Lucille Ball classic to screen...
The 3rd "Annual Backlot Film Festival" returns with an eclectic mix of new releases, old classics, and a handful of intriguing shorts and documentaries.
The mission of the Backlot Film Festival is threefold: to give independent filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their work for industry executives and distributors; to create a better understanding of the motion picture art form of the last one hundred years; to explore the rich film history of Culver City, West Los Angeles and the beach cities of Santa Monica, Venice and Playa del Rey.
This year the program includes World Premiers of fourteen feature-length films, celluloid art pieces by the "Masters" of film, and a catalogue of documentary and shorts sure to be crowd-pleasers.
In addition, there will be Arthur Freed tribute screenings and an awards ceremony.
For example - on Wednesday April 2nd - the much-anticipated annual festival will screen "DuBarry was a Lady" (Arthur Freed) starring the screwball comedienne Lucille Ball, funnyman Red Skelton, and celebrated dancer, Gene Kelly.
"DuBarry" is a must see on the wide-screen.
On a more serious note, there will be a world premiere of the feature - "Chekhov and Maria".
This independent feature is a drama which focuses on the Russian playwright and his sister - who were at odds with each other - over the author's secret marriage.
The filmmaker also zeroes in on the difficulties Chekhov encountered creatively - as he struggled to put the finishing touches on his stage masterpiece - "The Cherry Orchard".
I once starred in a stage production of - "The Marriage Proposal" (a Chekhov comedy) - and won a drama Festival award for my portrayal of the lead character, Lomov.
So, I'll probably want to catch this feature, starring Ron Battitta and Gillian Brashear.
The project was directed by Eric Till.
To top off the first exciting day of events, there will be a World Premier of a Sci-Fi entry - "InAlienable" - which looks like a sure bet.
Guilt-ridden over the death of his family, a man discovers his body is host to a parasite from another world that the government believes is a threat to mankind.
The thriller stars Richard Hatch, Courtney Peldon and Walter Koenig.
The former "Star Trek actor" - Walter Koenig - penned the script.
The independent feature was directed by Robert Dyke.
A Question and Answer session will follow that screening.
This year, the festival bestow the honor of a coveted "Arthur Freed Award" on best student film.
Arthur Freed was a legendary songwriter and producer.
Three of his classy entertaining films - "DuBarry Was A Lady", "Cabin In the Sky", and "Gigi" - will also be screened.
The award will be presented by Stephen A. Saltzman (President of Arthur Freed Productions) who is the grandson of the legendary filmmaker.
In addition, Zev Yaroslavsky (Los Angeles County Supervisor) will receive a "Founder’s Award" for his contributions to the Arts and Film industry.
This year’s "Backlot Film Festival" will also honor gifted comic Carl Reiner (a multi-faceted talent who wears several hats) with the prestigious "Thomas Ince Award" for his contribution to the industry.
Carl Reiner’s illustrious career spans seven decades.
He made his directorial film debut in 1967 with "Enter Laughing".
He went on to direct the comedy, "Where’s Poppa?" (starring George Segal and Ruth Gordon); "Oh God!"(George Burns and John Denver); and "The One And Only" (Henry Winkler).
The legendary entertainer - by virtue of his God-given gifts - has been instrumental in puffing up the careers of other luminaries in the biz such as Steve Martin, John Candy, Kirty Alley and Bill Pullman, to name a few.
Recent film appearances have included blockbuster hits like the "Ocean’s Eleven" series - but old-timers fondly recall his finely-tuned performances in full-length comedy features such as - "The Russians Are Coming", "It’s A Mad World", and the "Slums of Beverly Hills".
In the 1950’s, Reiner’s career initially took off on Broadway when he landed a role in the stage production of, "Call Me Mister".
From there he smartly sidled up to Max Leibman on the "Your Shows Of Shows", which starred Sid Caesar.
After creating the "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (he wrote and directed many episodes) he was inducted into the Emmy Award Hall of Fame.
And, there has not been any looking back since.
The "Thomas Ince Award" is named after Thomas Ince - a pioneer in early film production - who greatly influenced the model for motion picture production standards in the modern day.
Thomas Harper Ince was born into a vaudeville family in Newport (Rhode Island) just before the turn-of-the century.
The precocious lad first graced the stage at age six, often appearing in Broadway hits of the day.
Though motion pictures were held in low regard by serious actors in the early part of the 20th Century, Ince - desperate to spread his wings - abandoned the theater to pursue a film acting career many thought disreputable, at best.
After a handful of on-camera acting jobs with Biograph Films, the young upstart joined forces with Carl Laemmle's IMP Productions, where he was given the opportunity to direct.
Once in the fold - he was fortunate to cross paths with Mary Pickford - whose star was just on the rise.
Laemmle wooed the popular actress from the Biograph Company which was a part of a Motion Picture Trust headed by Thomas Edison.
To avoid legal hassles with The Motion Picture Trust, Ince and Pickford (America's sweetheart was Canadian, like moi!) went to Cuba where they set up production.
Sounds a little like run-away production headaches we hear about today, eh?
The venture ended when their cameraman landed in a Cuban jail!
Both Ince and Pickford moved back to Tinsel town where the golden boy soon gained a reputation for directing films of superior quality.
Tired of the low quality of westerns shot at the time, he sought to combat that problem by putting a whole Wild West show (complete with real cowboys, Indians and a herd of buffalo) on the payroll.
He demonstrated his business savvy, too, when he purchased 20,000 acres of land (which became known as "Inceville") to faciliate as locations for a slew of Westerns he intended to shoot out-of-doors.
Francis Ford directed some of Ince's earlier westerns - which starred a charismatic actor he knew from the Broadway stage - Willam S. Harte.
Thanks to Ince, Harte became the most popular western star of the era.
Ince later built two motion picture studios in Culver City, which included a scene dock and a carpenter shop to build sets. Not to be left idle, he generally presided over the production details of all the films shot on the lot and gave detailed shooting instructions to the directors, as well
On the night of November 19, 1924, Ince was fatally injured aboard the yacht of newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst.
After the scandal rocked Hollywood, Thomas Ince's film contributions kind-of faded to black; subsequently, his rightful place in Hollywood film lore has become greatly diminished over the years.
Ince's early studio and filmmaking techniques are often put up there today on a pedestal alongside those of film great, W.G. Griffiths.
Past honorees of the award include producer Daniel M. Selznick ("Gone With the Wind") and writer/producer Budd Schulberg ("On The Waterfront"; "A Face In The Crowd").
The festival will also screen two of Carl Reiner’s features, "The Comic" and "All of Me".
A couple of episodes from - "The Dick Van Dyke Show" - will also screen.
See ya there!
Film Pioneer, Tom Ince died mysteriously on Hearst Yacht...
