Lacey VerHageFall 2010Intro to MIAPFinal Project: Not Hitchcock Film FestivalCuratorial Concept and PurposeUsing primarily the work of film theorist Robin Wood, I planned a festival that wouldscreen silent films that have commonalities with those found to be recurring in Hitchcock’s oeuvre. Robin Wood identifies 5 plot formulations in his book Hitchcock’s Films Revisited that the director used in numerous films spanning his British and American career. These themes are by no means exhaustive and are simply used as a basic framework for identifying Hitchcockian themes in other narratives films and works of art. I chose to use these themes to discover Hitchcockian elements in silent film as well as visual art. The purpose of this exhibit is to push the boundaries of art genres, encouraging the viewer to see the concepts and themes that are prevalent in all forms of art and everyday life. It also aims to broaden the historical timeline of cinematic elements, seeking to demonstrate that Hitchcockian themes are not only a product of a particular time and place, but can be found throughout the development and history of the motion picture. VenueRoxie Theatre: 3117 16th Street, San Francisco, CA. Located in the Mission District of San Francisco. I chose this theatre for its location, size, style, history, and overall aesthetic. It opened in 1909 as the “C.H. Brown Theater” and has gone through several names until it was bought by current management in 1976. In 2009, it becamea nonprofit organization and San Francisco’s oldest operating theater. It has been showing independent and classic films since 1976.The neighborhood of the Mission District in San Francisco has been greatly gentrifiedin the last few years. Now, primarily an area that attracts young artists the theater lies right in the midst of the target audience for this program. It also offers a nicely renovated space with a bit of history, while maintaining a manageable audience capacity and a laid back vibe. The Mission District has two stops on the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and is a short bus or cab ride from downtown San Francisco. In the past I have found that accessibility of public transportation as well as a convenientdistance from main city landmarks can greatly impact the turnout for an event. This location is convenient and would encourage a great many artists that live in the neighborhood to come to the festival. Layout of the Space & LogisticsScreenings will be in the main auditorium (capacity 238) and a photography art exhibit in the smaller auditorium (capacity 49). Each night the venue will open approximately one hour before the first screening. In the main auditorium, the theatre is able to place a piano at one side of the stage. Musicians will be in this location, with microphones and lights that are supplied by the theatre. They offer one house manager, one box office person, and one projectionist with the rental fees. I will hire one security person to oversee the art exhibit and lobby, et. The exhibit will show the work of photographer Mara Taber. As an unknown artist she is more interested inexposure than in a fee for exhibition. She is a San Francisco native who currently lives and exhibits her work in NYC. The themes and concepts of her work show many similarities with the Hitchcockian themes reflected in our screenings. My organization will supply her with a fee to cover the cost of making prints in the sum of $600 ($30 per print for 20 prints). As she will be showing prints, there will be little associated risk of theft, et. however, security will monitor the gallery area to discourage any theft or vandalism. The prints she will show will also highlight the films in our 4 screenings. She will also design our website. http://www.nothitchcock.org As a friend she will not charge for the web design, and she will also have the opportunity through the event to showcase her work. Each night, guests will be invited to view the exhibit in the small 2nd theatre before the main theatre opens approximately 20 mins before the first film screening of the night. Two ushers (hired independently) will offer programs with film info and program notes to the audience as they enter the theater. Seating will be open and first come, first serve. At the start time, I will introduce each screening and the musicians involved, I will also point out the Hitchcockian theme that the film exhibits and give afew brief thoughts on the selection and placement in the festival.Screenings, Prints, Fees, and Accompaniment Schedule (times are approximate)1. Saturday, 7pm screening:Theme: The Falsely Accused ManFilm: A Cottage on Dartmoor(1929) Print Info: 35 mm print from BFI. Overseas hire fee: £200 , USD: $314.50Accompaniment: Pianist: Stephen Horne, performance fee: $1,000, doing his score written in 2006. 2. Sunday, 7pm screening:Theme: Story about a PsychopathFilm: The Unknown(1927)Print Info: 35 mm print from George Eastman House: $300 feeAccompaniment: Armen Ra, theramin, new score3. Sunday, 9pm screening:Theme: Story about a Guilty Woman Film: The Red Kimona (1926)Print Info: 35 mm print from UCLA Film & TV Archive: estimated $400 feeAccompaniment: Royal Society Jazz Trio, new score: $1,0004. Saturday, 9pm screening:Theme: Story about a MarriageFilm: Sunrise(1927)Print Info: 35 mm print from Criterion Pictures USA: $500 feeAccompaniment: Yee Duo, pianist & violinist, performance fee: $500, new scoreThis festival will run for two screenings on Saturday and Sunday nights (at approx 7 pm and 9pm screenings). Tickets will be sold for the Roxie Cinema’s usual rate of $10/ticket.Program Notes This festival draws from the work of film theorist Robin Wood and his book, Hitchcock’sFilms Revisited in which he outlines some of the common themes in plot formation within Hitchcock’s films. While other scholars and theoretician’s work was used in the overall scope and understanding of this project. Wood’s work was the main connecting force behind the concepts and formations of the themes. Without his work this serieswould not be possible. I would also like to add that these themes were chosen and placedin an intended order with which the audience can draw their own correlations, similarities, and differences. Much can be learned from the films themselves and their relations to one another apart from their ties to Hitchcockian themes.Night #1: The Falsely Accused Man and the PsychopathA Cottage on Dartmoor(1929) has been