https://independent-magazine.org/2023/04/10/a-v-rockwell-discusses-her-debut-feature-a-thousand-and-one/
Obsessed with Independent Film Since 1976
Obsessed with Independent Film Since 1976
When filmmaker A.V. Rockwell debuted her feature, “A Thousand and One,” at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, she ended up taking home the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize. The film explores a Black mother-and-son relationship rooted in unconditional love while also addressing the impact of systemic racism on urban communities. With this effort, Rockwell’s screenwriting… Read more »
In advance of the Bright Lights Cinema Series screening of Laura Poitras’ 2022 documentary “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed,” which chronicles the life, art, and activism of trailblazing photographer Nan Goldin, I spoke with co-producer Megan Kapler and documentary participant Harry Cullen, who have both served as organizers with PAIN (Prescription Addiction Intervention Now)… Read more »
In honor of Trans Week of Visibility and Action, Bright Lights Cinema Series will be showing “Framing Agnes” this Thursday, March 30. I had the pleasure of interviewing filmmakers Chase Joynt and Kristen Schilt about their documentary ahead of this week’s screening. Originally released as a short film, “Framing Agnes” utilizes the format of a… Read more »
At the Independent, we not only champion the creators sharing their stories through film but those working behind the scenes to help usher those stories into the world. In this spirit, and in honor of Women’s History Month, we profiled Emelyn Stuart—the first Afro-Latina woman to own an independent movie theater in NYC—who’s using her… Read more »
The Coolidge Corner Theater, a staple of Brookline, MA and a link to the golden age of cinema, has operated continuously since 1933. Already threatened by national chains and streaming services, independent theaters around the country have struggled to maintain financial solvency, and many haven’t survived the death blow of COVID. But the Coolidge continues… Read more »
At the beginning of the academic year, Emerson Independent Video (EIV) gave Nicholas Renteria the opportunity to write and produce his own film, propelling him into one of the most exhilarating–and most hectic–semesters of his career. The Independent’s Maggie Lu spoke with Nicholas Renteria about his experiences working on his film “Chester,” walking through the process of producing the film and exploring how he juggled both directing and his college studies, all at the same time. Read More >>
The Independent’s Claire Fairtlough interviewed director Lee Chia-Hua about his documentary, “Me and My Condemned Son.” The documentary focuses on three prisoners in Taiwan who have been sentenced to death: one who is still serving his sentence, one who has taken his own life, and one who has already been executed. Read More >>
This week I got the chance to hold a digital conversation with Kurt Brokaw, a Senior Film Critic for The Independent. While Kurt now uses his time to review films covered at some of New York’s most acclaimed film festivals, such as Tribeca and New York Film Festival, his passion for cinema began in his youth; during high school, he worked at an Indianapolis movie theater, where he would change the marquee, popped popcorn, and usher patrons. Kurt even got the opportunity to watch advanced exhibitor screenings at this time. Read More >>
Director Wang Shaudi has produced films, shows, documentaries, and one animated film throughout her career. Her films “Scarecrow” and “Banana Paradise” have been recognized internationally, along with her award-winning film “Grandma and Her Ghosts,” which was screened at Boston’s Taiwanese Film Festival (TFF). Read More >>
Most Emerson students see the Bright Lights Series newsletters in their email inboxes every week, but many do not know about the time, effort, and care that goes into curating and showing these films. The Bright Lights Film Series is a weekly screening series at the Bright Family Screening Room, run by ArtsEmerson and sponsored by the Visual Media Arts department. Emerson’s Head of Film Exhibition and Festival Programs, Anna Feder, is the mastermind behind the screening series and serves as its curator and exhibitor. Read More >>