Film society comes to town

Suzie Harrison

There’s a new kid in town riding in on reels to join the rest of the

elements that make up Laguna’ art palette. On Sept. 11 the Laguna

Beach Film Society will begin its inaugural season.

It will launch the season with the Southern California premier of

“11’09’01” at the Regency Laguna South Coast Cinemas, beginning its

series with a film that is designed to leave an indelible impression

on one’s mind.

French producer Alain Brigand chose 11 international directors to

make short films on the reverberations of the World Trade Center,

showing different perspectives from around the world. Each portrayed

in an 11-minute 9-second one-shot film.

The effect is intense, especially being shown on this date.

The Laguna Beach Film Society is an organization sponsored by the

Laguna Art Museum, and its mission is to bring to Laguna monthly

screenings of important and provocative new films and shorts by the

world’s most creative directors.

The concept of a film society has been in the works for a while

said museum director Bolton Colburn.

“The idea has been kicking around for some time by different

members of the museum, who said they’d be interested in a film group

like this,” Colburn said. “Some of our board members worked on the

Laguna Beach Film Festival.”

The festival ran for five years through volunteers of the Exchange

Club of Laguna Beach with its proceeds benefiting abused children. It

reportedly was too time intensive for those volunteering in the

festival and it came to a halt a couple of years ago.

“When that folded it became obvious in Laguna Beach the potential

for a film society,” Colburn said. “A different vehicle for

film-goers than a festival, the film society is more paced out.”

Colburn said that it was formed through the board members who

thought it would be a great idea to set up a film society for the

museum.

“There needed to be a place for this,” Colburn said. “The museum

is interested in offering as much cultural programming for the

community, so it seems like a natural.”

He said that the focus of the museum has really gone California,

with a lot of the work associated with this region.

John Bush was the helm of the film festival for a couple years and

has been involved with it since its inception.

“The film festival was too big of a job for volunteer operations,”

Bush said.

He felt the end of the film festival brought about a void, and

hopes that the film society can fill that need in the community.

Ultimately he would love the film society to have a film festival of

its own someday.

Keiko Beatie is the programmer for the Newport Beach Film Festival

and is a Laguna Bach resident who very much wanted to bring film to

Laguna.

Beatie is the volunteer programmer for this venture and is the

first screener who makes recommendations to the committee.

She travels to film festivals both nationally and internationally.

“I search for films all year long,” Beatie said. “The Toronto Film

Festival is the biggest film festival in the world with over 350

films screening, 75% are making their world premiere.”

That’s where she first saw “11’09’01”, the committee thought it

was a good choice to honor the memory of Sept. 11.

“It’s a monumental day in U.S. history,” Beatie said. “Doing this

film is a memorial commemoration of what we’ve come through and

accomplished.”

She said it has fostered community spirit in a global way.

“To see all these films by other countries solidifies how small

the world is, how in touch we are with each other,” Beatie said.

“I thought it would be great to bring to Laguna Beach even though

it hasn’t been released on the West Coast,” Beatie said. “It puts

Laguna Beach on the cutting edge.”

Barbara Klein is the chair and she appreciates the team she is

working with to bring this art medium to Laguna Beach. They all

concur that films like the ones they will be presenting are much

needed in the community.

Diane Silper is film society board member who said that the

opportunity to see independent films in the area is dissipating.

“I see less and less independent films being shown in Orange

County,” Silper said. “It will bring to the community another

cultural aspect.”

Klein promises to keep things exciting with different events

surrounding the films.

“Each evening there will be a creative surprise, you’ll never now

exactly what will be doing,” Klein said. “It will add the excitement

of the unknown and be enriching.”

On Sept. 11, special guest speakers will include France’s cultural

attache of film and video and the consulate generals’ of Mexico and

France.

The pre-event will commence at Laguna South Coast Cinemas with

Laguna Culinary Arts providing before and after refreshments and

cuisine. Following is a post-event at No Square Theatre, which is

just around the corner from the theater.

Until Sept. 11 the Laguna Beach Film Society is offering Charter

Memberships at a discounted rate with museum members saving even

more. Please call regarding prices for couple memberships and how to

become a member of Laguna Art Museum. The museum is at 307 Cliff

Drive. For information, call 494-8971.