Film And Television (audio)

Screenwriter Katie Silberman discusses the writing process for the hit coming-of-age film “Booksmart” with moderator Matt Ryan. Silberman reflects on her work with director Olivia Wilde and the creation of key scenes and themes in the film. Breaking down the script, Silberman explores the importance of pacing, character development, and emotional authenticity and examines the challenge of developing unique characters and overcoming high school stereotypes. She also explains how the cast worked collaboratively to make this high school comedy stand out and faithfully represent a modern generation of youth. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38382]

Adapted from the 1998 short story “Story of Your Life” by acclaimed science fiction author Ted Chiang, “Arrival” (2016) centers on communicating with tentacular alien visitors, whose language changes one’s experience of time. Introspective and immersive, “Arrival” imagines a fantastical calligraphy alongside questions of alienation, race, and motherhood. Professor Jennifer Rhee joins Melody Jue to discuss the film and explore the dynamics of free will, determinism, disorientation, communication, language, and temporal nonlinearity, as well as the similarities and differences between the film and the original short story. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38161]

Paul Espinosa, an award-winning filmmaker and producer, is the President/CEO of Espinosa Productions, specializing in films focused on the U.S.-Mexico border region. He has been involved with producing films for over 35 years and is professor emeritus in the School of Transborder Studies at Arizona State University. He has worked with public television stations in San Diego and Dallas as a Senior Producer and Executive Producer and has produced, directed, written and hosted numerous programs for PBS. Espinosa received his Ph.D. from Stanford University in Anthropology. Series: "Critically Human" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 38288]

Writer/director Oualid Mouaness discusses his film 1982 with moderator Paul Amar (Global Studies, UCSB). Mouaness details the development of the film and the importance of depicting an honest representation of the war in Lebanon, especially as a means to bridge gaps between older and younger generations. He explains the significance of telling 1982’s story through a child’s perspective and the unique point-of-view they have in experiencing war and history. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38159]

Acclaimed co-writer/director Abderrahmane Sissako discusses his film Timbuktu with moderators Richard Watts and Peter Bloom. Sissako details the development of the script and its connection to real-world news stories from Mali. He also recalls the political and logistical challenges during the film production. Watts and Bloom discuss the poetic qualities of the film, and in his own words, Sissako describes his artistic objectives with landscape and setting. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38160]

Professor Stephanie Malia Hom (French and Italian Studies, UCSB) joins moderator Anna Brusutti (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) to discuss Italian series Inspector Montalbano to conclude a yearlong screening series on global television. Brusutti provides a thorough breakdown of the history of Italian television broadcasting and distinguishes it from other national contexts. Hom explores the show’s Sicilian setting and ties contemporary discrimination towards migrants from abroad within a broader history of regional and global flows. Hom and Brusutti also examine the regional dialects of the show, as well as the structure of organized crime in Italy. They discuss the prolific work of author Andrea Camilleri and the long history of Inspector Montalbano in Italian television broadcasting. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38156]

Director/co-writer Pamela B. Green and producer/co-writer Joan Simon discuss their documentary "Be Natural: The Untold of Alice Guy-Blaché" with moderator Cynthia Felando. Green and Simon explain the 10-year-long process of researching to make the documentary, as well as their respective inspirations for discovering more about the pioneering film making of Alice Guy-Blaché. Green also discusses her unique directorial approach that involved relaying film history like a “detective story” by involving the audience in her archival work. Simon talks in detail about the feminist scholars and film festivals that first brought Guy-Blaché’s films into academia, and how many of Guy-Blaché’s contributions to early cinema are often overlooked. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38079]

Moderator Jean Beaman joined doctoral candidate Leonard Cortana and Professor Ricado Jacobs to discuss Murder in Paris: The Assassination of Dulcie September. They explore the legacy of Dulcie September, her antiapartheid activism and work in the African National Congress (ANC), and the aftermath and ongoing investigation of her assassination. Cortana and Jacobs also examine the importance of media in the antiapartheid struggle, the continuing challenges of restricted archives, and the need to investigate the broader, intersecting systems of racism and global capitalism in assessing the case of Dulcie September. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38047]

Screenwriter David Koepp discusses with moderator Matt Ryan how wrote the iconic film, Jurassic Park. Koepp breaks down his process of adapting the novel by Michael Crichton, as well as how he worked with director Steven Spielberg to bring the film to life. He describes working from Spielberg’s storyboards to draft key sequences such as the entrance of the T-Rex. Koepp also shares stories from the set of Jurassic Park, including how Jeff Goldblum reacted to the filming of special effects sequences and how the ending of the movie changed during filming. Furthermore, Koepp discusses writing the sequel to Jurassic Park and a number of his other films, including Spider-Man and Panic Room. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38104]

Rick Rosen, WME Agency co-founder and representative for writer/director Hagai Levi, discusses Scenes from a Marriage and the state of global television with moderator Patrice Petro. Rosen details the development of the HBO miniseries and the challenges of adaptation from Ingmar Bergman’s original Swedish television series. He explains the vision of Hagai Levi for this contemporary retelling and a number of other Israeli adaptations he helmed. Rosen also discusses the talents of stars Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain, and how their friendship helped bring to life their fictional counterparts. He also notes the changing media landscape in the wake of streaming platforms, and the past, present, and future of global television. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38080]

Filmmaker Ann Kaneko spoke with moderator Kelsey Moore about the process of directing and editing her documentary, Manzanar, Diverted: When Water Becomes Dust, which depicts an alliance between former Japanese American WWII prisoners, Native Americans, and environmentalists to defend their sources of water. Kaneko describes the decisions behind the structure of the film, as well as its focus on a certain place, which helped to depict the issue of water in relation with different communities. She also discussed the notable use of sound and music in the film, which worked to solidify the characterization of Manzanar, as well as the harshness of its situation. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38039]

Moderator Stephanie Malia Hom joined Professor Joan Roman Resina to discuss Death in Venice and the work of filmmaker Luchino Visconti. Resina contextualized the film within the larger context of Visconti’s German trilogy and his long, storied career. He also discussed the film’s adaptation from the Thomas Mann novella. Resina examined the idea of decadence in the film and the aristocratic Venetian milieus, as well as the film’s larger commentary on art and beauty across the mediums of literature, music, and cinema. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38038]

In this inaugural episode of The Art of Change, filmmaker, film scholar and Dean of Arts at UC Santa Cruz, Celine Parreñas Shimizu, talks about her personal history as well as her vision for the Arts Division at UCSC. She is well known for her work on race, sexuality and representations, and is the first Asian American female arts dean in the UC system. The daughter of political refugees from the Philippines who immigrated to the U.S. when she was a teenager, Dean Celine (as she likes to be called) earned her B.A. from UC Berkeley, her MFA from UCLA, and her Ph.D. from Stanford University. Series: "The Art of Change" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 37990]

Moderator Jennifer Tyburczy discusses the production and impact of HBO miniseries Veneno with star Daniela Santiago. Santiago talks about the process and pressures of portraying transgender icon La Veneno, and the importance of representation both in front of and behind the camera. She detailed the significance of La Veneno, including her famous charisma and glamor, as well as the struggles she faced in her life. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37991]

Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, screenwriters of "Captain America: The First Avenger," discuss the film with moderator Matt Ryan. Markus and McFeely cover how they adapted the beloved comic book hero to the screen, and their collaboration with director Joe Johnston. They explained in detail how they crafted the characters of Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, and Peggy Carter, as well as some of the behind-the-scenes work they witnessed while on set. They also spoke about their role in crafting the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe with their other Captain America and Avengers films. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37986]

UC Santa Barbara's Script to Screen, hosted by Matt Ryan, was invited onto the 2022 Santa Barbara Film Festival red carpet to interview filmmakers from many 2022 Oscar-nominated movies. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37995]

Eric Roth, screenwriter of Dune, discusses the film with moderator Matt Ryan. Roth talks about how he tackled adapting Frank Herbert’s novel to the screen, and his collaboration with director Denis Villeneuve. He also talks about various details of his process, such as how he approached portraying the characters of Paul and Lady Jessica, and bringing the world of Dune to life with his portrayal of the Fremen and the sandworms. Roth elaborates on working with the Herbert family early on to make sure that the legacy of the novels was properly respected. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37862]

Moderator Matt Ryan spoke with Maria Schrader about her film "I’m Your Man," which she directed and co-wrote and is now Germany’s submission for the international film category for the 2022 Academy Awards. The film focuses on Alma, a researcher who is chosen to test a humanoid robot named Tom, who is programmed to be the perfect partner for her. Schrader discussed the exciting and challenging aspects of writing such an unconventional romance story, as well as the process of directing lead actors Maren Eggert and Dan Stevens through the film’s comedic, intimate, and emotional scenes. In response to some questions from the audience, Schrader shared insights on themes of memory and anthropology throughout the film, as well as her own inspirations for filmmaking and screenwriting. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37681]

Destin Daniel Cretton, director and co-writer of Marvel’s Shang-Chi, answered questions about the film from moderator Matt Ryan. Cretton discussed a wide range of topics, including the casting of legendary actors Tony Leung and Michelle Yeoh, as well as the intense physical training and emotionally complex performances required of cast members Simu Liu and Meng’er Zhang. He also talked about some of his favorite elements of the film, including the rich familial themes that drive the story. Cretton elaborated on the influences behind his decisions to incorporate complex ideas such as grief and the family dynamics of Asian households, and how these allowed for an unconventional relationship between the film’s hero and villain. He also commented on the importance of Asian representation in the film, and how important it was to portray realistic Asian and Asian American perspectives through its characters. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37683]

A panel consisting of UCSB faculty Lisa Parks, Jean Beaman, and France Winddance Twine discusses the sociological impacts of Netflix’s Lupin. Beaman and Twine dive into the show’s political relevance, handling of representation, and nuanced portrayal of Paris, all of which work to make the show such an effective critique of state power. Each guest brings their own unique background and specialization to contribute thoughtful perspectives on the global dimensions of the show’s political commentary. The discussions on race and representation are of key importance for this panel and make for an important conversation about the film and television industry in general. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37682]