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June 2014
News and pop quizzes from your American Film Institute.
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COMMON DENOMINATOR
What search term or story element do the following movies have in common?
THE FULLER BRUSH MAN, WHAT'S UP FRONT, FIVE MINUTES TO LIVE, THE DAY OF THE LOCUST
Correct! They are, respectively, an accident-prone street cleaner, a fast-talking bra salesman, a crook posing as a salesman and an ex-Vaudeville clown.
Incorrect. The correct answer is a door-to-door salesman. They are, respectively, an accident-prone street cleaner, a fast-talking bra salesman, a crook posing as a salesman and an ex-Vaudeville clown.
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THREE-FILM MONTE
Drag the following films into the chronological order of their theatrical release:
Note: The boxes will turn green when the answer is correct; red, when incorrect.
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6.28.14: IT’S MEL BROOKS’ BIRTHDAY! LET’S CELEBRATE WITH A SCREEN TEST!
Where was Brooks' THE TWELVE CHAIRS (1970) filmed?
Correct! The cast and crew lived in what is now the Serbian Republic for six months during the administration of Marshal Tito.
Incorrect. The correct answer is Belgrade, Yugoslavia. The cast and crew lived in what is now the Serbian Republic for six months during the administration of Marshal Tito.
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6.27.14: IT’S TOBEY MAGUIRE’S BIRTHDAY! LET’S CELEBRATE WITH A SCREEN TEST!
Where was Maguire's character, Homer Wells, raised in THE CIDER HOUSE RULES (1999)?
Correct! He is trained by the orphanage director to be an unlicensed doctor.
Incorrect. The correct answer is an orphanage. He is trained by the orphanage director to be an unlicensed doctor.
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WHAT'S THAT FROM?
Name the movie that includes the following dialogue:
"Whaddya hear! Whaddya say!"
Correct! James Cagney utters the catchphrase as Rocky Sullivan, a criminal competing with a priest for influence over a group of boys, in the classic film from 1938.
Incorrect. The correct answer is ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES. James Cagney utters the catchphrase as Rocky Sullivan, a criminal competing with a priest for influence over a group of boys, in the classic film from 1938.
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PLACE THE FACE
Drag the headshot below into the correct film poster from one of the artist's movies and the name of the artist will appear below.
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Jennifer Beals burst on the scene as a welder/dancer in FLASHDANCE (1983) and played Bette Porter in 70 episodes of cable television's drama about a group of lesbians living in Los Angeles.
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COMMON DENOMINATOR
What search term or story element do the following movies have in common?
CHILD’S PLAY, SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY, SEVEN DAYS IN MAY, BILLY LIAR
Correct! The resigning or potentially resigning parties include a Catholic school teacher, an employment counselor, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and a British clerk, respectively.
Incorrect. The correct answer is letter of resignation. The resigning or potentially resigning parties include a Catholic school teacher, an employment counselor, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and a British clerk, respectively.
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THREE-FILM MONTE
Drag the following films into the chronological order of their theatrical release:
Note: The boxes will turn green when the answer is correct; red, when incorrect.
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6.22.14: IT’S MERYL STREEP’S BIRTHDAY! LET’S CELEBRATE WITH A SCREEN TEST!
Name the film in which Streep plays a nun.
Correct! She plays Sister Aloysius Beauvier in the 2008 film based on John Patrick Shanley's play. The closest Streep came to playing a nun on stage was as Isabella, who is about to take her vows, in Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure."
Incorrect. The correct answer is DOUBT. She plays Sister Aloysius Beauvier in the 2008 film based on John Patrick Shanley's play. The closest Streep came to playing a nun on stage was as Isabella, who is about to take her vows, in Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure."
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WHAT'S THAT FROM?
Name the movie that includes the following dialogue:
"Give me a girl at an impressionable age and she is mine for life."
Correct! The line is uttered by Maggie Smith in the title role of an influential teacher in the 1969 screenplay by Jay Presson Allen based on her play and the novel by Muriel Spark.
Incorrect. The correct answer is THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE. The line is uttered by Maggie Smith in the title role of an influential teacher in the 1969 screenplay by Jay Presson Allen based on her play and the novel by Muriel Spark.
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6.20.14: IT’S JOHN GOODMAN’S BIRTHDAY! LET’S CELEBRATE WITH A SCREEN TEST!
Who did Goodman play in THE ARTIST?
Correct! James L. Brooks directed Hunt in her Oscar®-winning role opposite Jack Nicholson in 1997.
Incorrect. The correct answer is AS GOOD AS IT GETS. James L. Brooks directed Hunt in her Oscar®-winning role opposite Jack Nicholson in 1997.
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PLACE THE FACE
Drag the headshot below into the correct film poster from one of the artist's movies and the name of the artist will appear below.
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Mia Farrow is an American actress, best known for ROSEMARY'S BABY (1968), THE GREAT GATSBY (1974) and several Woody Allen comedies.
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COMMON DENOMINATOR
What search term or story element do the following movies have in common?
ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS, ROBIN HOOD, QUEEN OF DESTINY, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S SEX COMEDY
Correct! The archers include an Indian girl, a denizen of Sherwood Forest, England's Queen Victoria and a pair of possible lovers.
Incorrect. The correct answer is archery. The archers include an Indian girl, a denizen of Sherwood Forest, England's Queen Victoria and a pair of possible lovers.
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THREE-FILM MONTE
Drag the following films into the chronological order of their theatrical release:
Note: The boxes will turn green when the answer is correct; red, when incorrect.
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WHAT’S THAT FROM?
Name the movie that includes the following dialogue:
"Klaatu barada nikto!"
Correct! The alien phrase, a command to abort a mission of destruction, is spoken in both the original 1951 film and its 2008 remake.
Incorrect. The correct answer is THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL. The alien phrase, a command to abort a mission of destruction, is spoken in both the original 1951 film and its 2008 remake.
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6.15.14: IT’S HELEN HUNT’S BIRTHDAY! LET’S CELEBRATE WITH A SCREEN TEST!
In which of her films was Hunt directed by the current Artistic Director of the AFI Conservatory?
Correct! James L. Brooks directed Hunt in her Oscar®-winning role opposite Jack Nicholson in 1997.
Incorrect. The correct answer is AS GOOD AS IT GETS. James L. Brooks directed Hunt in her Oscar®-winning role opposite Jack Nicholson in 1997.
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PLACE THE FACE
Drag the headshot below into the correct film poster from one of the artist's movies and the name of the artist will appear below.
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Gene Kelly (1912-1996), an American actor, singer, dancer, choreographer and director best known for SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952), was awarded an honorary Oscar® in 1952.
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6.13.14: IT’S CHRIS EVANS’ BIRTHDAY! LET’S CELEBRATE WITH A SCREEN TEST!
Evans is best-known as Captain America. What is his other identity in THE AVENGERS?
Correct! The other gentlemen listed are also known as Iron Man, The Hulk and Hawkeye, respectively.
Incorrect. The correct answer is Steve Rogers. The other gentlemen listed are also known as Iron Man, The Hulk and Hawkeye, respectively.
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COMMON DENOMINATOR
What search term or story element do the following movies have in common?
KING SOLOMON'S MINES, A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT, WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH, CANDLESHOE
Correct! Lunar or solar eclipses figure in the plot of each film.
Incorrect. The correct answer is eclipse. Lunar or solar eclipses figure in the plot of each film.
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6.11.14: IT’S GENE WILDER’S BIRTHDAY! LET’S CELEBRATE WITH A SCREEN TEST!
Who is Wilder’s love interest in EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT SEX* BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK (1972)?
Correct! He played Dr. Ross, a psychiatrist whose wife catches him in bed with a sheep in the 1972 Woody Allen comedy based on the David Reuben best-seller.
Incorrect. The correct answer is a sheep. He played Dr. Ross, a psychiatrist whose wife catches him in bed with a sheep in the 1972 Woody Allen comedy based on the David Reuben best-seller.
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THREE-FILM MONTE
Drag the following films into the chronological order of their theatrical release:
Note: The boxes will turn green when the answer is correct; red, when incorrect.
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6.9.14: IT’S JOHNNY DEPP’S BIRTHDAY! LET’S CELEBRATE WITH A SCREEN TEST!
Why are the townspeople in the film CHOCOLAT opposed to Depp's character, Roux?
Correct! Fortunately, Vianne, played by Juliette Binoche, doesn't share their prejudice.
Incorrect. The correct answer is he's a gypsy. Fortunately, Vianne, played by Juliette Binoche, doesn't share their prejudice.
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WHAT'S THAT FROM?
Name the movie that includes the following dialogue.
"Cowboys don’t get married, unless they stop being cowboys."
Correct! Lee Marvin makes this observation as the title character in the 1970 Western with a screenplay by David Zelag Goodman and Lucas Heller, based on the novel by Jack Schaefer.
Incorrect. The correct answer is MONTE WALSH. Lee Marvin makes this observation as the title character in the 1970 Western with a screenplay by David Zelag Goodman and Lucas Heller, based on the novel by Jack Schaefer.
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6.7.14: IT’S LIAM NEESON’S BIRTHDAY! LET’S CELEBRATE WITH A SCREEN TEST!
In his Oscar®-winning role as Oskar Schindler, what does Neeson manufacture?
Correct! Early in the film he makes enamelware, but he shifts to munitions, none of which can be used by the German army.
Incorrect. The correct answer is munitions. Early in the film he makes enamelware, but he shifts to munitions, none of which can be used by the German army.
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6.6.14: IT’S PAUL GIAMATTI’S BIRTHDAY! LET’S CELEBRATE WITH A SCREEN TEST!
What happens to the novel Giamatti's character, Miles, has written in SIDEWAYS?
Correct! He may not be a successful writer, but at the end of the film Miles may have found a woman who appreciates him.
Incorrect. The correct answer is all of the above. He may not be a successful writer, but at the end of the film Miles may have found a woman who appreciates him.
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6.5.14: IT’S MARK WAHLBERG’S BIRTHDAY! LET’S CELEBRATE WITH A SCREEN TEST!
What was the weight class of boxer "Irish" Micky Ward, Wahlberg's character in THE FIGHTER?
Correct! The 2010 film by David O. Russell tracks his rise to the title.
Incorrect. The correct answer light welterweight. The 2010 film by David O. Russell tracks his rise to the title.
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6.4.14: IT’S ANGELINA JOLIE’S BIRTHDAY! LET’S CELEBRATE WITH A SCREEN TEST!
Which of the following facts about Lara Croft is false?
Correct! She is an action hero, unacquainted with the 15th century string instrument – as far as we know.
Incorrect. The correct answer is she plays the viola da gamba. She is an action hero, unacquainted with the 15th century string instrument – as far as we know.
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PLACE THE FACE
Drag the headshot below into the correct film poster from one of the artist's movies and the name of the artist will appear below.
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James Mason (1909-1984) was an English actor best known for his work in NORTH BY NORTHWEST, A STAR IS BORN, LOLITA and 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA. He was nominated for three Academy Awards®.
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6.2.14: IT’S SALLY KELLERMAN’S BIRTHDAY! LET’S CELEBRATE WITH A SCREEN TEST!
Name the film for which Kellerman received an Academy Award® nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
Correct! She played Major Margaret "Hot Lips" O'Houlihan, the new head nurse, in this Korean War dramedy.
Incorrect. The correct answer is MASH. She played Major Margaret "Hot Lips" O'Houlihan, the new head nurse, in this Korean War dramedy.
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6.1.14: IT’S MORGAN FREEMAN’S BIRTHDAY! LET’S CELEBRATE WITH A SCREEN TEST!
Name the film in which Freeman's character has three meetings with a parole board.
Correct! Writer-director Frank Darabont described them as his favorites of Freeman's performance.
Incorrect. The correct answer is THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION. Writer-director Frank Darabont described them as his favorites of Freeman's performance.
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TOWNE AND TYSON TO RECEIVE HONORARY DEGREES AT AFI COMMENCEMENT
Screenwriter and director Robert Towne (CHINATOWN, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE) and actor Cicely Tyson (THE HELP, SOUNDER) will receive honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts degrees and address the AFI Class of 2014 at the June 11 AFI Conservatory Commencement at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. While a soon-to-be Doctorate holder, Towne has long had a reputation as one of the film community's ablest script doctors, contributing to dozens of films, including THE GODFATHER and BONNIE AND CLYDE. The son of Romanian and Russian parents, he grew up in San Pedro and graduated from Pomona College. Tyson won two Primetime Emmy® Awards for THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS JANE PITTMAN, won another for OLDEST LIVING CONFEDERATE WIDOW TELLS ALL and has been nominated for the award six other times. Born in Harlem, the Tony®-winning star of Broadway's "The Trip to Bountiful" was nominated for an Oscar® for her role in SOUNDER.
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TWO AFI FILMS NOMINATED FOR STUDENT ACADEMY AWARDS®
We won't know the winners until the middle of June, but we're thrilled that two AFI Conservatory thesis films — INTERSTATE and WAY IN RYE — have been nominated for the 41st Annual Student Academy Awards®. Here's the honor roll of participating Fellows:
INTERSTATE
Brett Myer (AFI Class of 2013), Producer
Camille Stochitch (AFI Class of 2013), Director/Screenwriter
Justin Kane (AFI Class of 2013), Cinematographer
Franzis Muller (AFI Class of 2013), Editor
Aashrita Kamath (AFI Class of 2013), Production DesignerWAY IN RYE
Pin-Chun Liu (AFI Class of 2013), Producer
Goran Stankovic (AFI Class of 2013), Director
Liska Ostojić (AFI Class of 2013), Screenwriter
Justin Partridge (AFI Class of 2013), Screenwriter
Cyndi Trissel (AFI Class of 2013), Editor
Lauren Spalding (AFI Class of 2013), Production Designer -
‘YOUNG AMERICANS’ TAKES SECOND PLACE AT COLLEGE TELEVISION AWARDS
Congratulations to the creative team for YOUNG AMERICANS, an AFI Conservatory thesis film that took second place at the 35th College Television Awards. In the drama, 17-year-old Mercedes Harper manipulates Denver Thomas, a former classmate with a massive crush on her, into helping her plan a bank robbery. The film was produced by Alejandro Torroja, directed and written by Kevin Lacy, lensed by cinematographer Kristin Fieldhouse, edited by Lilly Urban and production designed by Elena Cozlovschi — all Fellows in AFI Class of 2013.
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WIDE SHOT (WEB STORIES THAT CAUGHT OUR EYE)
Here's what VERONICA MARS editor Daniel Gabbe (AFI Class of 2000) said in a recent interview with Alumni Connection, the AFI Conservatory's newsletter, when asked about his favorite film editor: "It's easy for me to point to one editor in particular, which would have to be Thelma Schoonmaker. I actually decided I wanted to be a film editor while watching GOODFELLAS once, and she was honored at our AFI graduation, so it was very special to walk across that stage and see her sitting there!" You'll get a strong sense of why Schoonmaker is so widely admired when you read this interview from Yahoo's movie blog.
movies.yahoo.com/blogs/movie-news/6-toughest-cuts-martin-scorsese-editor-reveals-left-232640769.htmlIn Daniel Schweiger's in-depth interview with NEED FOR SPEED composer Nathan Furst in filmmusicmag.com, the two often seem to be engaged in a tug of war — on the subject of film vs. video game music, for example. But it's Furst's steadfast belief in writing musical themes that express the inner lives of characters and are not merely a soundtrack for fast cars that we find most impressive — that, and the symphonic score. See if you agree.
filmmusicmag.com/?p=12658Thanks to BAMcinématek's "Blonde Venus: The Films of Dietrich and von Sternberg," we have this excellent assessment of their film collaborations from the early '30s from the Village Voice's Stephanie Zacharek. Who knew there were so many ways to be a temptress?
villagevoice.com/2014-04-02/film/blonde-venus-the-films-of-dietrich-and-von-sternberg/ -
AFI CLOSEUP: SETH PIERSON
To find Seth Pierson, AFI's Photo Editor and Archivist, Information Services, one must climb a back stairway to the third floor of the Louis B. Mayer Library. Pierson's office is no dark room; it is painted bright yellow and sits under a dramatic skylight. The man is bombarded by Vitamin D. A BLUE VELVET poster is pinned to the door and a framed image of a cup of coffee hangs on the wall.
Where did you grow up? I grew up right outside of New Orleans. I was born and lived there the first 18 years of my life — until I came out to California.
Where did you go to school? I went to USC and studied Screenwriting.
How did you become a photographer? Well, I had had toy cameras all throughout my youth. But, as part of my screenwriting studies, USC had us take classes that were filmmaking-related, beyond just writing courses. And one of those was a Photography for Writers class. And for that class, I had to get an old manual 35-millimeter film camera and lenses. I learned to shoot on slide film. I caught the photography bug then, and it was rather incurable.
What did you do before you came to AFI? Professionally? Nothing! I started temping at AFI about three months after I graduated from school. My friend, who was another screenwriting student with me at USC, told me that AFI needed temp workers. I temped here for two and a half years. I've been here since July 2006.
What do you do at AFI? In many ways, I am a one-person department. I handle all the photos that AFI keeps of its events, I manage all the photographers and the photography at our current events, and I edit and source photos for anyone within AFI who needs photos. I also shoot where and when I can. My role has grown more managerial in the last few years just because the scope and the number of photographers at the events has grown so much larger. I don't really have time any more to shoot and edit and manage all the other photos that need to get places. But I do take the chance when I get it to shoot, and yesterday I shot Jane Fonda's Harold Lloyd Master Seminar, which was wonderful in and of itself, but also really a fun thing to be able to photograph.
What was your best day at AFI? What gives me the most satisfaction — and I can't pin it to a specific day — is when people see the photos I've seen and I see the surprise and happiness on their faces, reacting to photos that have not been seen by anyone in my lifetime. I get to deal with many, many photos that people literally haven't seen for as long as I've been alive. And it's always exciting — not just to find them myself, but to be able to share them with other people. I find them in the archives and in the process of scanning and editing them. That's a joy for me personally, but it's even more fulfilling to me — especially as I've gone on further in the job — to be able to really surprise people.
Which do you consider your best photograph, and how did it come about? My personal photography tends to be much more documentary than event-based. I've taken some portraits, but to me the most meaningful photos that I've ever taken are of the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans. Every December since 2006, I would go home for Christmas, travel out to the Lower Ninth Ward, which was completely wiped out by the levee failure the day after Hurricane Katrina landed, and take photos there.
What are you working on today? This morning I shot an alumni reunion breakfast where some folks who are now in the industry came to talk to Second Year cinematographers about what they can expect. And now I am working to pay off all of the invoices for the Jane Fonda photos that we'll be putting in the tribute book that we give out at the event.
What don't your colleagues know about you? Secrets! Most people don't know that I have turned my apartment into a recording studio, and I have been teaching myself to record music for years and years and years. I'm finally almost done with the first single I plan to offer on iTunes.
Who would you cast to play you in the film story of your life? Mm... for physical accuracy's sake, I would say Channing Tatum. For dramatic realism, I would probably say Ryan Gosling. [Laughing.]
What's your favorite movie? My favorite movie is THE BIG LEBOWSKI. I make no claims of it being the best movie ever — and I don't think I could decide on that — but it's by far my favorite movie ever because I know that if there is any one point that I drop in or tune out, when I come back, the line or the scene or the moment will be perfect.
