<<< January 2008 >>>

OKLAHOMA!, 1955, IDP Distributions, 145 min. Dir. Fred Zinnemann. Zinnemann (A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS; HIGH NOON) directs Shirley Jones, Gordon MacRae, Rod Steiger, Eddie Albert and Gloria Grahame in this dynamic, showstopping version of the famous Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, OKLAHOMA! Two turn-of-the-20th-century cowboys find love with Grahame and Jones and stubbornly deal with their feelings while an evil hired hand and a common peddler try to ruin the romance. The Oscar winner for Best Music also features astonishing, revolutionary choreography by Agnes de Mille. OKLAHOMA! originally premiered at the Egyptian Theatre, and is another one of Robert Surtees’ (BEN-HUR, THE LAST PICTURE SHOW) sixteen Academy Award nominations for cinematography. The Egyptian Theatre was extensively renovated by producer Michael Todd in preparation for OKLAHOMA!’s widescreen premiere. Discussion following the film with actress Shirley Jones.

This shorts program heralds the work of industry heavyweights, cinema pioneers, actresses-turned-directors, festival darlings, and the brightest stars emerging from film school. Program compiled by Andrew P. Crane, Kim Adelman, and Andrea Richards.

Jennifer Aniston and Andrea Buchanan's "Room 10" (USA, 2006, 18 min). Robin Wright Penn and Kris Kristofferson headline this dramatic ER encounter, based on a true story for Glamour Magazine's Reel Moments short film series. Sophie Barthes's "Happiness" (USA, 2006, 11 min). Happiness comes in a box in this quirky tale by one of Filmmaker Magazine's 25 New Faces of Independent Films 2007. Mira Nair's "Migration" (India, 2007, 17 min) Shiney Ahuja plays a migrant worker who gets mixed up in a dangerous triangle with a frustrated wife and her closeted husband. Valerie Faris & Jonathan Dayton's "Sexual Revolution" (USA, 2001, 5 min). The LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE helmers put their unique stamp on a music video for Macy Gray. Hilary Goldberg's "In the Spotlight" (USA, 2007, 11 min). Film noir gets an unexpected twist in this literary hoax, featuring Guinevere Turner, Michelle Tea, and Clint Catalyst. Michelle Hung's "Chinese Dumplings" (USA, 2006, 8 min). Sisterhood is tested by a strict mother's notion of discipline. Mariam Jobrani's "The Fighting Cholitas" (Bolivia/USA, 2006, 20 min). Who are these wrestlers climbing into the ring in their multi-layered skirts and braids? Lois Weber's "How Men Propose" (USA, 1913, 6 min). A classic silent short which reminds us that not all courtship rituals are exactly what they seem. Sarah Wickliffe's "Art's Desire" (USA, 2006, 5 min). This 2007 Student Academy Award-winner illustrates the adventures of a cubist heroine on the loose. Discussion with filmmakers Hilary Goldberg, Michelle Hung, and Mariam Jobrani to follow screening. There will also be a raffle of a deluxe director empowerment kit and a reception for all in the lobby.

Roundtable Discussion with all of the filmmakers of the nominated films with moderator Mike Goodridge of Screen International. Discover the best of new foreign films with an in person seminar with the directors of the foreign language nominees for the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Please join us for a FREE Round Table seminar with filmmakers Marc Forster (THE KITE RUNNER), Ang Lee (LUST, CAUTION), Cristian Mungiu (4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS), Marjene Satrapi & Vincent Payronnaud (PERSEPOLIS) and Julian Schnabel (THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY).  Admission is FREE on a first come, first served basis. A limited amount of free parking is available is the lot on Las Palmas South of the theatre. Before you park, tell the attendent you are there for the Golden Globe event.

Memorial Service

Born August 9th, 1949 - Died December 5th, 2007

If you are interested in speaking at Jillian's Memorial Service, please email us at info@jilliankesner.com

http://www.jilliankesner.com/

Jillian Kesner-Graver, 58, Actress & Orson Welles's Collaborator, Dies

Irvine, Calif., Dec. 18 (AP) - Jillian Kesner-Graver, actress and Orson Welles's collaborator who worked closely with her late husband, cinematographer Gary Graver, died unexpectedly early Wednesday morning, December 5th at Irvine Regional Hospital. She was 58.

In announcing her death, her family said, "Unfortunately Jillian was diagnosed with Leukemia and briefly after the diagnosis, her life was taken by a Staph infection. She has now joined over 90,000 other people who die each year from this horrible infection. With this sadness there is also light, now knowing that Jillian has joined her beloved Gary, who died almost exactly one year prior. We celebrate her life in this hard time knowing how much such loved life and touched so many people in this world and with our deepest reverence for her we feel blessed she was such a beautiful part of our lives."

Ms. Kesner starred in many films & TV shows over the last 30 years including action films where she was known for her kick boxing fighting techniques. Some of these films included Cirio Santiago's Firecracker (1981), Moon in Scorpio (1987), and Jaded (1989). Her TV appearances included Happy Days, Three's Company, Mork and Mindy, and The Rockford Files. She also served as an associate producer and production coordinator in many other films. Quentin Tarantino had once confessed to her that he was a great fan of hers.

Along with her husband Gary Graver, Jillian tried to raise $3.5 million to piece together the film, The Other Side of The Wind, from Welles's script and editing notes. "They had recently untangled the rights to the film and had been working on a deal with Showtime," said the Variety film critic Todd McCarthy, who was making a documentary with Gary & Jillian.

Following Gary's death, Jillian continued to pursue their dream of the Welles postproduction project. She traveled to film festivals around the world honoring Gary & Orson's work, and shined more light on the project that was yet to be completed. She also took over running his equipment and film operations.

Jillian will always be known for her beauty, grace, humor, talent, intelligence, profound respect for others and innate sensitivity.

Jillian is survived by her mother, Patricia Kesner; two sisters, Connie Meehleis and Cindy Mesina; numerous nieces and nephews; and two stepson's Sean and Chris.

Memorial services will be held at the American Cinematheque Egyptian Theatre, Saturday January 19th from 4-5:30pm. For more information please email info@jilliankesner.com

Saturday, January 26 – 2:00 PM

Los Angeles and the movies grew up together, so it is only fitting that the city would boast the biggest, the best and the brightest theatres imaginable. The magnificent movie palaces along Broadway in downtown Los Angeles still represent the highest concentration of vintage theatres in the world and, of course, Hollywood and the movies are practically synonymous. Some theatres were designed for film, others for vaudeville or stage productions, and many have served various purposes in the years since their first star-studded premieres. Some are pristine and still show films, plays or musical performances. Others became churches or swap meets. Still more have been leveled for office space and parking lots. The common thread that connects them all, from the grandest movie palace to the smallest neighborhood theatre, are stories, and the ghosts of audiences past waiting in the dark for the show to begin. Suzanne Tarbell Cooper is the co-author of Arcadia Publishing’s Los Angeles Art Deco and Long Beach Art Deco. Amy Ronnebeck Hall is the co-author of Los Angeles Art Deco. Marc Wanamaker owns Bison Archives, one of Southern California’s largest repositories of historic photographs, from which these rare images were selected. He is also a consultant on more than 100 documentaries and the author of numerous books on Hollywood and Southern California and the current president of Hollywood Heritage. Marc Wanamaker will narrate a slide presentation based on the new book Theatres In Los Angeles (Arcadia Press) followed by a booksigning with the authors afterwards. Tickets for event are $5 for Members of Hollywood Heritage, Art Deco Society of Los Angeles and the American Cinematheque. Other regular prices apply for the general public and students/seniors.