DANCING WITH LOCALS
~Barry & Shauna Walker’s Solara ~
“The Dance Camera West Film Festival” is a lot of things at a lot of places, but one thing it isn’t is stale. Launched in 2002, the still young, annual festival features one month of all-new programming and events. Plus, its very premise – spotlighting dance films and dance for the camera – is pioneering in and of itself. “It really is sort of the future,” says founder and executive director Lynette Kessler. “It’s not even the future, it’s now.”
Some of Kessler’s programming ideas debut this week, including a “Choreography in Media Honors” winners screening Thursday at the Directors Guild and a screening Sunday of Claire Denis’s Vers Mathilde at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica. But the one owing perhaps the most to “now” is Saturday’s “Local Makers” event, which screens works by L.A. directors and choreographers and, according to Kessler, wouldn’t have been possible in the festival’s early years.
“Usually if we show 50 films throughout the month, maybe three will be from the U.S. because there’s just so much more work being produced in other countries. They’ve had funding for the last 20 years for artists to develop their work,” she explains. “What has happened in the last five years is that more and more people are making work in the States, and also more L.A. dance artists are moving into dance in media.” She credits the increased accessibility of filmmaking in addition to the visibility of Dance Camera West itself. “A lot of them have been coming to the festival, and seeing the work that other artists globally are doing.”
“Local Makers” is free to the public and takes place outdoors at the Cheviot Hills Recreation Center in four different areas, divided into the categories of Musical, Urban Dance, Sense of Place, and Art Gallery. Among the more prominently featured shorts are Ari Sandel’s Oscar-winning West Bank Story and David La Chapelle’s Krumped.
“What’s so interesting about the show is that it’s so diverse and crazy,” Kessler enthuses. “It’s like L.A.’s equivalent of going to the drive-in. You know, why would anyone in L.A. want to go and sit in their car and watch a film? So this is sort of like a wandering cinema.”
–Alfred Lee
Local Makers – L.A. Choreographers and Dancers. Cheviot Hills Recreation Center, 2551 Motor Ave., L.A., (310) 837-4233. Sat. at 8 p.m. Free. Dancecamerawest.org.
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THIS WEEK IN THE CITY
Thursday 7
BABEL RAP
Hip-hop went global long before – and for reasons far different than when – Ludacris was Pimpin’ All Over the World, or Missy was lickin’ her lips over “black, white, Puerto Rican, Chinese boys.” The latest manifestation of what happens when the genre meets the rest of the planet comes courtesy of the nonprofit hip-hop arts community center J.U.I.C.E. and Hand of Fatimah Promotions, who have put together the “E.S.L. Project” at ArtShareL.A. Slated to perform at the showcase are more than a half-dozen rappers hailing from almost as many countries. If anything, the event is likely to mark the first time you’ll ever hear rap in Ghanian, German, Korean, Japanese, Spanish, and English all in one night. 7:30 p.m. Free. 801 E. Fourth Pl., downtown L.A., (213) 687-4278 or Myspace.com/handoffatimah.
Friday 8
INKS AHOY!
As long as we’re thinking internationally, the “International Ink & Iron Festival” brings scores of tattoo artists from countries as far away as Denmark and Taiwan to the Queen Mary today and all through the weekend. It’ll cost you more than a jaunty stroll down the Venice Beach boardwalk, but Ink & Iron also doubles as a music festival, with scheduled artists including Reverend Horton Heat, US Bombs, and Mad Sins. Thrown in for good measure are a car show, bike exhibit, burlesque shows, family-oriented activities, 1900’s circus-themed vendor village, and street performers. Last year’s sold-out event welcomed over 15,000 enthusiasts. Fri. 3 p.m.-12:30 a.m.; Sat 11 a.m.-12:30 a.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. $20. Queen Mary and surrounding grounds, 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach. Info: (714) 846-7121 or Electricinked.com.
Saturday 9
SAY IT LOUD
Nothin’ wrong with showing a little pride, or, in L.A.’s case, so much of the stuff that it can’t be contained or condensed to any one day, even after designating entire city blocks and major thoroughfares to the idea, with people flocking like peacocks in support. Yes, the big going-on this weekend is the annual LGBT celebration that launched last Wednesday at a reception with West Hollywood Mayor John Duran and then Friday with the Dyke March and Carnal Carnival. Today is the first day of the full-on “L.A. Pride Festival,” which runs all day from noon to midnight and features entertainment, over 200 exhibitors, and pavilions with music, dance-floors, and family-friendly activities. The parade is Sunday morning. Sat.-Sun. noon-midnight. Free. Corner of San Vicente and Santa Monica blvds., West Hollywood. Info: (323) 969-8301 or Lapride.org.
Sunday 10
FREE ’N JAZZY
The 29th annual Playboy Jazz Festival isn’t for another week. It also runs at least 40 bucks for decent seats. You won’t have to worry about either of these issues at Warner Center Park, where the Fest is sponsoring a free jazz concert as part of a series of free community events leading up to next week’s big bash at the Hollywood Bowl. The Warner Center concert features local artists including Poncho Sanchez and his Latin Jazz Band, contemporary jazz pianist Freddie Ravel, and drummer Tootie Heath. 1:30-8 p.m. Lou Bredlow Pavilion, Warner Center Park, 5800 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills. Info: (310) 450-1173 or Playboyjazz.com.
Monday 11
COVER VERSIONS
Starting today, the Pacific Design Center hosts an exhibit which debuted in New York three years ago, spotlighting graphic designers of the 20th and 21st centuries. What you might not expect, however, is that it’s a display of catalog covers for UCLA Extension, the continuing education powerhouse. Masters of Graphic Design: Catalog Covers of UCLA Extension (1990-2007) presents a collection of covers from the past 17 years, by designers including Paul Rand, Lou Danziger, and Bradbury Thompson. It turns out many of the covers are award-winners, too – over 70 in fact, the organizers claim. Closes August 31. Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, (213) 626-6222. Thepacificdesigncenter.com.
Tuesday 12
RAIDING THE ARCHIVE
It actually is possible for the third movie in a summer blockbuster franchise to not suck. For those who’ve forgotten (and who can blame you at this point), it’s the third straight night that the New Beverly Cinema’s double bill consists of adventure classic Raiders of the Lost Ark and its not-shabby-at-all threquel, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where a cantankerous Sean Connery plays Indy’s dad and helps him look for the Holy Grail. Also playing multiple days at the New Beverly on Friday and Saturday is a Fellini double-feature showing the classic La Strada and the nostalgic, bittersweet Amarcord. Sun. 2:50 & 7:30; Mon.-Tue. 7:30; $7; $6 student. 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A., (323) 938-4038. Newbeverlycinema.com.
Wednesday 13
ODD COUPLE
The Red Dot Gallery’s “Weirdo Artist Discussion” today is noteworthy simply because, first of all, anyone OK with being called a “weirdo artist” must be interesting to talk to. Furthermore, the artists in question are Mark Bryan and Dennis Larkins, who along with animation legend Bill Plympton have a group exhibit, Degrees of Weirdness, on display at the gallery through the end of the month. Bryan and Larkins have been a part of the low-brow art world since the ’60s, and this evening will chat publicly about their life, work, and impact. 7 p.m. Free. Exhibit closes June 30. Red Dot Gallery, 500 S. Spring St., downtown L.A., (213) 817-6002. Weeneez.com.
Published: 06/07/2007
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