JEN ISO
Staff Writer
In order to bring the world of film to Pepperdine’s campus, The City of Angels Film Festival, the Reel Spirituality Conference and the Malibu Celebration of Film festival are on the marquee for next year.
Dr. Michael Gose, professor of humanities, will be orchestrating the GSGS 111 or 311 film class come in Fall 2006 and believes the program will add to the freshmen experience.
“The festival will give us great credibility,” Gose said, “and lead to untold further opportunities to interact with the film community.”
The one-unit film class will be offered to students for credit or no credit, and freshmen will have the opportunity to add the course during New Student Orientation (NSO) should they have interest.
First-year seminar teachers will have the opportunity to link their class with Gose’s course.
“Any teachers having interest would then be provided by Dr. Gose with a cluster of films particularly relevant to their FYS [first-year seminar] class,” professor Marie Mullins, chair of the humanities department said
Gose said he is excited about the possibilities. He said he believes the location and excitement of Pepperdine will allow the new film festival to thrive and become one of the premiere international film festivals.
Other faculty members said they are eager to see the potential of the film course.
“Since L.A. is at the center of filmmaking, Pepperdine students have an unusual opportunity to receive the educational benefits afforded by this medium that most other college students do not have,” Associate Dean Rick Marrs said. “My sense is that today, for many of our students, film is a primary medium of entertainment, education, et cetera.”
Students who participate in the class have the chance to attend numerous film festivals and screen films that have won major awards in renowned festivals such as Sundance, Cannes, Toronto, Berlin and Telluride. Sunday night films include “Garden State,” “Crash,” “Syriana” and “Munich.”
Weekend screenings in Alumni Park and participation in The City of Angels Film Festival and this year’s “Reel Spirituality” conference are just a few examples of the exciting possibilities coming this fall, and will also add to the Christian focus of Pepperdine.
“Our participation in both the City of Angels Film Festival and the Malibu Celebration of Film announces our intention to be relevant to the intersection of Christianity and culture,” Gose said.
The course also requires the reading of Gose’s new book, “Getting Reel,” the participation in 11 films or film-study opportunities and a final paper.
In hopes of furthering the film study program, Gose said he looks forward to making a mark in the film industry and with students through this course.
“I am hoping that for this one semester we can include virtually everyone in this effort to put Pepperdine on the map not only with regard to film study, but as a ‘player’ in the ongoing development of culture,” Gose said.
04-13-2006