“An Officer and a Gentleman” – Academy Screening with Richard Gere

Actor Richard Gere at The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences screening of “An Officer and a Gentleman” on June 13, 2012.           Photo by Peter Dressel

Richard Gere and Dave Carter following the Academy’s screening of “An Officer and a Gentleman” at Lighthouse, in New York. Photo by Peter Dressel

Movie star Richard Gere was in attendance on June 13 when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented a 30^th anniversary screening of Gere’s star making turn in 1982’s “An Officer and a Gentleman.”  The screening took place in the Academy’s beautiful screening room at the Lighthouse at 111 East 59 Street, in New York.

Following the screening Gere took the stage where he was interviewed by Dave Carter.  Carter is the official Red Carpet Greeter for the Oscars, as well as a prolific journalist and author in his own right. Carter pointed out that “An Officer and a Gentleman” was the third top grossing movie of 1982 behind “E.T.” and “Tootsie.” “If that’s not the definition of a word of mouth phenomenon I don’t know what is,” Carter told the audience.

Gere, who was charming, down to earth and gracious, said it was the first time in 30 years that he had actually watched the entire film of  “An Officer and a Gentleman.”  Gere said that he does not like to watch his movies but that he was very moved by the experience.  He explained that, “I remember everything about making this movie, everything you can’t see, what we went through to make the movie and the initial meetings we had and the time of my life when we did this.  I’m being flooded. It’s very emotional.”

Oscar Nominated Documentary Shorts at “A Weekend with Oscar”

Fillmaker Michael Moore introduced the Oscar nominated Documentary Shorts at “A Weekend with Oscar,” in NYC, on Saturday, February 18.

On Saturday, February 18 and Sunday February 19, The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences presented “A Weekend with Oscar” which included a screening of Documentary Short Subject nominees for the 84^th Annual Academy Awards.  The event took place in the Academy’s screening room at 111 East 59^th Street in Manhattan.  The program was produced by Patrick Harrison, East Coast Director of the Academy.  Harrison pointed out that the event marked the eighth year that the Academy was presenting the shorts program.  Following some introductory remarks, Harrison turned the program over to documentary filmmaker Michael Moore. Moore explained that he is the governor representing the documentary branch of the Board of Governors of the Motion Picture Academy.

Moore gave a short introduction that was very insightful.  He explained, “The short documentary filmmakers do this pretty much as an act of love.  There is no money to be made in making a documentary short. Commercial movie theatres do not show them.  Art houses do.  Festivals do.  It’s an art form that we at the Academy don’t want to lose.” 

“Festival” at “Monday Nights with Oscar” – July 18, 2011

Folk singer Peter Yarrow spoke and performed at “Monday Nights with Oscar,” on July 18.

On July 18 The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, as part of its monthly series, “Monday Nights with Oscar,” presented a newly struck 35mm print of director Murray Lerner’s 1967 Oscar nominated documentary, “Festival.”  “Festival” covers the Newport Folk Festival from 1963 – 1966 and showcases performances by folk singing trio “Peter, Paul and Mary,” Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger and many others.  After the screening there was a Q&A with Lerner and singer Peter Yarrow, of “Peter, Paul and Mary.”  Yarrow, guitar in hand, began the Q&A by leading the audience in “Down By the River” and then segued into “This Land is Your Land.” “Monday Nights with Oscar” was produced, and the discussion moderated, by Patrick Harrison.

Oscar Shorts 2011 (Part I)

On February 20 I screened all of the films in the Oscar nominated short subject nominees: documentary, live action and animated.  The screenings took place at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ beautiful screening room at 111 East 59^th Street.  The event was programmed and moderated by Patrick Harrison.  The screenings began at noon.  By the time the final film had unspooled, it was nearly 8:30 pm.

Oscar Shorts (Part II) Documentary

Short Documentary. The theme of decency in the face of indecency demonstrated in “Strangers No More” was also reflected in “Killing in the Name,” my second favorite of the short documentaries. “Killing in the Name” is the story of a Jordanian man, Ashraf al-Khaled, whose wedding reception, at a hotel, was attacked by a radical Islamic suicide bomber.  Twenty- seven wedding guests were killed in the attack, including three of the four parents.  Ashraf has since been on a mission to break the silence in the Muslim world about radical Islam.  While the film has Ashraf holding forth with the parent of a suicide bomber and potential suicide bombers, filmmaker Jed Rothstein also gives screen time to a radical Muslim cleric and planner of suicide missions.  What we are left with is a view of the uphill battle Ashraf faces as it becomes clear that the side he wants to change has dug in its heals.  Ultimately the film has no resolution, something which is both appropriate and frightening.

Oscar Nominees: Live Action and Animated Shorts

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented the 2010 nominees for Live Action and Animated Short Subjects on February 27, 2010.

February 27.  The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences New York Events Committee  presented “Saturday Afternoon with Oscar” at the Academy’s beautiful screening room at the Lighthouse located at 111 East 59^th Street.  The three hour plus event showcased this year’s five Oscar nominated live action, and five animated, short films and was produced by Patrick Harrison.