Hollander’s a Pittsburgh-born writer-director whose new PG blog is about life and work in Hollywood. He attended Mount Lebanon High School and Sewickley Academy. A graduate of Northwestern University, Hollander served on the faculty at the USC Graduate Screenwriting program from 1995-2000.

His writing credits include creating and executive producing “The Guardian” for CBS and “Heartland” for TNT. Most recently he executive produced and co-wrote season 2 of “The Cleaner” for A&E. Hollander has performed numerous un-credited production rewrites as well, working with film makers such as Jim Sheridan, Robert Zemeckis, Dustin Hoffman and Scott Rudin. Hollander’s plays have been performed in theaters throughout the country and has received new play commissions from South Coast Repertory, The Lila Wallace/Reader’s Digest Fund and The Second Stage Theater in New York City. He made his directoral debut with 2009’s “Personal Effects” starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Ashton Kutcher and Kathy Bates.

It’s a Wonderful Life – FREE

Please bring a non-perishable food item. We are collecting for the East End Cooperative Ministry.

Bring your family to see the Christmas classic on the BIG screen! Everyone is familiar with the story of George Bailey, a small town guy with big dreams. George (Jimmy Stewart) has spent most of his life helping others, sometimes at the cost of his own happiness. A guardian angel shows George what life in his hometown would’ve been like if he had never been born. This was Stewart’s favorite film. (Frank Capra; USA; 1946; 129 min)

Regent Square Theater – 1035 S.Braddock Ave, Pgh 15218
Fri 12/18 – 8:00
Sat 12/19 & Sun 12/20 – 5:00, 8:00
Mon 12/21 & Tue 12/22 – 8:00

Pro-Tools Basics Workshop

Saturday, December 12th, 2009
10 am – 2 pm
Instructor: Nicole Skeltys

Pro-Tools is still the industry standard for soundtrack production and post-production. Whether you have taken the plunge and bought an entry level (LE) Pro-Tools system, or whether you are still trying to decide which sound editing platform is the best for your film projects, this workshop will help you out. Nicole Skeltys grew up (digitally speaking) using versions of Pro-Tools for her TV and film work over the years. The fastest way to get across a new software platform is for someone to show you how to do it. Nicole will show you Pro-Tools basics for three hours then hang around and help you out some more if you are really keen.

$40 Members, $60 Non-Members
To register: call Jasdeep Khaira, 412-681-5449 x246, or email jasdeep@pittsburgharts.org

Instructor Nicole Skeltys is an Australian musician, composer and producer who has released eleven albums of her own music (including on major labels), in styles ranging from electronica to psychedelic folk, rock and country. Along the way, she has also written songs and soundtracks for film, TV and theatre – from world beats for Lonely Planet TV travel series to chamber music atmospheres for Parisian fashion shows.

The opening reception at the PCA is on Friday evening, November 20, 5:30 – 8:00pm. The reception is open to the public; a $5 donation is requested; free to PF/PCA members.

Shows run thru Jan 24, 2010:

Seeds of Light >> Fuyuko Matsubara
Ancient 21st Century Art-i-facts >> James Thurman
When Night Falls >> Pittsburgh Society of Artists
Media Bits: works by >> Michael Mallis, Gordon Nelson, John Cantine, Matthew R. Day, Chia-Pi Chao, Hamilton Lurie, Rebbyro

and continuing in the galleries (exhibit opened Sep 25)
The Exchange >> Multiple artists, Center for Emerging Visual Artists, Philadelphia

“Bridges at Night” by Betty Elias, from When Night Falls

In addition, The PCA Annual Holiday Shop holds its opening event on November 20 to commemorate the start of the holiday season with extended shop and gallery hours. The Shop features art and crafts from over 180 regional artists, with everything from papier-mâché to glass, ceramics, crochet, video art, and more. The Holiday Shop reception begins at 5:30.

When Night Falls is a juried show involving a variety of media presented by the Pittsburgh Society of Artists (PSA). The title refers to the way familiar surroundings can become less defined and instead are open to ambiguous impressions. Anxiety might stem from the invisibility of nightfall, the mystery posed by the incognizance of what lurks amid the dimming backdrop. When Night Falls encompasses the world between dusk and dawn. The show’s juror is Michael Olijnyk, Curator of Exhibitions at the Mattress Factory.

In Seeds of Light by Fuyuko Matsubara, light represents energy from a spiritual point of view. Her solo exhibit of painted silk weavings is part of a series of textile works in which she explores the positive quality of light energy. Born in Japan, she has been exhibiting her work nationally and internationally for over 30 years. Her original weaving technique of “Combination Painted Warp and Painted Weft” is internationally recognized. Matsubara earned her MFA in fiber arts from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan and has served as senior restorer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Currently she teaches fiber and textile arts at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

In James Thurman’s installation Ancient Art-i-facts of the 21st Century, he uses the format of a natural history museum as a cultural critique. Fascinated with how the method of presentation and display affects the perception of the object, he uses sculptural objects of his own creation for a fictitious future’s misinterpretation. With sly humor he explores issues of material culture hierarchies, consumerism and environmentalism. A former Pennsylvanian, Thurman recently moved to Texas. He’s currently Assistant Professor in the College of Visual Arts & Design, University of North Texas. He received his MFA in metalsmithing from the Cranbrook Academy of Art, and his BFA in sculpture from Carnegie Mellon University.

Media Bits selections are works from the media art section of the PCA Shop.

The Exchange, continuing through January 24, is an ongoing collaboration between Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and The Center for Emerging Visual Artists (CFEVA) in Philadelphia. This collaboration not only strengthens the artistic dialogue between the cities, it provides a larger context and more exposure for regional artists. More than 20 artists from the Philadelphia area are exhibiting work that includes painting, sculpture, installation, photography, printmaking, and drawing. The selected artists are all part of CFEVA’s career development program.

Artist Events at PCA
Artist Talks:
Thursday, Dec. 10 at 7:00pm; with Pittsburgh Society of Artists
Sunday, January 24 at 3:00pm; with James Thurman

Dialogue Series:
Thursday, January 14 at 6:30pm; with Fuyuko Matsubara and PF/PCA’s curator Adam Welch. (This ongoing discussion series has an admission fee of $5/members, or $10/non-members; cash bar.)

Pittsburgh Center for the Arts is located at 6300 Fifth Ave in Shadyside.
For more information call 412-361-0873.

Tuesday October 27 at 5:30pm
Cathedral of Learning, G24

Pittsburgh Filmmakers alumnus and Academy Award-mominated editor, Douglas Crise (Babel) will be speaking on campus. He has also worked in the editorial department of such other films as: 21 Grams, Good Night and Good Luck, Traffic, Oceans 11, Oceans 12 and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.

Cosponsored by Film Studies and Steeltown Entertainment Project

University of Pittsburgh ~ Contact Jennifer Florian, 412.624.6564 or jrf16@pitt.edu

Link to PDF

Pittsburgh Filmmakers welcomes four new students this semester from overseas — Mr. Juri Fantigrossi (22), Mr. Michele Giacardi (age 22), Mr. Antonio Paolucci (turning 22 next month), and Ms. Flavia Tiberi (age 23). All are from L’Accademia dell’ Immagine in L’Aquila, Italy. Their school was severely damaged in the recent earthquake that affected the Abruzzo region and is now being rebuilt.

Pittsburgh Filmmakers was able to discount their tuition for the semester. The
students’ tuition and lodging are being covered by UPMC, which originated this arrangement as art of its strong and ongoing relationship with Italy. Some scholarship support has also come from the University of Pittsburgh’s Office of the Provost to make this project feasible. Additional funds are being raised by local Italians and Italian-Americans to cover board, supplies, travel, and other aspects of the students’ routine expenses.

The students have a tentative agreement with RAI, the Italian television network, to broadcast work they will be making here. As of this writing, they are expecting to meet with RAI’s Piero DiPasquale, in town for the G20, for more details and guidance. Each student is enrolled in four classes this fall at Pittsburgh Filmmakers, plus one at UPitt. We hope to provide updates on their projects and progress during their academic visit.

At our sister center, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, the tradition (ongoing since 1949) of Artist of the Year continues.

Tim Kaulen is the 2009 Artist of the Year, and Dylan Vitone is 2009’s Emerging Artist.

Opening reception for these shows and two others is Sept 25, 5:30-to-8:00pm.

More at the PCA website.

According to Tim:

The Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, 2009 Artist of the Year Exhibition offers exciting challenges. It is my intention to propose an equally creative solution using elements of sculpture, both organic and architectural, recycled materials and objects, and the play between history and the contemporary world. I am honored to present the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and surrounding communities of Pittsburgh with the opportunity for the public to engage in outdoor sculpture and this historic setting at Mellon Park.

The relationship this particular site has to the 19th century urban industry lends itself to connecting with mechanical toys of that era in both a whimsical and celebratory manner. There is a natural fit and relationship between the two, the site and the concept, which will further be exemplified through the work itself as it celebrates the glorious past of Pittsburgh, the evolving present, and the exciting future of urban spaces and man-made elements fusing with the natural world.

A new 75-second version of our “Arts and Citizenship” video is online now. Please take a minute (plus 15 seconds) to watch it, then write your representatives.

All state funding for PA Council on the Arts is in real jeopardy.
Budget negotiations are ongoing now, and your action on this issue is needed!

Let your state senator, state representative, and the governor know how important funding for the arts is to you. Phone calls and hand written personal notes get the most attention.

Governor Edward G. Rendell’s Office, 225 Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120. Or phone: (717) 787-2500. Or fax: (717) 772-8284.

To find the legislators that represent your district, please click here.

This week we’re doing something a little different with our profile. Instead of speaking to an artist or local organizational notable (not that Andy isn’t notable), we talked to a lifelong cinema lover, Andy Horbal. He shared with us a ton of tips and tricks for keeping up-to-date on the film world, deciding what to see, and told us what he was looking forward to.

When we asked Andy how he first got into film, he somewhat sheepishly laughed and said two words. “Star Wars.” After we reassured him that this was a completely acceptable answer, he revealed that when he was 15, he saw the original trilogy rereleased in theaters and thought it was the “greatest thing in the world”, seeing it 15 times. Star Wars transitioned into Starship Troopers, and then he and his friends were hooked on seeing movies. After high school, he attended University of Pittsburgh, tried his hand at filmmaking at Filmmakers, and ended up with a degree in Film Studies.

He then shared with us his techniques for figuring out when films are screening in Pittsburgh, “knowing where and when to look.” “Movie showtimes come out on Wednesday or Thursday,” he said “so you can get a jump on what’s coming up.” He also credited his advance knowledge to working at the Stark Media Services Center at Pitt’s Hillman Library. More suggestions? Talk to the people who organize showings, and see what they’re doing next, and check out the Andy Warhol Museum calendar regularly.

However, showtimes and calenders aren’t useful unless you know what you want to see. True to his film studies background, Andy says he reads tons of criticism before seeing movies. Before films hit theaters, he checks out Beyond the Multiplex, Andrew O’Hehir’s indie film blog at Salon and Karina Longworth’s postings at Spoutblog, which provide occasionally caustic but hilarious remarks on films people are currently talking about. For recent DVD releases, he recommends Dave Kehr at the New York Times, who helps put films in historical context. For more academic criticism, he mentioned Cinema Scope, an indie film journal that helps him “think things through.”

With all that research, one would expect Andy had never seen a bad movie. But when we asked him, out of curiosity, about the worst movies he’s seen recently, two came to mind. Redacted, by director Brian De Palma and Diary of the Dead, the most recent Romero film. Both integrated new media style web-cam clips and mimicked an informal, indie documentary look, and Andy felt that they came off as insincere, “substituting novelty for substance”.

After getting off that depressing subject, we talked about theaters in Pittsburgh that are worth checking out. Andy said that Regent Square really is his favorite place to see movies (and no, we didn’t pay him at all), but also has a soft spot for the Squirrel Hill theaters. He recommended would-be-moviegoers check out South Side Works on Mondays, for their 5 dollar films, and the Maxisaver in West Mifflin, which offers dollar movies, packed with excited high school students. CMU AB Films and the University of Pittsburgh sponsored films also got an honorable mention, as they tend to attract an “enthusiastic and knowledgeable crowd”. He also plugged Jefferson Presents, a series of abstract films played at different local venues.

Finally, we asked him the most important question on our list- what movies he was looking forward to. In terms of stuff that will be showing soon, he mentioned Alien, which he’s “been meaning to rewatch for a while”, Tulpan and Made in the USA (Showtimes). More long term, he gave a shout out to Jacques Audiard’s new film festival favorite, A Prophet and Alain Resnais’s Wild Grass. On the American/Hollywood side, he mentioned the new Sherlock Holmes, which he said “has got to be terrible, but I love Robert Downey Jr and the momentum of Guy Richie movies.” Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island, as something he’ll see because “it will probably be a reflection on cinema.”

As our interview was coming to a close, we probed about one of his other interests expressed on his blog- food. He recommended we check out culinary scientist Harold McGee’s yogurt recipe, as an awesome kitchen project that cuts down food expenses and produces amazing greek style yogurt.

Want to know more about Andy? Follow him on twitter @andyhorbal or check out his blog here.

These videos on “Greening Up Pittsburgh” were made by students in the Heinz Endowments’s 2009 Summer Youth Philanthropy Program, with guidance from Susan Howard, director of Filmmakers at the Center.

Watch the videos online at pghfilmmakers.org.