FITC: The Early Years

In 1970 the young founders of Film in the Cities (FITC)—a landmark media arts center that helped shape the Twin Cities film community (1970–1993)—were dedicated to mentoring and teaching urban teens the art of filmmaking. They put Super 8 cameras into the hands of middle and high school students who captured their own stories and images, often on the streets of St. Paul. Their “pre-selfie” idealism conveys a powerful moment in the history of the teenage lens.

This program of the students’ vintage ’70s gems includes the premiere of Reframed: Forgotten Film Remembered, a newly commissioned work of rediscovered outtakes created by Ingrid Weise, with an original score by Jeremy Ylvisaker. A Super 8 projection of the promotional short What FITC Is will also be screened.

Special thanks to Gale Family Library at the Minnesota Historical Society for digitization of FITC student films.

FITC Student Films: Through the Eyes of Youth, 1970–1980
A 40-minute selection of works (listed below) from Through the Eyes of Youth will be presented this evening. In addition, the full program of student films will be available in a playlist in the Bentson Mediatheque during gallery hours (see complete listing below).

Film in the Cities Intro, David Laterre
Martians, David Laterre
At the Roller Garden, Tim Leonard
The Fall, Jack Bergstein
Bridges, Lynn Wadsworth
Dracula and Blacula, Rick Madrid and Peggy Tieman
Herself, Danielle Frederickson
A Day at Oxford, Alex Jackson
The Burning Church, Jack Steinmann
Paranoia, Vallaurie Crawford
All Americans, Russell Chevre and Michael Gerlach
The Bomb and the Flower, Kevin Hartigan
Let’s all go to Hell, David Blessing
The Day at Grant’s Department Store, Antonio White

Post-Screening Conversation
Join FITC founders and teachers Tom DeBiaso, Rick Weise, and Dianne Brennan; student/teacher Paul Auguston; and student Tim Leonard for a lively discussion. A reception follows.

Now Playing in the Bentson Mediatheque
The playlist Film in the Cities: Through the Eyes of Youth showcases 26 of the FITC students’ Super 8 films (silent, sound, color, black and white), which were transferred to 16mm by Film in the Cities and digitized for the Walker. Program length: 83 mins.

FITC Student Reel 1
At the Roller Garden, Tim Leonard, 3 min.
Walking in Rhythm, Tom Alsides, 2 min.
The Bomb and the Flower, Kevin Hartigan, 34 sec.
Bridges, Lynn Wadsworth, 2 min.
TV Film, Scott Jaberg, 2 min.
Calliope, Greg Fellman, 3 min.
Dracula and Blacula, Rick Madrid and Peggy Tiemann, 5 min.

FITC Student Reel 2
FITC intro, David Laterre, 17 sec.
Martians, David Laterre, 1 min.
The Fall , Jack Bergstein, 2 min.
Paranoia, Vallaurie Crawford, 4 min.
I’m Coming Mother, Danny Hogan, 30 sec.
Venetian Blinds, Peggy Tiemann, 3 min.
A Day at Oxford, Alex Jackson, 3 min.
Flowers, Steve Peck, 4 min.
Perry Mason and World’s Greatest Lawyer, David Ziemann, 3 min.

FITC Student Reel 3
The Burning Church, Jack Steinmann, 4 min.
Herself , Danielle Fredrickson, 2 min.
Show Animations, Kevin Hartigan, 1 min.
Us,Billy Boddy, 4 min.
The Day at Grant’s Department Store, Antonio White, 3 min.
Bleach, David Blessing, 3 min.

FITC Student Reel 4
Let’s All Go to Hell, David Blessing, 3 min.
All Americans, Russell Chevre and Michael Gerlach, 5 min.
Seven Animations, Kevin Hartigan, 2 min.
Imagine a Mirror, Jan Peterson, 10 min.

FITC: The Early Years is part of a three-part series paying tribute to the evolution of Film in the Cities. Highlights include special events, discussions, and presentations by a number of FITC’s founders, early teachers, artists, and students.