Daily News: "Animator John Lasseter to Recieve Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame"

"John Lasseter, the chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, will receive the 2,453rd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today," reports Daily News Wire Services. More at dailynews.com.

Thompson on Hollywood: "Film Independent Names Lab Participants, Sloan Award Winners"

"After their weekend-long Film Independent Forum," reports Sophia Savage, "FIND announced eleven filmmakers and nine projects for their 11th annual Producers Lab, and named Brent Hoff and Malcom Pullinger the winners of the 5th annual $25,000 Sloan Producers Grant." More at indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood.

Clean White Lines Demos DIY Ethos

Can three film school grads from San Francisco break out without the help of Hollywood or New York connections?

Clean White Lines Demos DIY Ethos

Can three film school grads from San Francisco break out without the help of Hollywood or New York connections?

Clean White Lines Demos DIY Ethos

Can three film school grads from San Francisco break out without the help of Hollywood or New York connections?

'Killer of Sheep'

Charles Burnett's criminally underseen meditation on urban life in future race flashpoint Watts, CA, 'Killer of Sheep,' screens this Friday as part of Pacific Film Archive's The Outsiders: New Hollywood Cinema in the Seventies. More info at bampfa.edu.

'Killer of Sheep'

Charles Burnett's criminally underseen meditation on urban life in future race flashpoint Watts, CA, 'Killer of Sheep,' screens this Friday as part of Pacific Film Archive's The Outsiders: New Hollywood Cinema in the Seventies. More info at bampfa.edu.

Mill Valley Brings Oscar Contenders Close to Home

Mill Valley amps up the star wattage in its annual mix of local, international titles.

Mill Valley Brings Oscar Contenders Close to Home

Mill Valley amps up the star wattage in its annual mix of local, international titles.

Mill Valley Brings Oscar Contenders Close to Home

Mill Valley amps up the star wattage in its annual mix of local, international titles.

The Facts Behind Great Fiction

The path to authentic storytelling lies in research.

The Facts Behind Great Fiction

The path to authentic storytelling lies in research.

The Facts Behind Great Fiction

The path to authentic storytelling lies in research.

Gordon-Levitt's Chances Better than '50/50'

Up-and-comer Joseph Gordon-Levitt is so good he compensates for the cancer comedy's shortcomings, even if he can't erase them.

Gordon-Levitt's Chances Better than '50/50'

Up-and-comer Joseph Gordon-Levitt is so good he compensates for the cancer comedy's shortcomings, even if he can't erase them.

Gordon-Levitt's Chances Better than '50/50'

Up-and-comer Joseph Gordon-Levitt is so good he compensates for the cancer comedy's shortcomings, even if he can't erase them.

Gordon-Levitt's Chances Better than '50/50'

Up-and-comer Joseph Gordon-Levitt is so good he compensates for the cancer comedy's shortcomings, even if he can't erase them.

Tom Tykwer's '3'

After delighting audiences at this year's Frameline festival with its sexy, stylish update on the classic Hollywood screwball formula, 'Run Lola Run' director Tom Tykwer's '3' gets a full run at Sundance Kabuki and other venues around the Bay starting this Friday. More info sundancecinemas.com.

Tom Tykwer's '3'

After delighting audiences at this year's Frameline festival with its sexy, stylish update on the classic Hollywood screwball formula, 'Run Lola Run' director Tom Tykwer's '3' gets a full run at Sundance Kabuki and other venues around the Bay starting this Friday. More info sundancecinemas.com.

Dark Thoughts Fill TIFF’s Lightbox

Sex-filled fictions dominate Toronto International Film Festival; eclectic docs inspire action.

Dark Thoughts Fill TIFF’s Lightbox

Sex-filled fictions dominate Toronto International Film Festival; eclectic docs inspire action.

Dark Thoughts Fill TIFF’s Lightbox

Sex-filled fictions dominate Toronto International Film Festival; eclectic docs inspire action.

He-Men Command Belief in MMA Film 'Warrior'

Gavin O'Connor does a remarkable job making his two-and-a-half-hour fight film gritty, involving and as credible as humanly possible.

He-Men Command Belief in MMA Film 'Warrior'

Gavin O'Connor does a remarkable job making his two-and-a-half-hour fight film gritty, involving and as credible as humanly possible.

He-Men Command Belief in MMA Film 'Warrior'

Gavin O'Connor does a remarkable job making his two-and-a-half-hour fight film gritty, involving and as credible as humanly possible.

He-Men Command Belief in MMA Film 'Warrior'

Gavin O'Connor does a remarkable job making his two-and-a-half-hour fight film gritty, involving and as credible as humanly possible.

Kuchar, Belson Bid Adieu

San Francisco loses two of its cinema icons, pioneering 'camp humorist' George Kuchar and seminal experimental filmmaker Jordan Belson. George Kuchar, the beloved San Francisco filmmaker, teacher, mentor and friend, died Tuesday night, September 6, at the age of 69. He passed away at Coming Home Hospice in the Castro, where he resided for the last month. Kuchar had been diagnosed with cancer a year and a half ago, but the sad news was not conveyed beyond a circle of close friends until recently. Kuchar and his twin brother, Mike, began making movies in their teens in their Bronx neighborhood in the late ’50s. Inspired by the florid emotions of Hollywood melodramas, they made 8mm narratives that were funny...

Kuchar, Belson Bid Adieu

San Francisco loses two of its cinema icons, pioneering 'camp humorist' George Kuchar and seminal experimental filmmaker Jordan Belson. George Kuchar, the beloved San Francisco filmmaker, teacher, mentor and friend, died Tuesday night, September 6, at the age of 69. He passed away at Coming Home Hospice in the Castro, where he resided for the last month. Kuchar had been diagnosed with cancer a year and a half ago, but the sad news was not conveyed beyond a circle of close friends until recently. Kuchar and his twin brother, Mike, began making movies in their teens in their Bronx neighborhood in the late ’50s. Inspired by the florid emotions of Hollywood melodramas, they made 8mm narratives that were funny...

San Francisco, Open Your Golden Gates

The Golden Gate Bridge remains in heavy rotation in sci-fi, action genres.

San Francisco, Open Your Golden Gates

The Golden Gate Bridge remains in heavy rotation in sci-fi, action genres.

San Francisco, Open Your Golden Gates

The Golden Gate Bridge remains in heavy rotation in sci-fi, action genres.

High Energy 'Point Blank' Is a Rush

Thrill ride 'Point Blank' loses nothing in translation—it's a prime example of cinematic globalization.

High Energy 'Point Blank' Is a Rush

Thrill ride 'Point Blank' loses nothing in translation—it's a prime example of cinematic globalization.

High Energy 'Point Blank' Is a Rush

Thrill ride 'Point Blank' loses nothing in translation—it's a prime example of cinematic globalization.

Cinematographer Cardiff's Eye Prized in 'Cameraman' Doc

'Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff' is a lovely portrait of an innovator and consummate craftsman.

Cinematographer Cardiff's Eye Prized in 'Cameraman' Doc

'Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff' is a lovely portrait of an innovator and consummate craftsman.

Cinematographer Cardiff's Eye Prized in 'Cameraman' Doc

'Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff' is a lovely portrait of an innovator and consummate craftsman.

Generator Everything

'If Marius Watz programmed it, then it's going to be vivid. It's going to be crisp, spiky and angular. It will be fast, bright and noisy. And there's going to be a whole, whole lot of it.'

Generator Everything

'If Marius Watz programmed it, then it's going to be vivid. It's going to be crisp, spiky and angular. It will be fast, bright and noisy. And there's going to be a whole, whole lot of it.'

Generator Everything

'If Marius Watz programmed it, then it's going to be vivid. It's going to be crisp, spiky and angular. It will be fast, bright and noisy. And there's going to be a whole, whole lot of it.'

Weitz Explores the Other L.A. with 'A Better Life'

'A Better Life' succeeds as an L.A.-set remake of bleak Italian neorealist classic 'The Bicycle Thief.'

Weitz Explores the Other L.A. with 'A Better Life'

'A Better Life' succeeds as an L.A.-set remake of bleak Italian neorealist classic 'The Bicycle Thief.'

Weitz Explores the Other L.A. with 'A Better Life'

'A Better Life' succeeds as an L.A.-set remake of bleak Italian neorealist classic 'The Bicycle Thief.'

Weitz Explores the Other L.A. with 'A Better Life'

'A Better Life' succeeds as an L.A.-set remake of bleak Italian neorealist classic 'The Bicycle Thief.'

Weitz Explores the Other L.A. with 'A Better Life'

'A Better Life' succeeds as an L.A.-set remake of bleak Italian neorealist classic 'The Bicycle Thief.'

Weitz Explores the Other L.A. with 'A Better Life'

'A Better Life' succeeds as an L.A.-set remake of bleak Italian neorealist classic 'The Bicycle Thief.'

Weitz Explores the Other L.A. with 'A Better Life'

'A Better Life' succeeds as an L.A.-set remake of bleak Italian neorealist classic 'The Bicycle Thief.'

Weitz Explores the Other L.A. with 'A Better Life'

'A Better Life' succeeds as an L.A.-set remake of bleak Italian neorealist classic 'The Bicycle Thief.'

Border Trouble Comes to Pacific Film Archive

New series spotlights the fascination with Mexico in American noir.

Border Trouble Comes to Pacific Film Archive

New series spotlights the fascination with Mexico in American noir.

Border Trouble Comes to Pacific Film Archive

New series spotlights the fascination with Mexico in American noir.

‘Over the Edge’ Emerges from ‘Cult-Favorite’ Closet

Ficks’ ‘Watch out for Children’ triple bill features a long lost career-lanching teen-drama gem.

‘Over the Edge’ Emerges from ‘Cult-Favorite’ Closet

Ficks’ ‘Watch out for Children’ triple bill features a long lost career-lanching teen-drama gem.

‘Over the Edge’ Emerges from ‘Cult-Favorite’ Closet

Ficks’ ‘Watch out for Children’ triple bill features a long lost career-lanching teen-drama gem.

Elizabeth Taylor Tribute Maps Unusual Star Path

The Castro's Elizabeth Taylor retrospective brings the actress back to her most devoted fans. The first and last time I attended the now-defunct Taos Film Festival, it gave a tribute to Elizabeth Taylor (who lived in the area), allowing me to spend an hour sitting about ten feet from one of the most famous movie stars ever. Arriving by wheelchair with a little dog on her lap, she was petite and attractive, though infirmity had taken its own toll on her figure. She was also funny, candid, unpretentious, occasionally ribald, passionately serious about her causes (especially AIDS research and education), and a little dotty—occasionally she'd drift off on some strange...

Elizabeth Taylor Tribute Maps Unusual Star Path

The Castro's Elizabeth Taylor retrospective brings the actress back to her most devoted fans. The first and last time I attended the now-defunct Taos Film Festival, it gave a tribute to Elizabeth Taylor (who lived in the area), allowing me to spend an hour sitting about ten feet from one of the most famous movie stars ever. Arriving by wheelchair with a little dog on her lap, she was petite and attractive, though infirmity had taken its own toll on her figure. She was also funny, candid, unpretentious, occasionally ribald, passionately serious about her causes (especially AIDS research and education), and a little dotty—occasionally she'd drift off on some strange...

Lost Legends Haunt Roxie's Latest Noir Series

The devil is in the details of I Wake Up Screaming, the Roxie's annual two-week spring celebration of noir's shadiest titles.

Lost Legends Haunt Roxie's Latest Noir Series

The devil is in the details of I Wake Up Screaming, the Roxie's annual two-week spring celebration of noir's shadiest titles.

Lost Legends Haunt Roxie's Latest Noir Series

The devil is in the details of I Wake Up Screaming, the Roxie's annual two-week spring celebration of noir's shadiest titles.

Frank Pierson, 'These Amazing Shadows' Offer Inspiration

Screenwriter Frank Pierson talks production at SFIFF54; Bay Area-made 'These Amazing Shadows' screens after the Festival closes.

Frank Pierson, 'These Amazing Shadows' Offer Inspiration

Screenwriter Frank Pierson talks production at SFIFF54; Bay Area-made 'These Amazing Shadows' screens after the Festival closes.

Frank Pierson, 'These Amazing Shadows' Offer Inspiration

Screenwriter Frank Pierson talks production at SFIFF54; Bay Area-made 'These Amazing Shadows' screens after the Festival closes.

Frank Pierson, 'These Amazing Shadows' Offer Inspiration

Screenwriter Frank Pierson talks production at SFIFF54; Bay Area-made 'These Amazing Shadows' screens after the Festival closes.

Frank Pierson, 'These Amazing Shadows' Offer Inspiration

Screenwriter Frank Pierson talks production at SFIFF54; Bay Area-made 'These Amazing Shadows' screens after the Festival closes.

Frank Pierson, 'These Amazing Shadows' Offer Inspiration

Screenwriter Frank Pierson talks production at SFIFF54; Bay Area-made 'These Amazing Shadows' screens after the Festival closes.

Explosive Actors, Anecdotes Light Up SFIFF54’s Midnight Awards

Zoe Saldana and Clifton Collins, Jr., share candid thoughts with a raucous audience.

Explosive Actors, Anecdotes Light Up SFIFF54’s Midnight Awards

Zoe Saldana and Clifton Collins, Jr., share candid thoughts with a raucous audience.

Explosive Actors, Anecdotes Light Up SFIFF54’s Midnight Awards

Zoe Saldana and Clifton Collins, Jr., share candid thoughts with a raucous audience.

Road to Hollywood Tour: ‘Elmer Gantry’

In celebration of the upcoming Turner Classic Movies Film Festival in Hollywood, Castro Theatre participates in the one-night nationwide Road to Hollywood Tour with a free screening of ‘Elmer Gantry.’ Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz and Academy Award winner Shirley Jones are present. Tickets are acquired through tcm.com/roadtohollywood. More at castrotheatre.com.

On Producing Killer Films

Christine Vachon examines her varied indie successes while offering notes on the world of change engulfing cinema.

On Producing Killer Films

Christine Vachon examines her varied indie successes while offering notes on the world of change engulfing cinema.

On Producing Killer Films

Christine Vachon examines her varied indie successes while offering notes on the world of change engulfing cinema.

Swimming in the Deep End of San Francisco International Film Festival

Films in the 54th SFIFF immerse viewers in distant times, unique places.

Swimming in the Deep End of San Francisco International Film Festival

Films in the 54th SFIFF immerse viewers in distant times, unique places.

Swimming in the Deep End of San Francisco International Film Festival

Films in the 54th SFIFF immerse viewers in distant times, unique places.

Swimming in the Deep End of San Francisco International Film Festival

Films in the 54th SFIFF immerse viewers in distant times, unique places.

Uncomplicating the Casting Process

Hester Schell’s ‘Casting Revealed’ helps filmmakers hire quality actors.

Uncomplicating the Casting Process

Hester Schell’s ‘Casting Revealed’ helps filmmakers hire quality actors.

Uncomplicating the Casting Process

Hester Schell’s ‘Casting Revealed’ helps filmmakers hire quality actors.

Uncomplicating the Casting Process

Hester Schell’s ‘Casting Revealed’ helps filmmakers hire quality actors.

Uncomplicating the Casting Process

Hester Schell’s ‘Casting Revealed’ helps filmmakers hire quality actors.

Uncomplicating the Casting Process

Hester Schell’s ‘Casting Revealed’ helps filmmakers hire quality actors.

Kehr Recalls ‘When Movies Mattered’

A collection of Dave Kehr's analytical, entertaining pieces from 30-plus years ago offers critical enlightenment for a short-form era.

Kehr Recalls ‘When Movies Mattered’

A collection of Dave Kehr's analytical, entertaining pieces from 30-plus years ago offers critical enlightenment for a short-form era.

Kehr Recalls ‘When Movies Mattered’

A collection of Dave Kehr's analytical, entertaining pieces from 30-plus years ago offers critical enlightenment for a short-form era.

Merk Mixes ‘Cocktails’ for Television

Ron Merk sends a San Francisco-set series into the ring.

Merk Mixes ‘Cocktails’ for Television

Ron Merk sends a San Francisco-set series into the ring.

Merk Mixes ‘Cocktails’ for Television

Ron Merk sends a San Francisco-set series into the ring.

Hollywood Reporter: New Film Site Fandor Launches

Hollywood Reporter: ""What the film industry desperately needs is a merger of social networks and content," says Ted Hope, the celebrated producer of American Splendor and dozens of indie hits at Sundance and elsewhere. That's why he just joined former Facebook chief privacy officer Chris Kelly on the board of Fandor, the indie film streaming site built by Dan Aronson and Jonathan Marlow, a veteran of Amazon and GreenCine. After several months in beta (trial-run mode), Fandor made its full-fledged debut Wednesday," writes Tim Appelo. More at hollywoodreporter.com.

Poetry in Motion: Working in Action

Build an action picture with a poor script? At your own risk.

Poetry in Motion: Working in Action

Build an action picture with a poor script? At your own risk.

Poetry in Motion: Working in Action

Build an action picture with a poor script? At your own risk.

Silent Film Festival Is in the Money

SF Silent Film Festival's Winter Event offers financial dramas that speak volumes.

Silent Film Festival Is in the Money

SF Silent Film Festival's Winter Event offers financial dramas that speak volumes.

Silent Film Festival Is in the Money

SF Silent Film Festival's Winter Event offers financial dramas that speak volumes.

Eclectic Expectations Met at SF Indiefest

SF Indiefest brings drama, doc, fact, fiction and physique into its annual showcase.

Eclectic Expectations Met at SF Indiefest

SF Indiefest brings drama, doc, fact, fiction and physique into its annual showcase.

Eclectic Expectations Met at SF Indiefest

SF Indiefest brings drama, doc, fact, fiction and physique into its annual showcase.

Temporary Insanity Takes Hold at Noir City

Noir City 9's "madness" theme means a few more gothic titles and a fresh context to appreciate noir’s signature motifs.

Temporary Insanity Takes Hold at Noir City

Noir City 9's "madness" theme means a few more gothic titles and a fresh context to appreciate noir’s signature motifs.

Temporary Insanity Takes Hold at Noir City

Noir City 9's "madness" theme means a few more gothic titles and a fresh context to appreciate noir’s signature motifs.

Patrick Marks Takes a Green Eye to Noir

Notable Noir City enthusiast Patrick Marks, owner of the Green Arcade, offers thoughts on the genre as well as festival's 2011 selections.

Patrick Marks Takes a Green Eye to Noir

Notable Noir City enthusiast Patrick Marks, owner of the Green Arcade, offers thoughts on the genre as well as festival's 2011 selections.

Patrick Marks Takes a Green Eye to Noir

Notable Noir City enthusiast Patrick Marks, owner of the Green Arcade, offers thoughts on the genre as well as festival's 2011 selections.

'Somewhere' Seizes on Discontent

Sofia Coppola's 'Somewhere' nails the spiritual erosion of constant, effortless indulgence.

'Somewhere' Seizes on Discontent

Sofia Coppola's 'Somewhere' nails the spiritual erosion of constant, effortless indulgence.

'Somewhere' Seizes on Discontent

Sofia Coppola's 'Somewhere' nails the spiritual erosion of constant, effortless indulgence.

Film 2010: Moments, Trends, Docs and the Best of the Bay Area

The Bay Area film community sounds off on the best/worst trends, times, docs and Bay Area-made films of 2010.

Film 2010: Moments, Trends, Docs and the Best of the Bay Area

The Bay Area film community sounds off on the best/worst trends, times, docs and Bay Area-made films of 2010.

Film 2010: Moments, Trends, Docs and the Best of the Bay Area

The Bay Area film community sounds off on the best/worst trends, times, docs and Bay Area-made films of 2010.

Film 2010: Moments, Trends, Docs and the Best of the Bay Area

The Bay Area film community sounds off on the best/worst trends, times, docs and Bay Area-made films of 2010.

Film 2010: Top Tens

Film fans and makers agree to disagree on the best films of 2010 in SF360.org's annual Year in Film poll.

Film 2010: Top Tens

Film fans and makers agree to disagree on the best films of 2010 in SF360.org's annual Year in Film poll.

Film 2010: Top Tens

Film fans and makers agree to disagree on the best films of 2010 in SF360.org's annual Year in Film poll.

Film 2010: Top Tens

Film fans and makers agree to disagree on the best films of 2010 in SF360.org's annual Year in Film poll.

Film 2010: The Year in Quotes

Outspoken and rarely understated, Bay Area filmmakers took center stage in 2010.

Film 2010: The Year in Quotes

Outspoken and rarely understated, Bay Area filmmakers took center stage in 2010.

Film 2010: The Year in Quotes

Outspoken and rarely understated, Bay Area filmmakers took center stage in 2010.

Film 2010: The Year in Quotes

Outspoken and rarely understated, Bay Area filmmakers took center stage in 2010.

Film 2010: Big Pictures Light up the Small Screen

Perhaps it's OK to bring art film home for the holidays with sophisticated collections of DVDs and must-buy film books.

Film 2010: Big Pictures Light up the Small Screen

Perhaps it's OK to bring art film home for the holidays with sophisticated collections of DVDs and must-buy film books.

Film 2010: Big Pictures Light up the Small Screen

Perhaps it's OK to bring art film home for the holidays with sophisticated collections of DVDs and must-buy film books.

Film 2010: Big Pictures Light up the Small Screen

Perhaps it's OK to bring art film home for the holidays with sophisticated collections of DVDs and must-buy film books.

Stiller's 'Sir Arne's Treasure' Brought Back to Life, Musically

The Mountain Goats offer an original score for Mauritz Stiller's rambunctious adventure-turned tragedy/morality tale of 1919.

Stiller's 'Sir Arne's Treasure' Brought Back to Life, Musically

The Mountain Goats offer an original score for Mauritz Stiller's rambunctious adventure-turned tragedy/morality tale of 1919.

Stiller's 'Sir Arne's Treasure' Brought Back to Life, Musically

The Mountain Goats offer an original score for Mauritz Stiller's rambunctious adventure-turned tragedy/morality tale of 1919.

Season's Screenings Bring out Best Films of the Year

The year closes with six weeks of strong foreign and arthouse awards-seekers as well as solid franchise holiday entertainments.

Season's Screenings Bring out Best Films of the Year

The year closes with six weeks of strong foreign and arthouse awards-seekers as well as solid franchise holiday entertainments.

Season's Screenings Bring out Best Films of the Year

The year closes with six weeks of strong foreign and arthouse awards-seekers as well as solid franchise holiday entertainments.

Ed Burns Master Class and ‘Nice Guy Johnny’

The Roxie Theater hosts a San Francisco Film Society special presentation: Hollywood 2.0 is a discussion with Ed Burns on the making, marketing and distributing of his new film, ‘Nice Guy Johnny,’ which screens after the event. More at sffs.org.

Ed Burns Looks to Future by Getting Back to Basics

Ed Burns offers ideas about art and marketing as he releases his new film, 'Nice Guy Johnny,' into the world.

Ed Burns Looks to Future by Getting Back to Basics

Ed Burns offers ideas about art and marketing as he releases his new film, 'Nice Guy Johnny,' into the world.

Ed Burns Looks to Future by Getting Back to Basics

Ed Burns offers ideas about art and marketing as he releases his new film, 'Nice Guy Johnny,' into the world.

'Left in the Dark' Savors the Bay Area's Cinema Past, Present

Photo/essay book 'Left in the Dark' offers a way in—and out of—San Francisco cinema's rich, gritty, glamorous past.

'Left in the Dark' Savors the Bay Area's Cinema Past, Present

Photo/essay book 'Left in the Dark' offers a way in—and out of—San Francisco cinema's rich, gritty, glamorous past.

'Left in the Dark' Savors the Bay Area's Cinema Past, Present

Photo/essay book 'Left in the Dark' offers a way in—and out of—San Francisco cinema's rich, gritty, glamorous past.

Swoon Series at PFA

The PFA series Swoon brings back Hollywood's classic leading men—the vulnerable loners, steel-eyed poets and Paul Newman—looking very young through September 26. This week: 'The Hustler,' 'House of Bamboo' and 'Breathless.'

Going McCarey's Way

A Mechanics' Institute series appreciates Leo McCarey's genius with comedy.

Going McCarey's Way

A Mechanics' Institute series appreciates Leo McCarey's genius with comedy.

Going McCarey's Way

A Mechanics' Institute series appreciates Leo McCarey's genius with comedy.

Going McCarey's Way

A Mechanics' Institute series appreciates Leo McCarey's genius with comedy.

Going McCarey's Way

A Mechanics' Institute series appreciates Leo McCarey's genius with comedy.

Going McCarey's Way

A Mechanics' Institute series appreciates Leo McCarey's genius with comedy.

The San Francisco Silent Film Festival Speaks Volumes

The San Francisco Silent Film Festival offers its now expected collection of rare finds, live music and early film amazements

The San Francisco Silent Film Festival Speaks Volumes

The San Francisco Silent Film Festival offers its now expected collection of rare finds, live music and early film amazements

The San Francisco Silent Film Festival Speaks Volumes

The San Francisco Silent Film Festival offers its now expected collection of rare finds, live music and early film amazements

Frameline34 Focuses on Warhol and Worlds of LGBT Cinema

Frameline34 takes a fresh look at Andy Warhol's world while offering a view to the world of international LGBT cinema 2010.

Jordan's Magic Moments with Ondine

Ondine finds Neil Jordan back on personal terra firma with a story (his own, in conception and screenplay) that sits exactly on the thin line separating reality and fantasy.

Bowden Exposes San Francisco in Full Picture

San Francisco filmmaker Jon Bowden brings a second comic feature, The Full Picture, to screens.

Looking for Comedy in Ken Loach's 'Eric'

It s not a laugh-out-loud film, but Looking for Eric can be considered a comedy…in comparison to just about any other Ken Loach movie you could name.

Getting Shatnered with Thrillville

William Shatner has survived as a unique sort of elder showbiz statesman, one who is willing to be the butt of jokes because he is in on them.

San Francisco International's Local Filmmakers Next Step

We caught up with several Bay Area makers, fresh off their high-energy screenings at SFIFF53 and primed to keep the momentum rolling.

SFIFF53 Reports: James Schamus, Roger Ebert and the Writing Life

Few would argue that a good movie often starts with a good story. Yet it has been the screenwriter s lot to be underappreciated.

SFIFF53: Women's Worlds

Don t let Hollywood crow about The Hurt Locker and the year of the woman until more filmmakers of the sort featured at this year s festival benefit.

SFIFF53 Reports: California Dreamin' at Film Society Awards Night

San Francisco itself took a lead role at Film Society Awards Night, the dinner and awards program benefiting the Film Society s year-round Youth Education initiative.

Local Filmmakers In SFIFF Spotlight

Leland Orser saw his first movie at the Alexandria, and Joshua Grannell initially established himself as a S.F. character via his alter ego Peaches Christ.

SFIFF53: Deft Dussollier In 'Micmacs,' 'Wild Grass'

How many foreign stars do U.S. moviegoers know? Not many, alas. My favorite living French actor, André Dussollier, appears prominently in two high-profile festival films.

Epic Expectations in 'The Warlords'

When television first became a dire threat, Hollywood fought the small screen by making the big one really big with vast spectacles worth leaving home for.

Rosen's Insights into 53rd San Francisco International

With opening night approaching, Rachel Rosen talked about her L.A. Rolodex, the function of festivals in a broadband world and her favorites in the festival.

Bong Joon-ho's 'Mother' Pleases

One of the heroes of South Korean cinema's recent renaissance wisely sticks to home terrain with his follow-up to The Host.

Pixar's Latest Oscar High

Cementing its status as the preeminent animation company of the 00s, Pixar won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature for the third time in seven years.

Pixar's Latest Oscar High

Cementing its status as the preeminent animation company of the 00s, Pixar won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature for the third time in seven years.

Hurt and Belief in 'The Yellow Handkerchief'

William Hurt didn't fulfill the promise of major stardom in the 80s, but it's become clearer that he probably didn't want that.

Sid Ganis on Hollywood South and North

From his modest start as a staff writer at 20th Century Fox, Sid Ganis has built an uncommonly long and successful career in Hollywood.

Sid Ganis on Hollywood South and North

From his modest start as a staff writer at 20th Century Fox, Sid Ganis has built an uncommonly long and successful career in Hollywood.

As Oscars Approach, Winners Still Up in the Air

Last month's nominations announcement was anticipated with unusual interest, largely because the Academy reverted to ten Best Picture nominees, a practice abandoned in 1943.

As Oscars Approach, Winners Still Up in the Air

Last month's nominations announcement was anticipated with unusual interest, largely because the Academy reverted to ten Best Picture nominees, a practice abandoned in 1943.

Buscemi in Fine, Droll Form in 'St. John of Las Vegas'

Steve Buscemi is one of those actors people are instantly happy to see on screen, even if their recall stretches no farther than, Hey, it's that guy!

SF Indiefest at Twelve

It s a strange time for independent film, with scaled-back specialty divisions and online self-distribution, but SF Indiefest remains a champion of the unsung and un-buzzable.

Val Lewton's Brooding Mood, Chilling Themes

Horror movies were once dismissed by most grownups (and nearly all critics) as juvenile, silly, even offensive. Val Lewton seriously challenged that thinking,

Darkness Of Noir City On Castro Screen

In late January, many tune their radar to the snowy, showy glare of Sundance. With Noir City here, the stay-at-homes are the luckier ones.

Nao Bustamante's 'Silver and Gold' in Park City

The late, great Jack Smith was all about the strange sway classic Hollywood movies, particularly obscure stars and low-budget yet opulent art direction, have had on us.

Michael House's Translation of Tati at YBCA

Riding the crest of the Tati tsunami hitting our shores is The Magnificent Tati by Michael House, who lived in S.F. for 12 years before moving to Paris.

What's In a Name?

The thing about titles is they re too short to receive copyright protection. For copyright purposes, a title is like a label of a copyrighted work.

After Sept. 11, 2001, A Decade Found Its Way

On Sept. 13, 2001, I stood in a Toronto park and spoke to Canadian television: Movies wouldn't be the same. I was wrong.

Shannon and Ryan own the screen in "The Missing Person"

Shannon and Ryan own the screen in the contemporary indie noir The Missing Person.

David Thomson Revisits 'Psycho's' Critical Moment

David Thomson's new book commemorates the golden anniversary of Hitchcock's "Psycho."

Holiday Film Preview, Part II

Dennis Harvey weighs in on the upcoming films of the holiday season.

Holiday Film Preview, Part II

Dennis Harvey weighs in on the upcoming films of the holiday season.

Wintering with the SF Silent Film Festival

Highlights from the 2009 San Francisco Silent Film Festival winter event.

Feast Your Eyes: A Holiday Film Preview

Dennis Harvey weighs in on the upcoming films of the holiday season.

The Exiled Ingrid Bergman at PFA

The PFA is offering a rare overview of Bergman's European films in the series, A Woman's Face: Ingrid Bergman in Europe.

The Exiled Ingrid Bergman at PFA

The PFA is offering a rare overview of Bergman's European films in the series, A Woman's Face: Ingrid Bergman in Europe.

Live from Mill Valley: Woody Harrelson and Uma Thurman

At their respective festival tributes, the actors gave entertaining and revealing onstage interviews.

Mill Valley Film Festival's 32nd

The program offers a surprisingly potent mainstream industry presence, with tributes to A-list types more frequently seen at the multiplex than at the art house.

Columbia Pictures' noir lights at the Roxie

The Roxie's Best of Columbia Noir seroes features great films capitalizing on a simple formula: a girl, a guy and a gun.

Lee, Schamus and Woodstock

The release of Woodstock provides an opportunity to look back on Ang Lee and Schamus's very impressive, diverse screen resume.

Understanding Backstory

Behind any narrative for the screen is the story that came before it—the life that shaped the central character, who arrives fully formed as your story opens

Bob Goldthwait, Fate and 'World's Greatest Dad'

Bay Area favorite Bob Goldthwait, whose pop culture moment seemed to expire in the mid '80s, returns with comedic vengeance via World's Greatest Dad.

Josef von Sternberg Gem

Josef von Sternberg's The Salvation Hunters caused a small sensation within the industry when it appeared, and is visually assured time capsule of urban poverty.

Shelley Diekman Reflects on Well-Spent life

Newly-retired Pacific Film Archive publicist Shelley Diekman discusses her cinephile tastes, her past and her future.

Berkeley-based writer Barry Gifford's wild screen-rides

A peripatetic childhood laid fertile ground for the heated imagination of Berkeley-based author Barry Gifford, who has written Wild at Heart and Lost Highway. 

Britta Sjogren and "Women's Film"

Sjogren threads her vexations with feminist film theory into a study of sound and voice in "women's film" touchstones like Letter from an Unknown Woman.

Britta Sjogren and "Women's Film"

Sjogren threads her vexations with feminist film theory into a study of sound and voice in "women's film" touchstones like Letter from an Unknown Woman.

An Ample Display of Tilda Swinton's Edge

Tilda Swinton's edge of riskiness is on ample display in Julia, a new film by French director Erick Zonca.

SF Silent Film Festival

Douglas Fairbanks in The Gaucho is one of the many highlights on screen during the three-day San Francisco Silent Film Festival.

'The Greatest Year in Film' at the Castro

A series at the Castro marks 1939 as the high-water mark of cinema.

'The Greatest Year in Film' at the Castro

A series at the Castro marks 1939 as the high-water mark of cinema.

Frameline33: Something Old, Something New

A dose of self-affirmation arrives with Frameline33 (or, if you prefer, the multiple-breath-intake-requiring San Francisco International Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Film Festival.)

Another Hole in the Head

At a film festival called Another Hole in the Head, dedicated to sci-fi, horror and fantasy, catastrophic carnage meets comedy more often than not.

Raimi's Return to Horror: Drag Me to Hell

Despite a few flaws in story and continuity, Drag Me to Hell offers the pleasures of a first-class entertainer thoroughly enjoying himself.

Bruce Goldstein: From NY to SF to 'Con'

Bruce Goldstein recalls his adventures in film land as he prepares to host the Con Film Festival at the Film Forum in New York.

Recession-Proof Theaters, to a Point

Arthouse theaters like The Roxie, Red Vic and The Balboa resist the economic downturn and adjust calendars to meet audience demands.

SFIFF52: Leone's 'Once Upon a Time in the West'

Once Upon a Time in the West is grand, cynical, lavish and above all huge, Sergio Leone's penchant for the iconically gargantuan (perhaps at the willing expense of relatable human detail) expressed in ultimate form.

SFIFF52: Robert Redford Accepts Owens Award

Robert Redford braves the public and accepts the San Francisco International Film Festival's Peter J. Owens Award.

Bahrani Earns Ebert's Praise for "Goodbye Solo"

Ramin Bahrani's Goodbye Solo prompted Roger Ebert to pronounce him "the new great American directorâ" a couple weeks ago. The film is definitely the writer-helmer's most accessible work to date, one that might very well provide him with an arthouse breakthrough.

Bahrani Earns Ebert's Praise for "Goodbye Solo"

Ramin Bahrani's Goodbye Solo prompted Roger Ebert to pronounce him "the new great American directorâ" a couple weeks ago. The film is definitely the writer-helmer's most accessible work to date, one that might very well provide him with an arthouse breakthrough.

"Observe and Report:" Seth Rogen Strikes Again

If it grows darker than one might expect, Observe still hesitates at becoming a true black comedy; it's more medium-gray, earning stripes for breaking from current comedy norms on a moment-to-moment basis without quite arriving at an original, fully-developed whole. But Hill has a good eye, ear (the soundtrack choices are notably sharp), sense of off-kilter pacing, and, most importantly, a firm grasp on character.

Beloved publicist Bill McLeod dies

William W. (Bill) McLeod, 59, one of the Bay Area's most respected film publicists died at his home on March 29th, 2009.

Strand Releasing Turns 20

Twenty years after its founding, Strand Releasing remains an active, irreplaceable and distinctive presence on the U.S. distribution scene.

Re-Viewing 'The Savage Eye'

This "dramatized documentary" was a labor of love–if also a graphic portrayal of the vast LA detached from Hollywood's success-bubble glamour.

Re-Viewing 'The Savage Eye'

This "dramatized documentary" was a labor of love–if also a graphic portrayal of the vast LA detached from Hollywood's success-bubble glamour.

Intersections of 'Harrison Montgomery' with Daniel Davila

SF360.org interviews Davila on his film about a bottom-rung Tenderloin drug dealer with aspirations of becoming an artist.

San Francisco Silent Film Festival Winter Event

The S.F. Silent Film Festival's Winter Event allows you to spend hours in the dark with the madcap movie entertainments of 80-plus years ago.

Growing a Good Story, Naturally

Ask the Documentary Doctor: If my doc doesn't follow a fiction three-act model, will it fail in the market?

'Strand' Follows Thread to Rep Cinema's Glory Days

In Strand: A Natural History of Cinema, Christian Bruno pays homage to the pivotal and shifting role of movie theaters in San Francisco's cultural life.

César Charlone Directs 'The Pope's Toilet'

Oscar-nominated cinematographer César Charlone recently codirected his first theatrical feature film, a darkly comic farce about Pope John Paul II.

Sundance '09: Award-Winners, Bloggers, and More

Susie Gerhard gives an overview of a festival moving back to the basics of art-making.

Bud Cort Honored at Sketchfest

SF Sketchfest pays tribute to Bud Cort with a live Q&A and screening of Harold and Maude.

Eddie Muller and Noir City

SF360.org spoke with Eddie Muller, who launched Noir City, an annual noir festival that has attracted an avid following in the Bay Area and beyond.

Casting: Names and Numbers

Avoiding Disaster: George Rush writes on the conundrum of not getting money for a project without a known cast, and not getting a cast without a bunch of money.

Wim Wenders: Berlin & Beyond

Wenders, one of the stellar directors of "New German Cinema," is this year's honoree at the 14th annual Berlin & Beyond festival.

'Che: The Roadshow' reclaims a legend

Steven Soderbergh's fascinating portrait of legendary revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara is willfully disinterested in the conventions of mainstream movies.

The Year in Film 2008: Oscar Odds

Instead of breaking it down strictly category-by-category, Dennis Harvey meanders through some principal heat-seeking prestige films and their various chances.

The Year in Film 2008: Oscar Odds

Instead of breaking it down strictly category-by-category, Dennis Harvey meanders through some principal heat-seeking prestige films and their various chances.

The Year in Film: What did Women Want?

Matt Sussman draws conclusions about women and Hollywood from three big women-oriented films of 2008.

The Year in Film: What did Women Want?

Matt Sussman draws conclusions about women and Hollywood from three big women-oriented films of 2008.

Bursting with 'Button'

Dennis Harvey reviews The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Bursting with 'Button'

Dennis Harvey reviews The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Case Studies in Screenwriting: Pam Gray

Sebastopol-based screenwriter Pamela Gray's approach to screenwriting is the literary equivalent of the slow food movement.

Reading Between the Frames: Fleming and Sturges

Victor Fleming: An American Movie Master and Glenn Lovell's Escape Artist: The Life and Films of John Sturges are splendid biographies by critics with local ties.

Season's Gleanings, a Holiday Preview

Dennis Harvey reviews some of 2008's year-end sobering dramas.

Sragow on 'An American Movie Master'

Former San Francisco Examiner film critic Michael Sragow talks about his newly released book Victor Fleming: An American Movie Master.

Gus Van Sant and Dustin Lance Black on 'Milk'

Michael Fox chats with Gus Van Sant and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black on the eve of Milk's much-anticipated theatrical release.

David Thomson and 1,000 Unusual Suspects

Film historian and essayist David Thomson talks to SF360 about his new book, Have You Seen . . . ? A Personal Introduction to 1,000 Films.

Mill Valley Film Festival's Maher Moment

Religulous is a desperately awaited and already vehemently decried film by Bill Maher and director Larry Charles.

Ariella Ben-Dov's Madcat Archives

What do women want to watch? With Diane English’s recent unfunny and product placement-filled re-make of The Women hitting theaters last week, Hollywood’s answer, predictably, is more of the same.

Inside the Telluride Film Festival

A Telluride veteran gives a festival overview, and explains why film lovers and filmmakers travel to a remote corner of Colorado on blind faith.

'Hats Off' Fascinated With 93-Years-Young Actress

A local filmmaker looks at Mimi Weddell, a perennial bit part-player with a jaw-dropping collection of hats and endless show biz energy.

'The Dark Cinema of David Goodis' at the PFA

The Pacific Film Archive screens a survey of Goodis-related works from both the big and small screen, spanning nearly five decades.

Jacques Nolot and 'Before I Forget'

Dyspeptic rather than tragic, Jacques Nolot's Before I Forget may be the best gay feel-bad movie ever.

'The Exiles,' a Return Engagement

A film from 1961, The Exiles is a long-in-making unvarnished look at 12 hours in the lives of a group of American Indians who have come to Los Angeles.

Review: 'Love Songs'

'Love Songs', a truly gay musical utterly devoid of camp, causes critic Dennis Harvey to reassess France's take on the genre.

Review: "Postal"

It may not be easy being Uwe Boll, but it must be fun. He's a boundlessly energetic fanboy-turned-maker who thinks large.

Jimmy Stewart at 100

For all his lasting wholesome appeal, Stewart was an oddity: Gangly, stammering, Pennsylvania-drawling and not particularly attractive by 1930s studio standards.

Review: 'The Living End,' remixed and remastered

Gregg Araki's "irresponsible" movie was the first to respond to the AIDS crisis with ACT UP-style radical rage rather than lamentation or case-pleading.

Capelle on Composers: Day Three

The final installment in the San Francisco composer and musician's blog from the 2008 SFIFF.

'Shampoo.' Rinse. Repeat.

Warren Beatty on the sexual and political message of Shampoo and a new film in the works about romantic revolutionary journalist John Reed.

Nights on the Towne: Film Society Awards Night

You know a festival is working its way into your brain when, in a landscape of intersecting ideas, you begin to witness the collisions.

Nights on the Towne: Film Society Awards Night

You know a festival is working its way into your brain when, in a landscape of intersecting ideas, you begin to witness the collisions.

"Shelter"

Writer/director Jonah Markowitz's Shelter is a romantic gay surfer that more than earns its spurs in terms of real-world credibility and psychology.

"Paranoid Park"

Just when Gus Van Sant seemed on the verge of turning into just another Hollywood selloutÑhe did a total about-face. His four features since have been true art films

Undying Love for George A. Romero

It probably wasn't Romero's original dream to become semi-famous for movies about the flesh-eating undead.

SF Indiefest at 10

Way back in 1998, Jeff Ross founded the San Francisco Independent Film Festival to showcase iconoclastic, grassroots moviemakers locked out of the standard channels of distribution. As the 10th SF Indiefest kicks off tonight, Ross and his rotating cast of programmers remain as idealistic as ever, but the indie landscape has largely changed for the worse.

Location Scouting at Sundance

Susan Gerhard reflects on Sundance's program with particular attention to sense of place.

Alan K. Rode on Noir and Charles McGraw

Alan K. Rode, a cofounder of the Film Noir Foundation, sang the praises of San Francisco movie audiences on the horn from L.A., then got down to brass tacks.

Berlin & Beyond at 13

The Goethe-Institut's festival offers a pointed reminder that Germany, Austria and Switzerland aren't just in the center of Europe, but in the middle of international cinema.

Reviews: "Walk Hard"; "Charlie Wilson's War"

Judd Apatow has come to so dominate American comedy that I often find myself thinking, "If only this movie had been written by Apatow..."

Jesse Hawthorne Ficks's Midnight Movie Empire

Midnites for Maniacs unearths populist yet esoteric genre and exploitation flicks that have mostly disappeared into the netherworld of discarded VHS rental tapes.

The Many Faces of Dylan

Todd Haynes' I'm Not There both replicates and examines the hazy landscape of fact, fiction, art and myth comprising Dylanology.

MobMov and the New-School Drive-In Movie

MobMov combines the four-wheeled charm of an old-time drive-in with the technologist's urge to pimp his or her ride into a rolling film-projection booth.

"Lars and the Real Girl"

This wisp of a movie shouldn't be able to sustain its gimmicky concept, yet miraculously does, thanks not just to Gosling, but to his fellow actors and measured direction.

Mill Valley Film Festival at 30

The Mill Valley Film Festival turns 30 years young this year, sporting none of the girth and wobbly ankles suffered by other way-out-west fests that began life in 1978.

Mateen Kemet, "On the Lot"

While reality television may have reduced Warhol's 15 minutes to a 15 second sound byte, Kemet is setting his sights well beyond his time.

Andrea Sperling, powering up

Sperling's Itty Bitty Titty Committee closes the SF International LGBT Film Festival, at which Sperling—17 films strong—receives the Frameline Award.

Frameline31

Now past its third-decade anniversary, SFILGBTFF — the producing organization keeps trying to change its public-recognition name to something more manageable, which this annum would be Frameline31 — now has filmmakers and distributors banging on its door.

A "Flanders" Reader

As Bruno Dumont's Flanders navigates festival waters, it's been leaving behind a noticeable wake.

SFIFF50

A decade might be long enough in dog years, but in film festival terms it takes a bit more time to impress.

Paul Verhoeven and His "Black Book"

Verhoeven's career can be divided between the character-driven movies he made in Holland and the slick genre films he directed in Hollywood after 1985.

Signs of the Zodiac

As this week's blanket coverage of David Fincher's Zodiac shows, it's axiomatic that nothing intrigues San Franciscans more than San Francisco. And why not?

Signs of the Zodiac

As this week's blanket coverage of David Fincher's Zodiac shows, it's axiomatic that nothing intrigues San Franciscans more than San Francisco. And why not?

'The Departed' Wins Best Picture, Scorsese Best Director at 79th Oscars

When all was said and done in Los Angeles tonight, The Departed was the big winner at the 79th Academy Awards.

Food, Funding

"Not eating your friends after they have died is a relatively new invention."

The Eye Candy of 'Tears of the Black Tiger'

Tears of the Black Tiger is Thai eye candy, an exercise pastiche where color just about leaps off the screen, and a star-crossed love story.

A Superdance and a Superbowl

Wrapping up Sundance Ô07, with the NFL's big game as the best metaphor to describe the annual festival.

Noir City5, Fun with Dicks and Janes

A preview of the festival's rich program with festival's organizer Eddie Muller

"The Lubitsch Touch"

The Pacific Film Archive retrospective on Ernst Lubitsch encompasses 21 features, including many seldom-seen silent movies.

"The Lubitsch Touch"

The Pacific Film Archive retrospective on Ernst Lubitsch encompasses 21 features, including many seldom-seen silent movies.

A Whole Lotta Holiday Film

Hollywood is the Santa that bestows gifts every Yuletide,; but you have to pick which ones you want, then pay for them.

A Whole Lotta Holiday Film

Hollywood is the Santa that bestows gifts every Yuletide,; but you have to pick which ones you want, then pay for them.

I, Spy

Spies are frequent movie characters, in part because we know so little about them. Nonetheless, The Good Shepherd is an unusual Hollywood project.

The Cities' Critics Speak

The language of film may be universal, as the Landmark trailer reminds us, but the critics in major U.S. cities speak their own dialects.

Written and Directed by Preston Sturges

It would not seem to bode well for the stewardship of studio classics that Preston Sturges's indomitable comedies have been so slow to DVD.

Written and Directed by Preston Sturges

It would not seem to bode well for the stewardship of studio classics that Preston Sturges's indomitable comedies have been so slow to DVD.

Cheryl Eddy's Badder Santas

You can't imagine a critic like Cheryl Eddy,with her dazzlingly caustic skepticism, ever believed in Santa Claus.

Otto Motives, A Preminger Perspective

The director, producer and sometime actor enjoyed a painless ride from well-off circumstances to well-connected beginnings to one of Hollywood's biggest names for decades.

Otto Motives, A Preminger Perspective

The director, producer and sometime actor enjoyed a painless ride from well-off circumstances to well-connected beginnings to one of Hollywood's biggest names for decades.

Robert Altman 1925-2006

One month ago today, the maverick filmmaker was at the Hamptons International Film Festival reflecting upon his career at a tribute in his honor.

Mary Badham, On a "Mockingbird" Mission

I was six months old when I went to my first movie — and I swear I remember images from it. You see, I sometimes have flashes of shots from “To Kill a Mockingbird,” but all of them are upside-down. My mother tells me that I saw the film from a bassinette on the theater seat — thus began my life-long love affair with the film. I grew up in Alabama, which is also the setting of the book and the film. Every year, one of the three television stations we received would show “To Kill a Mockingbird.” My mom would gather the whole family in front of the TV, and we would watch the film — again. One year, it was opposite the Super Bowl. Now, the two things you don’t mess around with in the South are religion and football. But despite my brothers’ pleas, Atticus Finch took precedence over the Super Bowl at our house.

What is it about this film that — even today — inspires such devotion? Mary Badham, who played the memorable tomboy, Scout, believes as long as racism, bigotry, and intolerance exist, the film and the book provide a starting point for discussion and self-examination. Hence her own dedication to a film that has remained a driving part of her life for over 40 years — a dedication which prompted her to travel the world with the film sharing her experiences while making the film, growing up in the South, and fighting to spread the film’s message of tolerance and compassion. Badham visits San Francisco with the Marc Huestis program “In Praise of Mockingbirds,” Sun/19 at the Castro. I got a chance to speak with her last week.

SF360: Despite the fact that you never acted before, why do you think the filmmakers cast you as Scout?

Mary Badham: I think because I was a tomboy. The coloring was right. I looked like I could have been Gregory Peck’s daughter. I had a real big imagination as a kid — which they were looking for. The haircut was right. Everything they were lookin’ for just kind of jelled in me. They wanted kids who were real Southern children who were very natural and not actors.

SF360: When I watch the film, I’m struck by how natural you seem with Phillip Alford (who plays Scout’s brother Jem) and John Megna (Dill). It feels like we’re watching a real brother and sister.

Badham: Yes, they would let that happen on the set naturally because here were John and Phillip, and John just idolized Phillip and followed him around like a puppy dog. And here was this ratty little girl who wanted to get in the middle of whatever they were doing. You know, I just wanted somebody else to play with. And so, evidently we would have these big fights — I don’t remember any of it, but Phillip seems to think we fought all the time.

SF360: Phillip says he tried to kill you by rolling you in the tire toward a truck.

Badham: (Laughing.) Yeah, when it came to the tire scene they were so excited because ‘Oh, finally we can get rid of this menace.’ They thought they were going to do away with me. Too bad, so sad.

SF360: It’s seems like many women, including myself, see themselves in Scout. Why do you think the character is so memorable to women and girls?

Badham: I think because she was allowed to just be herself. Even Miss Dubose fussed at Atticus because he allowed her to wear the clothes that her brother had outgrown. But it was the Depression, a dress at that point would have been very expensive and money was in tight supply. And the fact that she was so educated. Atticus let her read and had real conversations with her. That’s the main role of a parent — to engage their children in conversation and teach them basically how to function in an adult world. Scout took to that tooth and nail. She wasn’t cut in the same mold as the little proper Southern young lady who had to wear dresses and not discuss anything important. It was that way even when I was growing up. Women were to be seen but not heard. They were not engaged intellectually much. So for Scout to be able to put her ideas out there, to see her think through situations is really important because you don’t see that very often. Most children when they would ask a question — I see it today with parents working and being tight on time — parents will be short with their kids… not wanting to engage the kids in conversation because they’re tired and they don’t have time. But that’s so critically important. I think that’s what we see with Atticus. He does engage his children in conversation, and he does try and let them think through situations and expand on them.

SF360: And that’s especially true in this film wi