By Andrew Veihmeyer John Rios recalls the time when he landed his first acting role. With an intentionally awful Irish accent, he played the corrupt ex-cop Keaton in a “sweded” version of the mobster thriller The Usual Suspects. “I still fear that the great Gabriel Byrne might see that one day and facepalm,” he says.…

Our “Good Films You May Have Missed” series calls attention to movies new and old that Filmworks didn’t show for one reason or another. Titles are available (or soon will be) from Netflix and other streaming services. By Jim Piper AMOUR France/Germany/Austria • 2012 • Dir: Michael Haneke Georges and Anne are in their eighties…

By Jefferson Beavers On May 10, Filmworks screens the Chilean political drama NO, starring Gael García Bernal as a brash, young ad man who creates an advertising campaign to bring down Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. A veteran of the big screen at age 34, the Mexican-born actor is no stranger to playing brash, young characters.…

By Olga Verkhotina Most people – if they’re thinking clearly – take advertising skeptically. A frequently quoted 2004 study by a marketing services consultants Yankelovich Partners suggests that sixty-five percent of Americans feel “constantly bombarded” by ads. Fifty-nine percent feel that ads barely have any relevance to them. But yet, one popular TV series about…

April 2013 Volunteer of the Month: Alyssa Rendon Occupation: Assistant teacher, academic program coordinator, nanny. Fun fact: In addition to volunteering at this year’s festival, Alyssa also performed with Academia de Arte Flamenco on closing night. When did you first start volunteering? In 2011, at the Fresno Film Festival. Why volunteer for Fresno Filmworks? “I…

This series, “Good Films You May Have Missed,” calls attention to movies new and old that Filmworks didn’t show for one reason or another. Titles are available (or soon will be) from Netflix and other streaming services. By Jim Piper RIVERS AND TIDES Germany/Finland/UK/Canada • 2001 • Dir: Thomas Riedelsheimer This documentary about Scottish sculptor…

By Olga Verkhotina Who doesn’t love good, old-fashioned fairy tales? No matter how old we get, we can all forget whatever we are working on and make time to read or watch a favorite childhood story. The movie industry has found that soft spot in viewers, and filmmakers have been on the kick of producing…

By Olga Verkhotina While Jack Kerouac’s famous Beat Generation novel “On the Road” has existed since 1957, its newly adapted movie version offers something new. Producers of the film, which competed for the Palme d’Or prize at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, weren’t scared to put industry newcomers Sam Riley, Kristen Stewart, and Garrett Hedlund…

March 2013 Volunteer of the Month: Nené Casares Occupation: Retired after working on special events for The Fresno Bee for 40 years. (Nené also serves on the Filmworks advisory board.) When did you first start volunteering? “A friend of mine mentioned Fresno Filmworks at dinner five or six years ago. They told me that this…

This is the first installment of “Good Films You May Have Missed,” a series that will call attention to movies new and old that Filmworks didn’t show for one reason or another. Titles are available (or soon will be) from Netflix and other streaming services. By Jim Piper RUST AND BONE France/Belgium • 2012 •…

By Jefferson Beavers In March, Filmworks will screen the Italian drama Caesar Must Die, a film that The Hollywood Reporter calls “a fascinating encounter between theater and reality.” The selection coincides with the Rogue Performance and Art Festival, which celebrates its twelfth year in 2013. The Italian filmmaker brothers Vittorio and Paolo Taviani might not…

By Olga Verkhotina Some jobs just don’t let you retire. Brothers Paolo Taviani, 81, and Vittorio Taviani, 83, started their careers as journalists, but in 1954 they shifted to the film industry. Nearly sixty years later, the Taviani brothers have produced twenty full-length movies, they still have an ambition to win an Oscar, and they…

By Olga Verkhotina When it comes to the annual Academy Awards ceremony, “Who wore what?” is often just as important a question as “Who won?” Celebrities plan their red-carpet outfits far in advance, and some make the whole production into a promotional move. Even though playing it safe with a classic black gown might look…