In his Best Picture Oscar-winning Annie Hall, Woody Allen as the character Alvy Singer discussed New York City’s plight to his friend Rob.
Singer observed, “Don’t you see? The rest of the country looks upon New York like we’re left-wing, communist, Jewish, homosexual pornographers. I think of us that way, sometimes, and I live here.”
I was prompted to hearken back to a 30-year-old film upon receiving a press release relating to the famed Venice, California. Virtually a lifetime Southern Californian, I too have out-of-touch, absurd notions of cities in my own backyard like Venice–Muscle beach, zanies on the boardwalk, cult “wheat germ” killers as Woody Allen once quipped about Los Angeles.
But jarring me back to reality and away from the postcard stereotypical is the good work of the Venice Media District (VMD), the subject of that alluded to press release. The VMD brings the creative, artistic companies and people of Venice together to do much good, among the latest examples being the VMD serving as a vehicle for the Venice Arts program by providing internship opportunities for at-risk youth at VMD member companies in the area.
“Our joint partnership with Venice Arts provides a way for students to garner real-world experience in the media industry,” said Robert Feist, VMD chair and owner of audio post house RavensWork. “We make sure our students receive hands-on experience in a real working environment.”
This past summer, the intern was Kristen Ramirez and the company was editorial house Final Cut (which also has offices in New York and London). At Final Cut/L.A. Ramirez was afforded the opportunity to gain behind-the-scenes knowledge from industry experts in the field of editing software and hardware, as well as experience in completing music videos and commercials.
“Venice Arts’ programs are so inspiring. Their students, who would otherwise not have access to a digital lab and intense long-art mentoring, are a pleasure to have as interns,” related Peter O’Donovan, Ramirez’s mentor at Final Cut. “Kristen came to us extremely knowledgeable in the many technologies that we use, and it was a pleasure having her with us. I hope her experience here and the relationships she developed better situate her for her dream editing job after she completes her schooling.”
Venice Arts runs innovative programs in documentary photography, filmmaking, and digital media/arts, primarily targeting low-income youth in the Los Angeles area. Since 1993, the program includes regional national, and international participant photo documentary projects with adults and children. For more information about Venice Arts, visit www.venice-arts.org.
As for the VMD, it was created in response to the changing business landscape in the beachside community, and has very defined goals:
• Create networking opportunities and business-to-business awareness.
• Raise awareness of VMD through city designation and promotion
• Attract business and entrepreneurs to the area.
• And create a vehicle for non-profits to access the assets of the VMD.(www.venicemediadistrict.org)
Netflix Series “The Leopard” Spots Classic Italian Novel, Remakes It As A Sumptuous Period Drama
"The Leopard," a new Netflix series, takes the classic Italian novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa and transforms it into a sumptuous period piece showing the struggles of the aristocracy in 19th-century Sicily, during tumultuous social upheavals as their way of life is crumbling around them.
Tom Shankland, who directs four of the eight episodes, had the courage to attempt his own version of what is one of the most popular films in Italian history. The 1963 movie "The Leopard," directed by Luchino Visconti, starring Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon and Claudia Cardinale, won the Palme d'Or in Cannes.
One Italian critic said that it would be the equivalent of a director in the United States taking "Gone with the Wind" and turning it into a series, but Shankland wasn't the least bit intimidated.
He said that he didn't think of anything other than his own passion for the project, which grew out of his love of the book. His father was a university professor of Italian literature in England, and as a child, he loved the book and traveling to Sicily with his family.
The book tells the story of Don Fabrizio Corbera, the Prince of Salina, a tall, handsome, wealthy aristocrat who owns palaces and land across Sicily.
His comfortable world is shaken with the invasion of Sicily in 1860 by Giuseppe Garibaldi, who was to overthrow the Bourbon king in Naples and bring about the Unification of Italy.
The prince's family leads an opulent life in their magnificent palaces with servants and peasants kowtowing to their every need. They spend their time at opulent banquets and lavish balls with their fellow aristocrats.
Shankland has made the series into a visual feast with tables heaped with food, elaborate gardens and sensuous costumes.... Read More