Ideas for Themes

Chris Loukides' Ideas:

Despite the 50 years vs. 50 non-annual finals controversy I feel the early history of the department and school is very interesting and important to express in this year’s film finals. To go with the theme of history and beginnings the trailer could have a old and retro look to it.

I would be interested in researching when/ how the department was founded and what there goals and problems were in the early years.

I found some interesting info to start with at...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_State_University

http://creativearts.sfsu.edu/cinema

Problems may include political ones, researching any protests or important happening at sfsu and featuring it in the program and trailer would be interesting.

I’m also wondering if we could get access to films and footage entered in previous film finals and contact alumni and past participants to possibly use material from very early film final entries in the trailer. Archived and old news footage of happening at sfsu through the years could also be used. We can also possibly do some reenactments for the trailer focusing on the behind the scenes of film making over the years. We could recreating film sets with old retro clothing and set design and give the film an old dusty look, and then cut to modern day. Possible transition would be a bolex being put away in the 60’s and then the same bolex being taken out to shoot in present day.

Paul Washburn's Ideas:

I agree with Chris that it would be prudent to focus on the history behind the program today with an emphasis on alumni who have excelled in the world of cinema. I know many of the professors in the Cinema Department have extensive personal archives of student films from years back and if we were able to contact the filmmakers we could complies clips from alumni films both created at SFSU and after they graduated to work into the trailer. One ideas I had would be to show a clip from an alum's student film juxtaposed with clips from their professional work establishing the potential behind the films and filmmakers that will be part of Film Finals whether the focus is on the 50th anniversary or not.

For example, Phoebe Tooke (http://phoebetooke.com/index.shtml) won a student Academy Award for her film, Circles of Confusion, and we could follow up with her regarding her current work and utilize clips from both her student days and what she is working on now as part of our PR effort.

There are scores of successful alumni many of whom would likely love to share what they are up to on a stage like Film Finals and this concept would not only pay homage to all of the talent that has come grown out of SFSU, but also provide inspiration for current cinema students.

RE:Trailer-

maybe about our program and not necc being in SF Focus on Positive things- we are still here.

maybe like come to this event...where are you on the map? look back to look forward and celebrate the now (esp if panels etc can also offer resources anbd paths for the future)