The inaugural Fullerton Film Festival will take place August 3 through 6 in the heart of downtown Fullerton with screenings and programs scheduled at the Plummer Auditorium, the Wilshire Auditorium and Fullerton College.
Fullerton’s first film festival is presented by the Fullerton Historic Theatre Foundation (FHTF) which is currently restoring the Fox Fullerton theatre to its original 1920s glory.
“The Film Festival is all about summer fun, said Jon Wagner, FHTF executive director. “This is an exciting getaway – almost a mini-summer vacation for all who participate. We want everyone to come and enjoy themselves, and be inspired by the films they will see.”
Wagner, formerly the director of development for the Laguna Playhouse, said the festival will offer a diverse collection of comedy, drama, music and a lot more with films appealing to the entire family, to edgy, adult-themed independent films for discerning cinema goers.
“This is part of the community’s artistic and historical resurgence,” Wagner said. “Over the next few years we would like to see the Fullerton Film Festival become a world-class event featuring the best of local filmmakers and cinema from around the globe.”
The festival will be an eclectic mix of classic and independent films from around the world, and kicks off with a family favorite, “Marry Poppins,” at 8 p.m., Thursday, August 3 as a part of the popular “Movies on the Fox” shown on the east wall of the Fox Fullerton Theatre, at corner of Harbor and Chapman Avenues. Admission is free. Seating is first come, first served in the parking lots. Those in attendance are requested to bring their own lawn chair. Seating begins at 7 p.m.
Special events during the Fullerton Film Festival include:
“A Tribute to Steven Peck,” 8 p.m., Friday, August 4 in the Plummer Auditorium. Steven Peck , owner of Angelo’s and Vinci’s restaurant in Fullerton, was a renowned choreographer, writer, actor and businessman, who passed away October 9, 2005. He will be honored by a screening of 1958 motion picture, “Some Came Running,” in which he stars with Frank Sinatra, Shirley MacLaine and Dean Martin.
“All The Arts For All The Kids Showcase,” is a six-minute film created as part of the Fullerton School
District’s Arts Learning Activities Bus (Arts Lab) program in which a surplus school bus was transformed into a mobile digital arts studio. Equipped with laptop computers, video equipment and skilled artists/teachers, the bus traveled from school to school guiding students through the filmmaking process as the kids made short digital films based on what they learned in the classrooms. The film screens at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 5 in the Fullerton College Campus Theatre with the feature film, “A Dios Mo Mo.”
The “Local Orange County Filmmaker Showcase,” 3 p.m., Sunday, August 6 in the Fullerton College Theater, will feature the work of local Orange County filmmakers.
“Decades Under the Influence” tracks the most influential films of the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000.
Ticket prices are $6 per film. An all-access pass may be obtained for $36. For advance ticket purchase click on www.brownpapertickets.com and enter Fullerton Film Festival, or call (800) 838-3006. There is a handling charge for advance ticket sales. Also click on www.f3filmfestival.com.
The complete Fullerton Film Festival Program:
MARY POPPINS
USA 1964. 140 min.
Director: Robert Stevenson
When Fullerton residents are asked about what movies they remember seeing at the Fox Theatre, the magical “Mary Poppins” is the one the most quoted (behind Star Wars) so there didn’t seem to be any question that this would be the film to kick off the inaugural Fullerton Film Festival and present it as a “Movie on the Fox.”
CREDITS
Director Robert Stevenson
Writer P.L. Travers, Bill Walsh, Don Da Gradi
Producer Walt Disney, Bill Walsh
Original Music Richard Sherman, Robert Sherman
Cinematography Edward Colman
Editor Cotton Warbuton
Principal Cast Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns
8 p.m., Friday August 4
Plummer Auditorium
“Some Came Running” with a Tribute to Steven Peck
USA, 1958. 135 min.
Director: Vincente Minnelli
Based on James Jones second novel (the first being FROM HER TO ETERNITY), this Academy Award nominated film widely known as Vincente Minnelli’s “Rat Pack” film, stars Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Shirley MacLaine and the late great Steven Peck as MacLaine’s “jilted” lover.
CREDITS
Director Vincente Minnelli
Screenwriter Arthur Sheekman, John Patrick
Producer Sol Siegel
Cinematographer: William H Daniels
Editor Adrienne Fazan
Production Design Urie McCleary
Music Elmer Bernstein
Principal Cast Frank Sinatra, Shirley MacLaine, Dean Martin, Arthur Kennedy, Martha Hyer and Steven Peck
11 a.m., Saturday, August 5
Fullerton College Campus Theatre
“A Dios Momo”
Uruguay, 2005. 107 min.
Writer/Director: Leonardo Ricagni
Set during the mythical nights of the irreverent and provocative Uruguayan Carnival, “A Dios Momo” is a visually stunning story family film of a 11-year-old street boy, who sells newspapers for a living but cannot read or write. In Spanish with English subtitles
CREDITS
Writer/Director Leonardo Ricagni
Producer Raul Pochintesta
Executive Producers Sergio Aguero, Carlos Ricagni
Director of Photography Pablo Vera
Editor Marcela Sáenz
Production Design Jose Pedro Giordano
Music Emilio Kauderer
Principal Cast Mathias Acuna, Jorge Esmoris, Canario Luna
Screens with….
“All The Arts For All The Kids Showcase”
USA, 2004-2006. 8 min.
The films in the showcase cover a wide range of topics: “Flowers” (Beechwood School), “George Washington” (Golden Hill Elementary), “Lions,” “Abraham Lincoln,” and “Benjamin Franklin” (Laguna Road Elementary) and “Beneficial Plants” (Sunset Lane School).
Noon, Saturday, August 5
Wilshire Theatre
“Homeland: Four Portraits Of Native Action”
USA, 2005. 88 min.
Director: Roberta Grossman
Nearly all Indian nations sit on land threatened by environmental hazards – toxic waste, strip mining, oil drilling and nuclear contamination. This critical situation is one of the most important but little known human rights stories in America today. This film is an inspiring look at true leaders who are dedicated to forcing change to save their land, preserve their sovereignty and ensure the cultural survival of their people.
CREDITS
Producer/Director Roberta Grossman
Executive Producer Lisa B Thompson
Co-Producer Smokey Forester
With Gail Small, Evon Peter, Enei Begaye, Mitchell Capitan, Rita Capitan, Barry Dana and Winona LaDuke
Screens with…
“Grace”
USA, 2005. 11 min.
Director: Darwyn Roanhorse
A teenager learns an invaluable lesson about respect and tradition while visiting the reservation.
Noon, Saturday August 5
Plummer Auditorium
DECADES: UNDER THE INFLUENCE- THE 60’s
“Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner?”
USA, 1967. 108 min.
Director: Stanley Kramer
This 1967 groundbreaking two-time Academy Award winning film (Best Actress for Hepburn and Best Screenplay for screenwriter William Rose) deals with the controversial subject of interracial marriage which, at the time the film was released, was still for all intents and purposes illegal in several U.S. states. In 1998, the American Film Institute rated “Guess Who's Coming To Dinner” as number 99 in its list of the 100 Greatest Movies of the past 100 years.
CREDITS
Director/Producer Stanley Kramer
Writer William Rose
Editor Robert Jones
Cinematography Sam Leavitt
Production Design Robert Clatworthy
Music Frank De Vol
Principal Cast Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier, Katherine Hepburn and Katherine Houghton
2 p.m. Saturday August 5
Fullerton College Campus Theatre
“In Memory Of My Father”
USA, 2005. 96 min.
Director: Christopher Jaymes
With his egomaniacal belief that his demise will shake the film community to its core, a movie mogul generates his final great cinematic idea. He bribes his youngest son to document the journey of his fading life, despite the fact that the absolute last thing on anyone’s mind (including his children, his lover and the film community) on learning of his death is mourning. Grand Jury Prize Winner, CineVegas 2005. Official Selection AFI FEST 2005.
CREDITS
Writer/Director Christopher Jaymes
Producers Christopher Jaymes, Eric Cole, Amy Jo Johnson
Cinematographer Abe Levy
Editors Christopher Jaymes, Eric Cole
Music Belle & Sebastian, Daniel Teper
Sound Tom Ozanich
Principal Cast Jeremy Sisto, Judy Greer, Christopher Jaymes
Monet Mazur, Matt Keeslar, Nicholle Tom,
Christine Lakin, Eric Michael Cole, Pat Heally
Screens with…
“Nevel Is The Devil”
USA, 2005 12 min.
Director: Peter Craig
A supervisor at a consumer product testing lab interrogates two suspects of a devilish prank.
2:30 p.m., Saturday August 5
Wilshire Theatre
“Bunny”
USA, 2001 88 min.
Director: Mia Trachinger
“Bunny” is a classic from the film festival circuit. A meditative surreally funny look at America through the eyes of a married pair of Balkan refugees, the film follows Luda and Nik as they flee their homeland and arrive penniless in a daunting new country. They have trouble finding work at first, but they have each other and that is comfort enough. Desperate for work, Nik and Luda agree to sign up with an experimental public works project. Independent Spirit Award nominee. Official Selection Toronto, San Sebastian and Los Angeles Film Festivals
CREDITS
Writer/Director Mia Trachinger
Producers Rebecca Sonnenshine, Mia Trachinger
Cinematography Patti Lee
Editor Bob Brooks
Music Jonathan Segel
Production Design Ann Marie Roberts
Principal Cast Petra Tikalova, Edward Dratver, Elizabeth Liebel
Screens with…
“The Vest”
USA 2003. 10 min.
Director: Paul Gutrecht
When a third grader gets teased for wearing a homemade vest, her reaction leaves her with a lot of explaining to do.
3 p.m., Saturday, August 5
Plummer Auditorium
DECADES: UNDER THE INFLUENCE- THE 70’s
“Annie Hall”
USA 1977. 93 min.
Director: Woody Allen
This four-time Academy Award winner (Best Actress, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Picture) from director-actor-co-writer Woody Allen is the quintessential modern romantic comedy. Always thought to be semi-autobiographical, “Annie Hall” is, at its core, about an inept, angst-ridden, pessimistic, Brooklyn-born Jewish stand-up comedian.
CREDITS
Director Woody Allen
Writers Woody Allen, Marshall Brickman
Executive Producer Robert Greenhut
Producer Charles Joffe, Jack Rollins
Cinematography Gordon Willis
Editors Wendy Greene Bricmont, Ralph Rosenblum
Principal Cast Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Carol Kane, Paul Simon
4:30 p.m., Saturday August 5
Fullerton College Campus Theatre
“The Unseen”
USA 2005, 102 min.
Director: Lisa France
Roy (Steve Harris of The Practice) and Harold (Gale Harold of Queer as Folk) reconnect after having not spoken for 20 years due to a life altering misunderstanding that caused Roy to disappear. Years later, after the death of his father, Roy, now a professor but clearly still scarred by the experience so many years earlier, must return to the rural Georgia town he grew up in and face his past.
CREDITS
Writer/Director Lisa France
Executive Producers Steven Beer, Duane Wandless
Producers Luis Moro,
Cinematography Jim Hunter
Production Design Michael Levinson
Principal Cast Steve Harris, Gale Harrold, Phillip Bloch, Catherine Dent, Michelle Clunie,
Judah Friedlander and Shirley Ceasa
Screens with…
TODAY
USA, 2005. 6 min.
Director: Scott Salter
There is no better time to start your life than today.
5 p.m., Saturday August 5
Wilshire Theatre
“Find Love”
USA 2006. 77 min.
Director: Erica Dunton
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you made a left turn instead of a right and never met the person you are with? What if you met someone else? Would you be more or less happy Official Selection Slamdance Film Festival 2006
CREDITS
Writer/Director Erica Dunton
Executive Producers Lillian LaSalle
Producers Gill Holland, Matt Parker, Erica Dunton, Kyle Luker
Cinematography Alan Newcomb
Editor Olivier Bugge Coutte
Production Design Chad Keith
Principal Cast Christian Camargo, Alexie Gilmore, Craig Sheffer
Screens with…
“The Ropes”
USA, 2005 13 min.
A tale of two mis-matched individuals forced to deal with each other whom unexpectedly find common ground.
7: 30 p.m., Saturday August 5
Plummer Auditorium
“Touch Of Evil: Original Restored Version”
USA, 1958 112 min.
Director: Orson Welles
“Touch Of Evil” was Orson Welles’ fifth Hollywood film and the last American film he ever made. The film had been taken away by the studio from writer-director Welles (who subsequently disowned it) and re-edited. When it was released in 1958, it was thought to be rebellious and unorthodox for the time with themes such as racism, sexual ambiguity, police corruption and drug use that were considered to be an affront to 1950s sensibilities.
Actor Valentin de Vargas who plays Pancho in the film leads a post screening discussion.
CREDITS
Writer/Director Orson Welles
Producer Rick Schilling (restored version only)
Cinematography Russell Meaty
Editor Walter March (restored version only)
Art Direction Robert Chatsworth, Alexander Gallitzin
Original Music Henry Mancini
Principal Cast Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, Orson Welles, Valentin de Vargas
7 ;30 p.m., Saturday August 5
Fullerton College
“Colman: The Musical”
USA, 2006 111 min.
Director: Richard Wong
“Colman: The Musical” is the first Asian American musical film since 1961’s Flower Drum Song and the first made by Asian Americans. It takes the traditional musical and re-invents it into a fresh and thoroughly modern personal look into early adulthood. Special Jury Prize , 2006 San Francisco Asian American Film Festival. Special Jury Prize, 2006 VC Film Fest. Screening co-presented with Visual Communications Asian American Film Festival/VC Filmiest
CREDITS
Director Richard Wong
Writer H.P. Mendoza
Songwriter/Lyricist H.P. Mendoza
Producers Richard Wong, Paul Kolsanoff, Angel Vasquez
Editor Richard Wong
Principal Cast H.P. Mendoza, Jake Moreno, L.A. Renigen
Screens with….
“Karl Bites/Scream Karl”
USA 2006, 3:30 min.
Director: Fred Wilder
Fast KARL, the Robotic Artist is up to his old shenanigans as a robot vampire and a infamous art thief.
7:45 p.m., Saturday August 5
Wilshire Theatre
THE ACTRESS
AUSTRALIA, 2005 91 min.
Director: Zak Hilditch
When supermarket clerk Tom brings home a young actress named Emma to take the spare room in a four-person share house much to the surprise of housemates Kevin and Claire, a war of possessive sexual love erupts around the three friends that has near deadly consequences. This terrifically dark Australian comedy explores the morally murky side of people and how far they will go to get what they want. Official Selection, 2006 Slamdance Film Festival. Due to some sexually explicit material, this film is not suitable for younger audiences.
CREDITS
Director Zak Hilditch
Producers Antony Webb, Zak Hilditch
Writer: Zak Hilditch, Steve McCall
Cinematography Antony Webb
Editor Antony Webb
Music: Ash Gibson Greig
Principal Cast Matt Hardie, Steve McCall, Jodie Passmore, Caitlin Higgins
Screens with…
“The Act”
USA 2004, 9 min.
Debra Jo Rupp (That 70’s Show) stars as a stand up comedian whose life off stage is not exactly a barrel of laughs.
11 a.m., Sunday August 6
Plummer Auditorium
DECADES: UNDER THE INFLUENCE- THE 80’s
“The Breakfast Club”
USA 1985, 97 min.
Director: John Hughes
Before the Brat Pack was the Brat Pack, they were The Breakfast Club. A group of young actors, each playing a representative of the different high school cliques– stuck together in detention on a Saturday afternoon in the high school library. With not much in common, except for having to give up their day, sit in the school library, and write an essay for the principal, the students – – the nerd, the jock, the popular girl, the freak, and the rebel - explore their differences and find out more about themselves and each other than they ever imagined. A classic film for anyone who came of age in the 80s.
CREDITS
Writer/Director John Hughes
Executive Producers Andrew Meyer, Gil Friesen
Producers Neal Tanen, Michelle Manning
Cinematography Thomas Del Ruth
Editor Dede Allen
Production Design John Corso
Principal Cast Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Judd Nelson, Anthony Michael Hall, Emilio Estevez
12:30 p.m., Sunday August 6
Fullerton College Campus Theatre
Co-presented with the Orange County Latino Film Festival
“Mojados: Through The Night”
USA 2004. 70 min.
Director: Tommy Davis
This eye-opening documentary filmed over the course of ten days gives a true first hand account of the plight of immigrants who risk death every day to enter the United States. MOJADOS is a stunning and honest portrait of the power of the pursuit of the American Dream.
CREDITS
Writer/Director Tommy Davis
Executive Producer Nicole Boxer
Producer Tommy Davis
Editor Tommy Davis, Luis deLeon
Screens with…
“Dilemma”
USA 2005, 35 min.
Director: Alex Munoz
On the night before his release from a Los Angeles youth probation camp, sixteen year old Jamal, finds himself in at a crossroads when the killer of his beloved baby sister checks into the camp.
2:30 p.m., Sunday August 6
Wilshire Theatre
“The Grace Lee Project”
USA, 2005. 70 min.
Director: Grace Lee
When Korean American filmmaker Grace Lee was growing up in Missouri, she was the only Grace Lee she knew. Once she left the Midwest however, everyone she met seemed to know "another Grace Lee." The filmmaker plunges into a funny, highly unscientific investigation into all those Grace Lees who break the mold -- from a fiery social activist to a rebel who tried to burn down her high school. This film puts a hilarious spin on the eternal question, "What's in a name?
CREDITS
Director Grace Lee
Writers Grace Lee, Amy Ferraris
Executive Producer In-Ah Lee
Producers Grace Lee, Amy Ferraris
Editor Amy Ferraris
Music Woody Pak
Playing with:
“Tony and Bobby”
Director: Vincent Spano
In this hilarious and high voltage comedy, two mob drivers Tony “Flips” and Bobby “Member” discuss the recent demise of a mutual friend by naming names.
2:30 p.m., Sunday, August 6
2:30 PM Plummer Auditorium
DECADES: UNDER THE INFLUENCE – THE 90’s
“The Player”
USA, 1992. 124 min.
Director: Robert Altman
Tim Robbins, in perhaps his very best performance, is a more than slightly paranoid Hollywood studio executive with the morals of a garden snake who is convinced that he is being blackmailed by a screenwriter whose script he once rejected. Loaded with insider jokes and cameos by no less than 60 major Hollywood “players” from Julia Roberts and Bruce Willis to Jack Lemmon and Burt Reynolds all as themselves, the film is a thinly veiled attack on how narcissistic and shallow the movie business really is. Robert Altman has directed over 37 films which include M*A*S*H*, Nashville, Gosford Park and the recently released, A Prairie Home Companion.
CREDITS
Director Robert Altman
Writer Michael Tolkin
Executive Producer Cary Brokaw, William Gilmore
Producers David Brown, Nick Wechsler, Michael Tolkin
Cinematography Jean Lepine
Editors Maysie Hoy, Geraldine Peroni
Production Design Stephen Altman
Principal Cast Tim Robbins, Greta Scacchi, Fred Ward, Whoopi Goldberg, Peter Gallagher
3 p.m., Sunday, August 6
Fullerton College Campus Theatre
LOCAL ORANGE COUNTY FILMMAKER SHOWCASE
“Trick “
“Making Of Animal Chin”
“Con: The Corruption Of Shawn Helm”
“Lookin’ For A Posse”
These films showcase some of the fabulous talent that resides right here in Orange County. Not only do all these filmmakers all hail from the Orange County area, but also if you are a local you just might recognize some of the locations, cast and crew. Cory Reeder’s “Trick” (23 min.) was shot in the Fox Theatre and shows you just what you might get if you get caught inside when the lights go out on Halloween. Don Hoffman’s “The Making Of Animal Chin” (45 min.) is a fantastic behind the scenes look back on the making of Stacey Peralta’s “The Search For Animal Chin,” one of the most famous skate videos ever made that features the infamous Bones Brigade - Tony Hawk, Tommy Guerrero, Steve Caballero, Mike McGill and Lance Mountain. The film interweaves clips from Animal Chin, shooting outtakes as well as recent interviews with Stacey and the entire Bones Brigade posse. Brandon Bennett’s “Con: The Corruption Of Shawn Helm” (18 min.) is a hilarious look at what happens when a struggling screenwriter realizes that the cons he is writing work just as well if not better in real life. Gavin Carlton’s “Lookin’ For A Posse” (10 min.) shows you what happens when you really need get things done in the Wild West.
3:30 p.m., Sunday, August 6
Wilshire Theatre
Co-presented with the Orange County Latino Film Festival
“Viva Mexico: A Program Of Mexican Short Films”
The Orange County Latino Film Festival is proud to co-present “Viva Mexico: A Program Of Mexican Short Films” with the Fullerton Film Festival. These films present every day lives of different people living, struggling, and surviving in the most populated city in the world Mexico City.
“JAI (Life)’
Mexico, 2004. 9 min.
Director: Ariel Zylbersztjn
How does a grandmother answer the question she fears most from her young granddaughter?
“A Dos Cuadras y Media”
Mexico, 2004, 10 min.
Director: Tito Gonzalez
When a young girl finds a diamond, each of her neighbors have advice for her. Whose advice will she take?
“Entre Dos”
Mexico, 2003. 11 min.
Director: Michelle Franco
A doctor and his wife go to extreme measures to save their only child.
“Ruido Y Olvido”
Mexico, 2001. 4 min.
Director: Michelle Franco
When Mexican senator falls asleep behind the wheel, his carelessness brings tragedy to a poor working class barrio.
“Cuando Sea Grande”
Mexico, 2002, 7 min.
Director: Michelle Franco
A young boy learns early what the grown up world is really like.
6:30 p.m.
Wilshire Auditorium
“The Potato Woman”
USA, 2004. 5 min.
Director: Rika Ohara
A potato woman gets exactly what she wants in a field.
7:30 p.m., Sunday, August 6
Plummer Auditorium
DECADES: UNDER THE INFLUENCE- 2000
“Best in Show”
USA, 2000. 90 min.
Filmmaker Christopher Guest (with the help of co-writer Eugene Levy) magnificently takes you into a world where the tension is palpable, the excitement is mounting and the heady scent of competition is in the air as hundreds of eager contestants from across America prepare to take part in what is undoubtedly one of the greatest events of their lives -- the Mayflower Dog Show. It doesn’t get much better.
CREDITS
Director Christopher Guest
Writers Eugene Levy, Christopher Guest
Executive Producer Gordon Mark
Producer Karen Murphy
Cinematography Roberto Schafer
Editor Robert Leighton
Production Design Joseph Garrity
Principal Cast Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Parker Posey, Michael McKean,
Jennifer Coolidge, Fred Willard
Chatelin Bruno 
