During our festival, the world cinema stars will conduct the film workshops. Roger Christian, an FX expert in the most famous sci-fi productions will focus on the creative and technical aspects of the job of an art director. Ellen Chenoweth will advise on how to successfully carry out the castings.
Roger Christian is an Oscar winner for Best Art Direction - Set Decoration for George Lucas' “Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope” (1977), where he was responsible for the Jedi lightsabers and the prototype of R2D2. He was also nominated for the Academy Award two years later for Ridley Scott's “Alien”. Christian participated in such films as: “Life of Brian” by Terry Jones (1979) and the following episodes of the space saga: “Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi” (1983) and “Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace” (1999). Roger Christian is also a successful director. His directorial debut was a short entitled “Black Angel” (1980), while his later production “The Dollar Bottom” (1981) won him a second Oscar for Best Short Film, Live Action. He is also the author of the cult film “The Sender” (1982), another “Nostradamus” (1994) and a controversial “Battlefield Earth” (2000).
Ellen Chenoweth is one of the best and most appreciated casting directors in Hollywood. She was responsible for organising the castings for such awarded films as “Gran Torino”, “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind”, “Good Night, and Good Luck”, “No Country for Old Men” or “True Grit”. She gained and polished her skills necessary in the craft of a casting director under the eye of the famous Lee Strasberg in the legendary New York Actors Studio. Thus equipped she pursued her path into Los Angeles, where her great career began. Throughout the 1980's she organised castings for dozens of films. She worked with such famous filmmakers as the Coen brothers, George Clooney and Clint Eastwood. Chenoweth is called the mother of success of Mickey Rourke whom she had met back in 1970's while working at the Actors Studio. First, she recommended him for “City In Fear” and later hired him for “Diner.
The workshops led by these two experienced cinema stars will unravel at least the tip of the iceberg of the secrets of people responsible for success of monumental productions. Taking into account the accomplishments of both artists, the event will be unforgettable to everyone present.
24.03.2011 | OFF PLUS CAMERA's blog
Cat. : Actors Studio Author City Clint Eastwood Darth Vader Director Ellen Chenoweth Employment Relation Entertainment Entertainment Epic films Film George Clooney George Lucas Gran Torino Jedi Kristin Chenoweth Lee Strasberg Lightsaber Los Angeles Mickey Rourke Movie Release New York New York Actors Studio Oscar Person Career R2-D2 Ridley Scott Roger Christian Roger Christian second Oscar Star Wars Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope Terry Jones the Academy Award The Sender