Film/Video

Hannibal's Back!
by Kat Kramer

The man of many faces, Sir Anthony Hopkins made a rare public appearance at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival to receive the Modern Master Award. Before a sold-out crowd at the Arlington Theater, Hopkins told the audience that he's getting ready to reprise his role of the cannibalistic killer Hannibal Lecter in a sequel to The Silence of the Lambs in a picture simply called Hannibal. Both Hopkins and Jodie Foster won Academy Awards for their roles in "Lambs," and it also won Best Picture. Surprisingly, Foster will not be in the sequel. However, she did show up at the Arlington to honor to Hopkins.

Leonard Maltin, the esteemed film critic, interviewed Hopkins in an inspirational Q & A session. Following are some highlights.

M What captured your fancy as a young boy?
H Music. I wanted to be a musician--a pianist. I didn't have the skill or the technique or staying power it takes to be a musician. By accident, I got a scholarship to a local acting school in South Wales. I just wanted to be rich and famous.
M American actors are often intimidated by English actors, especially when it comes to classics. How do you feel about this?
H Well, I've always admired American actors, I think they're much more real. In England, there's a tendency to "act." My first film was The Lion in Winter. I was knocked out that I was working with such great stars like Katherine Hepburn and Peter O'Toole. They're great actors. My first scene with Katherine Hepburn was an experience. During the camera rehearsal, I did everything but fall over the cables. During a break, Kate Hepburn asked, "Can I have a word with you?" (Hopkins mimics Hepburn, audience laughs loudly.) She said, "Can I ask you a question? Do you like the camera?" I said, "What?" "The bread and butter machine - the camera," she continued. "Do you like it? "I said, "Yes." "Don't play the back of your head to it, then!"
M What advice do you have for young actors?
H I don't have any theories about acting. The only theory I have is know your lines, show up on time. From that, give it all you've got, give every ounce of yourself to it, with a passion and commitment. I don't really understand that much about acting."
M There's a cliché about actors that they're just like children playing make-believe. Do you think that's so?"
H Yes, I don't think we're too tightly-wrapped. (audience laughs) I don't think actors are too well-adjusted - I don't think I am. I became an actor because I didn't know what else to do."
M "Greatness" is a word that gets tossed around quite a bit in Hollywood. You hear it so overused and abused, but I don't think there would be any argument that Sir Anthony Hopkins is a great actor. The thing that perhaps makes him exceptional is what he's done, and the different ways in which he's steered his career. Many great stage actors do not make an easy transition to movies. Some actors are great on screen but don't achieve the prominence they deserve. Some get the opportunities and with prestige (there’re those p’s again) (chuckles from the audience) and awards even, but don't achieve popularity (audience roars).

But Anthony Hopkins has done all of that.

Indie Film Alert
Wanted! Submissions for Mini Film Festival
Opportunity to screen your film or video to a wide TV audience in Los Angeles - a new forum to showcase, promote and discuss filmmaking with the general public and other filmmakers who may not be able to attend a theater screenings. This festival airs on Sunday nights. Send submissions for consideration to: Albert Castaneda 3rd Millennium Films PO Box 24726, Los Angeles, CA 90024 (818-886-6891).

The Alternative Screen
A Forum For Independent Film Exhibition and Beyond is the American Cinemathèque's on-going series focusing on independent and new forms of cinema. Created to serve the public as well as the independent film community in Los Angeles, the forum will provide a year-round venue for independent feature films that have not yet secured wide commercial distribution. Whatever The Alternative Screen offers from month to month, it promises to be provocative, innovative and fiercely independent. In the past, The Alternative Screen has featured THE BIBLE & GUN CLUB, HABIT, STAR MAPS and THE LAST BIG THING.

The Alternative Screen takes submissions for consideration of fiercely independent work in all genres. For feature-length works, send a 1/2-inch tape to: Margot Gerber, The Alternative Screen, c/o American Cinemathèque, 1800 N. Highland Avenue, Suite 717, Hollywood, CA., 90028. Include a SASE if you would like your tape returned. Short films should be sent to the attention of Andrew Crane. Inquiries call 323-461-2020, ext. 115.
www.americancinemateque.com.

Film Festivals
Buenos Aires Festival
Internacional de Cine Independiente April 6-16
Worldfest - Houston International April 7-16
It's All True International Documentary April 9-18
Hong Kong International April 12-27
Los Angeles Independent April 13-18
Washington DC International April 21-May 2
San Francisco International April 22-May 6
USA (Dallas) April 27- May 4
New England (& Video) April 29- May 1

ANNUAL FILM NOIR FESTIVAL
continuing thru Apr 23; following the success of this year’s 1st Film Noir Festival - which featured rare gems like NIGHTMARE ALLEY and THE KILLER THAT STALKED NEW YORK--they’re back with another ration of bank-jobs and lethal love-nests. Including in-person celebrity guests and such rarely screened treats as THE BIG STEAL, MYSTERY STREET, ACT OF VIOLENCE, THE LADY IN THE LAKE and THE KISS OF DEATH, amongst others. For more info see www.noircity.com; American Cinematèque’s Lloyd E. Rigler Theater at the Egyptian Theatre 6712 Hollywood Blvd. 323-466-film (3456)
www.americancinemateque.com

THE BIG DEAL BOOK SIGNING meet Thom Taylor, author of The Big Deal, the first and only book taking a candid look at how Hollywood's lucrative spec’ script market truly operates; 7:30pm, Apr 20, Border's Books 100 S. Brand Blvd, Glendale; www.bigdealnews.com.