SUNDAY, April 4

Sunday, April 4

(FREE DAY!)

"Man Ray: Prophet of the Avant-Garde"
with director Mel Stuart

Bonus: Man Ray’s 1928 film "L’Etoile de Mer"

A look at the life and career of photographer, painter and filmmaker Man Ray, the American expatriate who was an influential force in Parisian Dada and Surrealist circles of the 1920s and ’30s. Made for PBS’ “American Masters” series, the film follows Ray’s development as a young American painter influenced by the 1913 Armory show, meeting Marcel Duchamp in 1915 and on to Paris where he dazzles Breton, Tsara and his countless benefactors with his inventiveness in the modern mediums – his Rayographs, his photographic portraits of artists and writers from Joyce to Schoenberg, and his Dadaist-Surrealist films – "Retour a la Raison," "Emak Bakia," "L’Etoile de Mer." Included are rare student drawings and excerpts from a recently discovered interview. In addition, Man Ray’s "L’Etoile de Mer" (’28) will be screened. Stuart will discuss his film after the screening. (1999, color/B&W, 60 mins.)  Plant Zero, 1 p.m. Free Admission.

"Long Art"
with David Williams
Richmond filmmaker David Williams’ 2003 documentary follows three local artists – painter Bill Fisher, printmaker David Freed and multi-media maker Amie Oliver – as they prepare for upcoming shows. Filmed over an 18-month period, "Long Art" successfully captures the artist-in-studio – creating art for public consumption on two levels, for the filmic audience and ultimately on the walls of local galleries. Williams has previously screened his critically-acclaimed films "Lillian" (1993) and "Thirteen" (1998) at the JRFF. He currently teaches at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Photography and Film Department and will discuss his new work after the screening. (2003, color, 70 mins.)  Plant Zero, 3 p.m. Free Admission.

Painter Bill Fisher

Image from Multi-media maker Amie Oliver

Printmaker David Freed

"Marjory’s Diary"
Filmmaker Richard Myers, a JRFF guest in 2001, lives in Ohio where he recently retired from Kent State University. Myers is best-known for his dream-like narratives "Akran" (’69) and "37-73" (’73), which feature friends, neighbors and his wife and children as actors. His latest is a portrait of his 94-year-old mother, based on her diaries from 1924-1948. Marjory was an avid movie-goer and the work features stills from the hundreds of movies she saw during those years, as well as an authentic slice of small-town Americana through her eyes and journal entries from adolescence to adulthood. Poignant, haunting and at times hilarious, "Marjory’s Diary" offers a portrait and a testament to an entire generation. Narrated by his wife, Pat Myers and edited by Kirk Yunke. (2003, color, 90 mins.)  Plant Zero, 5 p.m. Free Admission.

Shake Hands with Danger:
The Best of the Best of A/V Geeks
with Skip Elsheimer
What started as a hobby more than 10 years ago is now a lifetime commitment. Skip Elsheimer, 37, spends most of his time collecting, archiving and showing 16mm educational films under the name A/V Geeks. His collection has grown to more than 14,000 films gathered from school auctions, thrift stores, closets and dumpsters. He recently purchased an old boarding house with eight bedrooms – five of which are filled with films. Here Skip will present a “best of the best” program featuring films such as "VD Attack Plan," one of the best films made on the topic of venereal disease that just happens to be a cartoon made by Disney; "Pride on Parade," Skip's current favorite in his collection is an Oscar Meyer film about a high school marching band – or is it?; and "Shake Hands with Danger," a cautionary film made for Caterpillar heavy equipment repairmen that is a wonderful mix of humor, fake gory injuries and music. Come laugh and learn the A/V Geeks way – a great wrap up to a stellar week! Films from Elsheimer’s archive – such as "Social Engineering 101," "Sex and Drugs," "On the Job," "Driver's Ed," "Religion," and "Patriotism" – have been released on DVD and will be on sale after the show.  Plant Zero, 8 p.m. Free Admission.