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LA Film Fest: Day 7
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Thousands of innocent Angelenos are expected to perish today when a highly advanced robot civilization descends on Westwood. However, the carnage is not expected to ensue until 8:15 p.m. so you'll have most of the day to get your affairs in order. That's right, the LA Film Festival is celebrating the glory of independent film with a mult-theater premiere of the multi-million dollar budgeted Transformers. Indie favorite Michael Bay directs.
If such esoteric fare is not your speed, today is actually a good day at the festival especially for panel discussions. The daily Director Lunch Talk is with Talk To Me's Kasi Lemmons. It's free, of course, and starts at 12:30 p.m. at the Target Red Room. Another free talk being held is Paint it Black: African American Film Now at 6:30 p.m. at the Hammer Museum. It's moderated by Elvis Mitchell and panelists include former tyro director/producer John Singleton and Black Snake Moan's Stephanie Allain.
The last program of the day isn't free, but it's definitely worth your $11. The New Action Movies: Filmmaking with a Cause starts at 7:00 p.m. at the W. Don Cheadle, Davis Guggenheim and Kirby Dick are expected on the panel to discuss their role in creating movies with social change in mind. Incidentally, if you haven't seen Dick's hilarious This Film is Not Yet Rated, rent it today. Ted Sarandos of Netflix moderates.
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Since Transformers is taking up most of the theater space in the evening, there aren't as many screenings today as usual. A few that you may want to check out are Half Moon at 2:15 p.m. at the Italian Cultural Institute, Great World of Sound at 4:30 p.m. at the Majestic Crest, Blame it on Fidel at 5:00 p.m. at the Billy Wilder, The Cool School at 7:00 p.m. at the Mann Festival, The Hottest State at 7:30 p.m. at the Majestic Crest, The Paper will be Blue at 9:45 p.m. at the Italian Culture Institute and a special screening of The Buffy Musical: Once More with Singing! A Big Screen Interactive Extravaganza at 10:30 p.m. at the Majestic Crest.
W LOS ANGELES - WESTWOOD 930 Hilgard Ave.
TARGET RED ROOM 1028 Westwood Blvd.
HAMMER MUSEUM 10899 Wilshire Blvd. (@ Westwood Blvd.)
BILLY WILDER THEATER at the Hammer Museum 10899 Wilshire Blvd. (@ Westwood, enter on Lindbrook)
ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE 1023 Hilgard Ave.
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MAJESTIC CREST THEATRE 1262 Westwood Blvd.
MANN FESTIVAL THEATRE 10887 Lindbrook Drive
Photos courtesy of Ramen Junkie via Flickr.
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