The Queen of Versailles (HU DVD 4553) is one of the more popular and unusual documentaries in our collection. It chronicles the lifestyle of Florida billionaires Jackie and David Siegel as they attempt to build an impossibly massive mansion during the height of the recent economic downturn. As the film explains, a variety of economic […]
Continue readingMonthly Archives: September 2013
Catch new short films around DC all week
DC has become an epicenter of independent films, attracting filmmakers from around the country to take advantage of the city’s social activism and global culture. One of DC’s hallmark film events, the DC Shorts Film Festival, kicked off last Thursday and continues through this week. The DC Shorts Festival includes screenings of 153 films from […]
Continue readingSee famed director Arturo Ripstein on campus TODAY!
American University is proud and excited to host famed Spanish film director Arturo Ripstein on campus today at 5:30pm in the Letts Formal Lounge. Ripstein has been active in the Spanish film industry for years, starting as an assistant to director Luis Buñuel and eventually directing his own feature films in 1965. If you’ve taken […]
Continue readingThese Banned Books Week film screens are [REDACTED]
Banned Books Week, the annual tongue-in-cheek celebration of censorship in libraries, starts on Sunday, September 22nd. Libraries have a long history of fighting critics and officials about the inclusion of books with controversial, especially ones aimed towards children. This is a chance to push back and shine a light on why these books were challenged […]
Continue readingGet pumped! Free passes for Don Jon and Captain Phillips
We’ve been getting busier and busier since the start of the semester, so we imagine it’s pretty hectic for students too. There’s no better time for a cooldown than this week, and what better way to take a break than by going to the movies? We have passes to see two new movies for free […]
Continue readingWe need your input! Shape the future of the library TOMORROW
Over the summer, the AU Library has been working with the Brightspot consulting group to formulate new ideas for using our library’s space. After months of brainstorming sessions with the library staff, the folks at Brightspot are ready to propose their ideas and seek opinions from AU Library community. Now is your chance to get […]
Continue readingAargh crickets!
Aaaarrrggh! A family of crickets has taken up residence outside the emergency door in Media Services, and you can hear them everywhere. Normally we would’ve tried to clear them out, but because the pathway outside the library is currently under construction, we can’t get to them. We, for one, welcome our new insect overlords! Lest […]
Continue readingFeeling creative? Learn screenwriting at the New Media Center THIS THURSDAY!
The New Media Center’s training sessions usually cover technical know-how, like editing video or making a podcast. But for one night only, we’re covering the creative side too. On Thursday, September 12th at 6pm, the New Media Center will host a master class taught by SOC Professor Claudia Myers on the screenwriting process. If you’ve […]
Continue readingVimeo steps into the film distribution game
The breakdown of the conventional media publishing model has led filmmakers to some unusual sources for funding. The most obvious alternative is Kickstarter, where hopeful directors can collect thousands of small donations to bankroll projects. Other large companies such as Netflix and Amazon have offered lucrative deals for original content in the vein of traditional […]
Continue readingMiyazaki retires! Celebrate the legendary director’s work
A luminary of the film industry is throwing in the towel. With the release of The Wind Rises, his eleventh feature film, Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki has announced his retirement from filmmaking. The sudden announcement was perhaps inevitable given Miyazaki’s age, but his absence from the world of animation will be felt immediately. Miyazaki’s production […]
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