• Practicum for the Screenwriter • James Gindin Visiting Artists Series • Film & Video Non-Instructional Staff Frame enlargement from Last Heroes of the Plastic West FROM THE DIRECTOR’S CHAIR are to our organization, to our morale, the Screenwriter (See cover photo and page and to our success as a unit. Our staff one). Next year, we will begin an exper- and their accomplishments are high- iment in linking studies and production lighted on page 6 of this newsletter. courses in digital media. This will be Also highlighted in this issue is our made possible by the recent addition thriving Certificate Program in graduate of Sheila Murphy, our new faculty hire film studies. As the article (page 3) in digital studies. We wish to welcome details, talented students been drawn to Sheila and two new affiliated senior faculty, this course of study from across the Lydia Liu (Asian Languages & Cultures) College. Our screenwriting program and Barbara Hodgdon (English). In spite continues to thrive under the leadership of gains, there are also losses: We must of Jim Burnstein. As of this writing, we say adieu to Frank Beaver, who has It’s hard to believe that in September decided to retire. 2003 I started my ninth year as Director have already hosted four eminent of Film & Video. All academic programs screenwriters as Gindin Visitors in the As you may be aware, the State of are forever changing, with newly Fall 2003 semester. In summer 2004, we Michigan is in the process of instituting enrolled students and the inevitable will undertake the sixth season of the budget-cuts that are impacting every faculty turnover, unexpected challenges Festival of New Works under the leader- element of our existence—staffing, as well as carefully planned successes. ship of Mary Lou Chlipala (managing faculty lines, equipment, and our ability While some elements of Film & Video director) and John Neville-Andrews to bring to campus industry professionals. are ever changing, we boast an amazingly (artistic producer). We ask for you to give financially so that committed group of non-instructional As demonstrated in the Festival’s co- we may give our current and future stu- staff. Film & Video staff are characterized sponsorship with the departments of dents the kind of superior education that by their willingness to go beyond the Theatre & Drama and English, the desire has been associated with the University call of duty in helping students in every- of Film & Video to forge effective bonds of Michigan—and Film & Video Studies. thing from registration to internships, with other units is strong. This desire is Warm Regards, from checking out equipment to finishing also shown through the innovative media projects. I can’t articulate strongly team-teaching of our faculty that results Gaylyn Studlar, Director enough how important Film & Video staff in course offerings such as Practicum for Professor Frank Beaver Retires from Film “Frank Beaver was my teacher, supporter, cheerleader and friend & Video Studies after 35 years at the U-M. back when almost no one was applying for any of those posi- Professor Beaver has published exten- sively on the art and history of the tions. He has a pure and good motion pictures. His books include: heart, and a true devotion to his Bosley Crowther: Social Critic of the Film; On students and their dreams. I’m Film: A History of the Motion Picture; Dictionary of Film Terms; Oliver Stone: Wake proud to know him and can’t up Cinema. Prof. Beaver’s research inter- believe he’s going to retire and ests include socio-political history of the leave all us kids on our own.” motion picture with particular focus on social criticism of film, and on statutory —Filmmaker & U-M alumnus and self-regulatory controls of motion Lawrence Kasdan picture expression. He serves as general Frank Beaver and his former student John Nelson holding Nelson’s 2001 Oscar for Visual Effects in Gladiator. editor of Simon and Schuster’s Twayne Frank E. Beaver, Professor of Film & Filmmakers Book Series. Prof. Beaver is the Video Studies, retires at the end of the producer and director of the documentary 2004 academic year. Frank taught film films Under One Roof and If I Were Free, and studies widely across the curriculum and he was the writer and host of a four-part influenced the careers of many students. television series, Art of the Film. For 25 Frank came to Film & Video in 1995 years, he has been film commentator on from the Dept. of Communication the statewide University of Michigan Studies, where he served as Chair from radio stations. 1987 to 1991. In 1989, he was named Goodbye, Frank. The faculty and students Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, an honor of Film & Video will miss you. that recognizes outstanding contribu- tions in teaching. PRACTICUM FOR THE SCREENWRITER A New Interdisciplinary Course in Film & Video Studies “The only place most screenwriters see their work is in their own imaginations. This course gives specially selected writers a sense of how difficult the filmmaking process is every step of the way. But at the end of the journey, writers have the unique thrill of seeing their words come alive on screen, thanks to the talents of their fellow stu- dents who are actors and filmmakers. Perhaps this will inspire them to keep writing on those many lonely days that lie ahead...” —Jim Burnstein “By working closely with the screenwriting as well as the production students for the entire term, student actors experienced firsthand how the collaborative process can shape a character. This broadens and deepens the actor’s perspective.” —Janet Maylie In April ‘03 James Gindin Visiting Filmmaker Alexander Payne (About Schmidt) worked with the Practicum class as a writer and director. “As an actor, I learned about film in such a dif- To the writers Payne analyzed scripts and made suggestions regarding the first cut of trailers. ferent way. I truly felt that I had a voice in the other aspects of production… I loved being able to critique a script and contribute ideas, receive racticum for the Screenwriter is a team and it was staged in the Festival of New rewrites, and then put it [the script] on its feet as Ptaught interdisciplinary course offered Works’ Arena Theatre. The actors an actor.Then, it was great to see it on a screen… by Film & Video and Theatre & Drama. included Zach Dorf, Brad Fraizer, Alex It was a privilege to be in the class.” This senior level workshop course fully Mendiola, and Johanna Schuster-Craig, —Meghan Powell, BFA in Theatre & Drama involves the screenwriter in the entire and its production team was Nikhil process of bringing her/his original work Mavinkurve, Producer; Ben Ros, co- to life on screen. Given that filmmaking is Cinematographer; Kyle Wilamowski, “At its best, creative collaboration in the arts can by nature a collaborative art, this course’s Director; Abbie Wisdom, co-Cinematographer. open up the world to us in a personal way. One of ultimate objective is to teach screenwriting, the great values of this course has been that Darsan, a screenplay by Lindsay Trapnell, students have learned to listen to others involved acting, and film production students to was the second screenplay chosen for the appreciate, respect, and gain some under- in the artistic process, to trust that they can con- Practicum course. Darsan tells the story of nect with others who have different expertise and standing of their fellow students’ crafts an arranged Indian-American marriage while developing their own specialty. This experience. Through collaboration in shaping and with a Will & Grace surprised twist. The filming a screenplay, students from varied cultural course is taught by Film & Video’s actors were Jesse Nager, Megan Powell, Screenwriting Coordinator Jim Burnstein, backgrounds and academic traditions can grasp Toni Trucks, and Paul Wyatt, and the pro- the power of a discipline other than their own, and Lecturer III in Filmmaking Robert Rayher, duction team included Joseph Poniatowski, and Theatre & Drama’s Clinical Assistant unite to realize ideas and emotions in a vital camera operator, Leanne Shultz, Director artistic product.” —Robert Rayher Professor of Performance Janet Maylie. of Photographer & Co-Producer, Joel The class was divided into two groups. Smiedendorf, Recordist, and Lindsey L Each group consisted of a screenwriter and Zamp, Director & Co-Producer. “As a screenwriting student I was surprised and their screenplay, film production students, excited at how interested the other students were and BFA actors from Theatre & Drama. in collaborating on the script. While it is ultimately By the end of the course, each group still your job to rewrite the script, you are provided produced a 16mm trailer and a sequence with a vast amount of input from the other students. on their screenplay. It is important to learn how to take criticism, notes and advice and make it your own in a way The first group worked on Josh Izenberg’s The cover photo of this newsletter is a that is most conducive to the script.” Last Heroes of the Plastic West. Izenberg’s Last frame enlargement from Last Heroes of the —Lindsey Trapnell, Film & Video Alumnae ’ Heroes, an action road movie with a lot of Plastic West. Here is a trivia question for old-fashioned country music, won several all of you film lovers; what Ford film, writing awards in 2003: a Hopwood starring John Wayne, uses a similar door- “My experience in the Practicum class provided award, the Leonard and Eileen Newman way shot? me with an amazing step forward in film produc- tion that will undoubtedly influence my future Dramatic Writing Award, the United (answer on page 8) Talent Agency Award in Screenwriting, work.” —Kyle Wilamowski, Film & Video Alumnus ‘03 1 Okada & Yoshida Sponsors: FILM & VIDEO PARTNERSHIPS Center for Japanese Studies U-M’s Humanities Institute ENHANCE THE UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCE Asian Languages & Cultures International Institute Film & Video Studies in conjunction with Romance Languages & Literatures Program in Film & Video Studies other units from across campus continue Women’s Studies Program In November 2003, living legends to co-sponsor numerous film events and Dept.