Outfest, the world's leading organization that promotes equality by creating, sharing, and protecting LGBT stories on the screen, launched a new program called Fusion Lab in Highland Park.
A pop-up shop style micro-cinema and media lab, Fusion Lab will exist in a storefront at 5503 N. Figueroa Street throughout the month of March, starting on Thursday, March 7. Supported by a grant from the Irvine Foundation, Fusion Lab will host screenings of short films, filmmaking workshops taught by Outfest alumni and workstations with cameras and editing software.
“Fusion Lab is an expansion of Outfest’s commitment to nurturing emerging artists and to supporting filmmakers of color,” said Executive Director Kirsten Schaffer, “We are excited to see the stories that emerge from this vibrant community.”
Fusion Lab seeks to connect with local organizations to attract novice filmmakers who will learn about the art and craft of media making through workshops devoted to screenwriting, directing, editing and documentary storytelling.
Workshop teachers will include: Alex Kondracke (Hung, The L Word), Jamie Babbit (But I’m A Cheerleader, Drop Dead Diva), George Reyes (filmmaker & educator), Carlos Portugal (East Side Story, East Los High) and Augie Robles (CSI, Mosquita Y Mari).
Four programs of audience favorites and award-winning short films from Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival and Outfest Fusion LGBT People of Color Film Festival, will screen at Fusion Lab. Highlights include: Couples Therapy(Mike Rose), The Perfect Ones (Nao Bustamante & Matt Johnstone), Divorcio (Jacinto Astiazaran), Revolution(Abdi Nazemian & Erica Kraus), The Queen (Christina Choe), Greetings From Africa (Cheryl Dunye), Billy & Aaron (Rodney Evans), Kissing Bandido (Augie Robles)andEl Abuelo (Dino Dinco).
See the complete line up at www.outfest.org
Highland Park was selected as the inaugural location because of its rich history, cultural diversity and commitment to artists. The 2014 Fusion Lab will take place in Leimert Park.
Outfest will also celebrate the 10th anniversary of its Fusion LGBT People of Color Film Festival on March 22and 23. This year’s line-up will be announced on March 7.
What is Outfest?
Outfest celebrates its 30th anniversary through March 2013 with a celebration honoring the organization's rich film history, innovative filmmakers and cultural legacy.Founded by UCLA students in 1982, Outfest is the leading organization that promotes equality by creating, sharing and protecting LGBT stories on the screen. Outfest builds community by connecting diverse populations to discover, discuss and celebrate stories of LGBT lives. Over the past three decades, Outfest has showcased thousands of films from around the world to audiences of nearly a million, educated and mentored hundreds of emerging filmmakers and protected more than 20,000 LGBT films and videos
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