Sci-Fi Forum

On Monday, October 24, 2011 at the Madera Community College Center, the NCFA instructors participated in the Sci-Fi Forum.  Gregory Ramirez served as moderator for the event, allowing the panelists to share their choices for the best science-fiction films and to participate in a roundtable discussion about the genre.  Then, there was a Q & A from the audience regarding their choices and science-fiction films.

Below are the lists for each of the instructors who participated:

Cynthia Elliott (in no particular order)
Wall-E (2008)
Abre Los Ojos (1997)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Moon (2009)
District 9 (2009)
Planet of the Apes (1968)
The Truman Show (1998)
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Men In Black (1997)
Contact (1997)

Paul Kaser (from one to ten)
1. THX 1138 (1970)  
2. Forbidden Planet (1956)  
3. Dune (1984) 
4.  Brazil (1985) 
5.  Metropolis (1927)  
6.  Planet of the Apes (1968)  
7.  2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)  
8.  Star Wars V:  The Empire Strikes Back (1980)  
9.  Star Trek II:  The Wrath of Khan (1982)    
10.  Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy (1981)
  
Jay Leech (in no particular order)
Metropolis (1927)
Blade Runner (1982)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
THX 1138 (1970)
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Brazil (1985)
The Matrix (1999)
. . . and films worthy of honorable mention . . .
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
District 9 (2009)

Gregory Ramirez (in alphabetical order)
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
Blade Runner (1982)
Children of Men (2006)
Dark City (1998)
District 9 (2009)
E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (1982)
The Matrix (1999)
Robocop (1987)
The Running Man (1987)
Star Wars: Episode V-The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Time After Time (1979)

Sci-Fi Forum

Romantic Films Night

On Friday, March 18, 2011 at the Willow International Community College Center, the NCFA instructors participated in Romantic Films Night.  Jay Leech served as moderator for the event, allowing the panelists in attendance to share their choices for the best romantic films.  Then, there was a Q & A from the audience regarding their choices and romantic films.

Below are the lists for each of the instructors who participated:

Cynthia Elliott (unable to attend; films in alphabetical order)

Adam's Rib (1949)

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)

All That Heaven Allows (1955)

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Casablanca (1942)

Harold and Maude (1972)

The Princess Bride (1987)

. . . and three films that are not romantic . . .

Grease (1978)

Pretty Woman (1990)

Twilight (2008)

Paul Kaser (in alphabetical order)

Adam's Rib (1949)

An Affair to Remember (1957)

Breakfast at Tiffany's (1957),

It Happened One Night (1934)

Min and Bill (1930)

Moonstruck (1987)

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

Private Lives (1931) 

Sabrina (1954)

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

Gregory Ramirez (in alphabetical order)

The Bridges of Madison County (1995)

Casablanca (1942)

Defending Your Life (1991)

The Family Man (2000)

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Life is Beautiful (1998)

The Little Mermaid (1989)

Marty (1955)

Out of Africa (1985)

The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Somewhere in Time (1980)

Up (2009)

Wings of Desire (1987)

Romantic Films Night

The North Centers Film Association will be holding its forum titled "Romantic Films Night" on Friday, March 18th from 7 to 9 p.m.  It will be held in AC2-178 at Willow International Community College Center.

The following instructors will be participating in the forum: Cynthia Elliott, Jay Leech, Paul Kaser, and Gregory Ramirez.  These instructors will share their ideas about romantic film. 

Frightening Films Forum

On Thursday, October 28, 2010 at the Madera Community College Center, the NCFA instructors participated in the Frightening Films Forum.  Cynthia Elliott served as moderator for the event, asking the panelists questions regarding their choices for the best horror and suspense films along with questions about the horror and suspense genres in general.

Below are the lists for each of the instructors who participated:
 
Cynthia Elliott (in alphabetical order)
The Bad Seed (1956)
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
The Exorcist (1973)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Let the Right One In (2008)
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)
Poltergeist (1982)
Psycho (1960)
The Shining (1980)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Paul Kaser (in alphabetical order)
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
Dracula (1931)
Eraserhead (1976)
Freaks (1932)
The Haunting (1963)
The Innocents (1961)
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Nosferatu (1922)
Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959)
Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Jay Leech (in alphabetical order)
28 Days Later (2002)
Alien (1979)
Antichrist (2009)
Audition (1999)
The Exorcist (1973)
Funny Games (1997)
Halloween (1978)
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922)
The Omen (1976)
Seven (1995)
The Shining (1980)

Gregory Ramirez (in alphabetical order)
Evil Dead Trilogy (The Evil Dead, 1981; Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn, 1987; Army of Darkness, 1993)
The Exorcist (1973)
Halloween (1978)
Jaws (1975)
Misery (1990)
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922)
One Hour Photo (2002)
Poltergeist (1982)
Psycho (1960)
Santa Sangre (1989)
Seven (1995)

Frightening Films Forum

Best Films of the Decade (2000-2009)

On Friday, February 26, 2010, the five film instructors who compose the NCFA met at the Willow International Community College Center.  Each instructor shared his or her list of choices for the top ten films of the past decade. 

Each instructor's choices are listed below:

Cynthia Elliott (in alphabetical order)
Babel (2006)
Cache (2005)
In Bruges (2008)
Let the Right One In (2008)
Memento (2000)
Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter . . . and Spring Again (2003)
There Will Be Blood (2007)

Kate Fourchy (in alphabetical order)
Adaptation (2002)
Frozen River (2008)
The Hurt Locker (2009)
In Bruges (2008)
Mystic River (2003)
No Country for Old Men (2007)
Sexy Beast (2000)
Sideways (2004)
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Paul Kaser (one through ten)

1. Passion of the Christ (2004)

 2. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)

 3. Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings (2001)

 4. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

 5. Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War (2004)

 6. Le Peuple Migrateur (Winged Migration) (2001)

 7. 3:10 to Yuma (2007)

 8. The Queen (2006)

 9. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

10. A Mighty Wind (2003)

Jay Leech (in alphabetical order)

Babel (2006)
City of God (2002)
In the Bedroom (2001)
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Lost in Translation (2003)
Monster's Ball (2001)
Paradise Now (2005)
Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Sexy Beast (2000)
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
The Squid and the Whale (2005)

Gregory Ramirez (from one through ten)
1. Up (2009)
2. City of God (2002)
3. Sideways (2004)
4. Crash (2005)
5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
6. Angels in America (2003)
7. The Passion of the Christ (2004)
8. American Splendor (2003)
9. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
10. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)