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For the Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni and Friends
of the School of Cinema at SF State

CinemaNews

To the School of Cinema Community: 

As you likely already know we are scheduled to return to campus as of February 14th. We are all looking forward to the return to some semblance of normal. Though it is dangerous to make predictions, I anticipate that by next Fall we will be back to normal—or at least a “new normal.” While I do expect that we’ll be offering far more face-to-face courses than we are currently offering, we will likely continue to offer some online options.  

For more important information about on-campus protocols and health and safety matters, see “SFSU COVID-19 News and Cinema Responses” below. 

Stay well, 

Director of the School of Cinema 

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Undergraduate Advising Coordinator News

Dear Graduating Seniors,
It's wonderful to see many of you back on campus!
As you probably know, the university uses your Degree Progress Report as the official audit for graduation.  In some cases, advisors are finding that the DPR needs to be updated to avoid a graduation denial.  It’s very important at this stage that you double check your DPR and make sure each requirement is marked with a green circle (completed) or yellow diamond (in-progress).  If you find any red squares on your records, please consult with an advisor right away:
We look forward to celebrating with you in May!
Scott Boswell
Undergraduate Advising Coordinator Appointments: https://sfsu.campus.eab.com/pal/qqVep6jQRC
 

SFSU COVID-19 News and Cinema Responses


Please go to this link for up to date campus operation communications during the COVID-19 crisis: news.sfsu.edu/covid-19

Please go to this link to see the SFSU CINEMA responses to the COVID-19 health crisis: cinema.sfsu.edu

Please check the SFSU's Campus Comeback website for the latest updates on reopening. 

Summary of current COVID-related information:
  • Although state and some local authorities are beginning to lift mask mandates, SFSU will continue with the University masking policy (KN-95 masks are available from building coordinators and the Cesar Chavez Student Center).
  • Boosters are required for students, faculty, and unrepresented employees as of February 28th. Represented staff are encouraged to get their boosters while the CSU awaits the meet and confer process with the unions.
  • Students and employees who have received exemptions will be required to test regularly. Students who do not comply will be withdrawn from courses. Employees who do not comply will be referred to Human Resources.
  • If a student in a class tests positive, they are required to isolate for 10 days, but can test back into a class after five days. This also applies to employees.

SFSU Student Resources 
During this Public Health Crises


You can find information about using the Hope Crisis Fund, or donating to it at:
https://dos.sfsu.edu/content/sf-state-hope-fund-crisis-loan-application

Helpful resources are also located in this page maintained by the ARC, including information about the basic needs, the food pantry and short term loans:
https://advisinglca.sfsu.edu/content/student-resources


STUDENTS WHO ARE U.S. CITIZENS OR GREEN CARD HOLDERS, WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS, PART-TIME OR FULL-TIME, CAN NOW APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT:
https://www.edd.ca.gov/unemployment/filing_a_claim.htm
 

Classroom News


2022 INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM WORKSHOP
 

The School of Cinema is offering a newly developed International Documentary Summer Program taking place in Pulia, Italy this summer from July 9 to August 2, 2022.

INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM SUMMER WORKSHOP is a flagship faculty-led short-term study abroad program sponsored by the School of Cinema since 2010. This unique course takes students abroad on a three-and-a-half-week immersion experience to learn and explore the history, culture, and life experience through documentary filmmaking.

The newly developed summer program will be taken place in the ancient historical town by the sea, located in Italy's Southern peninsula, Bari. SFSU students will take CINE 634: International Documentary Workshop and receive 6 units of credits (undergraduate or graduate). Cinema professor Weimin Zhang will be the trip leader and instructor of this program in 2022. 

Please contact Weimin Zhang (weimin@sfsu.edu) for more information.
 

Faculty News


PROFESSOR MCBRIDE'S THREE NEW BOOKS
 


Professor Joseph McBride has three books newly published: the critical study The Whole Durn Human Comedy: Life According to the Coen Brothers (Anthem Press, March 1); an updated edition of his 2006 book What Ever Happened to Orson Welles?: A Portrait of an Independent Career (University Press of Kentucky, January 11); and Political Truth: The Media and the Assassination of President Kennedy (Hightower Press, December 22). McBride is currently teaching a course on Welles and he did audio commentaries for new Kino Lorber Blu-ray releases of two Billy Wilder films, Some Like It Hot and The Apartment, and John Ford’s The Horse Soldiers.
 


Undergraduate Student News
 

PINOCCHIO (2021) BY IM DOKYUN WINS BEST CELL PHONE FILM AWARD AT THE CANNES WORLD FILM FESTIVAL
 

One of our international students, Im Dokyun, is a junior studying cinema. Im acted in, wrote, produced, and directed Pinocchio (2021), a short five-minute experimental film that explores how international students from Korea overcomes loneliness during the Covid pandemic. Daniel, the film's protagonist, dreams about making the best film someday while studying movies in San Francisco. However, he feels despair in the face of reality. Commenting on Pinocchio, one of the judges said, "His creative direction style of using [his] phone camera effectively expressed the despair of not being able" to shout against the world in an era of world-wide pandemic.
 

JUNIOR ANIMATION STUDENT JESSIE PLASCENCIA TAKES UNIQUE APPROACH TO LAND DREAM JOB AT PIXAR
 


A Bay Area student is catching a lot of attention on social media for her efforts to get noticed by her dream employer: Pixar.

Jessie Plascencia is a junior art student at San Francisco State University who aspires to work at Pixar. "I am the animation society president at my school, and I take animation really seriously," Plascencia said.

She dreams of being an intern at Pixar, and she often draws characters from their movies in chalk right outside the company's headquarters. She's already getting feedback from them.

"One of the art directors, he was riding his bike and he stopped in the middle of the road and was like 'I found you! It's you! You're the one that's been doing it'," she explained. "And I'm like, 'yeah, that's me.'"

WATCH THE NBC BAY AREA REPORT
 


CATCH THE BEAT
 

SFSU Cinema students recently completed a music video for Bay Area singer-songwriter Forrest Hill's new song, "Catch The Beat," which dropped on YouTube on January 28th.
WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO ON YOUTUBE
Director: J. Andrew  (SFSU '23)
Directors of Photography: Alex Bierwagen (SFSU '23) & Anna Cadena
1st AD: Sean Reilly (SFSU '22)
1st AC: Sheila McVay (SFSU '23)
2nd AC: Jacob Weber (SFSU '23)

In addition to producing this music video, the team is finishing up production on a documentary short about Forrest, Life Flows On. You can learn more about this film at http://www.LifeFlowsOn.com.
Are you a good editor? Students skilled in editing and post-production color should email the director, j@jandrewfilm.com, with a CV, personal website, and examples of your work.
 

Alumni News
 

JAY ROSENBLATT'S WHEN WE WERE BULLIES (2021) NOMINATED FOR AN ACADEMY AWARD
 
Filmmaker and Alumnus Jay Rosenblatt (MA, 1988) has been nominated for an Oscar in the Short Documentary category at the Academy Awards for his film When We Were Bullies (2021).

From Rosenblatt's distributor, "Using a mix of collage, conversations with his former colleagues, the wisdom of his teacher, and his own slippery voice-over narration, Rosenblatt constructs a moving reflection on our own capacity to be destructive. When We Were Bullies is a humorous and gentle meditation on the banality of evil." 

Programs & Events
 

The Archive Project is the recipient of the Civic Engagement/Civic Learning grant from the Institute for Civic and Community Engagement for 2022. This generous fund will support Archives and Activism four projects in community archiving for students including: Black voices in AR and VR, and preserving Queer cinema.
 


On Friday February 25, from 4:00-5:00 PM, The Archive Project hosts Bay Area archivist and technologist Damien McDuffie in "Black Terminus AR: Bringing Black to Life.Black Terminus AR brings Black history of the Bay Area to life through geolocated Augmented Reality interventions in public spaces and artist-produced murals. Director Damien McDuffie will discuss the transformative use of AR and VR technologies to make space for Black and underrepresented archives. 
 

Here is the link to register for this free event, accessible on Zoom:
The Archive Project – Black Terminus AR: Bringing Black to Life with Damien McDuffie 

On Friday March 4, from 4:00-5:00 PM, The Archive Project presents “Micro-Cinemas: In Search of Communal Cinema.” In this Zoom discussion, curator Arturo Martinini and curator / cinema alum Stephen Kane discuss the concept of microcinemas, how they function and what they offer communities to foster connections. Martinini and Kane share their strategies for engaged local cinemas in these streaming-centric, pandemic times. 
 

Here is the link to register for this free event, accessible on Zoom: 
Micro-Cinemas: In Search of Communal Cinema, with Arturo Martinini and Stephen Kane 


QUEER CINEMA COALITION: A NEW COLLECTIVE ON CAMPUS!
 

Queer Cinema Coalition ensures a safe and creative space for LGBTQ+ filmmakers on campus to learn how to make our mark in an industry that doesn’t prioritize our voices. Through guest speakers, screenings/discussions, and community organizing, we build life-long connections to help us survive and thrive as filmmakers at SFSU and beyond. 

Follow us on instagram @queercinemacoalition.
 

THE FEMINIST FILMMAKER FELLOWSHIP (F3)
 

The Feminist Filmmaker Fellowship (F3) aims to provide an open and safe space, virtual or in-person, advocating for womxn and non-binary filmmakers. Our events allow leadership development to flourish by listening to members to help bring their ideas to life. We are close to starting production on our first live-action short film.

Follow us on Instagram @feministfilmmakerfellowship for all our updates and to help us make some films.
 
School of Cinema Events on Vimeo

To the School of Cinema,

Over the past year The School of Cinema has hosted webinars on a myriad of subjects related to our diverse curriculum.  All of these webinars are available for viewing on our Vimeo website at the Showcase:
   
SFSU Cinema School Events

Password:  SFSUCinemaEvents
 
There is something for everyone and we hope you will avail yourselves to these recordings in the coming months.
 
Artie Farkas
Technical Lead
SFSU School of Cinema
 
Tours

ONLINE TOUR WITH CINEMA TECHNICAL STAFF
 

Dear Prospective Students:

The School of Cinema is offering online tours every Tuesday from 2:30-3:30p.m. You will have the opportunity to hear about our facilities, studios, equipment and meet our technical staff. 

Zoom link here

Arthur Farkas: TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR
Pablo Riquelme: PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
 
Opportunities

A TOTAL OF $70,000 TO BE AWARDED TO FIVE FILMMAKERS FROM DOCPITCH — SUBMISSIONS OPEN
 


As part of California Film Institute’s DocLands Documentary Film Festival (May 5-11) DocPitch returns with $70k to be awarded to filmmakers with documentary projects currently in progress. Winners are selected by vote. The deadline to apply is March 6.

Find out more details and APPLY HERE.
 


ANIMATION AT THE UPCOMING ALAMEDA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
 


The Alameda International Film Festival will be held at The Alameda Theatre & Cineplex, Feb 18-20. The centerpiece of the festival is the Bay Area premiere of Phil Tippett's epic 30 years in production stop-motion feature Mad God (2021), on Saturday at 7 PM. Tippett will be there for a pre-show discussion.

Also, Steve Segal's CG short Misfit (2020) will be shown as part of an Animated Shorts Block, Saturday at 4 PM and Sunday at 12 PM. Some of the filmmakers are scheduled to attend and Steve Segal is confirmed to be at both shows.
 

MORE INFORMATION HERE
 


Key Dates

February 18-20
Alameda International Film Festival
More Information Here

February 25
The Archive Project - "Black Terminus AR: Bringing Black to Life" at 4 PM
Register for Zoom Event

March 4
The Archive Project - "Micro-Cinemas: in Search of Communal Cinema" at 4 PM
Register for Zoom Event

March 6
Deadline for DocPitch Application
Apply Here
 
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