It’s rumored that the Wayne State University Artists Society is planning a film festival. They’ve gotten some money from the University and feel that a festival would be a good way to use it, and, perhaps make some more money. Due to the time thing I’m going to have to beg off on giving more information, since the plan has only been in existence for a few days.
Just as this column was getting ready to go to the printers, a phone call came into the Fifth Estate from Joe Fineman, concerning another film festival being planned. A group called the Friday Night Coordinating Committee (F.N.C.C.) has the Community Arts Auditorium at Wayne booked for January 15th. and they want to do a program of films by Michigan film makers, and are trying to contact film makers and find films. They will look at anything, so if you know someone who has a film, have them write F.N.C.C. at 18490 Birchcrest Drive, Detroit 48221, or call the Fifth Estate.
Larry Weiner (film maker), often mentioned in this column, has run into some more problems. The girl who has been playing Lollipop in his film OUR MAN SAM has left town, leaving him without a Lollipop (she’s the second Lollipop since starting the film). So if you happen to be, or if you know a nymphet type, with long, light hair and would like to be in a film (acting experience not necessary, in fact it may be detrimental,) then please contact him, either through the paper or the workshop. This is a desperate plea, since he would like to finish the film within the next couple of months.
Actually, when you come right down to it, Weiner needs more than a Lollipop (How’s that for an innocuous statement?). He also is in need of some props and things, so if anyone has, or can get, or can make any of the following, they too should contact Weiner. A ’64 Thunderbird convertible (purple); an ambulance: motorcycles; an airplane; an Uncle Sam costume; and a Ming the Merciless costume. The list is longer but that was all he could think of when he talked with me last.
He also is looking for as many people as possible who are “not ashamed of their bodies” who might be able to make it to Jackson, Michigan around the middle of January to be part of a “cast of thousands,” although I suppose he would settle for hundreds.
A MAN AND A WOMAN is a truly beautiful film, and is definitely worth seeing. The photography is. fantastically beautiful, I can just sit and look at it for it’s own sake, and the story, too, is a beautifully done emotional piece. Certain parts of it are pretentious (mainly the occupations of the main characters), and certain parts tend to drag, but on the whole, the film is (you should pardon the redundancy, but the word is extremely apropos)beautiful.
And even if you don’t like the feature, the short subjects playing with it (a black and white animated film called THE NOSE) is well worth the admission price, whatever it may be on the night you go.
On December 11 there was a meeting held at the Artist’s Workshop concerning film in Detroit. A group of people interested in making and viewing films got together and discussed What to do to get the film scene moving in Detroit. Unfortunately the deadline for this column was Friday, December 9, so I can’t tell you what happened. I will do so next time, but if you can’t wait till then, and you want to find out about the next meeting (there will be one), you can do one of two things. You can call the Artist’s Workshop (831-6644), or you can try to contact me at the Fifth Estate.