| UCLA Comparative Literature Department to have Japanese Film Series in first quarter, Fridays, Oct 22-Dec 10 During the 2010-11 academic year, UCLA Department of Comparative Literature will be screening films several times on Fridays from 5-8 P.M. in Royce Hall 190. For the first quarter, three curators have chosen three films on alternate weeks beginning October 22. The intent is for this to be a place where Japan studies grads, faculty, undergrads, and others with interest in film, Japan/East Asian studies, or related disciplines can gather and view films, as well as to connect more regularly on a personal and professional level. For the first quarter, the film series are going with an "open"theme, genre, and period. Each screening features a guest curator to select and introduce the films-details below. The fall line-up includes: October 22 Curator: Jordan Smith - Film: Lala Pipo, dir. Miyano Masayuki (2009). The film is an adaptation of the novel by Okuda Hideo, translated by Marc Adler (2007), and satirically depicts the interwoven sexploits of six Tokyoites. Jordan Smith (Ph.D., UCLA Comparative Literature) teaches Comparative Literature and Asian Studies at UCLA and CSU Long Beach. November 5 Curator: Bryan Hartzheim - Film: Perfect Blue, dir. Kon Satoshi (1997). The animate feature, Kon's first major production, is a psychological thriller surrounding a pop idol and a stalker. The screenplay, also by Kon, is loosely based on the novel by Takeuchi Toshikazu. It will be screened partly in memoriam to Kon, who passed away earlier this year. Bryan Hartzheim is a PhD student in cinema and media studies in the UCLA Department of Theater, Film, and Television. November 19 Curator: Nicholas Rucka; Film: Scary True Stories (Hontoni atta kowai hanashi), dir. Tsuruta Norio (1991). Regarded as ground-zero for the J-Horror phenomenon, these low budget, direct-to-video short horror films established the look, language and aesthetics of the genre a good seven years before Ringu rocketed the genre to world-wide attention. Nicholas Rucka is a graduate of NYU Tisch - Graduate Film School. A writer of Japanese film criticism for over 10 years, Nicholas is a filmmaker, professional editor and also helps run the PINK EIGA DVD label, dedicated to distribution of Japanese Pink Films. December 3 See you at "Performing Politics" (Japanese Arts and Globalization / Mellon Conference at UCLA) December 10 Save the Date: two screenings (TBA) sponsored by the Japan Foundation and the UCLA Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies at UCLA's James Bridges Theater. This event will conclude with a round-table comprised of film industry leaders, actors, critics, academics, etc. For further questions, contact series organizer Jordan Smith at oyabaka@ucla.edu or (310) 980 6620. | 
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