Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/478858
XI This week maltatoday, Sunday, 15 March 2015 Storyworks public lectures The Valletta 2018 Foundation invites the public to two public lec- tures on the art of screen writing as part of the Storyworks programme. The talks will be addressed by two leading lecturers David Howard, Professor of Screenwriting at the University of Southern California and international film consultant Mary Kate O Flanagan. These lec- tures are aimed at the local film and TV industry talent. However, film enthusiasts are welcome to attend. On each day, a different film will be shown and analysed for the craft of screenwriting. Mary Kate O Flanagan will analyse the 2008 debut film Frozen River on Wednesday 18th March. David Howard's discussion will take place on Thursday 19th March and features the 1988 American comedy film Midnight Run. Both screenings will take place at St James Cavalier Centre for Crea- tivity, Valletta, at 7pm. Attendance is free. The films have been chosen as a contrast to each other to show how they use similar techniques despite how different they are in tone and content. Storyworks runs from Saturday 14th to Friday 20th March in 2015 and imparts screenwriting skills into a generation of professionals through project development. This is the third year of the workshop. Film Synopses: Frozen River (2008) is a debut film by Tennessee writer and director Courtney Hunt which received two Oscar nominations including one for Best Original Screenplay. Ray Eddy (Melissa Leo) is a discount store clerk struggling to raise two sons with her husband, a compulsive gambler who has disappeared with the funds she had earmarked to finance the purchase of a new mobile home. While searching for him, she encounters Lila Littlewolf (Misty Upham), a Mohawk woman with troubles of her own. The two women form a desperate and uneasy alliance entering into an illegal plan to make money quickly. Midnight Run is a 1988 American action-comedy film directed by Martin Brest and starring Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin. Bounty hunter Jack Walsh is sent to find bail jumper and former Mafia account- ant, Jonathan "The Duke" Mardu- kas. The FBI have had no success in locating The Duke, so when Jack finds him in next to no time, they are a little embarrassed. In order to collect his $100,000 fee, Jack must take The Duke from New York to Los Angeles. However, the Mafia and the FBI have other ideas, as does Marvin, a rival bounty hunter. On their long cross-country trip to LA, the two get to know each other and they build up a strange friendship. The School of Performing Arts of the University of Malta will be holding its annual conference on the theme of Performance and Interdisciplinarity on March 20 and 21 at the Valletta Campus. The conference features a key- note speech from Dr Laura Cull (University of Surrey), who will be joined by a markedly international group of speakers from the UK, US, Australia, Nigeria, Belgium, Italy, Turkey, Brazil, and Malta to discuss interdisciplinarity in performance and the performing arts, and how this connects to other disciplines from Science and the Humanities. More information, including regis- tration details and full programme, can be accessed on http://www. um.edu.mt/performingarts/sympo- sium2015, or by contacting confer- ence convener Dr Stefan Aquilina on stefan.aquilina@um.edu.mt or 2340 2989. On the two evenings of the conference, the school will also be presenting its annual perform- ance which, this year, is entitled: 'In any case'. This performance has been devised by Theatre, Music and Dance students, and includes texts, music and movement that have been created specifically for the piece. There will be two performances each night at the MITP University Performing Arts Theatre, St Christopher Street Val- letta on March 20 and 21 at 18:00 and 20:00. Tickets can be booked at stefan.sacco@um.edu.mt or by phoning 23403524. The conference and performance are open to the general public. Film analysis and talks about the craft of screenwriting International and interdisciplinary conference by performing arts school