You’ve had it happen at least once: You’re laying out your schedule for the coming term and see a class that piques your interest. But how do you make room for it? You can’t drop that digital arts class that’s only offered once a year or the math class you need to graduate. Fortunately, the University of Oregon and Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts have film buffs covered.
DIVA, a nonprofit arts center that features local art exhibits, video screenings and poetry sessions, is partnering with the UO’s Academic Extension program to host a weekly film seminar called Behind The Lens.
Every Tuesday night this term at the Downtown Baker Center will consist of a film screening, as well as a discussion of how the film fits into the cultural context of the time period in which it was released. Retired film director Tom Blank leads the discussions.
“I want to foster the film community here. You get serious about film by talking about film. I try to find patterns, innovations and trivia in the films I choose and pick ones that are compelling,” Blank said.
In addition to being a 50-year member of the Director’s Guild, Blank has his Masters in screenwriting. Originally, he wanted to teach screenwriting at a university, but a lack of jobs in the field led him to Eugene, where he began teaching at DIVA, as well as hosting films for Bijou Arts Cinemas. He has been hosting the screenings for five years.
“Tom guides a lively discussion. Most people who come are interested in cinema and many people who were in media professions and have since retired,” Larissa Ennis, a program manager at UO Academic Extension, said.
The goals of the Academic Extension program are to continue education, lifelong learning and personal enrichment. Because it’s through this program, the seminar attendees come from all backgrounds. Many are senior citizens who offer different viewpoints and perspectives that wouldn’t usually be provided in a classroom full of 18 to 22 year olds.
Jennifer Afton, a Eugene community member, attended last semester’s seminar and comes to feed her interest in film.
“I like catching up on movies that I never saw. Tom picks excellent films. I also like getting a variety of viewpoints from the discussions,” she said.
Winter’s programming is titled “The Sixties – The Winter of our Discontent.” About 100 people attended Tuesday’s seminar to watch Jules and Jim (1962), a French film about an impulsive woman and a lifelong love triangle. The seminar continues through March 18 and people can join at any time. Other films include Blowup (1966), Cool Hand Luke (1967), and Medium Cool (1969). Previous seminars include films whose directors escaped Hitler and directors who were blacklisted during the Cold War.
This session explores how the dismantling of the Production Code in the ‘60s limited film’s portrayal of sex and violence. It also looks at how what was happening in society affected the way people perceived the films and how differently they’re perceived today.
Behind the Lens is every Tuesday from 7-9:30 p.m. at the Downtown Baker Center at 325 E. 10th Ave. Cost is $15 for the term. The price is pro-rated every two weeks. Complete cost information can be found at the program’s official site.