Film, Books, Art, Politics, Culture & Shaz!


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www.shazbennett.com
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Wednesday, December 23, 2009

I wish it was Christmas today!

Jimmy Fallon, Horatio Sanz, The Roots and Julian Casablancas.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Giving Yoga a bad name

Why? What? Where are the parents?

Friday, November 13, 2009

Friday the 13th!


Today is my birthday. This year my birthday falls on a Friday the 13th - and Friday the 13ths have always been my lucky days!

I celebrated my 13th birthday on Friday the 13th with a slumber party for 13 little girls and the following morning my mother hired a guy to come dressed as a bear - playing the accordion - to entertain us -- solidfying my love forever for: Friday the 13th, Accordions, People dressed in bear outfits and the odd.

And later John Irving novels.

Some of the best YouTube birthday songs I've received today just for the hell of it.




I hate you so much!


Friday, October 16, 2009

Managers & Agents

Spent some time at the Creative Screenwriting expo in downtown Los Angeles today.
I'm a big fan of the podcast that Creative Screenwriting puts up online so I thought I'd come check out the expo.
Other than the parties that cost 30 bucks to get in & 8 bucks for a Corona... It's been a cool event for the most part.
I really dug listening to Anthony Zuiker who created the CSI series - that show is screening every single day all around the world - outrageous!
He's written a book called "Level 26" that has a online web film that goes along with the book - you access it every 25 pages for interactive web bridges and there's a social networking site.
I haven't had a chance to check it out in much detail yet but, it sounds rad.
Then I went to the Agents & Managers panel but decided my time was better spent lying in the sun by the pool than listening to managers tell me "you're no one until someone tells me about you"...
Look I get it you are so big that you are inundated by people who want you to watch their film or read their script - I have an idea what that must be like -I was a festival film programmer for over 10 years.
With over 4000 finished film submissions every festival year - I get it.
But, I don't understand that comment or concept at all. As a Programmer, I figured I should try to watch as many films as possible since I know a good film when I see it. I know most people are somebody - whether anyone I know - knows them and I have a good head on my shoulders so I often know that - all on my own. It didn't hurt when someone I knew called to tell me about a movie, but I have honestly never thought "you're no one until someone tells me about you".
The one thing I miss and loved about film programming full time was finding an awesome little film - pulling it out of obscurity - screening it for an audience - and the audience loves it!
Then you find yourself standing at the back of the theatre with the filmmakers who are psyched and they think "I made that." and I would stand there thinking " I found that."
That's my rant in reaction to the agents and mangers panel today & on some level to that nice gent from the Village Voice who shall not be named who wrote one of my favorite Cronenberg films who swears a lot.
Speaking of things that will not be named - I'm starting a grass roots boycott of a certain nameless film festival who laid off a certain extraodinary world famous film programmer - so far it's just my husband and I who have signed on for the boycott but you have to start somewhere.

Xoxox

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Californication vs. Cougartown


Men are from mars... women are from venus... who will win the battle of the sexes?

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Every once in awhile...

I just troll youtube for Prince videos... some may call it procrastination, i call it inspiration.

I love this one cause he makes the guitar sing about half way through.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Next Third Saturday is August 15th at 8pm


August's 3rd Saturday in Chinatown
August 15th
8:00 pm

Todd Hughes will be telling us a story about "stalking" queen of film noir Lizabeth Scott (who has screen kissed everyone from Bogart to Mitchum to Elvis!)

Followed by a screening of LOVING YOU (starring Lizabeth and Elvis).

And... it's Todd's birthday too!

Saturday August 15th, 2009

8:00 pm

$5 suggested donation at the door

Beer, Wine and soda available in the gallery - Come early for the good seats on the floor!

Prizes and Trivia - we encourage audience participation.

Third Saturday in Chinatown:

North Hill Exhibitions
945 N. Hill Street
Los Angeles, CA
213.626.2020

North Hill Exhibitions is 2.5 blocks west of the gold line Chinatown Metro stop. There is plenty of parking on the street or several lots on Hill St.
See you soon,

Shaz & Cindy

www.northhillexhibitions.com

www.shazbennett.com

Monday, August 3, 2009

Third Saturdays in Chinatow stories!

Thanks to Jamie Tolbert you can relive the stories from last month's screening of "Purple Rain" Yow!
Tracy McMillan talks about Prince and I tell my Michael Jackson story!
Next month August's third Saturday is a Lizabeth Scott marathon with stories from Todd Hughes!


Friday, July 10, 2009

July 18th / 8PM / Third Saturdays in Chinatown


July 18th 2009
8:00 pm

Tracy McMillan and Shaz Bennett are telling stories about Prince and "Purple Rain"
Followed by the screening of "Purple Rain" - feel free to sing along.

Saturday July 18th, 2009
8:00 pm
$5 suggested donation at the door

Beer, Wine and soda available in the gallery
Come early for the good seats on the floor!
Prizes and Trivia - we encourage audience participation.

Third Saturday in Chinatown:
North Hill Exhibitions
945 N. Hill Street
Los Angeles, CA
213.626.2020

North Hill Exhibitions is 2.5 blocks west of the gold line Chinatown Metro stop. There is plenty of parking on the street or several lots on Hill st.

Join our Facebook Group

North Hill Exhibitions
945 N. HIll Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213.626.2020

Monday, June 22, 2009

Saturday, June 20, 2009

"Party Girl" just started in Chinatown.

And the Julie commercial was amazing!

"Party Girl" tonight 8pm at 3rd Saturdays in Chinatown!


June 20th 8pm

Rebecca Anderson is telling stories about NY in the 90s followed by the screening of "Party Girl" plus the world premiere of the "Julie" commercial from The Ebersole Hughes Company, directed by Todd Hughes, starring Julianna Brannum!

8:00 pm

$5 suggested donation at the door
Beer and Wine available in the gallery

Come early for the good seats on the floor!
Prizes and Trivia - we encourage audience participation.

Third Saturday in Chinatown
North Hill Exhibitions
945 N. Hill Street
Los Angeles, CA
213.626.2020
North Hill Exhibitions is 2.5 blocks west of the gold line Chinatown Metro stop. There is plenty of parking on the street or several lots on Hill st.

See you soon,
Shaz & Cindy

Friday, June 19, 2009

At the Shephard Fairey show - Peace and Love are watching over you!

In Hollywood at space 1520.
A presidential candidate inspired a street artist and a street artist helped a presidential candidate inspire...

Created to help Revok MSK....

The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those who they
oppress...

www.shazbennett.com

Friday, June 5, 2009

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

David Lynch & bOby Weave!

We went to a party in Eagle Rock last night and watched five short
pieces of "The Interview Project" for DavidLynch.com

I can't wait to see more! It's really cool short moving interviews from
around the country. Beautiful images... one of the gents involved had a
film I programmed a few years back! I look forward to see more. This is
so much more than your typical reality TV. It kind of reminded me of
Louis Malles' documentary about Americana.

While there I got to snap off a photo of two of my favorite men in the
world. If my dad were in this picture, it might be my top three favorite
men. still pretty awesome. Yow!

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Warning label on the Book "Dark Night of the soul"

Love the warning label on the book for the Lynch, Dangermouse,
sparklehorse exhibit!

www.shazbennett.com

David Lynch, Sparlehorse, Danger Mouse...

There's a line around the block to see David Lynch, dangermouse and
sparklehorse's photos...

Heading to see @DAVID_LYNCH's opening photo show:
http://twitpic.com/62vbn - Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse and me.

www.shazbennett.com

Dark Night of the Soul

We made it in! Jean-Pierre in front of my favorite sequence! Secrets!

Friday, May 22, 2009

SnagFilms and IMDB....

Speaking of awesome films you can see online right now for free!

Check out SnagFilms - one of my favorite sites to catch up on awesome documentaries!

And now they have formed an alliance with IMDB, Hulu and YouTube.... very cool - go watch docs.

Start with this one! "Be Here to love Me"

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Look who I'm having dinner with!

I fell in, to a burning ring of fire....

Friday, May 8, 2009

Wong Kar Wai's Fallen Angels"


Speaking of cool movies you can watch online right now.
Check out Wong Kar Wai's "Fallen Angels" at theauteurs.com

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Sit N Spin tonight!



Working on my piece for Sit N Spin tonight at 8:00pm
It's at the Hudson Theatre/Comedy Central Stage - corner of Santa Monica and Hudson.
Jonah and I are polishing up the piece as we speak....

Tuesday, May 5, 2009


Speaking of awesome movies you can watch online right now!
Check out Barbet Schroeder's movie General Idi Amin Dada here!
Wild.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Dali born from an egg!

Les Blank's "Burden of Dreams"


Speaking of awesome movies you can watch online right now!
Check out Les Blank's "Burden of Dreams" on TheAuteurs.com
Here's the film on Les Blank's site.
I love this movie.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Documentary Festival on The Auteurs


Speaking of Awesome movies you can watch online right now!
Go to TheAuteurs.com and they have several festivals of films including The Documentary Festival

"Harlan County", "Salesman", "Monterrey Pop" awesome!

Here's a short film I love too!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Michael Caine rocks!


How awesome is Michael Caine! I was reading this article today from NY Magazine.

I had the great honor of meeting Mr. Caine in Hollywood when we did a tribute to him at the Cinerama Dome in 2002.

I'm a master procrastinator and I was kind of joking with him about this problem in the green room and he gave me the best advice, he said, "Oh, you just have to work, don't think about it. And Don’t listen to any negatives. Don’t ever let anybody say anything negative to you and let it affect you at all. Just work. Go ahead."

As a working class gal, I love artists who work and talk about art like a job. It makes sense to me somehow. Michael Caine is one of the most prolific film actors, averaging 2-3 films a year, an average that continued until very recently. To date, Caine has appeared in 132 features and television films.

What I would give to have had the chance to hang out in his London flat in the 60's.

"I was friends with Stan Getz, and Lionel Bart, who wrote Oliver! The painter Francis Bacon lived next door. He always tried to get me into his studio to paint me, but he was very gay and I thought, “I’m not going up there.” An actor called David Baron said he was going to write a play, and I said I’d act in it. He called it The Room and he did it under his real name, Harold Pinter. In the sixties, everyone you knew became famous. My flatmate was Terence Stamp. My barber was Vidal Sassoon. David Hockney did the menu in a restaurant I went to. I didn’t know anyone unknown who didn’t become famous."

I used to joke that maybe we are living in Paris in the 20s and no one knows it yet.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

The Los Angeles Asian Film Festival - April 30-May 7


The Los Angeles Asian Film Festival starts next week! April 30- May 7.

One of the films in particular you should go check out!

"White on Rice" directed by David Boyle looks really good.

I programmed Boyles' first film "Big Dreams Little Tokyo" and this guy has a very unique style and quirky tone - I can't wait to see his second film May 3rd!


These are just a few of the films. You can buy tickets here for all the films!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Just arrived at SFIFF52 - the Shaggy Cineaste is here too!

The oldest film festival in the Americas!

Frownland at Cinefamily this week!


"People should be as hard on the films as the films are hard on the
audience. I wanna live inside of a culture where that is not just
acceptable. That is par for the course."

Check out "Frownland" this week at Cinefamily.

You can read more about it here on Mike Plante's blog.

"It wasn¹t like I made it to get the money back, the same way you don¹t go
on vacation thinking you¹re going to get the money back."
- Ronnie Bronstein

FROWNLAND Double feature with THE PLEASURE OF BEING ROBBED by Josh Safdie

April 23rd: 9:45pm
April 24th: 7:30pm, Midnight
April 25th: 5pm, 9:30pm
April 26th: 5pm, 9:30pm


At Cinefamily:
http://www.silentmovietheatre.com/

Monday, April 20, 2009


Speaking of great little movies you can watch online.

FORGIVEN played at Sundance and AFI FEST and the lead actress and I went to acting school together! Yay U of U!
You can watch it here!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles - April 21-26


Yay! The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles starts next week! April 21-26
One of my favorite festivals in Los Angeles - go see some movies!
Some I'm really looking forward to seeing:

SIDDHARTH THE PRISONER (film noir type)

BOMBAY SUMMER (truly indie film, along the lines of THE POOL)

FIRAAQ - this screened in Toronto 2008 and is the directorial debut of the the famous actress Nandita Das

SUPERMEN OF MALEGAON - looks to be a hilarious doc about the making of a superman movie in a small town in India.

They are saluting Anil Kapoor too!
Half of this year's feature-length films happen to be directed by women!! Yow!

These are just a few of the films. You can buy tickets here for all the films!