Screening Room - Pittsburgh Film Office

ANATOMY OF A MOVIE: Free Screenwriting Class

“What was the screenwriter thinking?”
a unique way to learn a unique craft

Most of the screenwriting process takes place away from a keyboard and desk. The story, the situations, character
introductions, subplots, story points, set-ups, “gags”, transitions, edits, scene descriptions, etc. are all thought
about long before the writer downloads screenwriting software onto their computer. Many times—if not most—the
ending is known before the beginning.

In this presentation, we are going to show one of the “great movies you’ve never heard of,” and dissect it during a
showing to determine (the best way we can) what the screenwriter was thinking during the story structure and
the outline process.

THE MOVIE: “Once” (2007)
Cool award-winning Irish movie with
unique love story, great music (and
one of the best scenes ever!)

DATE: SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2020
TIME: 12:30p to 2:00p
SITE: Carnegie Library
South Side Branch
2205 E. Carson Street
COST: FREE! (attendees entitled to 20% discount on “Fade In” screenwriting
software and the “Write Your Script” class)

THE PRESENTER
Ken Kaszak is the developer of the “Write
Your Script” class. This class features the
“Thinking Like a Screenwriter” method,
which enables students to write a script
while maintaining work and family
commitments and to take advantage of
the “ancillary” benefits of writing.

Information on Ken and the class is
available via email at:
[email protected]

37th ANNUAL THREE RIVERS FILM FEST

Come Celebrate 16 Days of Cinema With Us!

Pittsburgh Center for Arts & Media announces:

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 8th through SATURDAY NOVEMBER 23rd

Regent Square Theater, 1035 South Braddock Avenue 15218

Pittsburgh Center for Arts & Media Announces Three Rivers Film Festival

Pittsburgh Center for Arts & Media is pleased to announce the 37th edition of the long-running Three Rivers Film Festival, taking place November 8 – 23. This eagerly awaited event, drawing an average of 8,000 patrons locally and around the Tri-State area, promises a return to the original autumn schedule, plus a diverse line-up of independent, foreign, local, and experimental film offerings curated by Pittsburgh Center for Art & Media staff and a team of talented programmers.

“The Three Rivers Film Festival is a true celebration of worldwide and regional filmmaking, right here in Pittsburgh.” said Joseph Morrison, Cinema Programming Director at Pittsburgh Center for Arts & Media. Morrsion added, “There’s nothing like the shared experience of watching a film in the dark and quiet with a group of people. There’s something in the air that you just cannot put into words.” New and returning moviegoers can expect such highlights as “after-hour parties, silent films with live musical accompaniment by the Alloy Orchestra, filmmakers visiting from afar, and special events at the Carnegie Science Center Giant Rangos Cinema and our own theaters.”

Several screenings kick off the opening weekend, beginning Friday, November 8, with in-person presentations by directors. Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin (Brand Upon the Brain! and My Winnipeg) presents his found-footage Vertigo remake—The Green Fog—at Regent Square Theater. The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress, opens at the Rangos Cinema at the Carnegie Science Center, with Catherine Wyler (daughter of William Wyler) introducing the WWII documentary. The recently restored 1982 gospel documentary, Say Amen, Somebody, screens at the Harris Theater.

UPMC is the main sponsor for this year’s festival, with a suite of in-kind sponsors including Pair Networks, Pittsburgh Steelers, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, ASCEND Pittsburgh, Big Burrito Group, and East End Brewing.

Festival films will be presented at the Regent Square Theater (1035 S Braddock Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15218), Harris Theater (809 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222), Carnegie Science Center (1 Allegheny Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212) and Point Park University’s GRW Theater (414 Wood Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222). University of Pittsburgh’s Asian Studies Center and the Polish Cultural Council will each offer a side-bar of select screenings. Shining a light on locally created moving images, Emily Davis and Steven Haines have curated Out of The Archives, a presentation that will showcase unseen treasures and lost films from a handful of Southwestern regional institutional collections and private collectors..

“Our city is lucky to have a full-fledged festival such as this. We’re excited to be showcasing such a diverse and engaging line-up of films,” said Dorinda Sankey, Chief Administrative Officer, Pittsburgh Center for Arts & Media. “There’s a real sense of community, a feeling like you are contributing to Pittsburgh’s cultural scene.”

Patrons can purchase event tickets at the Regent and Harris Theaters individually or in a cost-saving six-pack. Tickets will be accessible on the Three Rivers Film Festival website with a program booklet released before the opening weekend. The 2019 Three Rivers Film Festival is part of the ongoing effort by Pittsburgh Center for Arts & Media (formerly PF/PCA) to bring cutting-edge exhibitions, education, and artist facilities to the region. The festival promises “something for everyone,” including children, adults, and seniors. In the words of guest curator Ben Ogrodnik, audiences should expect “films you can’t see anywhere else!”

Harris Theater, 809 Liberty Avenue 15222

Mailing address:
*6300 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232*

RMU Moon Docs 2019

MoonDocs® 2019 – The 3rd Annual Documentary Filmmakers’ Open House

Robert Morris University, 6001 University Boulevard, Moon Township, PA 15108

Friday, November 1, 2019 12:00 pm – 6:00

Saturday, November 2, 2019 9:30 am – 4:00 pm

2019 Keynote Filmmaker: Fall 2019 Visiting Documentary Filmmaker at RMU – Eva Weber, award-winning London-based German filmmaker

Registration: $40 in advance, $50 on site

Students with valid ID (checked on site): $10 in advance, $15 on site

Register at:

http://intranet.rmu.edu/center-for-documentary-production-and-study/events/moondocs-2019-program-and-housing

MoonDocs® 2019 Program

Friday, November 1, 2019 12:00 pm-6:00 pm

Production Sound Workshop: Capturing Quality Production Sound on Shoots
Inside Indie Filmmaking
Exploring Financial Options for Film Projects
Lighting and Camera Workshop: Setting Up a Documentary Interview
The Three Rivers Film Festival: Exhibiting Cultural Diversity and Cinematic Innovation in Southwestern PA – Exhibitions Director at PCA&M Joe Morrison and 3RFF Guest Curator Benjamin Ogrodnik

Saturday, November 2, 2019 9:30 am-4:00 pm

A Masterclass with RMU Fall 2019 Visiting Documentary Filmmaker Eva Weber:

“Building Your Career as a Filmmaker and How to Use Festivals to Make Your Name”

4×4 Film Challenge: Show 4 minutes of your project and pitch the next production steps for 4 minutes. Submit projects to Documentary Film Strategist Nadine Patterson at [email protected]
Current and Future Trends: From Streaming to Virtual Reality (VR)
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Workshop
Plans for MoonDocs 2020

Event location:

Robert Morris University (http://rmu.edu/ ), Wheatley Center

6001 University Boulevard, Moon Township, PA 15108

Driving directions: http://publicsafety.rmu.edu/university-map-and-directions

MoonDocs® is an open networking and learning event for experienced and aspiring filmmakers, artists, educators, students, cultural workers, and others interested in filmmaking, production, socially conscious arts, diversity, and learning about how to get one’s work to audiences. MoonDocs® is organized by the Center for Documentary Production & Study and Media Arts Department at Robert Morris University.

RMU Media Art Department is a community partner of Pittsburgh Shorts Film Festival.