2008 Woodie Awards
CDPI Film Series should increase film diversity
Andy MacDougall
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: Opinion
Originally published: 4/3/08 at 4:08 PM EST
Last update: 4/3/08 at 4:07 PM EST
Is the CDPI Film Series in need of a little wake-up call? In at least one regard, yes. Granted, it's still head and shoulders over the ACB's Sunday-night package, which kicked off the semester with torture-porn, of all things.
However, per la raison-d'etre of the organization sponsoring it, the CDPI series could use some international flavor this semester. Month after month of just American films? Moreover, of the three selections screened at this writing, there were two Jennifer Aniston movies. Is that Sheer coincidence? Hopefully. Otherwise it suggests someone in the programming dept. has a jones for Jen. Nothing personal against these films, but ostensibly they denote a sense of sameness in a context where variety should rule from the get-go.
And what's with promotional posters that invited the public to join the PSUC community's attendance of February's screening and attendant WRAP session, but not in March? Clearly, more consistency on the inclusiveness front wouldn't hurt.
Needless to say, PSUC hosts a sizable number of international students, who in turn wouldn't mind seeing each of their respective countries represented by the CDPI series.
To be fair, last semester's roster included a British film "Dirty Pretty Things" and a German/UK/U.S. co-production "V for Vendetta," but nary an exclusively foreign-language film.
Why not take a cue from Montreal's annual international festival, which traditionally hosts such films rich in potential for diversity-friendly discussion, ergo WRAP sessions to beat the band!
True, there are a couple foreign-language film fests at PSUC organized by others, and more power to them, but PSUC needs more in this vein, and the CDPI series is the most logical vehicle with which to help advance the plot. For instance, there's no more urgent a candidate than an Iraqi or Iranian film (I've seen some beauties). Now perish the thought that CDPI's movers and shakers, for whatever reason, might not welcome suggestions to expand their horizons, but with all due respect, some of us were left wondering recently.
However, per la raison-d'etre of the organization sponsoring it, the CDPI series could use some international flavor this semester. Month after month of just American films? Moreover, of the three selections screened at this writing, there were two Jennifer Aniston movies. Is that Sheer coincidence? Hopefully. Otherwise it suggests someone in the programming dept. has a jones for Jen. Nothing personal against these films, but ostensibly they denote a sense of sameness in a context where variety should rule from the get-go.
And what's with promotional posters that invited the public to join the PSUC community's attendance of February's screening and attendant WRAP session, but not in March? Clearly, more consistency on the inclusiveness front wouldn't hurt.
Needless to say, PSUC hosts a sizable number of international students, who in turn wouldn't mind seeing each of their respective countries represented by the CDPI series.
To be fair, last semester's roster included a British film "Dirty Pretty Things" and a German/UK/U.S. co-production "V for Vendetta," but nary an exclusively foreign-language film.
Why not take a cue from Montreal's annual international festival, which traditionally hosts such films rich in potential for diversity-friendly discussion, ergo WRAP sessions to beat the band!
True, there are a couple foreign-language film fests at PSUC organized by others, and more power to them, but PSUC needs more in this vein, and the CDPI series is the most logical vehicle with which to help advance the plot. For instance, there's no more urgent a candidate than an Iraqi or Iranian film (I've seen some beauties). Now perish the thought that CDPI's movers and shakers, for whatever reason, might not welcome suggestions to expand their horizons, but with all due respect, some of us were left wondering recently.
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