Friday, September 29, 2017

Fandango Celebrates “Blade Runner 2049” With Special Offers

“BLADE RUNNER 2049” OUTPACING “MAD MAX: FURY ROAD,” “THE MARTIAN,” AND “GRAVITY” IN ADVANCE TICKET SALES ON FANDANGO

LOS ANGELES (September 29, 2017) – Fandango is reporting that “Blade Runner 2049,” opening next Friday, October 6, is significantly outselling “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “The Martian” and “Gravity” at the same point in the Fandango sales cycle (one week before release date).


Blade Runner 2049” was voted one of the fall season’s top three most anticipated films (along with “Thor: Ragnarok” and “Justice League”) in a recent Fandango survey of more than 1,000 moviegoers.


For a limited time, fans buying “Blade Runner 2049” tickets on Fandango are getting a cool gift-with-purchase from Fandango FanShop, Fandango’s online movie merchandise marketplace: a free surprise Funko POP! Vinyl figure from the new “Blade Runner 2049” line, but only while supplies last. The surprise Funko figure could include Deckard (Harrison Ford), Officer K (Ryan Gosling), Niander (Jared Leto), Joi (Ana de Armas), Luv (Sylvia Hoeks), Sapper (Dave Bautista), or a very rare “chase” figure. See Fandango or Fandango FanShop for details.
“Fandango is seeing strong advance ticket sales for ‘Blade Runner 2049’ as the film continues to attract great buzz,”  says Fandango Managing Editor Erik Davis. “I personally think ‘2049’ is a sci-fi masterpiece; it’s the kind of visually mind-blowing, deep-cut genre filmmaking that we rarely see these days and it demands to be seen on the big screen.”
To help fans catch up with the original film, Fandango’s premium digital video service, FandangoNOW, is offering Blade Runner: The Final Cut at a special price for a limited time: available to rent for $1.99 SD/$2.99 HD and to buy for only $5.99.  And to prepare viewers for the unforgettable imagery of “Blade Runner 2049,” FandangoNOW has curated a select list of classics shot by the film’s cinematographer Roger Deakins (“Sicario,” “Fargo,” “The Shawshank Redemption”), who has been nominated for the Oscar 13 times, but to date, has yet to win one. You can see Deakins’ previous work here on FandangoNOW.  

Iconic, Rare and Unseen Photographs of Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen, 1982 "Up Close and Personal" by Frank Stefanko 
(one of the never-before-seen images)

Morrison Hotel Gallerya fine art music photography gallery, represents over 125 photographers, many of which have worked with Bruce Springsteen throughout his incredible career. 

Photographer Frank Stefanko has worked with Springsteen for over 40 years, and has taken some of the most iconic images of The Boss. Available exclusively at Morrison Hotel Gallery is Stefanko's incredible archive of Springsteen photographs. Images like Corvette Winter, the cover photo for Springsteen's biography Born To Run , the photo that became the album cover for Darkness on the Edge of Town, and beginning in October, newly available never-before-seen images from his forthcoming book Bruce Springsteen: Further Up The Road (Wall of Sound Editions 11/1/17).

Morrison Hotel Gallery has the largest collection of Stefanko's work with Springsteen, as well as the pre-order link for the limited edition deluxe and collector's editions of the book Bruce Springsteen: Further Up The Road. 

At www.morrisonhotelgallery.com there is a catalog of over 100,000 images of musicians from the last 80+ years, including several hundred of The Boss on stage, backstage, with The E Street Band as well as candid photographs taken by legendary photographers like Timothy WhiteDanny ClinchLynn GoldsmithJoel Bernstein and many others. International shipping available.

Images for inclusion in your holiday gift guide are available upon request. 

NEXT WEEK ON SYFY...



GAME FACE “The Killer Behind the Mask” – 9/8c  *SEASON FINALE*
The artists must create cave art inspired aliens, a mask worn by a horror slasher, and create a superhero character and their archenemy.    
 
CHANNEL ZERO: NO-END HOUSE “Beware the Cannibals” – 10/9
Margot flees The Father with the help of Jules, Seth and JT. Meanwhile, Dylan attempts to deprogram Lacey and Jules falls deeper under the spell of a sinister influence
VAN HELSING “Began Again” – 9/8c *SEASON PREMIERE*
Vanessa and Mohamad search for Dylan as Dmitri's citadel crumbles around them. Flesh acquires an unexpected ally in one of the Resistance Fighters.   Taka clashes with the Vampire Elite.
GHOST WARS “Death’s Door”- 10/9*SERIES PREMIERE*
Just as troubled medium Roman Mercer prepares to leave the one-horse town of Port Moore, an earthquake strikes the Alaskan island and awakens a supernatural force hell-bent on destruction.

Z NATION “Escape from Zona” – 9/8 
Driven by her dream of a Black Rainbow and flesh eating rain, Warren and Murphy escape Zona with the help of Doctor Teller (from the Season 3 Movie "No Mercy") Back on the Mainland, Warren and Murphy rescue Addy and Lucy from their Zona Captives, while Doc, 10K and Sarge are pinned down by Snipers.
 
SUPERSTITION “Pilot” – 10/9*SERIES PREMIERE*
Calvin Hastings returns home to reconnect with his family, but the reunion is cut short by a string of killings instigated by a supernatural villain only Calvin & his family can take down.

NEXT WEEK ON USA...

CHICAGO P.D. “Launch Marathon” – 9:00am- 11:00pm  
Chicago P.D.’s elite intelligence unit takes over USA. We’re kicking off October with an all day, action-packed season 1 marathon!
 
WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW (LIVE) – 8/7c
WWE Superstars take the stage live in front of thousands in attendance at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO. RAW Superstars include Kevin Owens, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Charlotte, Big Show, Sasha Banks and The New Day.
 
WWE SMACKDOWN (LIVE) – 8/7c  
WWE Superstars take the stage live in front of thousands in attendance at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO. SmackDown Live Superstars include John Cena, AJ Styles, The Miz, Becky Lynch, Dean Ambrose, Nikki Bella and Randy Orton.
 
CHRISLEY KNOWS BEST “Remission Control” – 10/9
The Chrisley’s take it to the gutter with a family bowling tournament. And while Julie waits to hear if her cancer is in remission, the family plans a surprise for her.
 
ACCORDING TO CHRISLEY “Erika Girardi & Julie Chrisley” – 10:30/9:30c
Todd Chrisley brings his unfiltered, unsolicited and hilarious point of view to this after show with According To Chrisley. Todd’s guest tonight is Ericka Girardi. His wife Julie also visits.   
 
CHRISLEY/MODERN FAMILY MARATHON 9:00am-1:00am
Spend your whole day with two of TV’s funniest families! Catch up with Todd and his crazy clan. Then, the Dunphy-Pritchett-Tuckers take over and will continue to deliver the laughs. Catch New-to-USA Modern Family season 8 episodes @ 8p-11p

NYCC announcements from Sideshow!

SIDESHOW AT NEW YORK COMIC CON!

Visit Sideshow at booth #1912 to see all your favorite characters! MarvelDC ComicsStar WarsMasters of the UniverseVoltron and more!

From 1:6 scale poseable figures to 1:1 scale life-size statues and everything in between - Sideshow will be showcasing a huge variety of pop culture collectibles at New York Comic Con. With new product announcements, sneak-peeks at prototypes, and never-before-seen statues, Sideshow's booth is the ultimate celebration of the comic book and movie characters that we love!

Here are some highlights, showing just a small glimpse of what to expect from Sideshow at New York Comic Con...

STAR WARS 
From Rogue One to The Last Jedi, our booth (#1912) will be the place to see all the latest Star Wars collectibles by Sideshow and Hot Toys – including some surprises unveiled for the first time at the show!


Mythos Obi-Wan Kenobi
Announced by Lucasfilm earlier this year, Sideshow's new Mythos series Obi-Wan Kenobi has captured everyone's imagination! This incredibly detailed 1:6th scale figure envisions Kenobi at a point in his life prior to the events in Star Wars: A New Hope, depicting the Jedi as a solitary nomad wandering the desert wastelands of Tatooine. Fans and collectors will be able to see the prototype first-hand at New York Comic Con!


MARVEL 
From the Guardians of the Galaxy to the upcoming Thor: Ragnarok, all the latest Marvel collectibles from Sideshow and Hot Toys will be at our NYCC booth!
 
Mark Brooks Artist Series
Sideshow is proud to unveil an all-new series of Marvel statues that will be shown for the very first time at New York Comic Con next month! These intricately detailed 1:5 scale figures depict all new interpretations of Spider-GwenSilk and a (soon to be revealed) Spider-Man as envisioned by legendary comic artist Mark Brooks. To see these pieces for the first time, be sure to visit Sideshow at booth #1912 at New York Comic Con!
 
DC COMICS
From classic comic book and movie characters to all-new interpretations of much loved heroes & villains - visit Sideshow to see all the latest DC Comics collectibles!

Batman Gotham City Nightmare Statue
Sideshow dares to ask, what would the familiar faces of Gotham become when viewed through eyes filled with fear?  Under the horrifying influence of the Scarecrow's Fear Toxin, a masked savior may become your worst nightmare! As the first piece in the new "Gotham City Nightmare" series, this all-new interpretation of Batman by Sideshow Collectibles gives you a glimpse of the Dark Knight like never before.

 ...and much, much more!

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Marvel's Runaways premieres on Tuesday, November 21st only on Hulu.

Marvel's Runaways premieres on Tuesday, November 21st only on Hulu.
New episodes will stream weekly on Tuesdays.

 


 

Cast: Rhenzy Feliz (“Alex Wilder”), Lyrica Okano (“Nico Minoru”), Virginia Gardner (“Karolina Dean”), Ariela Barer (“Gert Yorkes”), Gregg Sulkin (“Chase Stein”), Allegra Acosta (“Molly Hernandez”), Annie Wersching (“Leslie Dean”), Ryan Sands (“Geoffrey Wilder”), Angel Parker (“Catherine Wilder”), Ever Carradine (“Janet Stein”), James Marsters (“Victor Stein”), Kevin Weisman (“Dale Yorkes”), Brigid Brannagh (“Stacey Yorkes”), James Yaegashi (“Robert Minoru”), Brittany Ishibashi (“Tina Minoru”), and Kip Pardue (“Frank Dean”). 

Crew: Adapted from the Marvel comic book by Brian K. Vaughan and executive produced by Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage, Jeph Loeb and Jim Chory. Marvel's Runaways is produced by Marvel Television and ABC Signature.

Synopsis: Every teenager thinks their parents are evil. What if you found out they actually were?  Marvel’s Runaways is the story of six diverse teenagers who can barely stand each other but who must unite against a common foe – their parents. The 10-episode series premieres Tuesday, November 21st.

The series stars Rhenzy Feliz, Lyrica Okano, Virginia Gardner, Ariela Barer, Gregg Sulkin, Allegra Acosta, Annie Wersching, Ryan Sands, Angel Parker, Ever Carradine, James Marsters, Kevin Weisman, Brigid Brannah, James Yaegashi, Brittany Ishibashi, and Kip Pardue.

Marvel’s Runaways is executive produced by series showrunners/writers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage (The O.C. and Gossip Girl) along with Marvel’s Head of Television, Jeph Loeb (Marvel’s Jessica Jones, Marvel’s The Defenders) and Jim Chory (Marvel’s The Defenders, Marvel’s Jessica Jones) Fake Empire's Lis Rowinski will produce as well. Marvel's Runaways is a co-production with ABC Signature Studios.

Social Handles:

Facebook: @marvelsrunaways

Instagram: @marvelsrunaways

Twitter: @runaways

 




DC Celebrates the Big Screen Release of JUSTICE LEAGUE with Special JUSTICE Variant Covers in November!


DC Celebrates The Big Screen Release Of “Justice League” 
with Special JUSTICE Variant Covers!

As the world awaits the big screen debut of “Justice League,” DC is getting in on the action with a special collection of variant covers inspired by the forthcoming film! Illustrated by the some of the comic industry’s most acclaimed artists, these variant covers showcase DC’s iconic Super Hero team in the likeness of their big screen counterparts.

Fans are getting their first look today at variant covers available on the November editions of flagship DC titles featuring members of the famed Justice League.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY first debuted the special variant covers for BATMAN #34 by Tony S. Daniel and CYBORG #18 by Dustin Nguyen – both go on sale Nov. 1.

NERDIST joined in by revealing the special variants for ACTION COMICS #991 by Yanick Paquette (on sale Nov. 8) and SUPERMAN #35 by Renato Guedes (on sale Nov. 15).

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER debuted Mike McKone’s variant for THE FLASH #34 (on sale Nov. 8) and Terry Dodson’s special cover for WONDER WOMAN #34 (on sale Nov. 22).

Plus, JoinTheLeague.com revealed the variants for AQUAMAN #30 (on sale Nov. 15) by Liam Sharp and JUSTICE LEAGUE #32 by Howard Porter (on sale Nov. 1).

Finally, DC exclusively revealed the variants for TRINITY #15 by Ben Oliver (on sale Nov. 15), alongside the variant for DETECTIVE COMICS #968 by Cully Hamner (on sale Nov. 8).

About “Justice League”

Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Raymond Fisher, Jason Momoa and Ezra Miller star in the action adventure “Justice League.” Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy.  Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat.  But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes—Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash—it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.  “Justice League” was directed by Zack Snyder from a screenplay by Chris Terrio and Joss Whedon, story by Terrio & Snyder.  Based on characters from DC Entertainment; Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.  Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, Jon Berg and Geoff Johns produced the film, with Jim Rowe, Wesley Coller, Curtis Kanemoto, Chris Terrio and Ben Affleck serving as executive producers.  Opening on November 17 in 3D and 2D in select theatres and IMAX, “Justice League” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.  http://www.justiceleaguethemovie.com/

DEATH NOTE: First Look at the 360 VR Experience

"Death Note: The VR Experience" is your chance to come face-to-face with the legendary Shinigami, Ryuk 
 
Featuring the voice of Willem Dafoe, this immersive VR experience thrusts you into the thrilling world of the Netflix film, Death Note.
Once inside, you'll have your own personal encounter with the terrifying Ryuk as you wield the Death Note and it's power first hand. 
Shall we begin?
 
Go inside the VR Experience HERE

10/30 PBS Denis O'Hare stars as Edgar Allan Poe in new doc - interviews available / Halloween

THIRTEEN's American Masters Presents the Exclusive U.S. Broadcast Premiere of Edgar Allan Poe: Buried Alive Starring Denis O'Hare, October 30on PBS for Halloween
  
Narrated by Kathleen Turner with
readings by Chris Sarandon and Ben Schnetzer

After his death, writer Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) became a global icon of modern literature and a pop culture brand. Best known for his Gothic horror tales and narrative poem "The Raven," Poe's stories are the basis of countless films and TV episodes, and have inspired even more, as has his name and image. At least four American cities claim this literary legend as their own - Baltimore, Richmond, Philadelphia and New York: an NFL football team is named after one of his poems, and his image appears on everything from the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover to lunchboxes, bobbleheads and socks. Creating the detective fiction genre with "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1841), Poe wrote over 100 short stories and poems altogether, beginning with
Tamerlane and Other Poems (1827), his first published work.
 
Written and directed by Eric Stange (The War That Made AmericaAmerican Experience: Murder at Harvard), the new documentary American Masters - Edgar Allan Poe: Buried Alive draws on the rich palette of Poe's evocative imagery and sharply drawn plots to tell the real story of the notorious author. The film premieres nationwide Monday, October 30 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) and will be available to stream the following day, Halloween, via pbs.org/americanmasters and PBS OTT apps. The film will also be available on DVD and for digital download on October 31 via PBS Distribution.
 
Starring Tony Award-winning and Emmy-nominated actor Denis O'Hare (This Is UsAmerican Horror StoryTake Me Out) and narrated by Oscar- and Tony-nominated, two-time Golden Globe-winner Kathleen Turner, American Masters - Edgar Allan Poe: Buried Alive explores the misrepresentations of Poe as a drug-addled madman akin to the narrators of his horror stories.  
 
This caricature is thanks, in large part, to a high-profile obituary filled with falsehoods, written by his literary rival Rufus W. Griswold. Determined to re-invent American literature, Poe was an influential - and brutally honest - literary critic and magazine editor, who also invented the detective protagonist with his character C. Auguste Dupin, refined the science fiction genre and popularized short stories, actually writing more comedies than horror.  
 
An orphan in search of family, love and literary fame, Poe struggled with alcoholism and was also a product of early 19th century American urban life: depressed from the era's culture of death due to the high mortality rate and the struggles of living in poverty. Poe famously died under mysterious circumstances and his cause of death remains unknown.
 
"The mystery around Poe's death is the least of it," said filmmaker Eric Stange. "The real question at the heart of this film is why Edgar Allan Poe continues to be one of the most popular writers in the history of Western literature - and one of the most misunderstood."
 
Filmed in Boston Harbor's historic Fort Independence at Castle Island, Edgar Allan Poe: Buried Alive combines dramatized re-enactments with O'Hare of key moments in Poe's life, readings from Poe's works by O'Hare, Oscar-nominated actor Chris Sarandon (The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Princess BrideDog Day Afternoon) and actor Ben Schnetzer (SnowdenGoatPride) and interviews with authors including Marilynne Robinson (Gilead), Matthew Pearl (The Poe Shadow), Jeffrey Meyers (Edgar Allan Poe: His Life and Legacy) and Zach Dundas (The Great Detective), director Roger Corman (Poe film cycle including House of Usher) and others to reveal how Poe tapped into what it means to be human in a modern and sometimes frightening world.
 
"America loves creepy horror stories, and there is a good reason why Poe is still taught in every high school - he is just the all-time master. Best of all, now the series has its own spooky Halloween episode," said Michael Kantor, American Masters series executive producer.
 
Launched in 1986, American Masters has earned 28 Emmy Awards - including 10 for Outstanding Non-Fiction Series and five for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special - 12 Peabodys, an Oscar, three Grammys, two Producers Guild Awards and many other honors. To further explore the lives and works of masters past and present, the American Masters website (http://pbs.org/americanmasters) offers streaming video of select films, outtakes, filmmaker interviews, the American Masters Podcast, educational resources and In Their Own Words: The American Masters Digital Archive: previously unreleased interviews of luminaries discussing America's most enduring artistic and cultural giants. The series is a production of THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC for WNET and also seen on the WORLD channel.
 
American Masters - Edgar Allan Poe: Buried Alive is a production of Spy Pond Productions in association with the Center for Independent Documentary and THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC's American Masters for WNET. Eric Stange is writer and director. Jennifer Pearce is producer and Leigh Lanocha is associate producer. Susan Jaffe Tane is executive producer. Denis O'Hare is Edgar Allan Poe. Kathleen Turner is narrator with staged readings by Chris Sarandon and Ben Schnetzer. Peter Rhodes is editor. Boyd Estus is director of photography with music by John Kusiak. Michael Kantor is American Masters series executive producer.
 
Major support for Edgar Allan Poe: Buried Alive is provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Additional support for this film is provided in part by National Endowment for the Arts, Joy Fishman, and Wallace S Wilson. Major support for American Masters is provided by AARP. Additional support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Rosalind P. Walter, Ellen and James S. Marcus, Judith and Burton Resnick, Vital Projects Fund, Cheryl and Philip Milstein Family, The Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation, and public television viewers. 

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

TNT’s "The Librarians" Returns on Wed., Dec. 20

Season four of TNT's hugely popular fantasy series The Librarians is slated to launch with a two-episode premiere on a new night, Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT).

Based on TNT's hit movie franchise, The Librarians centers on an ancient organization dedicated to protecting an unknowing world from the secret, magical reality hidden all around. Rebecca RomijnChristian KaneLindy Booth and John Harlan Kimstar in the series as protectors of the world's mystical treasures, with Emmy® winner John Larroquetteas their reluctant caretaker. Noah Wyle recurs in seven of twelve episodes this season as Flynn Carsen, the role he played in TNT's hit movie trilogy.

Watch the First Trailer Here: https://youtu.be/9WK40nkgRLc

NEW BOOK: BECOMING AFI: 50 YEARS INSIDE THE AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE

 “This book puts you directly behind the scenes for a story that began with a dream, overcame constant challenges, and evolved into the institution it is today.” 

―Steven Spielberg

 

“Documented here by the people who lived it, this is a remarkable tale of how a major institution, created out of whole cloth, wove itself into the American fabric.”

Cokie Roberts, author and political commentator for ABC and NPR

 

 

Becoming AFI Celebrates 50 Years

of the American Film Institute 

 

For over fifty years, the American Film Institute has flourished as one of America’s great cultural entities. Its graduates, faculty, supporters, and trustees have included such acclaimed individuals as Steven Spielberg, Maya Angelou, Gregory Peck, Sidney Poitier, Meryl Streep, Les Moonves, Patty Jenkins, David Lynch, Jane Fonda, Edward James Olmos, Shonda Rhimes, James L. Brooks, and many other respected leaders in the worlds of film, television, digital media, and philanthropy. 

 

In their new book, Becoming AFI: 50 Years Inside the American Film Institute (Santa Monica Press/October 2017)Jean Picker Firstenberg and James Hindman provide a candid look at how this remarkable organization brought together aspiring filmmakers, educators, and artists who helped AFI become the foremost national champion for moving images as a vibrant art form

 

From its early years operating out of the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and the legendary Greystone mansion in Beverly Hills under the leadership of George Stevens Jr., through its incredible growth into an influential cultural 

 

institution at its landmark Hollywood campus under the guidance of Jean Picker Firstenberg, to its continued excellence today under the dynamic leadership of Bob Gazzalethe organization and its history are chronicled in Becoming AFI through in-depth essays written by those who have been involved in its adventures, growth, and success.

After being asked so many times what our book would be about, we decided to put together AFI’s history as we experienced it personally,” explain Firstenberg and Hindman. As we structured the book with the stories we wanted to tell from those years, we realized that some of those stories really belonged to other voices. So, we went to several former colleagues and asked them to join our band. Each chapter tells a stand-alone story about an aspect of AFI, but together, they add up to the full picture.”

 

Becoming AFI provides an insightful, behind-the-scenes look at how AFI, with passionate determination, overcame the hurdles of advancing technology, political shifts, and new audience dynamics to turn its aspirations into a substantial and highly successful organization, becoming a tireless advocate of moving images as one of America’s most popular forms of art, and maturing into one of the world’s most respected educational and cultural institutions.

 

“No matter how divisive life in this country may become, the movie theater  

has always been a place where we can discover what unites us.”

—Vernon Jordan Jr., New York Times

 

"AFI saved our film history. AFI celebrates filmmakers. AFI trains the next generation. Thanks to Becoming AFI for telling us the fascinating story of its fifty-year history. And a big thank you to Jean Picker Firstenberg and James Hindman for documenting all of it! Here’s to the next fifty!” 

―Edward James Olmos, actor 

and AFI trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Authors

 

Jean Picker Firstenberg served as president and CEO of the American Film Institute from 1980 to 2007, overseeing the development of AFI as one of America’s greatest national, cultural, and educational resources. She received an AFI Life Achievement Award for Service to the Institute and was named president emerita and a lifetime trustee. In 2016, Firstenberg was named to the California State University Board of Trustees by Governor Jerry Brown, overseeing the largest four-year public university system in the United States, with twenty-three campuses educating the most diverse student body in the nation. Prior to serving at AFI, Firstenberg spent four years as a program officer at the John and Mary R. Markle Foundation. She also served as director of Princeton University’s Publications Office. Firstenberg is a summa cum laude graduate of Boston University’s College of Communications. She has served on several boards, including that of Boston University (1984–1996), the George Foster Peabody Awards at Georgia University (1985–1997; board chair 1991–1997), and the United States Postal Service Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee (2002–2014; committee chair 2008–2014). She has won numerous awards and honorary degrees.

 

James Hindman, PhD, has spent his career in cinema and performing arts, creating and leading professional and public education programs at major institutions. During his twenty-four years at the American Film Institute, where he served as co-director and chief operating officer, he was provost of the AFI Conservatory, which he nurtured through WASC accreditation. He was also the uncredited producer of the award-winning feature documentary Visions of Light and the television series Starring the Actor. He developed the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Springs, Maryland, as well as numerous television projects and international film and television festivals. Subsequent to AFI, he developed and led film schools in the U.S. and internationally, including the Red Sea School of Cinematic Arts in Aqaba, Jordan, and New Mexico State University’s Creative Media Institute in Las Cruces. He is currently on the board of the New Mexico School for the Arts in Santa Fe, charged with creating a new cinematic and media arts program and facilities for the school. Prior to AFI, he served as head of graduate studies in the Performing Arts Department at American University in Washington, DC, having previously taught at the University of North Carolina. Hindman holds a PhD in drama from the University of Georgia and has served on the boards of the AIDS Service Center and LAMP in Los Angeles. He currently splits his time between Santa Monica, California, and Taos, New Mexico.

 

Patty Jenkins made history in 2017 when she directed her second film, Wonder Woman, becoming the first woman to direct a studio superhero movie and earning the biggest domestic opening of all time for a woman director. Jenkins wrote and directed her first film, the crime drama Monster, in 2003, launching Charlize Theron’s career with many awards, including an Oscar for Best Actress. Jenkins graduated from the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in 1993 and the AFI Conservatory in 2001.

 

Dana Gioia was appointed Poet Laureate of the State of California in 2015 by Governor Jerry Brown. An award-winning poet who has published five collections of poetry, Gioia served as chair of the National Endowment for the Arts from 2003 to 2009, and was named a USC Judge Widney Professor in Poetry and Public Art in 2011.

 

David Lynch, born in 1946 in Missoula, Montana. Eagle Scout.

 

 

BECOMING AFI: 50 YEARS INSIDE THE AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE

By Jean Picker Firstenberg and James Hindman

Foreword by Dana Gioia

Preface by Patty Jenkins

Afterword by David Lynch

Santa Monica Press/October 2017

Hardcover/$27.95

ISBN-13: 978-159580-094-7