SPECIAL! 2011 TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL JULY 28 - 31 / www.topangafilmfestival.com Around Our Digital Campfire Insider’s Guide by Flavia Potenza new to pave the way. We are all • Jalan Jalan Imports at Owl Falls storytellers, and we have over our will host our opening party on lifetimes chosen various modes of Thursday evening, July 28, as well dispersing those stories. Films are as our signature International Short but another method of expressing Film Competition screening on humanity.” Saturday night, July 30. The key to our success is our • The Main Stage, located at small community, carved into the the Topanga Elementary School hills of Topanga. We have often auditorium will be transformed into come to the brink of defeat, only a magnificent 350-seat screening to be resuscitated by our fellow room. Topangans. If it weren’t for the • The local country church will warmhearted community that we transform into the Church of call home, we never would have Cinema, the home of our Salon survived for the seven years that we Discussions and location for proudly claim this year. neurocinematic exploration. TFF, in conjunction with the Topanga • Ribbit Tree & Plant will host film Film Institute — created in 2010 to workshops in its Dojo, and Salon inspire, inform and interconnect a Discussions in their brand new generation of filmmakers to pioneer amphitheater. This location will a fertile new era of global trans- come to life with its bar and music, format content creation — fosters that is open to all. unbridled creativity. • The Topanga Canyon Gallery will This year we’ve converged with the lend their beautiful space for us to neuroscience community to explore More than a place and purpose, it is a state of mind. install our “Böx,” that you simply the biology of creativity and how will have to experience. elcome to the Seventh days of adventuring into the world the human brain leads us to more • The El Coyote will serve to W Annual Topanga Film of film and its myriad facets of dynamic storytelling through film. accommodate many other Festival (TFF) where Nature and human expression. “The Festival is a We’d like to extend our gratitude showcases, local and others. Technology conspire in the Grand digital campfire,” says founder Urs to the Topanga Messenger for Art of Storytelling. Baur. “We appreciate storytelling its support as it walked with us • Finally, RedHanded will be project- Topanga Canyon provides the in all its forms. We admire the through the production of this ing films onto sails billowing above backdrop and inspiration for four traditional, while we look to the 20-page Festival Program. and hung from the oak tree. Messenger, July 28, 2011, Page 11 SCHEDULE / TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL SALON DISCUSSIONS / CHURCH OF CINEMA ACTORS – STRIP IT DOWN NEUROSCIENCE OF DIRECTING – DO DIRECTORS Thu., July 28, 3pm / Church Of Cinema REALLY CONTROL THE RESPONSE TO A FILM? We will explore the actor’s craft. How do they get into the moment? What types of roles move them? How do they get into a role that Fri., July 29, 5pm / Church Of Cinema they’re not that passionate about? What is the biology of emotion? What happens to the brain, when an actor ‘tricks’ the brain into How are emotions stimulated through visuals? Sound? If more areas of believing that the imaginary circumstances are real? Rehearsed lines the brain are used while watching a film, does that make the film better? vs. Improv. – an artistic and cognitive explanation. Neuromarketing – Invasive? Scientifically proven? Will this new analysis Moderator: LG Taylor change the way stories are told? Panelists: Melissa Leo, Diane Louise Salinger, Ellen Geer Moderator: LG Taylor Ellen Geer Neuroscientist: Dr. Jonas Kaplan Panelists: Catherine Hardwicke, James Ponsoldt Neuroscientist: Dr. Amir Vokshoor, Dr. Steven Quartz DOCUMENTARY – ART AND SCIENCE OF EMPATHY Thu., July 28, 5pm / Church Of Cinema MUSIC – SCORE THIS! What makes a good documentary? Why do we need empathy in good storytelling? What is empathy? How do you create it? Where does it take place in the brain? Documentaries Sat., July 30, 2:30pm / Church Of Cinema Discussed: ReGeneration, The English Surgeon, I’m a Muslim, and the BNP Got My Vote!, Moderator: LG Taylor Panelists: Phillip Montgomery, Geoffrey Smith, Tre Azam Neuroscientist: Dr. Jonas Kaplan TRANSFORMAT MEDIA Fri., July 29, 1pm / Church Of Cinema Nic Harcourt Rosanna Arquette Cliff Martinez Sherry Whitfield Transmedia storytelling uses multiple media platforms to tell a single, coherent story or narrative that unfolds across time. Each media piece- Film scores and the Mind – We will discuss how music is used in film’s, how decisions are made whether it’s a website, novel, video game, mobile app, or a film-provides about what to use and how music can impact, effect and mark a film, the scientific correlation different points of access and can engage different demographics. Each between music and emotion, and music and inspiration. media component adds to the story while functioning as a standalone Moderator: Wendy Smith experience and invites some level of participation. What does this mean to the storyteller? To Panelists: Nic Harcourt, Rosanna Arquette, Cliff Martinez, Sherry Whitfield the audience? The boxoffice? Moderator: Urs Baur Panelists: Brent Bushnell, Tre Azam, Michael Epstein NEUROCINEMA – PERSPECTIVES ON THE SCIENCE BEHIND CINEMA WRITERS – GETTING TO THE CORE A COGNITIVE AND ARTISTIC ANALYSIS OF FILMMAKING. Fri., July 29, 3pm / Church Of Cinema This salon discussion explores the human urge toward story, and how to Sat., July 30, 4:30pm / Church Of Cinema go about unlocking the stories that need to be told. The panelists will offer How are the director’s stylistic intentions recognized by film viewers? various perspectives on the creative process from the very inception of What is the neurological basis for cinematic styles? We will explore the our story ideas through their cultivation and development into a form that director’s creative decisions, especially how artistic devices affect the can be shared with others. As we peel away the layers to reveal the very way viewers segment and categorize events in film. In unraveling the essence of our urges, a picture emerges of the centrality of narrative in our cognitive neuroscience behind this process, we examine an important lives: face-to-face, online, and everywhere in between. What is going on in facet of neurocinematics: film neuroaesthetics or the brain’s response our brain during this creative process? to movies as works of art. Moderator: LG Taylor Moderator: LG Taylor Panelists: Karin Gutman, Laura Milner, PhD, and Joan Scheckel Panelists: TBA Neuroscientist: Dr. Robert M. Bilder Neuroscientist: Dr. Mark Rollins Messenger, July 28, 2011, Page 12 TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL / SCHEDULE SALON DISCUSSIONS / MAIN STAGE 3D – THE FUTURE OF STORYTELLING? Sat., July 30, 3pm / Main Stage What happens to our spatial perception in the brain as we watch 3d Films? Does it affect how we view reality? We will discover the science behind vision. We will also explore: • 3D as a character of your story • The creative challenges of 3D • The audience response, how it varies from 2D. Moderator: Urs Baur Panelists: Ted Kenney, Wayan Palmieri, Max Penner, Michael Page Neuroscientist: Dr. Alan Horsager SALON DISCUSSIONS / RIBBIT TREE AMPITHEATRE ELDERS - THE WISDOM OF STORYTELLING FROM PRODUCTION TO DISTRIBUTION – SO IT’S IN Thu, July 28, 3pm / Ribbit Tree Ampitheatre THE CAN, NOW WHAT? How do we keep the spirit of story in a world where we no longer make time Sat., July 30, 3pm / Ampitheatre to sit around a campfire and share our humanity? We will discuss the producers role and explore the 21st century platforms Moderator: Joan Scheckel of distribution. Panelists: Chief Golden Light Eagle, Joan Borysenko, Amor Luz, Deena Metzger Lee McCormich Moderator: LG Taylor Panelists: Trez Azam, Stuart Volkow, Beth Portello, Lawrence Inglee, Seamus Conlan Chief Golden Light Eagle COMEDY – WHAT’S SO FUNNY? GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT Fri., July 29, 3pm / Ribbit Tree Ampitheatre Sun., July 31, 3pm / Ribbit Tree Ampitheatre What is laughter? Where does it come from? What is the science of comedy? Only a New Seed will Yield a New Crop: New Entertainment Moderator: Dan Ewen and Media Values for a New World. Panelists: Dana Eagle, Seth Morris, Chris Hooper Neuroscientist: Dr. Jonathan E. Sherin, John Ennis Moderator: John Raatz Panelists: Scott Carlin, former President, Domestic Television Distribution HBO, Producer, RosieO’Donnell LIGHTING THE FUTURE - EMERGING CINEMATOGRAPHERS Wendy Newman, Co-Executive Director, Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment, Randy Goff, Co-Executive Director, Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment, Fri, July 29, 12pm / Ribbit Tree Ampitheatre Jeff Valdez, Co-Chairman, Maya Entertainment, The International Cinematographers Guild’s panelists will discuss the importance Dan Burrier, Chief Innovation Office, Ogilvy and Mather of training in today’s rapidly evolving technological changes. They will discuss the values of film and digital photography. Today’s smaller, smarter cameras make it easier and less expensive for first-time filmmakers to work, however knowledge of CREATIVITY DOESN’T NEED CAPITAL.... lighting and lenses is still essential. BUT CAPITAL PAYS OUR BILLS. Moderator: David Geffner, who is the editor of award-winning ICG Magazine Panelists: James Chressanthis, Marco Fargnoli, John Snedden, Rodney Taylor, Todd A. Dos Reis Please support us. www.topanga-film-institute.com