daily list

Starting next month, American Film will relocate to AFI.com. Right now, we're prepping a new and improved version of American Film™ that will better serve you, our faithful reader. We'll continue to post pieces about movies (and also television) from the past and present, offer up exclusive interviews and videos, interactive games and a lot more. Look for more varied and frequently published articles, too. Plus, you'll be able to comment and interact more fully as the community that you are: those who appreciate good storytelling.

See you on AFI.com on November 1.

AFI FEST presented by Audi, which celebrates its 28th year, is just one month away. The festival will take place in the heart of Hollywood, California, at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre, the Chinese 6 Theatres, the Egyptian Theatre and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel from November 6–13, 2014.

Featuring nightly Galas, special screenings and filmmaker Q&As, AFI FEST will continue its unprecedented offer of free tickets to all screenings, with AFI members being the first to reserve tickets. Only attendees who purchase the Star Patron and Marquee Patron Packages will be provided with reserved seating at the world premiere Opening Night Gala of A MOST VIOLENT YEAR on November 6. The film is written and directed by Academy Award^® nominee J.C. Chandor and stars Oscar Isaac and Academy Award^® nominee Jessica Chastain. Those who purchase those two Packages will also be provided with reserved seating for the Tribute to Sophia Loren on November 12, which will include a conversation with Loren about her illustrious career.

Remember, AFI members at the Two-Star level and higher receive a 10% discount on all Patron Packages and Passes. The American Film Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational and cultural organization; Patron Packages and Passes are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Find the pass that is right for you!

AFI members received a handsome set of notecards, featuring several quotes from AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes, our list of greatest movie quotes of all time. The set of 10 cards and matching envelopes replaces the annual movie calendar members have received as a benefit in the past. The response to these original notecards has been overwhelmingly positive. AFI members will receive a new set in August 2015.

Take a look at this year's cards below:

GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
#1 on AFI's 100 greatest movie quotes of all time.
Screenplay by Sidney Howard

CASABLANCA (1942)
#5 on AFI's 100 greatest movie quotes of all time.
Screenplay by Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein and Howard Koch

SUDDEN IMPACT (1983)
#6 on AFI's 100 greatest movie quotes of all time.
Screenplay by Joseph C. Stinson
Story by Charles B. Pierce and Earl E. Smith

COOL HAND LUKE (1967)
#11 on AFI's 100 greatest movie quotes of all time.
Screenplay by Donn Pearce and Frank R. Pierson

SHE DONE HIM WRONG (1933)
#26 on AFI's 100 greatest movie quotes of all time.
Screenplay by John Bright and Harvey F. Thew

AFI members save 10% on Variety's "Entertainment & Technology Summit" on October 20, 2014 at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Marina Del Rey, CA. (Discount Code: 10AFI). Don't miss out on the keynote conversation with James Gunn, director/screenwriter of Marvel Studios' GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014).

From the Dissolve: The 30 Best American Independent Horror Films

"From independent professional producers like Roger Corman to intrepid first-timers (and sometimes only-timers) assembling a small crew and making a movie on their own terms, American independent filmmaking has a long, honorable tradition of low-budget scares."

From The Dissolve: John Waters discusses 50 years of John Waters movies, and why he refuses to go backward

"John Waters can’t believe anyone would assemble a retrospective of his work, let alone New York City’s prestigious Film Society of Lincoln Center. It’s a tribute so unimaginable to the man whose transgressive cinema shocked midnight-movie audiences in the 1970s, and continues to drop jaws today, that it makes him quiver. 'It’s so respectable!' he exclaims."

From Flavorwire: “I Took Part”: Werner Herzog on Truth, Fiction, and ‘Parks & Recreation’

"AFI DOCS advisory board member Werner Herzog is scheduled to appear in the next season of PARKS & RECREATION. Herzog revealed that he recently filmed a 'tiny cameo' for the NBC show as 'an elderly guy who sells his decrepit house.'"

From The Economist: Remembering Richard Attenborough — A legend of British film

"Lord (Richard) Attenborough will be remembered for his compassion, imagination and, most of all, his humility. 'I have no interest in being remembered as a great creative filmmaker,' he once said. 'I want to be remembered as a storyteller.'"

We managed to pull Ellen O'Brien away from her editing suite where we usually find her hard at work cutting and piecing together video footage. We found a quiet place on campus to find out more about her and the video magic she weaves on a daily basis at AFI. The always smiling Ellen happily answered any and all of the questions we tossed her way. We learned more about where she grew up, her former life as a college DJ and, of course, which film is her all time favorite. The answer to that last question is a little gem starring Macaulay Culkin which just happens to take place in Ellen's hometown.

What do you do at AFI? I am the Production Coordinator for AFI Productions. I edit a lot of the non-televised projects that AFI Productions works on. I also research and assist the director and production manager on the televised shows.

What are you working on today? I’m updating the alumni reel that will play at opening day for the Conservatory by adding new films and TV shows that AFI alumni have worked on.

How long have you been at AFI? Eight months.

What’s been your most memorable moment at AFI over those past eight months? Hands down the AFI Life Achievement Award. It was hard work and the team put in a lot of long hours leading up to the event, but seeing the end product of the show and event was very exciting. I took my Dad to the event, and he was so excited and star struck and proud. It really just made me see the bigger picture of the work that I work on every day. I am very proud to have worked on that show.

Which upcoming AFI events are you looking forward to the most? Definitely AFI FEST. I am in the process right now of researching a bunch of films for FEST and discussing some of the content our department will produce for the event. In that process, I learn so much about the filmmakers and the talent that will be featured at the festival. That’s really exciting for me because it’s like going to film school again and encourages me to brush up on films that I maybe, in my day-to-day life, wouldn’t seek out to watch.

What did you do before you came to AFI? I produced a feature documentary last summer, and supervised post production throughout the fall. Before that I was the creative executive at a small production company. And before that I was an AD and production assistant on various indie productions.

Where did you grow up? I grew up in Chicago, Illinois. Downtown Chicago, not to be confused with the Chicagoland area.

What don’t your colleagues know about you? I was a DJ for my college radio station. I hope that there are no recordings of that floating around anywhere. It’s really embarrassing.

What is your favorite movie? I thought about this before and it’s going to be impossible to choose one. The movie that I reference the most and that I’ve seen the most times is HOME ALONE. So I think whenever I’m asked that question, I answer with HOME ALONE knowing that there a lot of films that are held in higher regard. But I think growing up in Chicago and coming from a big family, I definitely relate with that movie. It’s just genius.

Who would you cast to play yourself in the film story of your life? The Bollywood actress Kajol. That way, when there is a scene about me feeding my cat, it would be an epic song and dance. That would make my life story seem interesting.