Nashville Arts Critic
August 27, 2015
OZ Arts Nashville is pleased to kick off its 2015-16 season with a unique edition of Film:Masters, the signature live event of New York City’s The Modern School of Film (MSF). On Sept. 10, 11 and 12 MSF founder Robert Milazzo will host comedian, actress, singer and writer Sandra Bernhard, the comedy duo Tim & Eric, and Patrick Carney of The Black Keys for a screening and discussion of a film that has made a significant impact on their work.
Bernhard’s pick on Sept. 10 is “Purple Rain” followed the next night by Tim & Eric with “Waiting For Guffman.” Carney’s choice for the concluding night is “Caddyshack.” These in-depth, stimulating screenings and conversations at OZ Arts will provide audiences with deeper insight into both filmmaking craft and the human conditions from which it arises. All three films are rated “R” by the Motion Picture Association of America’s Classification and Rating Administration and contain material intended for mature audiences only.
Film:Masters will take place nightly at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m. Tickets — $25 for each evening’s event, or $60 for all three — can be purchased by clicking here; patrons must have a ticket for conversations in order to attend the screenings. OZ Arts is located at 6172 Cockrill Bend Circle.
Milazzo founded The Modern School of Film and the Film:Masters series in 2012, motivated by the absence of live film discussion by the great artists behind landmark films—and by the artists those films have, in turn, inspired. He also realized that, before becoming a successful film director and producer in his own right, he learned so much directly from other artists, especially Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and film director David Mamet, Oscar-winning director Mike Nichols and multiple Academy Award nominee Sidney Lumet, each of whom he had assisted. MSF therefore places a primary emphasis accomplished filmmakers mentoring students, and Film:Masters focuses on the unique value of artists discussing their and others’ work.
Since its launch just a few years ago, the series has featured over 100 cultural luminaries selecting and discussing their favorite films. These guests span a wide range, including musicians Air, Adam Horovitz (The Beastie Boys), Andrew W.K., Feist, Frank Black (The Pixies), Iron & Wine, Kris Kristofferson, Lucinda Williams, My Morning Jacket, Neko Case, Talib Kweli, Wayne Coyne (Flaming Lips) and Will Butler (Arcade Fire), Maynard James Keenan (TOOL); comedians Fred Armisen, David Cross, Janeane Garofalo, Bill Hader, Patton Oswalt, and Wyatt Cenac; directors/filmmakers Alfonso Cuarón, Wes Craven, Christopher Guest, Ang Lee, Albert Maysles, DA Pennebaker, Wim Wenders, Gaspar Noë, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Mira Nair and Gus Van Sant; choreographers Mark Morris and Bill T. Jones; performance artist Marina Abramovic; actors Glenn Close, Holly Hunter, Tippi Hedren, Tom Skerritt, Kristin Wiig and Willem Dafoe among many others. New York Magazine has voted MSF and Film:Masters NYC’s “Best Movie Outing.”