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Click the MFC to view larger.

Our familiar orange digital production studio on wheels, fondly known as Mobile Film Classroom #1 (MFC1) is on the move and making new inroads in the So Cal community. The Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education (MPI) has donated the vehicle to the Mayor’s Office of the City of Los Angeles and is partnering with them in the Summer Night Lights program, an anti-gang initiative that keeps parks open after dark. Thanks to the able assistance of Dave Hampton, a globally recognized expert in the fields of audio recording, production, and studio design, MFC1 is being revamped to become a first rate, audio recording studio where kids, groups and families can record and produce their own music videos.

ABOUT SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS
In an innovative move to take action that can combat gang violence during the traditionally most-violent summer months, Mayor Villaraigosa launched the Summer Night Lights (SNL) program in 2008. In SNL’s first year, the program contributed to a dramatic decrease in violent crime, helping to secure the City’s safest summer since 1967.

For 2009, the Mayor has expanded SNL from 8 parks to 16 and has set a goal of putting SNL in 50 parks by the end of his second term. SNL’s mission is to keep parks open after dark – during the peak hours for gang activity and provides both job opportunities and organized activities for at-risk youth, including athletic leagues, art initiatives, family programs and free food and drinks. The Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education is proud to be a part of this transformative program.

    

Tue, Feb 23, 2010 at 7 pm
A free Stimulus Series event
Presented with a six piece chamber ensemble

Take part in a fantastic new event sure to become an annual favorite. Members of the Santa Clarita Symphony will perform live during a screening of Mary Pickford’s timeless classic silent film “Daddy Long Legs.” Music composed by Maria Newman with guest conductor Hugh Munro Neely. Pickford produced and starred in the 1919 film as Judy Abbott, an orphan whose college education is paid for by an anonymous trustee she knows only as “Daddy-Long-Legs.” The comic gem was one of Pickford’s greatest successes upon its original release.

Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center
26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Valencia CA 91355
More information at www.canyonspac.com

MARY PICKFORD EXHIBIT

... a traveling exhibit marking Mary Pickford's career centenary.  As the first major exhibition about Ms. Pickford, Mary Pickford and the Rise of Cinema offered a window into her film career, illustrating her status as a watershed figure of modern fame and trace the development of the industry itself.  We were very fortunate to have leading Mary Pickford film scholar Christel Schmidt of the Library of Congress, as curator.
 

PORDENONE SILENT FILM FESTIVAL

The Pordenone Silent Film Festival is the largest festival in the world devoted exclusively to restored silent films.  The Library of Congress restoration of Mary Pickford's 1926 film Sparrows with Jeffrey Silverman's new score that was commissioned by the Mary Pickford Foundation was the opening film in the festival in Pordenone, Italy October 4 - 11, 2008.  Hugh Munro Neely, curator of the Mary Pickford Library, conducted the Philharmonic Orchestra of Udine, Italy to accompany the picture.
 

INFOTECH 2008

The Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education’s Mobile Film Classroom was featured at this year’s  Los Angeles Unified School District’s annual InfoTech Conference, “Excellence Through Innovation,” in April at the Los Angeles Convention Center.  Sponsored by the K-12 Apple Education Group of Los Angeles, tours and demonstrations were conducted for teachers, administrators, parents, students and media.
 

ETA-LA

The Mary Pickford Institute was pleased to host the January meeting of the Educational Technical Alliance of Los Angeles.  A Mobile Film Classroom presentation was made, with a tour being conducted for attendees.
 

MPI PROJECTS

The Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education currently has the following projects in production.  Please check back for future updates and new projects.  If your organization would like to participate in one of our educational programs, please contact MPI at 310.287.3700 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Angel in a Red Hat
Filmmaker Heather Visali Malo is documenting the philosophy and challenges of caregiver, Frances Lessard, who provides care, guidance and mentoring to mentally challenged individuals. Heather’s goal is to produce a documentary to inspire and celebrate anyone has ever responded to the needs of others.
 
Mobile Film Classroom
The Mary Pickford Institute's Mobile Film Classroom is in such demand that funding for a second classroom has been secured, with the additional roll-out scheduled for 2008.  The MFC represents a revolutionary way of teaching in the digital age - one that is immediate, relevant and current.  No matter their socio-economic status or resources available to students and schools, all now have access to the same state-of-the-art digital media equipment and professional media instruction.  Since its inception in early 2006 the Mobile Film Classroom has served over 2500 Los Angeles area elementary, middle and high school students.  We are excited about the opportunity to serve even more students with a second classroom.
 
Montgomery County School District, Maryland
This ongoing program is planned to serve 5,000 students ages 11 to 12 years. The goal is to teach children about film history, silent films, the story of The Poor Little Rich Girl and its literary significance as an American novel and feature film. This special study will culminate in their attendance at Strathmore Hall where the National Philharmonic Orchestra will perform live to accompany a screening of Mary Pickford’s The Poor Little Rich Girl.