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The Founders

David Kleiler

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David is a veteran of over 30 years in the independent film industry as an exhibitor, professor, collaborator / producer and consultant through his own organization, Local Sighting, Inc.

David was responsible for saving the art house cinema, the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, MA; during his tenure as its Director he showcased the best of independent cinema at a time when most of Boston's movie houses were only booking blockbusters. The Coolidge has become a well-known and well-respected theater for independent and art house films in the Boston-area.

As Founder and former Artistic Director of the Boston Underground Film Festival, begun in 1998 and now in its 15th year, David has been shaking up the sensibilities of independent film fans. David helped program such festivals as Woods Hole, Northampton, New Haven, and and Nantucket; his programming at these festivals constantly challenges film goers and exposes audiences to works of merit that have limited or no distribution. He has programmed independent film features and shorts collections at more than 35 locations on the East Coast.

A former tenured professor of Communications at Babson College, he has also taught at Emerson College, U Mass Boston, Tufts University and the Boston Architectural Center.


Jean-Paul Ouellette

Boston-born Jean-Paul (J-P) Ouellette pursued filmmaking after completing studies in literature and graphic design, apprenticing first to filmmaker Russ Meyer, then director Orson Welles, and was mentored by television directing legend Don Richardson. Mr. Ouellette worked for such companies as Cannon Pictures, New Line Cinema, Orion Pictures, and Roger Corman’s New World Cinema.

He learned all of the aspects of filmmaking hands-on, including camera from Jan de Bont and Corman DP Gary Graver, lighting from award-winner Bill Klages, and stunt directing from Glenn Wilder. J-P directed the second unit action sequences for the Hemdale/Orion film Terminator, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. He wrote and directed the cult horror films H.P. Lovecraft’s The Unnamable and its sequel. He has worked as an international television co-producer with NDF of Germany and RTL of Ireland and produces and directs documentaries and industrials.

Currently, Mr. Ouellette is back to his first love, screenwriting. He has written a book for screenwriters: "The New Elements of Standard Screenplay Format." He has taught at Boston University's Center for Digital Imaging Arts and at the Emerson College Professional Studies Program. He consults with independent producers, developing projects from conception through breakdown, budget, marketing, and financial documentation. Mr. Ouellette is on the board of the Woods Hole Film Festival.


The History

Pre-2015

For much of his career David Kleiler's love of cinema drove him to want to show films. With his growing contacts in the film and distribution world, a couple of 16 millimeter projectors, and a living room (or any space he could find) he would show films. During the ’80s Kleiler ran a portable underground film society called Rear Window. But always there were films screening in his living room.

2015 and forward

The Screening Salon was resurrected in 2015 with the addition of Jean-Paul, who moved back to Boston after a short exile on the North Shore. Currently the salon takes place four or five times a month, screening as wide a range of films as possible, many suggested and introduced by salon attendees who wish to present favorite gems and guilty pleasures. Check out the Archive to see what we've screened, the Upcoming page for what's in the near future, and the TBD for films on the short list for the future.

 


The Film Crowd

Since, begining the screening salon/saloon on August 18, 2015 with Sullivan's Travels, it has always been about "the discussion." It has long been decided that the death of the local cinema has sped the death of good conversation. The salon was designed to bring the tradition back, to have an open forum to talk about the film, the ideas, the culture, the symbolism, and meaning of the work. And the salon has attracted many of the cinephiles and cineastes of Boston.

In 2015 alone, over 45 people have attended [many presenting exciting films they wished to expose to the group] including Ken Bader, Dima Ballin, Christy Cashman, Claire Folger, Nat Green, Steve Head, Sandy Jaffe, Mary Kakas, Judy Laster, Bill Marx, Kevin Monahan, Sarah Pearlstein, Joel Shames, Ed Slattery, Alan Spatrick, David Tames, Eric Van, Denise Widman, Kaj Wilson, Doris Yaffe, Devra Zabow.

tafjpdkArtsFuse.org has had Steve Head write a small article on our Screening Salon called Saving Serious Cinema Conversation, One Salon at a Time which you can find HERE


  


The Screening Salon/Salon is a private, casual, and non-commercial screening group run from our homes. There is no monetary gain, nor required dues, fees, or collections of money of any sort. It's just for the fun of sharing and enjoying copies of films we own or borrow from local libraries.

For more information call Local Sightings at (617) 975-3361
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