FLEFF Takes To The Town!

FLEFF opened downtown tonight to a sold out showing of 'Black Gold' at Cinemapolis. I was welcomed at the door with live music that had me dancing all the way to my seat. I was feeling a little FLEFFed out after five days of non-stop events on campus, but after arriving at Cinemapolis tonight I felt so re-energized. I am looking forward to using the rest of my festival pass downtown this weekend.

The film was followed by an engaging panel discussion about fair trade and the coffee industry. For more information on the movie and how you can take action, check out the movie site at www.blackgoldmovie.com.

"Our hope is one day the consumer will understand what they are drinking. It is not only on coffee, all products are getting a very low price - and the producers are highly affected."
- TADESSE MESKELA, Oromia Coffee Farmers Co-operative Union

Fall Creek and Cinemapolis have full schedules this weekend screening FLEFF films... but don't miss out on the other events in the theaters, especially the panel discussion tomorrow morning "How to Get Your Break in the Big (and Little) Metropoli" at Fall Creek, 11:00 am!

Kelly O'Brien
FLEFF Intern Extraordinaire

My plans for this weekend

This weekend is a big one for everyone involved with FLEFF - lots of films and events downtown!!! I thought I would give you all a listing of the events I plan to attend this weekend:

Friday, March 30th
9pm-1am: Welcoming Party @ Lost Dog Lounge

Saturday, March 31st
2:15pm: Dragones @ Cinemapolis
4:35pm: Fateless @ Cinemapolis

Sunday, April 1st
4:35pm: Jonestown @ Fall Creek
7:15pm: Amen @ Fall Creek
9:35pm: Disappearances @ Fall Creek

Of course, this all depends on me getting transportation to and from these venues... let's see what happens!!!

Jeff@Fleff
(Jeff Tatanus '10)

Yesterday at FLEFF

At 4pm on Monday, I went to the FLEFF gaming meme session with Ulises Mejias, Lisa Patti, and Claudia Pederson. Mr. Mejias is a brilliant man, and knew so much about the use of games for social change. It's amazing how related the session materials are to a course I am taking this semester - Serious Games (CMD-20300) with Dennis Charsky. We even discussed a lot of the same games as we have in class!

You can find a list of most of the games we discussed online at the FLEFF website.

Prof. Patty Zimmermann introduces the forum speakers. I have no idea how that woman gets so much energy - she's ALWAYS doing something!


Ulises Mejias gives expert input into the world of gaming for social change.

At night, I went to the opening of Memescapes. WOW is just about the only word I have for it - interesting archival footage paired with awesome live music.

Photo of the band at Memescapes. I apologize for the qualities for I am neither a professional photographer nor have I ever taken a photography course. I'm an Integrated Marketing Communications student with a point-and-shoot camera.

Going along with the more traditional definition of environment, yesterday was completely gorgeous - even though a thunderstorm developed during Memescapes.

Ah, Ithaca in the springtime.

- Jeff Tatanus '10
FLEFF Intern
"JEFF@FLEFF"

FLEFFtastic!

FLEFF is off and running! We're only into our second day of FLEFF week, and already a dozen or so screenings have occurred. Last night's kickoff was incredible, with Park Aud. packed to the brim with students, professors, and fellow FLEFFers to experience the sonic-sight-spoken word amalgamation "Memescapes", giving an explanation of the Festival's four themes that you could feel. And the best part is, there's more of these live soundtrack screenings to come! Be sure to check out "Panic Hits Home" with Renate Ferro on Thursday, March 29th from 5:00-7:00pm in the Handwerker Gallery, "His People" with Peter Rothbart, the IC Klezmorim and laptop orchestra on Sunday, April 1st at 2:15pm and 7:15pm at Cinemapolis, and "Man With a Movie Camera" with Chris White and Peter Dodge on Monday, April 2nd at 8:00pm in Park Hall. So much good stuff to do and see, I think I'm FLEFFing even in my sleep! Hope to see you all there. Until next time...

Caitlin
FLEFF Intern

A meme.. is a contagious idea.

FLEFF started off with a BANG at Memescapes last night, I hope you all made it, Park Auditorium was packed! For those who didn't - here's a little of what you missed:

Memescapes was a collaborative effort produced and directed by visual media artists Ann Michel and Phil Wilde, it included amazing original live music performed by Judy Hyman, Jeff Claus, Robby Aceto, Rick Hansen, and Jay Olsa as well as a moving performance using spoken word by Cynthia Henderson.

This event was a fun way to learn more about the four programming streams, (Metropoli, Maps and Memes, Panic Attacks, and Soundscapes) so if you didn't make it, ask your friends who did to tell you all about it!

Be sure you don't miss out on any more fantastic events, check out the schedule. There are tons of great films and speakers - but FLEFF is only here for a week!

Kelly O'Brien
FLEFF Intern

Memescapes Tonight!

I was FLEFFing last night.

Doesn’t it sort of evoke an image of a body writhing around on the floor in convulsions? It kinda sounds like a new dance move too. But last night I wasn’t writhing and I wasn’t dancing. I was witnessing a special sneak preview of tonight’s MEMESCAPES PERFORMANCE.

The result of a tremendous collaborative effort, the performance demonstrates the liberation of working with mixed media for artistic expression. The combination of live music, archival film and a spoken performance resonates in a startling gonna-stay-with-you kind of way (I know, because I can’t get it out of my mind!). This is certainly not something to be missed. And if you are still wondering what makes FLEFF “environmental” that is another reason to check this out. If this performance doesn’t challenge you to redefine what is considered “the environment” I don’t know what will. The excitement begins at 8 pm in Park Auditorium followed by reception and refreshments.

It’s FREE!

-Cara
FLEFF Intern

Hard Day's Night

Everyone loves the Beatles. EVERYONE.

This never-ending love lived on with the crowd groovin' and shaking at Castaway's Friday night for The FLEFF Kickoff- Beatles Tribute Concert: A Benefit for the Cayuga Waterfront Trail.

John,Paul,George and Ringo would have dug the creative and crazy remixes of local Ithaca bands. The diversity of styles and genres mirrored the Liverpool lads' own hodgepodge of influences.

Too bad, the boys couldn't make it.
Because for those of us who did, it was a hoot.
Don't believe me ? As those Brits would say , the proof is in the pudding:



Gabby oh-so-subtly points out what she owes her first curatorial debut to: the FLEFF sponsored ambient media screenwashes.



"No, no " Gabby says modestly, Peter Earle, technical operations extra-ordinarier, deserves credit for helping her creations come to life smoothly and in well timed manner .




Joe Crookston argees about those very cool screenwashes as he serenades us with a banjo and his rendition of Norwegian Wood ( This Bird Has Flown).



Tara & Hugh showcase how to properly accessorize your FLEFF t-shirt: the must-have lanyard,some bling, and a toothy grin.



Opps, Rachele reminds Hugh that a FLEFF outfit just isn't complete with out the sassy sombrero.




Ithaca mayor Carolyn K. Peterson give props to the greatness that will be the Cayuga Waterfront Trail.



Mary Lorson and St. Low sweetly renders Cry, Baby Cry.



But who needs music, when we've got the eloquence of co-director Tom Shevory singing the praises of Monday's upcoming Memescapes



Where on earth is this dynamic duo drawing our attention to ?




Right here : The FLEFF media and merch table, where Abi & Natalie field the big questions. (such as : SO what does all this cool stuff have to do with ENVIRONMENT ?)



Say you want revolution? The fat beats and rhymes of Cypher: Dissident rework this must have anthem for the hip hopper in all of us.

Missed this event?
Make it up to yourself and check out the over 150 events at this week's extravaganza that is FLEFF 2007 !

Join us. You wouldn't be disappointed.

- Lizzie