Over the course of three consecutive evenings, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will trace the history and evolution of motion picture formats from the silent era through the current digital age in “Behind the Motion Picture Canvas: Film Formats through the 21st Century,” beginning on Wednesday, September 9, at 8 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. The presentation will continue with screenings of “Manhattan” (1979) on Thursday, September 10 and “The Black Stallion” (1979) on Friday, September 11. Both screenings will begin at 8 p.m. Academy Science and Technology Council member Rob Hummel will host each evening.
In “Behind the Motion Picture Canvas,” filmmakers will discuss how film formats shape creative decisions, examining the technical constraints and the artistic opportunities that accompany the choice of format. The program also will examine the role that emerging technology has played in the evolution of film formats, and how the technical choices made by Thomas Edison and William Dickson at the dawn of the film era continue to influence the way we look at movies today.
“Manhattan,” directed by and starring Woody Allen, is a romantic comedy about Isaac Davis, a twice-divorced 42-year-old comedy writer struggling to cope with the women in his life. The film also stars Diane Keaton, Michael Murphy and Mariel Hemingway. It received Academy Award® nominations for Supporting Actress (Hemingway) and Writing – Screenplay written directly for the screen (Allen, Marshall Brickman).
“Manhattan” was filmed in Panavision with Eastman B&W negative. It was released in 35mm Anamorphic (CinemaScope) with Eastman Kodak B&W prints, with prints by Technicolor. This screening will premiere a newly struck print from the Academy Film Archive.
“The Black Stallion,” based on Walter Farley’s acclaimed 1941 children’s novel, tells the story of Alec Ramsay (Kelly Reno) and his relationship with a wild Arabian stallion. The film stars Mickey Rooney, Teri Garr and Clarence Muse. It earned a Special Achievement Award for sound editing (Alan Splet) and was nominated for Supporting Actor (Rooney) and Film Editing (Robert Dalva).
“The Black Stallion” was filmed in 35mm with Eastman Color negative, composed for 1.85. It was released in Eastman Color prints composed 1.85 with prints by Technicolor. This screening also will premiere a newly struck print from the Academy Film Archive.
In addition to serving on the Council, Hummel is a member of the Academy’s Scientific and Technical Awards Committee and edited the 8th edition of the American Cinematographer Manual (2002). During Hummel’s tenure at Technicolor, he worked closely with more than 70 cinematographers, from John Alonzo to Vilmos Zsigmond, giving him a unique perspective on the creative process of working with film formats.
Tickets to “Behind the Motion Picture Canvas,” “Manhattan” and “The Black Stallion” are $5 each for the general public and $3 each for Academy members and students with a valid ID (a separate ticket is required for each night). Tickets are available for purchase by mail, at the Academy box office (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), or online at www.oscars.org. Doors open one hour prior to each event. All seating is unreserved.
The Samuel Goldwyn Theater is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. For more information, call (310) 247-3600 or visit www.oscars.org.
(top) Diane Keaton and Woody Allen in a scene from MANHATTAN, 1979. Kelly Reno rides the title character in a scene from THE BLACK STALLION, 1979.
Contact:Teni Melidonian (310) 247-3090 tmelidonian@oscars.org
“Ǝvolution” Comes Full Circle At The Chelsea Film Festival
The Chelsea Film Festival, running from October 16th through October 20th, 2024, at Regal Cinemas here in Union Square, is set to host the East Coast premiere of Ǝvolution, a thought-provoking experimental micro-short film that proves big ideas can come in small packages and in perfect circles.
In just 1 minute 16 seconds, this cinematic gem by Award-Winning Director Romina Schwedler, with original music by Argentine Composer Ignacio Montoya Carlotto, explores a cycle as old as time: life leads to progress, progress leads to destruction, and destruction, well, leads back to life. But is this vicious circle unbreakable? Ǝvolution suggests the answer is yes, unless we decide to open our eyes.
Inspired by the overwhelming number of recent events that threaten human existence, Ǝvolution, possibly the shortest film in this 12th edition of the festival, plays out entirely through the symbolism of circles, cleverly illustrating —in the blink of an eye— the repeating patterns of history, and confronting viewers with the uncomfortable truth that our so-called “progress” may, in fact, be guiding us to our own ruin.Premiering at the Regal 14 Union Square, New York City, on October 18, 2024, at 11 a.m., Romina Schwedler's micro-short, featuring Leah Young with cinematography by Alan J. Carmona, will be sure to spark conversations longer than the film itself! Forcing viewers to reconsider the true meaning of evolution, not just as a biological process, but as a reflection of our collective journey as humans.
With a string of festival appearances across the globe, including CineGlobe at CERN (Switzerland/France), Oscar®... Read More