The Philadelphia Film Society is showing a screening of the documentary Waking Sleeping Beauty on Wednesday, March 31st. As a special treat, a moderated discussion with director Don Hahn will take place afterward. Plus, the First Person Arts community is getting a special discounted price. See details below!


Hahn was a key player at Walt Disney Studios Feature Animation department during the 1984-1994 revival of Disney magic through classics like Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King. Waking Sleeping Beauty shows the vulnerable side of Disney after its series of box office flops. Through interviews, internal memos, and home movies, the documentary captures it all. Everything from the growing tensions because of ego battles, cost overruns and failed experiments to its improbable renaissance.

Here’s an interview with Don Hahn after a screening in Austin, Texas.



Check out the screening at 7:30pm on Wednesday, March 31st at the Prince Music Theater. Discounted tickets are $7.00 (regular ticket price is $10) and can be purchased one of two ways. You can click here, select the number of tickets you want, and enter promotion code fpa2010, or just mention First Person Arts at the door.


Don’t miss out on what The Los Angeles Times is calling “one of the best comeback stories in show business history.”


-Tiffany Thwaites

Nick found this interesting compilation of interviews with 82 women working in film and tv about the type of movies they would make with an unlimited budget and the women who have inspired them.


The impetus for the project was Kathryn Bigelow’s Oscar nomination and the question, “Why haven’t more women been nominated for Best Director?”. The responses reveal the wide diversity of interests and experiences of these women working in the film and tv industry. I’m curious to see what the filmmakers behind 82Women do next with the project. Ten minutes offers you just a taste of what these 82 women have to say on the topic.


For more info on the project visit www.82women.tumblr.com.


Any female filmmakers out there want to join the discussion? Let us know what you think in the comments section.







- Karina

Here’s the trailer for a short documentary about urban fishing in Philadelphia that will screen for the first time at the First Person Salon at the Gershman Y on September 10th:

In addition, this final Salon before the 2008 Festival will feature poetry from Robert Wright, autobiographical comedy from Steve Gerben and Pat Barker, and a short memoir reading and documentary film from Angel Hogan about her life as an adoptee.

First Person Salon at the Gershman Y

401 S. Broad St (Broad and Pine)

September 10th, 7-9pm

Cost: $5-$10 sliding scale

Beer available by donation from our friends at Flying Dog!

We are surrounded by unique people that care for us, inspire us, and even perplex us.
Think about the people in your life…
First Person Arts is giving you the chance to celebrate someone special or important to you by creating a video tribute in our new class “Celebration of Life” this fall!

The class, focusing on creativity and content, will give you a chance to explore your senses, feelings, memories, fantasies and other perceptions about this person when making your video tribute. You will also participate in creating a sculpture tribute from found objects that will create instant curiosity. The final gala will conclude with a sculpture welcome area and a video screening. This is a chance to meet others, learn about others and to break out of the documentary rut.

The class will be held on Wednesdays, 6 -9 PM, from Sept. 10th through Nov. 19th at the Painted Bride Arts Center. The cost is $350. Participants should have access to and understanding of video and editing equipment. Sign up and fulfill your artistic potential this fall!

Leading the course will be Leslie Birch and Richard Gretzinger of Human+Nature.
Human +Nature is a production company geared to the non-profit, arts and education communities. Leslie has spent many years as a producer for public television and she has an interest in technology art and virtual worlds. Richard is a Director of Photography with many film and commercial credits. His downtime is spent experimenting with photography.