Deja_Vu

"My suggestion is not to allow the booths to be used as private phone booths. This would benefit my ability to pay attention to my silent ASC video."

Reply: If this happens again, don't hesitate to ask the desk supervisor for help--they will ask your chatty neighbor to relocate. Meanwhile, we will post a notice that cell phones cannot be used in the viewing booths!

"Keep Media Services open till midnight and also on sundays"

Reply: While we appreciate your enthusiasm, we probably couldn't find equally enthusiastic staff to keep the place open longer hours, nor money to pay them. We will keep your request in mind though--maybe we could do something about extra hours during exam time. Stay Tuned!

"Why don't you have everything on DVD? I wanted to see Easy Rider on DVD, but you only have it on VHS."

Reply: Our goal is to upgrade all of our VHS tapes to dvd, but we have to do it gradually because of . . . (you guessed it) MONEY!!! We have to use the media Collection budget to purchase new titles, replace lost and damaged items, and replace titles currently on VHS with DVD, so . . . it will happen, but will take time.

That's the case with Easy Rider, but there are other reasons why we may not own a title in DVD. The title may simply may not be out in DVD yet! Seems crazy, but it's true--some films you would think MUST be on DVD just aren't (think African Queen, for example)--even some that have been formerly available on VHS. Sometimes a title that was on DVD is taken out of distribution--who knows why??

And some non-theatrical films may NEVER be put out on DVD. For example, the PBS series "Eyes on the Prize" lagged in the land of VHS for years, because of footage licensing costs. It is available now, but something like the documentary Cadillac Desert, once distributed by PBS, is completely unavailable.

We will rectify the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' gross oversight in failing EVER to give an Oscar to any film directed by a woman--something that irks the Media Librarian whenever she thinks about it--by honoring The Three--count 'em--THREE! women ever nominated for Best Director.

We will throw in Barbra Streisand, because her film Prince of Tides was nominated for Best Picture in 1992. Alas, we don't have that title in our collection, but we do have Funny Girl. So, for the rest of March, feel free to borrow that title, or the following three:

Jame Campion's The Piano
Lina Wertmuller's Seven Beauties
Sophia Coppola's Lost in Translation.

The usual conditions apply: borrow one at a time, overnight or over a weekend.

Pick of the week:
Lars Von Trier's "The Idiots" (VHS 2239)

I highly suggest EVERYONE check this out in Media Services at some point. From IMDB - "The group of people gather at the house in Copenhagen suburb to break all the limitations and to bring out the "inner idiot" in themselves". There really isn't much else to it, the movie is about a collective of people who "spass out" in public (meaning: act mentally handicapped). It is the second movie of the Dogme 95 movement, started by Lars Von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg, a movement in film meant to show to "absolute truth" in its subjects. Dogme films must follow the "Vow of Chastity" (link), which states that shooting must be on location, the camera must be handheld, in addition to several other rules the director must follow.

The Fisher King

Homeless man and traumatized shock deejay join forces in search of the Holy Grail in Manhattan. With Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges.

This past week I was able to attend a lecture by acclaimed female film director Mira Nair. She gave a Q&A type lecture at Northeastern University which elaborated upon the various stages of her career and art. Her films are some of the most provocative and engaging works. They span from documentary to narrative; from one culture to another, telling beautiful stories with integrity. As an aspiring female filmmaker it was a truly inspirational experience to see a highly successful and respected woman making films for a living.

I'd like to recommend some of Mira Nair's films:

Salaam Bombay!
Mississippi Masala
Monsoon Wedding

We have them in the Media Library so come check them out!

-Keiko (Media Librarian Assistant Extraordinaire)

My recommendation for the week is:

Dexter Season 1

DVD1691

This is a wickedly clever show about a Serial killer who hunts serial killers. I love it, you will too!

-Keiko