Monday, June 23

Love or Hate: Columnists debate if Michael Bay films are ‘pain’ or ‘gain’ for audiences

Sweat hang in the air. Everything is glistening, waiting for the plot, the explosion. Cue dynamite. Violence. Men with excess testosterone; vixens in silhouette. And a Michael Bay production comes screaming across the sky, and, this summer, nothing will ever be the same again. Read more...

Photo: This week’s Love | Hate column explores the film director Michael Bay’s body of work, both supporting and criticizing the director’s recognizable directorial style. The “Transformers” director’s latest release is “Pain & Gain,” which was released in theaters on Friday.


Alumna’s short film ‘TRYOUTS’ nominated for College Television Award

Having done work in countries ranging from Spain to Germany to Tunisia, Susana Casares has been around more than most recent UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television graduates. However, her main recognition comes from her award-nominated work in the United States. Read more...

Photo: UCLA alumna Susana Casares’ short film “TRYOUTS” has been nominated for a College Television Award under the “Drama” category. The film tells the story of Muslim American teenager Nayla and her struggle with balancing her public image and personal welfare.


Movie Review: ‘Graceland’

A father comes to pick up his daughter and her friend from school on what appears to be a normal day in the Philippines. But the activity is the first event in a string of unforeseen situations that will shape the days ahead. Read more...



Documentary pays tribute to Rosina Lhevinne

Salome Arkatov lived with her Juilliard piano teacher, Rosina Lhevinne, before Lhevinne’s death in 1976. From that point, Arkatov knew she wanted a film to be made about her beloved teacher, but it wasn’t until 20 years later that Arkatov realized she would be the one to make it. Read more...

Photo: UCLA emeritus piano faculty member Salome Arkatov’s documentary, “The Legacy of Rosina Lhevinne” is screening at UCLA. This prize-winning film highlights the extraordinary life and accomplishments of the Russian Juilliard piano teacher Rosina Lhevinne and her unique style of teaching.


Bruin wins $30,000 award for dystopian screenplay

While sitting in the UCLA library working on his screenplay, “Waking Hours,” Barnett Brettler began to cry. He had reached a solemn moment in the story when a character had to leave and, although people in the library stared, he could not help himself. Read more...

Photo: Barnett Brettler, a second-year screenwriter graduate student in the school of Theater, Film and Television, recently became the first UCLA student to win the 2013 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Student Grand Jury Prize for Screenwriting for his screenplay “Waking Hours.”


Movie Review: ‘Three Days (of Hamlet)’

This article was updated to include images.  “Three Days (of Hamlet)” will leave viewers scratching their heads, not asking “How?” but rather, “Why?” “I’m drawing a map; I have bits and pieces, but the puzzle’s not there yet.” This metaphor, taken directly from the film, may be the perfect representation of the documentary: it is non sequitur and makes little sense outside the creator’s head. Read more...



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