|
|
The New AFI
With Murray Horwitz
Director and COO,
AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center
Friday, May 30, 2003; 2:00 p.m ET
The new AFI (American Film Institute) Silver Theatre and Cultural Center is a state-of-the-art "moving image exhibition, education and cultural center."
The historic 1938 Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, Md., was restored and now features 32,000 square feet of new construction which houses three theaters, office and meeting space, and reception and exhibit areas.
It is dedicated to artists, educators and audiences of the world.
Murray Horwitz, director and COO of the theater, will be online Friday, May 30 at 2 p.m. ET, to talk about movies and special programs and "Silverdocs," the upcoming (June 18-22) documentary filmfest created with the Discovery Channel.
Prior to joining the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, Horwitz was vice president of cultural programming for National Public Radio for four years and before that, director of jazz, classical music and entertainment programming. He was also co-writer with Wynton Marsalis of a 26-part radio series, "Wynton Marsalis: Making The Music," winner of a 1996 Peabody Award. He is also the originator and co-writer of Ain't Misbehavin', the hit musical based on the music of Fats Waller which is currently playing at Arena Stage.
The American Film Institute is America's preeminent arts organization dedicated to advancing and preserving the art of film, television, digital media and other forms of the moving image.
A transcript follows.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
|
Murray Horwitz: Hello, everybody -- sorry it took me a few minutes to log on. I'm thrilled that there's such enthusiasm for the AFI Silver. Maybe these questions are what's made the sun shine today. Thanks for asking.
________________________________________________
Landover, Md.:
Does the AFI plan to come out with more "Best Of" lists or TV specials?
Murray Horwitz: Absolutely. Commonly referred to as "AFI's 100/100," this terrific -- and extremely popular series continues next month, with AFI's 100 YEARS...100 HEROES & VILLAINS (Tuesday, June 3, on CBS, from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m.).
Here at the AFI Silver, next month also marks the start of our AFI 100 series. We'll be showing classic films from the 100/100 every Sunday afternoon and Monday evening. Hope to see you here then.
________________________________________________
ArtMovieLover, Va.:
I love your chat, Rita, and I love being one of your "Unusual Suspect." I was writing to ask if ....
WOOPS! Wrong chat. Uh.... Let me see if I can recover here...
Hi, Murray. Last time I saw you, you were chatting with the Terence Blanchard band at the Borders at 18th and L. Great jazz and now great movies. You get all the cool gigs.
Can you tell me if the theater at the Kennedy Center will still be used by the AFI? I know it's old and kind of dingy, but I saw some great films there and have a soft spot for the place.
I hope to make it to the new AFI theater soon.
Murray Horwitz: Wow -- what a memory you have. Actually, I asked Terence Blanchard to come here for our opening events, given his strong film connection. I wanted him -- among other things -- to play the National Anthem. Alas, he was otherwise engaged, but said he'd come another time, so stay tuned.
Absolutely, we're staying at AFI's National Film Theater at the Kennedy Center. In fact, you can see Jean Cocteau's 1946 BEAUTY AND THE BEAST there tonight, tomorrow, and Sunday. Our engagements there will still be somewhat fitful, but we're collaborating with the Center more than ever, as a film component to some of their festivals (e.g., Tchaikovsky later this year, the NSO's film music series this past winter). We've told them that, in fact, we'd like to find ways to expand our activities at the Center.
And, yes, I do get cool gigs. Not ALL the cool gigs, but some very nice ones.
________________________________________________
Bethesda, Md.:
Do you offer internships?
Murray Horwitz: There are opportunities for interns here at the AFI Silver. We have no paid internships, and, in fact, don't have a formal internship program for the Silver's general operations. SILVERDOCS, however -- the AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival -- has some need for internships. You can contact Malkia Lydia, the SilverDocs Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator, at
________________________________________________
Washington, D.C.:
Why did the AFI decide to move out of D.C?
Murray Horwitz: AFI still has a very important -- well, WE think it's very important -- presence in DC. In addition to our film preservation efforts (much of that work is done in cooperation with the Library of Congress, and we have some space there), we are still very much in residence around 20 weeks a year at AFI's National Film Theater at the Kennedy Center. In fact, you can go there this weekend to see Jean Cocteau's 1946 film, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
Some 25 years ago, AFI relocated the bulk of its educational, new technology, and other activities to Los Angeles. This was well before my time here (which began only last year), but I think the reason was the extraordinary opportunity to have a real campus and a wide array of facilities -- as well as being closer to the center of most film and television production in the country.
In any case, here at the Silver, we're only two blocks from the District!
________________________________________________
Washington, D.C.:
Is the AFI still into film preserving?
Murray Horwitz: Absolutely. In fact, beginning next month, we'll be showing three "pre-code" films that were preserved by AFI (with help, to be sure; as I understand it, most film preservation projects are cooperative ventures). These are movies from the early 1930s, before the Hays code (against certain kinds of romantic and sexual content) was vigorously enforced.
I have declared to our colleagues in film preservation at AFI that I would like the Silver to be the showcase for all their projects.
________________________________________________
Silver Spring, Md.:
I want to give a gift membership to the AFI SS. How would I go about doing that?
Thanks -- very excited to have AFI here!
Murray Horwitz: Many thanks. Call 1-800-774-4234.
This is the best question I've answered yet!
________________________________________________
Silver Spring, Md.:
Murray -- Love the theater! I'd like to buy tickets for the opening night of SilverDocs. When will they be available? Can I buy them online or will I have to go to the box office? Thanks.
Murray Horwitz: Many thanks. Go to or call (301) 495-6776. Tickets are $35.
See you here!
________________________________________________
Washington, D.C.:
I was fortunate to attend the preview showing of
"A Mighty Wind" at the AFI Silver, and I was
particularly thrilled that Christopher Guest,
Eugene Levy and Michael McKean attended. I am
a reverent fan of them all.
When you interviewed them prior to the
screening, despite your able attempts to draw Mr.
Guest out, he seemed unwilling to cooperate.
Was he just being cagey, or was he just burnt out
on the whole film junket drill at that point? Or had
something upset him prior to the interview? He
just gave you very little to work with onstage that
night.
Murray Horwitz: Thanks so much for your sympathetic note. Not having worked with Mr. Guest before, I can't really say for sure why he was that way. My first impulse, of course, is that I must have annoyed him in some way. But some of my show business colleagues -- including Eugene Levy, with whom I HAVE worked -- assured me that it wasn't I. I do think that the "film junket drill" is a very plausible explanation. I know of nothing here that upset him. Eugene and Mr. McKean went out of their way to thank me afterward, so perhaps he was especially tired or upset. I understand the headline of his interview in ROLLING STONE the next week was, "A Mighty Grouch." In any case, what matters -- as always -- is the work itself, and, like you, I am an unalloyed admirer of his films. He's achieving something I've always strived for in my own comedy works.
________________________________________________
Tysons Corner, but just for work:
Just wanted to say that I went to the theater and saw La Belle et Le Bete and was blown away by both the film and the theater. Bravo!
Murray Horwitz: You know, I was sad to see it go. I saw it four times.
But you can still catch it this weekend in our space at the Kennedy Center! In any case, we've plenty more where that came from. Hope to see you here again soon.
Many thanks.
________________________________________________
Vienna, Va.:
How many movies does the $35 let you see?
Murray Horwitz: The $35 is for the very special opening night -- the North American premiere of CHARLIE: THE LIFE AND ART OF CHARLES CHAPLIN, featuring the filmmaker, Richard Schickel, and Chaplin's daughter, Geraldine -- as well as celebrities from the film, tv, and comedy worlds.
For info about tickets to the entire festival and individual films, check out
________________________________________________
Washingotn, D.C.:
Mr Horwitz:
Any chance for a little more common sense in the programming? I have been waiting 15 years to see the Godfather trilogy on the big screen and you were kind enough to include it in your first months' programming at the new theater. But you showed each of the movies exactly twice! And during the D.C. Film Fest! What's a busy cinephile to do?
And with the three theaters now (or four if you include the Kennedy Center) I really hope you will show more classic movies -- particularly American -- on the big screen that younger movie fans like myself normally only get to see on a TV screen which any movie purist knows is an incomparable experience.
Thanks for taking my question.
Murray Horwitz: So many films, so little time. I think we got the trilogy bookings just about right -- business was okay for some, better for others. And, believe me, it's not the last time you'll be able to see THE GODFATHER here. It's my intention that a busy cinephile -- like you -- is going to have some very hard choices to make, and that's a good problem for us all to have, I think.
I'm not sure how we can show more classic movies than we are planning. Tonight, HIGH NOON begins, followed by KING OF HEARTS and JAZZ ON A SUMMER'S DAY. Next month: LAWRENCE OF ARABIA and 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (both in 70mm), a festival of late Alfred Hitchcock movies, an Astaire/Rogers festival, tributes to Robert DeNiro and Alain Delon -- I think we're doing okay on the classics front. Keeping the balance among first-run, foreign, classic, documentary, and independent films is always a challenge.
And as for common sense, I make no claims to having it.
________________________________________________
Harrisburg, Pa.:
Thank you for becoming the showcase of these old movies. This is an important part of history and it will be great that people can see them. Are there plans to put more of these seldom seen movies into DVD or VHS so those of us who aren't in D.C. on a regular basis can see them?
Murray Horwitz: That's up to the filmmakers and distributors, not to AFI. Happily, it seems to me that there's more classic film and t.v. available to us in home video than ever before.
________________________________________________
Somewhere, USA:
Is there anyway to recommend films to be screened? Particularly older films?
Murray Horwitz: Sure. You can always write or e-mail us, and we're planning to have a suggestion box in the lobby.
________________________________________________
Curious in College Park, Md.:
I've passed by the AFI theater and it really brightens up downtown Silver Spring! First, will the rotation of movies be varied, include what's playing in theaters now and also some classics and independents? How many theaters are in there and is it an expensive experience?
Murray Horwitz: Three theaters, $8.50 a ticket ($1.00 discount for students with i.d., seniors, and AFI members), and, yes, what I hope is a real balance among classic, independent, foreign, and documentary film and video (and other stuff, too: animation, short subjects, etc.). Stop by and you'll see for yourself.
________________________________________________
Washington, D.C.:
Just want to say thanks for coming to Silver Spring! We're all so excited.
One question ... with so many movie theaters in the District closing, do you have plans to help keep some of the independent theaters alive? I'm thinking maybe some partnerships with Visions or something, to keep the film community in D.C. alive. Thanks!
Murray Horwitz: Thanks. Whew! We've got to get OURSELVES up and running efficiently, and accomplish some of the things we've set out to do, before being able to help anybody else! My own feeling is that Visions, the Avalon, Landmark Bethesda Row, etc., are all great boons to the Washington area. What's the old saying? "It's a rising tide that lifts all boats."
RE: partnerships, we've just started doing some cross-promotions with the Landmark cinema in Bethesda.
________________________________________________
Alexandria, Va.:
Thanks for taking questions. How often do you intend (if at all) to have live musical accompaniment with silent film showings? Any interest in approaching a silent classic with a new modern score?
Murray Horwitz: Yeah, this is certainly something we want to do, and of particular interest to me (I have a background in music and music theater -- as a non-musician). We have a terrific, three-manual organ, and used it last month to accompany two screenings of Harold Lloyd's SAFETY LAST. We're trying to do the same thing in July with Buster Keaton's THE GENERAL. I would love to use such ensembles as The Alloy Orchestra and other contemporary groups, and we are physically set up to do so. The problem, unsurprisingly, is money. A pit orchestra of, say, 20 players, is a great expense, and even a small ensemble like Alloy is something we can't yet afford. An underwriter for such a series would be a big help.
But I've no doubt that, sometime in the next year or two, we'll have such an evening. I'd even like -- in my dreams -- to commission a score.
________________________________________________
Washington, D.C.:
What can you see at the new AFI that you can't see anywhere else?
Murray Horwitz: Pretty much everything in our programming guide. I don't think we've ever shown (in our first two months of operation) anything that was available at another theater in the area. We had -- here at the AFI Silver and downtown at the AFI National Film Theater at the Kennedy Center -- the exclusive Washington-area engagement of the Pennebaker/Hegedus documentary, ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE. Tonight, we'll be showing Aki Kaurismaki's JUHA, in its American theatrical premiere, as well as the second-ever theatrical engagement (the first outside of NYC) of GIGANTIC.
those are a few examples.
________________________________________________
Laurel, Md:
I recently noticed that the AFI was screening classic American films such as The Godfather triology, and High Noon. Do you plan to continue this trend and show a steady diet of contemporary classics or will the movies be more geared to the foreign and high brow art films you now show?
Murray Horwitz: The challenge is maintaining the balance. We show -- and will continue to show -- four main types of film: independent, classic, foreign, and documentary (obviously, sometimes those categories overlap), as well as other genres like animation, short subjects, and video. From month to month, we may be heavier in one or more categories. It's my hope that, over the course of many months -- and many years -- we will have fulfilled our audiences' expectations and our own high goals.
July, for example, will be especially rich in classics, with LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, 2001, Astaire & Rogers, Hitchcock, etc.
________________________________________________
Washington, D.C.:
Is the new AFI just like a regular movie theater? Do you sell popcorn and candy? Do the movies change often?
Murray Horwitz: Yes and yes.
________________________________________________
Beautiful Silver Spring, Md.:
I find myself spending an impressive amount of time and money at the Silver Spring AFI, partially because it's cool and partially because it's about two blocks from my apartment. Good job!
My question is: Have you considered selling tickets to series of films on a subscription basis? For example, with the Apu films you recently showed, you could show them on successive Monday nights at 6:30 and offer a modest discount for paying for all three up front. I found when I was looking over the catalog that it was hard to select times that would allow me to see all three films in sequence. You could also do this with films that form a trilogy or a quartet (or whatever) with different perspectives on the same issue, or different opuses of a director or actor. I think having such series at regular times would help a lot of people in scheduling their moviegoing.
Murray Horwitz: Many thanks. A series such as that you describe is something we want to experiment with. It takes some planning, and we're working on it. We will have a series of films in the AFI 100 list, running on Sunday matinees and Monday evenings, beginning in late June.
Glad you like the place.
________________________________________________
Silver Spring, Md.:
First -- Welcome to Silver Spring -- we're thrilled to have you!
As a parent who lives near downtown Silver Spring, I'd love to see AFI establish a late Saturday-afternoon or Sunday-afternoon "classic kids" movie program. There's so much that's worth seeing on a big screen, rather than on 13" screen. It would be particularly welcome in the fall/winter/spring -- when we're stuck inside on seemingly endless cold and wet weekends. How about it? Thanks for your consideration!
Murray Horwitz: It's on the way! We'll be doing Saturday kids' shows beginning in -- July, I think. 5,000 FINGERS OF DR. T, BABE, etc.
________________________________________________
Silver Spring, Md.:
Is there any chance of a Kurosawa retrospective?
Murray Horwitz: I think you can count on it. We did Kurosawa/Mifune at the Kennedy Center last year, and we're planning a Kurosawa In Color series, probably later this year. Check the website or stop by.
________________________________________________
Capitol Hill:
I love the new Silver Theatre, but I'm curious about one thing -- is there any way to find out ahead of time in which theater a particular film is being shown? Every film I've been to so far has been shown in theater 2, and I'm anxious to get a movie in the restored theater 1!
Murray Horwitz: This is one of the most common questions we get, and, alas, the answer is "Not really." We're eager for everybody to see what they want to see.
Right now, for example, web sales are going extremely well for tonight's shows of JUHA, HIGH NOON, and GIGANTIC. We have to make a calculated decision about where to show things. For example, we want very much to show HIGH NOON in the historic theater. It just feels right to do so. But if 150 people buy tickets to HIGH NOON, and 300 people buy tickets to GIGANTIC, we really feel we have to accommodate everybody -- which means showing HIGH NOON in the 200-seat Theater II, and GIGANTIC in the 400-seat historic house. So we'll see. Most nights -- especially week nights -- it should be fairly predictable, and a visit to the box office or a call here should steer you right. But there's always a chance that we'll have to move things.
One more point about this -- if you haven't yet seen the historic Silver Theater interior, try to come early to the first show. That way, no matter what film you're seeing, you'll be able to hang out in the historic theater for a spell. It's really worth doing.
________________________________________________
Silver Spring, Md.:
I live in Silver Spring and am thrilled, like all my neighbors, to see the Silver Theatre reopened. I've also become a member, as have many other people I know. My concern, though, is that the theater won't be able to support itself after the public subsidies end. I went to one film that was attended by only about 10 people, and most of the art cinemas in the area have closed in the last five years.
Murray Horwitz: We've been so lucky to get so much support from people throughout the region -- people like you. With that kind of support, the exemplary support of Doug Duncan and the rest of the Montgomery County government, and with continued strong box office, we'll be okay. But, yes, it's true that these are parlous times -- especially for non-profit arts institutions like AFI -- and so we'll continue to rely heavily on the higher levels of membership and on charitable contributions for many years to come.
So thanks for worrying about us, please keep worrying, and tell everybody you know to turn your worry into action!
________________________________________________
Harrisburg, Pa.:
Are there plans to show old, historic films? The AFI has been so supportive of preserving so many old movies. It would be good if the public had a chance to see some of them.
Murray Horwitz: Uh -- please. Look at our programming guide. Go to
HIGH NOON (tonight), LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, 2001, Astaire/Rogers, Hitchcock -- if those aren't classics, what are?
________________________________________________
Murray Horwitz: Wow. Thanks everybody. I had a ball. I wish I could answer all the questions.
A few that remain had to do with our support of budding, independent, documentary, and "poor" (I assume this means financially, not artistically) filmmakers, and training new ones, here in the Silver Spring/National Capital region. The answer is that we are terrifically interested in all of that, but are doing very little here at the AFI Silver right now on that score. (Certainly SILVERDOCS: The AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary festival, will spotlight a number of emerging filmmakers next month.) We have formal arrangements with Montgomery College (as one of you mentioned) and Montgomery County Public Schools, and strong ties to Howard U., American U., George Washington U., and U. of Maryland. (And, who knows, I may have left someone out.) We have some terrific technology here, that we hope one day to see being used by local film and video makers. Right now, however, we're concentrating on getting our film exhibition activity right -- programming well, being technically flawless, accommodating audiences properly, marketing ourselves, etc. Things are going well, but I go nuts when a single reel change is muffed, or the sound is too loud, or one of the posters slips in a display case -- audiences notice these things, and they've a right not to have them happen. So once we become a -- what? -- a well-oiled machine of a movie theater, we hope to be able to devote some time and resources to supporting and teaching filmmakers.
Thanks again, everybody. See you at the movies!
________________________________________________
washingtonpost.com:
That wraps up
today's show. Thanks to everyone who joined the
discussion.
________________________________________________
Automatically Update Page
| Get New Responses | Submit Question
© Copyright 2003 The Washington Post Company | 
