The people running The Nitrate Picture Show, the film festival in Rochester, NY I attended last weekend, reminded us several times that this wasn't just canned entertainment. The act of projecting decades-old nitrate film is a form of live performance. Before each feature, we were asked to turn around and applaud the two expert projectionists … Continue reading Last Sunday at the Nitrate Picture Show
Month: May 2018
Last Saturday at the Nitrate Picture Show
When a film festival celebrates a technology, as does The Nitrate Picture Show, and it's located at the George Eastman Museum, you should expect more than just movies. Last weekend's event included two lectures by preservationists, workshops on making nitrate film, and tours of more than the nitrate vaults. I attended a Technology Collection tour, … Continue reading Last Saturday at the Nitrate Picture Show
Last Friday at the Nitrate Picture Show
You know you're at a geek-oriented film festival when the program provides information About the print before telling you About the film. "The film is in excellent condition, with deep, rich contrast and very little scratching or damage. Shrinkage: 0.63%." The Nitrate Picture Show, which I attended last week, is as much about the prints … Continue reading Last Friday at the Nitrate Picture Show
What’s Screening: May 11 – 17
Professional killers, psychotic killers, inept superheroes, dangerous rabbits, and a whole lot of clay chickens on Bay Area movie screens this week. And only one film festival. Festivals CAAMFest continues through the week and beyond Promising events Mystery Men, New Mission, Wednesday, 10:15 I loved this superhero satire when it opened in 1999; I even … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 11 – 17
Last Thursday: In the Vaults with Nitrate Film
I wrote this article a week ago, on Thursday, May 3. For technical reasons concerning the tablet I took on my trip to New York state, I was not able to add photos, which I felt were necessary for telling this story. So here it is. I will continue, through Sunday, posting a daily report of … Continue reading Last Thursday: In the Vaults with Nitrate Film
What’s Screening: May 4 – 10
A rock star on the supreme court, a love triangle amongst spies, musical Milos, and three film festivals - all on Bay Area screens while I'm in New York State. I wrote this newsletter a little early, so it may not include everything it should. Festivals DocLands continues through Sunday. Read my report. The Empress … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 4 – 10
The Nitrate Picture Show Program Announced
Like Telleride, The Nitrate Picture Show - the film festival that brought me to Rochester, NY - keeps its schedule secret until the opening morning. I now have that schedule. Here are the films we'll all be seeing: Friday: 4:30: Nitrate Shorts 7:30: Summer Interlude, a little-remembered Ingmar Bergman film from 1951. 10:00: Holiday, a classic comedy with Cary … Continue reading The Nitrate Picture Show Program Announced
A New Film Festival Showing Very Old (and Explosive) Prints
When you consider how flammable film stock was in the first half of the 20th century, and how popular smoking was at the same time, it's amazing that any movies survived at all. Or any movie theaters. By the time you read this, I will presumably be in Rochester, NY, where I will be attending … Continue reading A New Film Festival Showing Very Old (and Explosive) Prints
RBG: The life and importance of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
A- Documentary Directed by Betsy West and Julie Cohen Make no mistake, there's nothing objective about Betsy West and Julie Cohen's biographic documentary about the life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. They clearly believe that the Supreme Court's progressive hero is a rock star, a superhero, and a major bulwark protecting American democracy. I happen to … Continue reading RBG: The life and importance of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Yet Another Silent Film Festival
Finally, folks in the Northeast Bay Area won't have to drive across a bridge to watch silent films. The Empress Theatre Silent Film Festival runs this Friday through Sunday at the Empress Theatre in Vallejo. It's a modest festival, with only four programs spread across three days. The Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum sponsors this … Continue reading Yet Another Silent Film Festival
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