Pittsburgh Filmmakers
Encyclopedia
Pittsburgh Filmmakers is one of the oldest and largest media arts centers in the United States
.
This non-profit institution in Pittsburgh
, Pennsylvania
began as a filmmaking-equipment access cooperative in 1971. That co-op is still a pillar of the organization, which now also includes an accredited school, three theaters (The Harris in the downtown Cultural District
, the Regent Square in the neighborhood of the same name, and the Melwood Screening Room in North Oakland, located in the same building as the school) and the Three Rivers Film festival
.
. The proximity of these two places is interesting, because both were to play a part in the development of Pittsburgh Filmmakers. A variety of programs were presented at The Crumbling Wall, including experimental films programmed by Chuck Glassmeyer. A group of interested people developed around these screenings, and soon they wanted more, including making their own films.
. The general shape of Pittsburgh Filmmakers as it exists today was already taking form then. The building included darkrooms and filmmaking facilities. Workshops in the use of equipment, as well as screenings, were offered. The early presence of photography is attributable to the fact that one of the energizing forces in the development of Filmmakers was photographer Robert Haller, later an executive director of Pittsburgh Filmmakers, and now administrative director at Anthology Film Archives
in New York City
.
offered Filmmakers a space in an empty building at 205 Oakland Avenue. Its location in the heart of the university district was ideal. Pittsburgh Filmmakers began to slowly grow. By 1992, Pittsburgh Filmmakers was operating four buildings — the equipment facility at 205 Oakland, a classroom and editing facility at 218 Oakland, administrative offices around the corner at 3712 Forbes, and the Theater Annex in the historic Fulton Building
at 101 Sixth Street downtown. The staff had grown by this time from one to 18 full-time, 8 part-time, and varying numbers of work-study students. Charlie Humphrey, the current executive director, began his tenure at this time. His predecessors include Robert Costa (1971), Phil Curry (1971-1973), Robert Haller (1973-1979), Marilyn Levin(1979-1983), Bob Marinaccio (1983-1987), Jan Erlich-Moss (1987, interim), Tony Buba (1988, interim), Margaret Meyers (1988-1991), Kurt Saunders (1991-1992, interim), Marcia Clark
(1992), and the current director of education Brady Lewis (1992, interim).
In 1995, the owners of the Fulton Theater Annex asked Filmmakers to move out. A temporary home for the Theater Annex's exhibition program was found at Point Park College's facility on Craft Avenue in Oakland. Before year's end, it moved into the Harris Theater at 809 Liberty, a former X-rated movie house located in downtown Pittsburgh. In early 1998, Pittsburgh Filmmakers purchased the Regent Square Theater, at 1035 South Braddock. In 2001, rehabilitation of the second floor of 477 Melwood was completed, which now holds offices, digital editing suites, classrooms, a sound stage, a new gallery for photo and other exhibitions, and a 60-seat theater. Aside from its rich and interesting history, it offers a superior quality education and exploration of the film medium in general.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
This non-profit institution in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
began as a filmmaking-equipment access cooperative in 1971. That co-op is still a pillar of the organization, which now also includes an accredited school, three theaters (The Harris in the downtown Cultural District
Cultural District, Pittsburgh
The Cultural District is a fourteen-square block area in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA bordered by the Allegheny River on the north, Tenth Street on the east, Stanwix Street on the west, and Liberty Avenue on the south....
, the Regent Square in the neighborhood of the same name, and the Melwood Screening Room in North Oakland, located in the same building as the school) and the Three Rivers Film festival
Three Rivers Film Festival
The Three Rivers Film Festival is an annual film festival, held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Sponsored by the Pittsburgh Filmmakers, the festival features foreign-language films, American independents, documentaries, shorts, local works and experimental cinema...
.
The Crumbling Wall
The Crumbling Wall was a non-denominational coffeehouse run by the Lutheran Church on Forbes Avenue, across from Carnegie Library of PittsburghCarnegie Library of Pittsburgh
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is the public library system in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its main branch is located in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, and it has 19 branch locations throughout the city...
. The proximity of these two places is interesting, because both were to play a part in the development of Pittsburgh Filmmakers. A variety of programs were presented at The Crumbling Wall, including experimental films programmed by Chuck Glassmeyer. A group of interested people developed around these screenings, and soon they wanted more, including making their own films.
Foray into 16 mm
This incipient "scene" intensified in 1970, when Leon Arkus and Sally Dixon started the Section (later Department) of Film and Video at the Carnegie. Dixon started bringing artists into town to screen their work. It soon seemed like a natural development that if the artists were here, they should be able to work on their films. She acquired a grant to purchase 16 mm filmmaking equipment to this end.Phase 1
The group found a space in the basement of the now-defunct Selma Burke Arts Center in East LibertyEast Liberty
The following places are named East Liberty:* East Liberty, Ohio* East Liberty , a neighborhood of Pittsburgh* East Liberty , a novel by Joseph Bathanti set in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of the same name...
. The general shape of Pittsburgh Filmmakers as it exists today was already taking form then. The building included darkrooms and filmmaking facilities. Workshops in the use of equipment, as well as screenings, were offered. The early presence of photography is attributable to the fact that one of the energizing forces in the development of Filmmakers was photographer Robert Haller, later an executive director of Pittsburgh Filmmakers, and now administrative director at Anthology Film Archives
Anthology Film Archives
__notoc__Anthology Film Archives is a film archive and theater located at 32 Second Avenue on the corner of East Second Street in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City devoted to the preservation and exhibition of experimental film. It is the only non-profit organization of its...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Phase 2
In 1971, a more formal organization was formed. Articles of incorporation were filed and the name Pittsburgh Filmmakers was adopted. Bob Costa was the first director and Robert Gaylor, a successful designer, the first president of the board of directors. Space, and a lack of it, became an issue. In 1974, the University of PittsburghUniversity of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
offered Filmmakers a space in an empty building at 205 Oakland Avenue. Its location in the heart of the university district was ideal. Pittsburgh Filmmakers began to slowly grow. By 1992, Pittsburgh Filmmakers was operating four buildings — the equipment facility at 205 Oakland, a classroom and editing facility at 218 Oakland, administrative offices around the corner at 3712 Forbes, and the Theater Annex in the historic Fulton Building
Fulton Building
The Fulton Building in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a building from 1906. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. Since 2001 it has been the home of the city's Renaissance Hotel....
at 101 Sixth Street downtown. The staff had grown by this time from one to 18 full-time, 8 part-time, and varying numbers of work-study students. Charlie Humphrey, the current executive director, began his tenure at this time. His predecessors include Robert Costa (1971), Phil Curry (1971-1973), Robert Haller (1973-1979), Marilyn Levin(1979-1983), Bob Marinaccio (1983-1987), Jan Erlich-Moss (1987, interim), Tony Buba (1988, interim), Margaret Meyers (1988-1991), Kurt Saunders (1991-1992, interim), Marcia Clark
Marcia Clark
Marcia Rachel Clark is an American prosecutor, author, and television correspondent who gained fame as the head prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson murder case.-Early life:...
(1992), and the current director of education Brady Lewis (1992, interim).
Modern Times
Humphrey and his director of administration Dorinda Hughes, mounted a successful campaign starting in 1993 to modernize and unify the facilities. By the summer of 1995, Pittsburgh Filmmakers was ensconced in its current home at 477 Melwood Avenue, a 44000 square feet (4,087.7 m²) space formerly used as Carnegie-Mellon University's Tartan Labs. Renovations included the building's first floor — to house equipment, classrooms, darkrooms, and offices — and the 130-seat Melwood Screening Room.In 1995, the owners of the Fulton Theater Annex asked Filmmakers to move out. A temporary home for the Theater Annex's exhibition program was found at Point Park College's facility on Craft Avenue in Oakland. Before year's end, it moved into the Harris Theater at 809 Liberty, a former X-rated movie house located in downtown Pittsburgh. In early 1998, Pittsburgh Filmmakers purchased the Regent Square Theater, at 1035 South Braddock. In 2001, rehabilitation of the second floor of 477 Melwood was completed, which now holds offices, digital editing suites, classrooms, a sound stage, a new gallery for photo and other exhibitions, and a 60-seat theater. Aside from its rich and interesting history, it offers a superior quality education and exploration of the film medium in general.