Events & Programs

How does story telling in words differ creatively from story telling in films?   A Night at the Movies will compare excerpts from books and plays with scenes from the film versions of the literary works. Once a month scenes from a different and popular book/play and its film version will be featured and each selection will exemplify a different aspect of filmic story telling.  Judith Merians will explain why films require their own creative conventions and how filmmakers employ visual and aural techniques to enhance and deepen the tale with as few words as possible. And to add to the enjoyment Judith will fill you in on some of the behind-the-scenes history of the evening's film.

Following are the films we'll be exploring this quarter:

Tuesday 22 September
The Godfather: Discuss how you pull people into a story and discover the tricky
business of selecting a director.

Tuesday 20 October
The Cider House Rules: How do you condense a saga into 90-min of film?

Thursday 19 November
The French Connection: Discover why a film has to have a protagonist and an atagonist who are of equal strength to make the story compelling.

This series will meet once a month, continuing through July 2010.   No RSVP required, just drop on in and join us for a Night at the Movies.

About Judith Merians
Judith Merians has been an entertainment attorney and business executive for the Hollywood Studios and independent production companies for 27 years.  She has taught the business, finance, and legal aspects of filmmaking at the University of California Los Angeles Extension Film School for 12 years and in film schools around the world and has spoken at many film conferences including the Cannes Film Festival and the American Film Market seminars.  She is currently a consultant to independent filmmakers and film school professor.