8- The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, March 29, 1995
Film conference looks into fih's future
'Hollywood Into the Twenty-First Century' includes four 'U' alumni
By Scott Plagenhoef
Daily Arts Writer
The advent of the twenty-first
century is still numerically a few
years off, yet figuratively, it may
have already arrived via the infor-
mation superhighway. If the twenti-
eth century will be remembered as
the century of warfare, it may have
began with the assassination of
Franz Ferdinand and ended with the
collapse of the Berlin Wall. If the
twenty-first century becomes the
century in which the world is tech-
nologically linked, then amongst the
catalysts will be popular culture.
The film industry is currently
the United States' second largest
export (behind commercial airlines)
and is the medium through which
our nation reflects contemporary
American values, attitudes, and pri-
orities to the remainder of the world.
Currently, with attempts to curb the
illegal export of American culture
to China and other nations, the po-
tential dismantling of the National
Endowment for the Arts (and Na-
tional Endowment for the Humani-
ties), conflict between the skyrock-
eting costs of major studio motion
pictures and the success of small-
budget independents, and the im-
pending availability of interactive
television or 500-channel cable pro-
gramming, the film and television
industries are as vital and relevant
to the shape of the twenty-first cen-
tury as any other institution.
Both in accordance with this
changing cultural environment
and as a celebration of the success
of the film and video department,
the University will present today
and tomorrow a conference en-
titled, "Hollywood into the
Twenty-first Century." The con-
ference will feature a half-dozen
individuals, four of whom are
University alumni, from within the
film and television industries.
Three events will be open to the
general public. All will feature
discussions followed by a ques-
tion and answer period.
Tonight at 7 p.m. in Angell
Hall Auditorium D there will a
symposium entitled, "The Future
1210 of the Chemistry building,
there will be a discussion entitled,
"The Future of Movies: Economic
Realities and the Market Place."
Leading this program will be Rob-
ert Shaye, the head of New Line
Cinema, which is responsible for
films as diverse as "Glengarry Glenn
Ross" and "Dumb and Dumber,"
casting director John Lyons who
has worked often on the films of the
Coen Brothers, including "Miller's
Crossing" and "Raising Arizona,"
and screenwriter David Newman
whose work includes "Bonnie &
Clyde" and "What's Up Doc?"
In addition there will be a brown-
bag lunch discussion featuring
Corday and Loeks on Thursday at
noon in 1008 Frieze titled "Women
in the Entertainment Industry." The
discussion will focus around the
current roles of women within the
industry as well as the potential of
broader opportunities opening up to
women in the future.
The program offers an unusual
opportunity to interact with mem-
bers of the film community in a
more intimate setting. The visiting
individuals will also meet with Edie
Goldenberg, the Dean of the school
of LS & A, in an attempt to
strengthen the film and video de-
partment.
of Movies: Television or The-
ater?" Taking part in this panel
discussion will be television pro-
ducer and executive Barbara
Corday, who was responsible for
the acclaimed "Cagney and
Lacey," Chairman of Sony The-
aters, Bernie Loeks, and telewriter
Roger Lowenstien.
Tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. in
This is the guy responsible for Dumb And Dumber." 'Nuff said.
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Call Juliet or Jill collect at
(212) 582-1722 ext. 21 or 23 or (212) 246-6813
Program in Film/Video Studies
presents
THE FUTURE OF
MOVIES
TELEVISION OR THEATER?
BARBARA CORDAY: Former President CBS, Columbia
Pictures Television, and World Television; and creator of
Cagney & Lacey
BARRIE LOEKS: Chairman of Sony Theaters and
highest-ranking female Executive in Theatrical
Exhibition Industry
ROGER LOWENSTEIN: Former Trial Lawyer and Top
Television Writer, author of many episodes for L.A. Law
Angell Hall Auditorium D
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29
ECONOMIC REALITIES & THE
MARKETPLA CE
JOHN LYONS: Top Casting Director for Hollywood
- movies (Raising Arizona, The Hudsucker Proxy, Lorenzo's Oil,
etc.), and Film Producer
DAVID NEWMAN: Co-Screenwriter for Academy
Award-Winning Bonnie & Clyde, and such films as What's
Up, Doc?, Still of the Night, and the three Superman movies
Sl
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