It was lunch time and I was rushing hungry through Little Tokyo plaza with my camera - but not for ramen. The surprisingly warm afternoon sun bathed downtown for the first time all week, and as I wished I had my sunglasses, Shepard Fairey passed briskly, politely waving off several lingering press folks outside the Geffen Contemporary at
MOCA. I was en route to the preview of
Art in the Streets, and clearly I had found it.
The invite came from
Levi's, to check out their impressive new
Film Workshop set up in conjunction with MOCA's vast exhibit comprehensively surveying graffiti and street art through the past several decades. Rather than exiting through the gift shop, museum-goers would exit through the
workshop.
The industrious creative work space is fully staffed and open to the public free of charge during regular museum hours inside the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA (152 North Central Avenue) in downtown Los Angeles now through August. Key resources available include latest generation computers and edit suites provided by Intel; a green screen “cyc” provided by Quixote Studios; a slow-motion video booth; stop motion and multiplane animation stations; Adobe professional video, animation, compositing, audio, and design software; Magic Bullet Suite for color correction and visual effects plug-ins; a Phonotrope and hand painted film table. The Workshop Equipment Rental counter will offer a selection of vintage and modern cameras including Super8, Flips and DSLRs; sound equipment from RØDE; grip and lighting gear from Quixote; tripods and accessories from Manfrotto; a host of devices for duplicating and transferring; a screening facility for filmmakers to share their creations... All free of charge.
Throughout the next few months the workshop will also host collaborations with artists from the Art in the Streets exhibition and pioneers from the worlds of street art and graffiti, skateboarding, food and music. Weekly Educational Workshops will be taught by industry experts and special guests that cover topics including everything from found footage, Super8, 16mm film techniques and direct animation to stunts and 3D. A series of film screenings related to art, skate, music and food will also be presented in partnership with LA-based curators and theaters.
But what I am looking forward to most? Shockingly, the food segment coming up in July! Levi’s has only hinted at some of the programming (still in the works), but disclosed a project that will pair celebrated food trucks (
Kogi BBQ confirmed among them) with respected filmmakers to create short films celebrating the food truck trade. Stay tuned, I will post the full food schedule once it's released.
In the meantime, who wants to get green screened into
Babette's Feast?
For more information about Levi’s Workshops and the Levi’s Film Workshop, please visit
http://workshops.levi.com,
http://www.facebook.com/Levis and
@levisworkshops.
And since I had a press pass in hand, I quickly toured the exhibit next door. Not to be missed!
I'll leave you with an animated film made in the Levi's Film Workshop by Filmmaker
Cat Solen in collaboration with Art in the Streets featured artist
Swoon.
Swoon + Cat Solen from
Levi's Film Workshop on
Vimeo.
ART IN THE STREETS: April 17 – August 8, 2011
THE GEFFEN CONTEMPORARY AT MOCA
MOCA.org
