Been a little quiet here in the Rattle offices of late. I'm sure plenty of fascinating stuff has been going on all across campus. Let's just say we're going to read the cough syrup instructions more thoroughly next time and leave it at that.

Turns out we came out of our stupor just in time. The Parkerati have rekindled that most fabled of IC film endeavors, the Golden Doorknob Awards, for the first time in nearly two decades. All our aspiring Hitchcocks need is a dream...and the creative vision to murder someone with a doorknob without being pedestrian about it.

And you thought college was all about personal development and community service.

Back in the day, when the application of ordinary household items as instruments of death was commonplace, legendary cinema and photography professor Skip Landen started the Golden Doorknob as a way to encourage his students to think outside what had yet to be identified as "the box." The idea was to "challenge the students to make a simple film with a good idea and a good script." 

It's a shame Skip never had a sit-down with Michael Bay.

Anyway, every student in the program made a doorknob film (usually silent and in black and white), and even the most famous among them -- including Bill Carraro '81 (producer, The Golden Compass) and Dan Heffner '78 (executive producer, the Saw franchise) -- gets a little misty-eyed/flushed when talking about these golden relics. So much so that Park alums finally made enough noise to bring the tradition back to life, which is why the doorknobs will be swinging tonight at 7:00 p.m. in Park Auditorium. Carraro and Heffner will be on the judges' panel, along with professors Peter Johanns and Cathy Crane.

And just so we're clear, no doorknobs were harmed in the making of these films. A few sophomores lost teeth, and at least one freshman will never be able to wear a hat again. Hey, it isn't art without a little sacrifice.

Golden Doorknob Awards and Screening
Thursday, April 30
7:00 p.m.
Park Auditorium

We hope you enjoy these many tales of murder and intrigue, as well as the final showdown between spring lock and bolt knobs. Tune in next week when we encourage woodwind majors to devise the cleverest plan for sticking up a bank with nothing more than a clarinet and a box of reeds.

Busy week here on South Hill. The slow burn stretch of the semester is over, and with only a couple weeks remaining everyone is working at breakneck pace to finish projects many of us didn't realize were coming due until about an hour ago.

What better time to inaugurate a new College president?

Yep, they're giving TR the big hammer this afternoon, so if pomp and circumstance float your boat, you should get your free tickets from the rec office in the Campus Center and make your way to Ben Light by 3 p.m. for the rully big shoo.

As entertainment goes, maybe it's not quite that Pavement reunion you've been waiting for. But still, this is only the eighth time since 1892 that we've thrown this sort of party. Pretty impressive when you consider that since the last time we inaugurated a new president Cornell has had four of 'em (one even came back for an encore). You should go today so that years from now when people ask "Where were you when...?" your answer won't be "accidentally locked out of my room dripping wet and unaware of the enormous tear in the back of my robe."

Or worse still, "what's a Rochon?"

After the ceremony, President Rochon will be buying the rounds down at the Chanti. (I kid. He's more of an Ale House kinda guy. Kidding again. He has presidential stuff to take care of. You, however, are free to do whatever.)

Can't get away from your desk? No worries -- we're webcasting the whole megillah. Check it out: http://www.ithaca.edu/inauguration/coverage/.

Happy inaugurating!

There are so many concurrent FLEFF screenings and events this weekend, it’s almost hard for us to keep track of them all! We can’t possibly cover all of the worthy events here, but here goes nothing …

Saturday’s Highlights

1:00 p.m.: Ice Bears of the Beaufort -- This film shows the plight of polar bears near Alaska’s Beaufort Sea, who are in danger of losing a critical habit due to offshore oil drilling. This is the first feature film from director Arthur C. Smith III, who has contributed footage to National Geographic and Discovery Channel films. With directors Arthur and Jennifer Smith. (Cinemapolis, 55 minutes; with additional showing Sunday at 3:00 p.m.)
View the Trailer

2:30 p.m.: The Black Pirate -- In the second of three "Silent Films/Live Music" events, Fe Nunn and Friends and local poet Michelle Berry will perform during a screening of Albert Parker's 1926 swashbuckling classic. Will the Black Pirate (played by Douglas Fairbanks, who also wrote the story) save his love Isobel from certain doom? (Cinemapolis, 88 minutes)
FLEFF: Silent Films/Live Music

3:00 p.m.: A Class Apart -- This film, by Carlos Sandoval and Peter Miller, follows a team of unknown Mexican-American lawyer who took a 1951 Texas murder case all the way to the Supreme Court, and in the process challenged Jim Crow-style discrimination against Mexican-Americans. The panel discussion will include Tompkins County legislator Kathy Luz Herrera. (Fall Creek Pictures, 60 minutes) 

4:35 p.m.: Nuestros Desaparecidos (Our Disappeared) -- Filmmaker Juan Mandelbaum will be on hand for the screening of his documentary, which traces his efforts at discovering a long-lost girlfriend’s fate after the Argentine military’s 1976-1983 reign of terror. (Cinemapolis, 99 minutes; screens again at 9:00 p.m.)

8:30 p.m.: FLEFF After-party with Toivo and No Radio DJs (Lost Dog Lounge)

Sunday's Highlights

1:00 p.m.: At the Top of My Voice -- Set against the backdrop of the 2007 crackdown on democracy in the Republic of Georgia, the film follows activists Irakli Kakabadze and Anna Dolidze as they return to their native country to shine a light on the violence and corruption of President Saakashvili's regime and take part in monitoring his controversial reelection. The screening will feature live poetry readings and performances by activists Kakabadze and Dolidze. (Fall Creek Pictures, 60 minutes)

2:00 p.m.: Steve Tropiano reading -- Tropiano, IC television and radio professor and director of the College's program in Los Angeles, reads from and signs copies of his new book, Obscene, Indecent, Immoral, and Offensive: 100+ Years of Censored, Banned, and Controversial Films. Our guess is that nothing could shock Tropiano after writing this book. (The Bookery)
More on Tropiano's Indecent Book

7:00 p.m.: The Wildcat -- In an "exploration of cinematic and sexual spice" (spice being one of this year's programming streams), this 1921 silent film from Germany will be accompanied by live music from Robby Aceto on guitar, Peter Dodge on percussion and keyboards, and Chris White on cello. Considered to be one of Ernst Lubitsch's best films, this playfully subversive satire of military life is a forerunner of later films like M*A*S*H, Dr. Strangelove, and the work of Monty Python and Woody Allen. (Cinemapolis, 82 minutes)

8:30 p.m.: Korova After-party – Come toast the end of a long, busy week of FLEFF with staff, fans, and members of the local community. (Korova, on the Ithaca Commons)

Trailers and Clips

Clip from The Black Pirate

BostonLatino.tv Interview with Our Disappeared Director Juan Mandelbaum   

Dream Sequence from The Wildcat

 Today marks a day of FLEFF transition of sorts -- the last day of FLEFF events on IC's campus, and the first day things start to shift downtown. There's still tons more happening this weekend, so stay alert!

And remember -- why pay individually for each downtown screening when you can buy a festival pass? That you can share with your friends?? A five-screening pass is $40 (only $32.50 for students with ID) and can be purchased at Cinemapolis, Fall Creek, or the IC Bookstore. (As always, events on the IC campus are 100% free.)

Friday's Highlights: Ithaca College

10:30 a.m.: Toxin Lab -- "Brainjam" on Mexican and Latin American films with directors Juan Mandelbaum and Alexandra Halkin, facilitated by Cornell's Cecelia Lawless. No sign-ups are required for any of today's FLEFF Labs … just show up! Each lab is based on one of four FLEFF 2009 themes: toxins, spice, syncopation, and trade. (Park Hall soundstage, 90 minutes)

1:00 p.m.: Spice Lab -- Another "brainjam," this time regarding the Sticky Content online new media exhibition. With cocurator Dale Hudson. (Park Hall Studio A, 90 minutes)
More on "Sticky Content"

2:30 p.m.: Syncopation Lab -- This FLEFF Lab will investigate tactical media, sound design, and emergent technologies. With Nick Knouf, Claudia Pederson, and Arzu Ozkal Telhan. (Park Hall Studio A, 90 minutes)

2:30 p.m.: Trade Lab -- Get an inside look at the international art cinema business with Rodrigo Brandao. (Park Hall soundstage, 90 minutes)

4:00 p.m.: "How to Get Your Break" -- Moderator Steve Gordon is joined by screenwriter Julie Blumberg, agent Leslie Daniels, financier Steve Hays, producer and IC professor Mustapha Khan, and directors Juan Mandelbaum and John Valadez. Learn from the pros how to break through into the crowded world of independent film! (Park Auditorium)

Friday's Highlights: Downtown

7:00 p.m.: Nosferatu with live music -- In what could be one of the festival's most popular events, the 1922 German vampire silent classic will be accompanied by live music by Richard Faria, John Stetch, and Nicholas Walker. Get to this one early, folks! Use your festival; otherwise admission is $8.50 for each downtown screening. (Cinemapolis, 84 minutes)

7:00 p.m. Call and Response -- Justin Dillon's 2008 documentary goes deep undercover, from the child brothels of Cambodia to the slave brick kilns of India, to reveal the dirtiest secrets behind the human slave trade. Celebrity interviews from the likes of Nicholas Kristof, Cornel West, and Ashley Judd are combined with performances by Moby, Cold War Kids, Imogen Heap, Talib Kweli, Tom Petty's Heartbreakers, and other musical luminaries. (Fall Creek Pictures, 86 minutes)
Read about Call and Response on the FLEFF Blog

7:00 p.m. Che -- Bring a friend, a comfy pillow, and some No-Doz … Steven Soderbergh's epic, two-part, four-hour-plus biography of the Argentinian revolutionary will screened in its entirety with one intermission. You can buy tickets for both parts for a reduced price of $12. If you can't make it tonight, Cinemapolis/Fall Creek will run Che through at least April 9. (Fall Creek Pictures, 257 [!] minutes)

And don't miss tonight's after-party at the Lost Dog Lounge at 8:30 p.m., with the Upson-Loveall Duo and DJ Tico!
Lost Dog Cafe Website
 

Trailers and Clips

The silent classic Nosferatu is in the public domain -- so check out the entire 1922 film and see how its music compares to tonight's live performance!

Call and Response trailer

Steven Soderbergh's Che

Some of you might have noticed that the power went off for about 15 minutes Wednesday afternoon. Let's just say it's going to take more than a temporary cut in electricity to slow down the FLEFF locomotive! Thursday ramps up the action with the usual broad assortment of screenings, plus several artists' events and an evening concert downtown. But get this -- the unbelievable amount of happenings this weekend is going to make Thursday's program look like Romper Room.

If you like what you're seeing at FLEFF this week -- or if you have suggestions for next year -- feel free to comment on this or any Rattle post using the comment section at bottom.

Thursday's Highlights

9:25 a.m.: Tulia, Texas -- Through its scrupulous investigation of a landmark legal case, Cassandra Herrman and Kelley Whalen's documentary convincingly shows how the "war on drugs" has become a war on due process, waged against African Americans. With faculty facilitator Todd Schack. (Park Hall 285, 54 minutes)

1:10 p.m.: The Route of the Chontaduro -- This film documents the life cycle of the chontaduro, an exotic and supposedly aphrodisiac fruit that is transported from deep to the jungle to the biggest cities in South America. Filmmaker Alexander Gonzalez Tascon and IC professor Stewart Auyash will be on hand to lead a discussion in this FLEFF Lab presentation. (Hill Center 57, 50 minutes)

2:35 p.m.: Health for Sale -- The 10 largest pharmaceutical companies in the world accumulate $205 billion in pretax profits -- more than the combined profits of the 490 other Fortune 500 companies. Are these companies, paradoxically, presenting a collective obstacle to global public health? With faculty facilitator Karen Edwards, assistant professor of health promotion and physical education. (Hill Center 53, 53 minutes)

2:35 p.m.: The Carbon Connection -- This film focuses on two locations on opposite sides of the world both suffering from side effects of the "emission trade." In Brazil, a company uses carbon credits to "outsource" their industrial pollution; while in Scotland, an oil refinery faces few constraints in its ecological plunder after paying its "carbon bill." (Park Hall 270, 40 minutes)

5:00 p.m.: FLEFF Artists' Reception -- Installation artists Ray Ghirardo and Megan Roberts, whose "Water Theory" exhibition runs at the Handwerker Gallery through April 5, will be present at this opening reception, as will Pamela Mei Leng See. (Roberts and Ghirardo will also host a talk earlier in the day at noon, also in the gallery.) (Handwerker Gallery, Gannett Center)
Read more about "Water Theory"
Handwerker Gallery Website

8:00 p.m.: Sheherazade Trio -- IC faculty members Jennifer Hayghe (piano), Elizabeth Simkin (cello), and Susan Waterbury (violin) named their trio after the mythical "Arabian Nights" storyteller who told 1,001 beguiling tales to save her own life. The trio takes on Paul Schoenfield's 1987 work, "Café Music," as well as Maurice Ravel's Trio for Piano, Violin, and Cello (1914) against a backdrop of ambient media projections from Microcinema International, mounted by Ann Michel, Phil Wilde, and Tom Nicholson. (Unitarian Church, corner of Buffalo and Aurora Streets, Ithaca)
Read More about the Concert

Trailers and Clips

Tulia, Texas

Health for Sale

The Carbon Connection