Hollywood Studio Magazine (November 1968)

AFI ANNOUNCES "INDEPENDENT" FILM SUPPORT The American Film Institute has awarded a total of $62,000 for six new productions under its “Independent Filmmaker Program”, which is designed to support individual film artists in the development of their careers. The recipients are: Robert Kramer, Stan Vanderbeek and Istvan Ventilla of New York; and Will Hindle, David Schickele and Steve Wax of California. In announcing these grants, AFI Director, George Stevens, Jr. empha¬ sized the wide range of themes and film styles involved in these projects. An $8,000 grant will go to Istvan Ventilla, 29, to make a film entitled Aren, which will be a detailed portrait of an American football game as a vehicle for human passion. Mr. Ventilla, who defected from Hungary to the United States in 1966, studied five years at the Hungarian Film Academy and was a director at the Hunnia National Hungarian State Film Studio. His motion picture entitled Miracle is currently touring the country as part of the Kinetic Art Collection. Robert Kramer, 28, will receive $12,000 for a film entitled The First Days, which will examine life in the U.S. in the year 1980. The film will portray a violent society in which wide-scale, underground revolutionary movement has taken root. Mr. Kramer has previously written, produced and directed In The Country and The Edge. Stan Vanderbeek, 41, one of this country’s leading experimental filmmakers, has been awarded $5,000 for a series of television studies exploring the graphic and image possibilities of color videotape recording tech¬ niques. Mr. Vanderbeek has been the recipient of numer¬ ous international awards. His films are currently being distributed by Filmmakers Cooperative. Will Hindle, 39, has been awarded $10,000 for the presentation of an offbeat view of the training activities of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team as filmed at Los Altos, California. Mr. Hindle’s latest film, CHINESE FIREDRILL, was Grand Prize winner at the Ann Arbor Film Festival and won first prize at the Foothill Film Festival. RUBBER UNCLE will be a dramatic film about human need and commitment as evidenced by a group of people who suffer a flat tire in the midst of a desert traffic jam. It is the idea of Steve Wax, 25, a graduate of the UCLA film school, who will receive $12,000 for its production. Mr. Wax’s previous films include YES¬ TERDAY and MUGGINS; both award winners at San Francisco Film Festivals. A $15,000 grant will go to David Schickele, 31, for BUSHMAN, a dramatic film which chronicles the picturesque adventures of a Black African in the modern wilds of North America. Mr. Schickele was associate director to John Korty on the widely acclaimed film entitled CRAZY QUILT. This is the second group of grants, awarded on a quarterly basis, under AFI’s “Independent Filmmaker Program”. The first awards were announced in May and there are currently seven AFI “Independent” films in production. The American Film Insititute is now wel¬ coming new independent proposals for awards to be made in November. AFI is a private, non-government, non-profit corporation dedicated to stimulating progress and quality in the art of film. AUXILIARY GETS NAME CHANGE The recently formed auxiliary to the Motion Picture and Television Relief Fund known as Filmdom’s Junior League, has been changed to the Screen Smart Set, according to the organizations president, Mrs. Betty Lou Oppenheim. The Screen Smart Set group will oper¬ ate a thrift shop known as The Cinema Glamour Shop with headquarters at the Fund Home office, 335 No. La Brea. The auxiliary is seeking clothing, jew¬ elry, bric-a-brac and antiques for sale with proceeds going to the Motion Picture Relief Fund. “Due to limited space, furniture is not acceptable at this time”, stated Mrs. Oppenheim. “Donations are tax deductible.” she added. Officers of the Screen Smart Edwards, 2nd vice-president; Mrs. Eugene Meek, 3rd vice-president; Mrs. Cecele Whitman, treasurer; Mrs. Jean Petrey, corresponding secretary; Miss Carole Bergerman, re¬ cording secretary; Mrs. Marie Haver, parliamentarian. If You Must Have An Affair . why not try Suiiij tiff Jffiftlj Champagne WEDDINGS . . BIRTHDAYS . .CHRISTENINGS . . PARTIES . . . ANNIVERSARIES . . . HOLIDAYS . . PHONE. P0 3-5193, or P0 9-9265, or TR 7-4192 TBitit andSpirlte Company 10153 1 2 RIVERSIDE DRIVE, TOLUCA LAKE The Friendly- Purple Shops i T ’s / ytapec, for MUFFLERS - SHOCKS BRAKES - WHEEL ALIGNMENT SMOG DEVICES - TRAILER HITCHES FREE PICKUP AND DELIVERY OR INSTALLED WHILE YOU REST 5931 VAN NUYS BLVD. VAN NUYS 781-7523 Page 23