San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Reel Local News:
Video initiative celebrates Coppola at 80.
With Francis Ford Coppola, “The Godfather” director and San Francisco local legend, about to turn 80, on April 7, his family is asking for the filmmaker’s fans to get cinematic.
The Family Coppola — the umbrella organization that covers Coppola’s far-flung business interests, including his American Zoetrope studio and the Coppola wines — is inviting fans to submit videos (up to one minute long) sharing tales of risk and adventure to celebrate an artist whose career has been based on those qualities.
“Francis is one of the greatest risk-takers of all time, and his entire life is about really about taking risks, and he feels like you’re not going to change and you’re not going to grow unless you take those risks and sort of get uncomfortable,” says Family Coppola Marketing Vice President Jennifer Leitman. So, this is a really great theme. This is what we have to tie into. This is perfect.”
The Coppola birthday initiative began with a kiosk where fans could record their videos at January’s Sundance Film Festival after the Family Coppola determined that the festival’s 2019 theme, “Risk Independence,” made it the right place to serve as the campaign’s launching pad. Another kiosk will be installed at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville in March. Videos can also be submitted online on the Family Coppola website through April 13.
There is an element of reward attached to the theme of risk as anyone submitting a video can also register to win a “mystery” trip to one of Coppola’s Hideaways resorts. Whether it is Belize, Guatemala, Italy or Argentina will be revealed at the end of the contest. www.coppolarisk.com
Ocean festival takes a deep dive: “Sharkwater Extinction,” focused on threats to sharks’ survival; “Chasing the Thunder,” limning the hunt for high-seas poacher fishermen; and an array of shorts that delve into all things aquatic take center stage at the 16th International Ocean Film Festival, March 7-10 in San Francisco and San Rafael.
The festival also includes a student film competition, a free event, showcasing short works by grade 6-12 students from around the world. A virtual reality program at the Fort Mason Firehouse — a first for the festival — features two short films that immerse the viewer in sea life. http://intloceanfilmfest.org
Roxie event celebrates S.F. photography zine: “Hamburger Eyes,” a short documentary by Aaron Rose focused on the photography zine of the same name, screens Wednesday, Feb. 27, at the Roxie Theater. February marks the 18th anniversary of the first issue of the zine and its black-and-white images of San Francisco. The documentary features founder Ray Potes, Hamburger Eyes contributors and others reflecting on the publication and the changes that have transformed the city in the intervening years.
The event also launches the new book “SF Eyes,” a further celebration of Hamburger Eyes. All but one of the contributing photographers — Ted Pushinsky, who died in 2018 — will be on hand for a post-screening conversation and to sign copies of the book.
The event is free. RSVPs are encouraged. www.roxie.com