Master the music made for Lucasfilms

The riveting film introduction scores such as Vangelis Papathanassiou’s gripping passion in Chariots of Fire was burned in viewers minds before they knew what hit them. Bernard Herrmann’s irreverent exposition in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho engaged a widespread panic button with the pungent stench of what a sick person can look like, calm and demur as opposed to what he is on the inside, able to do harm without a moment’s notice. Academy Award winner for Best Picture in 1961 West Side Story opened the floodgates for musical fanatics with its ever so prevalent expression of jazz and movement. Romeo and Juliet’s Dance of the Knights haunts hearts today. Clearly the marriage of music and film is sacred. Where the film is seen as a sonata, it is reasonable to appreciate the role of the composer to help tell the story.

San Francisco Film Society has teamed up with Lucasfilm in its second annual approach to Youth Education. The Bay Area kids are so lucky to meet with professionals from various Lucasfilm companies and learn about their work and clandestine views in the industry. Will Files, presents Skywalker: Creating Sound for Film, Thursday February 4th at 12:00pm. This is a fantastic opportunity for educators and homeschoolers alike to fieldtrip their students into the arms of the giant George Lucas and his entourage of creative souls. An amazing experience, The Art and Science of Lucasfilm is just beginning their 2010 year-long four-part series so be sure to check back for more details.

As with last year’s screenings and presentations of The Art and Science of Lucasfilm, this year’s events will take place at Robert Redford’s Sundance Kabuki Cinemas. Don’t miss the chance to expose your students to the venue such as Sundance Kabuki. On regular days, theater tickets can be purchased not only in advance but seats will be reserved so enjoy this gift in San Francisco to the hilt.

Feast your eyes on Coppola's Zoetrope: All-Story 2009-2010 winter magazine at Cafe Zoetrope

The Godfather II won Best Picture in 1974 at the Academy Awards. Thirty-five years later the story of Michael Corleone, first generation born Italian American conflicted by power and justice still rings loud in popular culture. The stylized film directed by local hero Francis Ford Coppola has built a “family” of his own with virtual studio American Zoetrope, Coppola Winery, Café Zoetrope and Zoetrope: All-Story Magazine. In the film, Michael’s father, Vito Corleone, was practically raised out of violence in Italy where he lost his Mother, Father and Brother to a corrupt and feared member of society. Young Vito of age nine comes to America with no one, speaking no English and with practically nothing. The film skips his upbringing and shows him as an adult with a wife and baby boy, Santino. Vito is pictured as a good man in society where he works at the local deli and is a good provider for his family until…

Like a cat cornered Vito reaches into the depths of his inner resources, his legacy, when he is bullied by the neighborhood crooked benefactor. In a situation and time where there was very little justice, Vito did what he deemed appropriate for the survival of his family. On the contrary, Francis Ford Coppola has made tremendous civil contributions in the art world via film, food and culture. Zoetrope: All-Story Magazine has several winter release party’s coming up that you will not want to refuse. The guest designer for this 2009-2010 issue is Jason Schwartzman and there are some really amazing authors you won’t want to miss. Magazine patrons of Café Zoetrope will receive 30% off their total bill. Just print out this article and present it to your server. With questions or reservations call the Café staff at 415.291.1700. To check out menus click here http://www.cafecoppola.com/cafezoetrope/events/

Giddy for Vertigo’s scene at Fort Point’s Candlelight Tours

Need some amusing but earnest ideas during the quiet days of winter in San Francisco? There is nothing more inviting or awe-inspiring than taking in the historical points of our local ancestors at Fort Point, National Park Service. The army defense that never saw battle and also survived enormous earthquakes should give great comfort too in the midst of such global chaos and despair. Fort Point was the focal spot in Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo where the protagonist Johnnie ‘Scottie’ Ferguson played by Jimmy Stewart fishes Kim Novak’s character out of the San Francisco Bay. The scene offers a stark reminder of how much times have changed in only a short period. When cars not only looked different but the speed limit was much lower (used to be 4 miles per hour in the early 1920’s). While the clothes were more structured and symbolic as in men wore hats with their suits. Even when the character named Midge says “gay-old Embarcadero” offers a special semblance that cannot be captured in modern American dialect. Still, people remain the same and find solace in Fort Point’s inherent beauty and mystery.

Incidentally, Fort Point is often revered as the “pride of San Francisco” regularly offering self-guided tours. Their seasonal program Candlelight Tours is limited though just through February. Available only on Saturday evenings make reservations with your children, suggested age are 10 years or older 415.556.1693.

Media literacy on cell phones

There was a time when only medical doctors carried pagers in case their expertise was needed in an emergency. That seems like ages ago as the ever changing culture has everyone, children included, carrying around cell phones. Why? ‘In case of emergency’, is the rehearsed response. But how often are there emergencies? It seems as though just having the cell phone creates the tension of an urgent matter. Even in the most appropriate circumstances where a cell phone comes in handy what are children learning from this techno-accessory? Do they really need one?
Children have a barrage of incoming messages from parents, teachers, friends and the community at large on a daily basis. A cloud could captivate a youngsters’ imagination for a significant amount of time before they’ve realized it. Picture what technology does to a young mind every day. Cell Phones were not designed to educate children nor are the cell phones marketed towards children educational. So are cell phones bad for kids?

The reality is that cell phones are more than just a portable phone but rather are a constant distraction from a child’s inner voice. Amongst speed dial, tracking and parental control cell phones have games, texting and all sorts of features to entertain the young but what would they do with their time if they didn’t have cell phones? Perhaps they’d be writing in their diary, playing a board game, climbing a jungle gym or riding a bike. Maybe they’d be picking flowers, chasing butterflies, or sitting under a tree. Regardless of temperament, a child needs downtime to process all that is conveyed. A bright kid might be inquisitive. Another might be introspective. But all children need quiet time to think.

Ultimately cell phones are a tool for communication. For children, that translates into a toy to communicate with. For all the potential dangers that children may face in an emergency, cell phones seem to create more disturbances during ‘peace time’. The temptation to develop impulses for communicating with others creates in our youth a nuisance culture. Never mind the warped English language of texting. Teaching a child how to read their own emotions and how to be in touch with the person they were born to be is the most pressing instrument in their childhood.

Fieldtrips

What is it about field trips that make them so special, so exciting? Is it getting outside of the classroom, the halls, bells, the smells and seeing everyone from your class out in the real world. The conversations that are sparked seem different. The teacher is more real than before. All of a sudden, opportunities bubble and mesh with your own personal experience, with the rules of school.

In Berkeley not so long ago my daughter's class took a fieldtrip to see a musical performance at Zellerbach Hall on UC Berkeley's campus. As they walked together, some rules transformed into the real world. Walk on the sidewalk of course, don’t disturb residences lawns, if there are on-coming walkers veer to the right as folks do driving on the road. Basic things all children should know and do anyways. But still there is a searing anticipation of what is in store once they arrive. Just like birthdays, Halloween and particular holidays. It’s as if going out into the “field” or real world with the teacher and classmates intact extends an extraordinary journey of education. In the classroom, things are predictable, organized, structured, and scheduled. Outside the classroom, on a field trip anything can happen.

Last year, my little girl's fieldtrip had an event upon an event when they traveled by bus to Martinez to visit the old John Muir house. The day was planned and followed through accordingly but what wasn’t in the itinerary was the bus breaking down. It was all that my little one could talk about when she returned home safely. It was an unexpected problem that happened to them and added to the thrill of venturing out with teacher and classmates. And that is what is so spectacular about field trips. The taste for adventure within the confines of an educator’s eye and a curriculum which supports broadening the mind, stimulating the soul and proving through repetition that one can be an active participant in life and still be okay.

Naturally, many unexpected events can and do occur on school campus but there is a profound familiarity ingrained in them just like being at home. It’s all too easy to take their environment for granted. School is a very influential place. Friends are formed. Ideas are inspired. Behaviors are modified. Everyone is growing. It may be an institution but the children, teachers and community alike make it whatever it may be. When field trips happen it’s likened to taking a much needed vacation. The learning doesn’t stop in fact it speeds up the discovery in an effervescent way. Upon returning, energy is brought back into the classroom; brought back into them.