Students partner with film festival to screen cinematic icon
Ellyse Brooks
Bachelor of Arts student
Avondale College of Higher Education
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia
Etienne Reynaud and Ashlee King, in conjunction with Australia’s Silent Film Festival, are screening two Charlie Chaplin films as part of their event management class.
Credit: Brenton Stacey.
A cinematic icon played by a British actor returns to the big screen in a silent film experience organised by two Avondale arts students.
The childlike, bumbling but good-hearted Tramp features in two Charlie Chaplin films Ashlee King and Etienne Reynaud will screen with live piano accompaniment as part of their assessment for the event management unit. The Rink and Easy Street are showing in Ladies Chapel at 2.30 PM and 6.00 PM on Thursday, October 31.
Filmmaker Jim Lounsbury and wife Lynette, an author, historian and scriptwriter who lectures in the School of Humanities and Creative Arts at Avondale, will explain a little of the technique and of the history of silent films before each screening. Claire Howard Race from the Avondale Conservatorium will accompany each film.
Ashlee and Etienne encourage those attending to dress in vintage attire. “We’re doing what we can to make the mood appropriate, and that’s been fun,” says Etienne.
Supervising the students is lecturer Bruna Tawake. “Public events, particularly ones that aim to provide a unique experience, are not easy to organise but Ashlee and Etienne are excited by the possibilities. I feel proud of their commitment, their perseverance and their creativity.”
Avondale is presenting The Charlie Chaplin Experience in partnership with Ronnie Farrar and Sharon Jackson, co-directors of Australia’s Silent Film Festival. “What Ronnie and Sharon want to do is revive the silent film culture,” says Etienne. “Because we’ve worked with them before [Avondale and Australia’s Silent Film Festival presented the war documentary The Battle of the Somme in April this year], we thought we’d leverage that to create the best possible experience.”
Chaplin, who wrote, directed, produced, edited, scored and starred in most of his films, is considered one of the most important figures in the industry. “His comedy was based on more than just slapstick,” says Associate Professor Daniel Reynaud, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Theology at Avondale and the author of articles in academic journals about the interaction between history and film. “He slowed down the action and focused on developing the character, giving his comedy real artistic depth.”
The Charlie Chaplin Experience, Thursday, October 31, 2.30 PM and 6.00 PM. Limited seating. Tickets: $10 (regular); $8.50 (student); $8.50 (Avondale Alumni Association card holders); $30 (family—two adults and up to four children under 12). www.avondale.edu.au/onlinestore