Motion picture writer/director/producer (Beethoven, The Flintstones, Jingle All the Way, Snow Dogs, Are We There Yet?) and occasional University of New Mexico instructor Brian Levant started his Sitcom Boot Camp at UNM three years ago. The annual six-week class allows a small number of students to create, develop, rewrite (and rewrite and rewrite) an original half-hour, network-style pilot for a situation comedy. This Thursday, Feb. 27, Levant’s students are set to show off their skills by staging a live reading of this year’s finished sitcom script, “Showdown in Lobo Village.” The reading—which also happens to be the class’ final exam—takes place from 7 to 8:30pm at the Elizabeth Waters Center for Dance (located inside Carlisle Gym on UNM’s Main Campus). Students and local professional actors have been tapped to participate. Levant says the popular annual event showcases his “pride in the quality of UNM’s fast-expanding Film & Digital Arts Department,” and he promises that this year’s reading will be a “rousing show.” This event is open to the public. Admission is free.
Reel World: Straight From The Source Straight From The Source
Jennifer Jenkins, an English professor at the University of Arizona, will be at the Museum of International Folk Art on Sunday, March 1 from 2 to 4:30pm to discuss her Tribesourcing Project. Tribesourcing is described as a “digital humanities project” where existing “social studies” films from the American Indian Film Gallery, made in the 1950s and ’60s, are re-recorded with new narration by Native American community members and tribal elders. This “tribesourcing” method allows for identification and dissemination of local knowledge that might otherwise be lost. During the talk Jenkins will demonstrate how the merging of old video and new audio works on tribesourcing.com. The Museum of International Folk Art is located at 706 Camino Lego in Santa Fe.
Reel World: Local + Independent Local + Independent
The New Mexico Film Foundation teams up with the Jean Cocteau Cinema to present another local “Indie Screening” on Tuesday, March 3 from 7 to 9pm. In addition to offering a glimpse at more than 15 New Mexico filmmakers’ shorts, trailers and works in progress, this month’s Indie Screening will present this year’s winner of the George R.R. Martin Screenwriting Grant. Tickets to this event are $5. The Jean Cocteau Cinema is located at 418 Montezuma Ave. in Santa Fe. For more info go to nmfilmfoundation.org.
Reel World: Muppet Man Muppet Man
In conjunction with its ongoing Jim Henson exhibit, the Albuquerque Museum (2000 Mountain Rd. NW) screens the documentary Jim Henson in Performance this Wednesday, March 4, starting at 10am. The film focuses on Henson’s talents as a performer, inhabiting such iconic characters as Kermit the Frog, Rowlf the Dog, Ernie and the Swedish Chef. Rare archival footage illuminates the development and evolution of these classic Muppets and more. Museum Director Andrew Connors introduces the film and discusses Henson’s cultural impact. Admission to the film is free. There is a $5 special exhibit surcharge to view The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited.
Reel World: Submit Early Submit Early
Entries for the 12th annual Santa Fe Independent Film Festival are now open. This Wednesday, March 4 is the Early Bird Deadline. Features can be submitted until then for only $45. Shorts are $40. New Mexico student films are free to enter. Some $3,500 in prize money is up for grabs in a variety of categories (including Documentary and Narrative). You can submit your films through filmfreeway.com. For complete info go to santafeindependentfilmfestival.com/submit-a-film. The 2020 SFIFF is scheduled to take place Oct. 14 through 18.
