`SPLIT SCREEN' A REEL-LIFE ALTERNATIVE TO OSCAR HYPE.Byline: John J. O'Connor John Joseph O'Connor (November 23, 1885 - January 26, 1960) was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from New York. O'Connor was born in Raynham, Massachusetts. The New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times In case you spent Monday night listening to endless analyses of why the major Hollywood studios have been overshadowed this year, at least in the nominations, by independent (more or less) filmmakers. Be still, my overhyped heart. A glimpse of the real world of independents, in all of its eternal optimism and grubbiness, can be found on ``Split Screen,'' a magazine series written and produced by John Pierson John Pierson can refer to:
A word about Pierson, who might be described as the Uebermensch of Independentsville. Since graduating from New York University New York University, mainly in New York City; coeducational; chartered 1831, opened 1832 as the Univ. of the City of New York, renamed 1896. It comprises 13 schools and colleges, maintaining 4 main centers (including the Medical Center) in the city, as well as the Film School in 1976, he has been immersed in the off-Hollywood film scene as, among other things, repertory exhibitor for the Bleecker Street Cinema and festival director for American Mavericks. Then he became what is nebulously called a producer representative. As such, he wound up as the largest equity investor in Spike Lee's 1986 film ``She's Gotta Have It.'' Since then, Pierson has been involved, in one way or another, with such independent productions as ``The Thin Blue Line,'' ``Slacker,'' ``Go Fish,'' ``Clerks,'' ``Crumb'' and, hitting big money (relatively speaking), ``Roger and Me.'' In short, he knows the scene, and, amused and affable, he offers a tour of some of its hot spots hot spots acute moist dermatitis. , most notably Robert Redford's Sundance Festival, referred to solemnly as ``the mecca of submissions.'' In a format that sometimes resembles a Marx Brothers Marx Brothers, team of American movie comedians. The members were Julius (1890?–1977), known as Groucho; Arthur (1888?–1964), originally Adolph and known as Harpo; Leonard (1887?–1961), known as Chico; and two other brothers, Milton (Gummo) and routine, Pierson sends a character called Bob the Mailman (he delivers the endless tapes from aspiring film greats) to link up with Jerry Lentz, ``a disgruntled dis·grun·tle tr.v. dis·grun·tled, dis·grun·tling, dis·grun·tles To make discontented. [dis- + gruntle, to grumble (from Middle English gruntelen; see filmmaker living in Hollywood,'' for a trip to the festival in Park City, Utah Park City is a city located in Summit County, Utah, United States. It is one of two major resort towns in Utah, the other being Moab. It is considered to be part of the Wasatch Back and a part of the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. . Meanwhile, Pierson interviews other filmmakers on the tricks of their trade. How did P.T. O'Brien (``Asylum'') get the money to finance his project? ``I crashed my car,'' he says, to get the insurance. He's serious. At Sundance itself, confusion and anxiety reign. One guest sagely observes, ``Everybody's a somebody, and, at the same time, everybody's a nobody.'' In fact, the festival, originated as a distinguished showcase for independents, has exploded into chaos. One official notes that 800 films might be submitted for competition and ``500 will never see the light of day.'' There are already two renegade offshoots, Slamdance and Slumdance, prepared to cope with the overflow. THE FACTS The show: ``Split Screen.'' When: 6 and 11 p.m. Friday. Where: Bravo. |
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