Monday, September 15, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.
"American Maverick – The Life and Times of Pete McCloskey" directed by Rob Caughlan
At a time when the word “maverick” is increasingly heard this political season, it might be worth considering the life of Pete McCloskey—environmental crusader, politician, marine veteran, gadfly. As a presidential candidate, he led the charge to impeach President Nixon—before Watergate. As a Republican congressman, he co-founded the first Earth Day and co-authored the Endangered Species Act. And at age 78, he came out of retirement to wage one more unlikely, brave campaign. Narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Paul Newman, “American Maverick - The Life and Times of Pete McCloskey” offers an unexpected portrait of a true American character.
Moderators Michael Wilson and Natalie Zimmerman recently formed Social Satisfaction Media and made their first feature-length documentary, “Silhouette City,” which premiered at the Miami International Film Festival. Wilson and Zimmerman’s other projects have included performance new media, installation and photography, and they have exhibited/performed at festival, museums, galleries and art centers throughout the world. They are currently artists in residence at the Headlands Center for the Arts.
Monday, October 13th at 7:30 p.m.
"Beard Club" directed by Laura Lukitsch
Each day, every man must decide either to shave or not to shave. The act can be one of conformity, rebellion, laziness, or transition. “Beard Club” traces beard trends as far back as Alexander the Great, while, at the same time, presenting profiles and musings of religious men, former 60s activists, world beard competitors, bearded women, and a young Arab graphic novelist. Funny and razor-sharp, “Beard Club” holds a mirror up to the ideas and ideals of facial hair.
Moderator Marc Smolowitz is an Academy Award nominated documentary film & television producer (“The Weather Underground” '03, “Trembling Before G-d” '01), and is the Producer at TellyTopia, a Silicon Valley company that provides IP-TV solutions to cable operators, satellite companies and online media channels. He also serves as Chair of the Technology Impact Circle at Full Circle Fund, an engaged philanthropy organization cultivating the next generation of community leaders and driving lasting social change in the S.F. Bay Area.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.
“D tour” directed by Jim Granato
Complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres provided
$7 admission. All shows are free with Lab membership ($50 level and above).
Pat Spurgeon is a professional musician whose dreams of being in a successful rock ’n’ roll band have come true. But just as his band, Rogue Wave, starts to take off, his kidney starts to fail. “D tour” chronicles the life of a musician with “no back-up plan” as he’s faced with daily dialysis, a grueling tour, and a search for a new kidney. Featuring live performances from Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie), Nada Surf, Ryan Miller (Guster), John Vanderslice, The Moore Brothers, and Rogue Wave. For more about the film, visit http://autonomy16.net/Benefit_Doc.html.
Moderator Richard O'Connell is the Director of Production at ITVS (Independent Television Service), which is the largest supplier of independently produced programming to public television in the United States. A native of Ireland, he has a diverse background as a producer and director in narrative and documentary film production. Richard worked as a freelance journalist before coming to work at ITVS, and is currently completing a Masters in Film Studies at Exeter University in the UK.
Rough Cuts is a series of work-in-progress documentary screenings that are produced every other month at the LAB, a non-profit gallery/performance space in the Mission. For each evening, we screen one rough cut of a feature-length documentary and then moderate a conversation about the film. These post-screening discussions are designed to give the filmmaker a better, more objective sense of what is working and not working with his/her film, with particular attention paid to improving the film’s structure and narrative clarity. We hope that the series also provides a welcome space for local filmmakers, film professionals, and fans of documentary film to meet and talk. For questions about Rough Cuts, email Chris Holbrook at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Rough Cuts thanks its partners Five Vintners and ReelChanges for their support of the series.
