
Workshop: Saturday, April 8, 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., FA 143

If you have any questions or inquiries, please contact Prof. Weimin Zhang at weimin@sfsu.edu. We look forward to seeing you at the classes! 

APPLY TO THE CROSS-DISCIPLINARY ANIMATION MINOR

SF State students of all majors are invited to apply to the cross-disciplinary animation minor in the School of Cinema.  Application deadline is April 20.

Scan the QR code for more information on how to submit and application and portfolio or go to our B.A. page for more information.

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR ARTEL GREAT SET TO RELEASE HIS NEW BOOK MARCH 31

Great’s co-edited volume is a “culturally and politically timely collection [that] examines new Black films and moving images that have, once again, excited and possibly shifted the global media landscape” (from the Preface for Black Cinema and Visual Culture: Art and Politics in the 21st Century).

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR MIHAELA MIHAILOVA'S NEW ARTICLE CALLED "AN EXTRAORDINARY PIECE OF ENGINEERING:" THE ARTIFICIAL WOMAN AS DIGITAL EFFECT

Assistant Professor Mihaela Mihailova has published an article in a special issue of The Velvet Light Trap dedicated to digital storytelling. The piece is called "An Extraordinary Piece of Engineering:" The Artificial Woman as Digital Effect. Drawing on the persistent cultural notion of the female body as a site for simultaneously negotiating gender roles and technological progress, this article offers a close reading of cyborg, nonorganic, and biologically enhanced women and/as digital effects. It examines a range of feature films, including Ex Machina (Alex Garland, 2014), Ghost in the Shell (Rupert Sanders, 2017), Blade Runner 2049 (Denis Villeneuve, 2017), and Alita: Battle Angel (Robert Rodriguez, 2019 ).

Read the full article

RAY DE MASA'S GET FREE HAS ITS LOS ANGELES PREMIERE

Ray de Mesa's short film Get Free will have its Los Angeles premiere at Outfest Fusion on Saturday, March 25 at the TCL Chinese Theatres. The film will also be available for virtual screening. You can purchase tickets now at outfestfusion.com. Ray is currently a second year MFA student. Get Free was his first-year film.

Recent Cinema alum Tonny Yang’s thesis film, “A Quarter of Silence,” has been making the film festival rounds and winning awards since it was released last year. The film is about two young parents who lose their drive for affection and experience a night of silence that reignites their proclivity for love.

Numerous current and former SF State students participated in the production, including Alzhan Yessirgepov (Producer); Nikolas Welchel (Director of Photography); Jocelle Bautista (Sound Mixer); Ariana Jimenez (Script Supervisor); DJ Tinaz (1st Assistant Director); Tyler Aguallo (lead actor); and Arturo Garibay (supporting actor).

Thus far, the film has screened in nearly 20 festivals, winning awards at the Silver State Film Festival (Best Romance Drama); Mentone Film Festival (Best Romance Drama); Hollywood Gold Awards (Best Drama); and Love Actually International Storyteller Showcase (Best Drama). The film is currently streaming on the Roku Channel.

PROF. EMERITUS STEVEN KOVACS TO PROGRAM A SERIES OF SCREENINGS, ROMANIAN FILM FESTIVAL

Although he retired in 2021, Professor Emeritus Steven Kovacs continues to bring quality programming to the School of Cinema. This spring he will be hosting a Romanian Film Festival with Dr. Florentina Mocanu, M.A. in Theater, SFSU. The festival will take place April 21-22 in Coppola Theatre, showcasing some of the outstanding films of the last few years from Romania.

All screenings are FREE.  Students, faculty, members of the university and the general public are all invited.

FRIDAY, April 21, 2023 5 - 9:30 p.m.

5 - 7 p.m.

Poppy Field, director Eugen Jebeleanu
A young police officer, Cristi, tries to find the balance between two opposing parts of his identity: that of a man working in a macho hierarchical environment and that of a closeted gay person who tries to keep his personal life a secret.

 
7 - 8 p.m. Opening Reception 

8 - 9:30 p.m. 

Alone at my own wedding, director Marta Bergman
Insolent, spontaneous, funny. Pamela, a young Roma, is different from other girls in her community. A single mother, she lives with her grandmother and her little girl in a small hut where the three of them share a bed. How can she reconcile the needs of her two-year old daughter and her dream of freedom? Pamela embarks on a journey into the unknown, breaking away from the traditions that suffocate her. "Lapin, pizza, amour". All she has are three words in French and the hope that marriage will change her and her daughter's destiny.

SATURDAY, April 22, 2023 2 - 9:30 p.m.

2 - 4 p.m.

Men of Deeds, director Paul Negoescu
Ilie (late 30s) enjoys the easy life of a village policeman. His passivity during a series of violent events soon turns him into an accomplice to murder. Tension accumulates in the village, forcing Ilie to make a final decision.

4:15 - 6 p.m.

Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn, director Radu Jude
Emi, a school teacher, finds her career and reputation under threat after a personal sex tape is leaked on the Internet. Forced to meet the parents demanding her dismissal, Emi refuses to surrender to their pressure.

Link to youtube trailer for Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn

6 - 7 p.m. DINNER

7 - 9:30 p.m.

R.M.N., director Cristian Mungiu
Nominee for Palm d'Or at Cannes in 2022, this film is a non-judgmental analysis of the driving forces of human behavior when confronted with the unknown.  

AN EVENING WITH OSCAR NOMINATED JAY ROSENBLATT — APRIL 26

How Do You Measure a Year?

Join us for an evening with Jay Rosenblatt, the Oscar nominated documentary filmmaker.  We will be presenting a short program of films (approximately 75 minutes), followed by a Q&A.

Reception at 6 p.m.
Program from 7 - 9 p.m.
Location: Coppola Theater

SECRETS OF THE SURFACE

THURSDAY, May 4, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.

Film: 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Panel: 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

On the afternoon of May 4, beginning at 3:30 p.m., in Coppola Theater (Fine Arts Building, Room 101), Professor Kovacs will host a screening of the documentary SECRETS OF THE SURFACE: The Mathematical Vision of Maryam Mirzahkani, about the life and scientific contributions of Maryam Mirzakhani, the first and only woman to be honored by the Fields Medal, the most prestigious award for mathematicians under 40.  The screening will be followed by a discussion with SF State Cinema alumnus and director George Csicsery who traveled to Iran to shoot the film, Mitra Ara, Professor in Persian Studies, Emily Clader, Professor of Mathematics and Steven Kovacs.

Sponsored by: School of Cinema, Department of Mathematics, Department of Modern Languages & Literatures, Persian Studies.

All screenings are FREE.  Students, faculty, members of the university and the general public are all invited.

FEMINIST FILMMAKER FELLOWSHIP (F3)

The Feminist Filmmaker Fellowship (F3) aims to provide an open and safe space, virtual or in-person, advocating for womxn and non-binary filmmakers. Our events allow leadership development to flourish by listening to members to help bring their ideas to life. We are close to starting production on our firstlive-action short film.

Follow us on Instagram @feministfilmmakerfellowship for all our updates and to help us make some films.

JOIN THE QUEER CINEMA COALITION

Queer Cinema Coalition ensures a safe and creative space for LGBTQ+ filmmakers on campus to learn how to make our mark in an industry that doesn’t prioritize our voices. Through guest speakers, screenings/discussions, and community organizing, we build life-long connections to help us survive and thrive as filmmakers at SFSU and beyond. 

Follow us on Instagram @queercinemacoalition.

JOIN THE ANIMATION SOCIETY

The Animation Society strives to educate and provide an inclusive space for creative SFSU students to learn about and discover a love for animation.
 
Email:  animationsocietyatsfsuofficial@gmail.com
Website:  https://animationsociety.wixsite.com/animationsocietysf

Instagram: @animationsocietysfsu

To the School of Cinema,

The School of Cinema has hosted webinars on a myriad of subjects related to our diverse curriculum.  All of these webinars are available for viewing on our Vimeo website at the Showcase:
   
SF State Cinema School Events
Password:  SFSUCinemaEvents
 
There is something for everyone and we hope you will avail yourselves to these recordings in the coming months.
 
Drew Luis
SFSU School of Cinema, Tech

SCHOOL OF CINEMA TOUR WITH CINEMA TECHNICAL STAFF

Dear Prospective Students:

The School of Cinema offers in-person tours of our facilities. Please make an appointment by contacting the Cinema Office at cinema@sfsu.edu.

Drew Lewis: SFSU School of Cinema, Tech
Pablo Riquelme: Production Coordinator

March 20 - March 24
Spring Break

March 31
Cesar Chavez Day 

April 21
Day 1 - Romanian Film Festival
5 - 9:30 p.m.

• Poppy Field Screening
• Opening Reception 
• Alone at my own wedding Screening

Coppola Theatre (FA 101)

April 22
Day 2 - Romanian Film Festival
2 - 9:30 p.m.

• Men of Deeds Screening
• Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn Screening
• Dinner
• R.M.N. Screening

Coppola Theatre (FA 101)

May 4
Secrets of the Surface Screening
3:30 p.m.
Coppola Theatre (FA 101)

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