Dana Plays


 


curriculum vitae 

EXHIBITIONS
• HONORS • AWARDS • FESTIVALS • TELEVISION

Museums and Art Venues - Invited Exhibitions

Whitney Museum of American Art  
The Color of Ritual, The Color of Women
Avant-Garde Filmmakers in America 1930-2000
Programmed by Whitney Film Curator, Chrisie Isles
2000 

Pacific Film Archive at the  University Art Museum
ALTERNATIVE VISIONS: Retrieved Images Programmed by Kathy Geritz
Berkeley, California  
2002

San Francisco Cinematheque at  the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Films by Dana Plays, In-person presentation Programmed by Steve Anker
San Francisco, California    
June 13, 2002

Filmforum at Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibtions
Films by Dana Plays,  In-person presentation Programmed by Thom Anderson
Los Angeles, California  
September, 1997   

Museum Arts and Culture
Spokane, Washington  
October 22, 2002

Millennium Personal Cinema Program               
Millenium Film Workshop Fall Series Curated by Howard Guttenplan. 
Films by Dana Plays, In-person presentation
New York, New York    
December 6, 1992                      

Women Direct
12th Annual Series of New Films and Videos by Women, Re-producing Memory,
Re- Making Vision Speaker:  Dana Plays, Programmed by Patricia Zimmerman
Ithaca College, Roy  H. Park Hall Auditorium
Ithaca, New York 

Pacific Film Archive, University Art Museum  

Avant-Garde Cinema, Listening to our (Grand)mothers:    
Films by Lynne Merrick, Dana Plays and Pola Rapaport
Love Stories My Grandmother Tells, Part 1       
Berkeley, California    November 22, 1994         

HALLWALLS Contemporary Arts Center           
Off the Track: Works by Dana Plays,
Donna Cameron & Claire Dannenbaum              
Series of independent media from around the world   
Programmed by Rene Bouchard
Zero Hour  
Buffalo, New York    
June 30, 1993              
       
Experimental Film Conference  

Co-ordinated by Stan Brakhage
Zero Hour, Recollection,
In-person screening.        
University of Colorado at Boulder
Boulder, Colorado 
July, 1992

S.F. Cinematheque
Films by Dana Plays/ Andre Zdravic
  
In-person presentation
San Francisco, California    
June 9, 1988            
   
San Francisco Art Commission Gallery           
Alternative Space Select
In-person presentation
Shards, Across the Border
San Francisco, California, 
July 21, 1988               
       
Capp Street Project                   
Souvenir Highway
A Site-specific Installation by Jerry Beck
Saturday Nite Screenings at Jerry's Drive ins
Arrow Creek
San Francisco, California
June 6, 1987               

Southern Exposure Gallery Anti-World War III Festival
Across the Border
San Francisco, California

San Francisco International Film Festival           
Bay Area Filmmakers’ Showcase Pacific Film Archive
University Art Museum
In-person presentation 
Across the Border
Berkeley, California
November 12, 1983

Edinburugh Film Festival
Across the Border
Edinburgh, Scotland

San Francisco Exploratorium
Films by Dana Plays - In-person presentation. Programmed by Liz Keim
San Francisco, California   
December, 1989    

Alternative Cinema 
Dana Plays in person.  Programmed by John Knecht
Colgate University, Hamilton, New York 
October 27, 1992                   
                  

FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS & SCREENINGS 

 
    Black Maria Film and Video Festival, 2002
    FIRST PRIZE, JURORS’ CHOICE AWARD
    Nuclear Family
    Jersey City, New Jersey

    40th Annual Ann Arbor Film Festival, 2002
    HONORABLE MENTION
    Nuclear Family
    Ann Arbor, Michigan

     Empire State Film Festival, 2002
     FIRST PRIZE, EXPERIMENTAL FILM AWARD
     Nuclear Family
     Saratoga Springs, New York                       

    Big Muddy Film Festival, 1995
    DOCUMENTARY AWARD, THIRD PLACE
    Love Stories My Grandmother Tells, Part 1
    Carbondale, Illinois

    Black Maria Film and Video Festival, 1995
    DIRECTOR’S CHOICE
    Love Stories My Grandmother Tells, Part 1
    Jersey City, New Jersey

    New Orleans Film and Video Festival, 1994
    CINEMA 16 BEST DOCUMENTARY AWARD
    Love Stories My Grandmother Tells, Part 1
    New Orleans, Louisiana   

    30th Ann Arbor Film Festival, 1992
    TOM BERMAN AWARD, MOST PROMISING FILMMAKER
    Zero Hour           
    Ann Arbor, Michigan

    Sinking Creek Film Celebration, 1992
    CASH AWARD            
    Zero Hour
    Greenville, Tennessee

    Black Maria Film & Video Festival, 1992
    DIRECTOR’S CITATION
    Zero Hour       
    Jersey City, New Jersey
   
    12th Annual San Francisco Art Institute International Film Festival, 1990
    AWARD
    Shards               
    San Francisco, California
   
    24th Ann Arbor Film Festival, 1986
    CASH AWARD
    Via Rio             
    Ann Arbor, Michigan

    Fifth Annual San Francisco Art Institute International Film Festival, 1983
    CASH AWARD
    Don't Means Do
    San Francisco, California

    Persistence of Vision, 16th Annual Humboldt International Film Festival, 1983
    HONORABLE MENTION
    Across the Border       
    Arcata, California
   
    Universiade International Film Festival, 1983
    FIRST PRIZE, EXPERIMENTAL FILM
    Across the Border
    Edmonton, Canada

    Santa Fe Winter Film Expo, 1983
    FIRST PRIZE, EXPERIMENTAL      
    Across the Border
    Santa Fe, New Mexico

    Houston International Film Festival, 1983
    BRONZE AWARD, EXPERIMENTAL
    Across the Border
    Houston, Texas

    20th Ann Arbor Film Festival, 1982
    CASH AWARD
    Across the Border           
    Ann Arbor, Michigan
   
    Sinking Creek Film Celebration, 1982
    DIRECTOR’S CHOICE
    Silverfish       
    Greenville, Tennessee
   
    19th Ann Arbor Film Festival Tour                   
    CASH AWARD
    Silverfish           
    San Francisco Art Institute
    San Francisco, California
   
    Sinking Creek Film Celebration                        
    CASH AWARD
    Grain Graphics           
    Greenville, Tennessee
   
    Poetry International Film Festival                  
    FIRST PRIZE   
     Grain Graphics                               
    San Francisco, California
   
    Seventh Annual San Francisco Art Institute Film Festival            
    UICA (AICA) Student Film Competition
    FIRST PRIZE
    Grain Graphics
   San Francisco, California               

    Seventh Annual San Francisco Art Institute Film Festival            
    UICA (AICA) Student Film Competition
    HONORABLE MENTION
    Arrow Creek                       
    San Francisco, California
 


TELEVISION AIRINGS

Dutch National Television / VPRO Broadcasting Company
Televised: Love Stories My Grandmother Tells, Part 1 (invited)
 Summer Guest Film Director Ian Kirkoff, curator         
Amsterdam, Holland                    
July 9, 1995

KQED, Channel 9 San Francisco - Frontal Exposure
Televised: Across the Border  (juried)
San Francisco, California                   
July 30, 1983

WTTW, Channel 11, Chicago - Image Union
Televised: Across the Border, 1/29/83 & 1/30/83 (invited)
Chicago, Illinois                        
January, 1983

Peralta Colleges Television, Oakland California - Best of the Fests
Curated by the San Francisco Cinematheque (invited)
Televised : Shards      Cable Channels 47, 29 and 59
Alameda County, California                
October 26 , 1989


INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SCREENINGS - JURIED

Big Muddy Film Festival                   
Carbondale, Illinois
NUCLEAR FAMILY
March 3, 2002

Women in the Director’s Chair                
Film Festival   
Chicago, Illinois
NUCLEAR FAMILY
March 15, 2002

Black Maria Film and Video Festival           
Jersey City, New Jersey
NUCLEAR FAMILY
January 25, 2002
Various Tour Stops

Empire State Film Festival                   
Sarasota Springs, New York
NUCLEAR FAMILY
January 14, 2002

Euro Underground Film Festival                
Maribor, Slovenia                
NUCLEAR FAMILY
September17-24, 2001

Ann Arbor Film Festival                   
In person screening and presentation
NUCLEAR FAMILY
Panel Discussion and Screening
“What the Hell Was That?”   
Ann Arbor, Michigan
March 15, 2002
           
Deep Ellum Film Festival   
In person screening and presentation           
Dallas, Texas
NUCLEAR FAMILY
November 17, 2001

Savannah Film and Video Festival
Guest of the Festival In-person presentations
Savannah, Georgia
Trustees Theater                        
October 30, 2001
Mondanaro Theater                    
October 31, 2001
Trustees Theater                        
November 3, 2001
Round table discussion; Experimental Cinema        
October 30, 2001
NUCLEAR FAMILY

Montreal International Festival of New Cinema and Video   
 (International Competition)
Love Stories My Grandmother Tells, Part 1
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
June 11, 1995                 

21st Annual, Seattle International Film Festival       
Varsity Theatre
Love Stories My Grandmother Tells, Part 1 
Seattle, Washington
May 23, 1995

                         
New York Underground Film & Video Festival   
Love Stories My Grandmother Tells, Part 1
New York, New York
March 23, 1995                             

37th Int’l Leipziger Festival                
In person presentation and 16mm film screening, Information Program
Love Stories My Grandmother Tells, Part 1
November 15-20, 1994
Round Table discussion: State of Documentary in the United States with panelists
Jenny Livingston, Mira Benford, Georgia Mckinnis, and Dana Plays
American House
Leipzig, Germany
November 19, 1994                   

VIPER International Film and Videofestival            
In person screening  & presentation, International Program: Experi-doc
Love Stories My Grandmother Tells, Part 1 
Lucerne, Switzerland
October 17-22, 1994                             

Onion City Film Festival                   
Love Stories My Grandmother Tells, Part 1
Chicago, Illinois
May 6, 1995                                    
       
Seventh Annual Dresden Film Festival               
Love Stories My Grandmother Tells, Part 1 
Dresden, Germany
April 29, 1995                         

Interfilm Festival                      
Love Stories My Grandmother Tells, Part  I
Berlin, Germany
April 23, 1995                                     

Madrid Experimental Week (Official Section)       
Love Stories My Grandmother Tells, Part 1
Madrid, Spain
April 4-11, 1995                          

Carolina Film & Video Festival               
Love Stories My Grandmother Tells, Part 1     
Greensboro, North Carolina
March 31, 1995                   
       
Big Muddy Film Festival,                   
Love Stories My Grandmother Tells, Part 1
Carbondale, Illinois
February, 1995 
                       
Black Maria Film and Video Festival          
Love Stories My Grandmother Tells, Part 1
Jersey City, New Jersey
February, 1995                   

Chicago Underground Film Festival           
Love Stories My Grandmother Tells, Part 1
Chicago, Illinois
July 21, 1995                       

The 1995 Big Show Film Festival at Cinema Village       
 Love Stories My Grandmother Tells, Part 1
New York, New York
May, 1995                      

5th Annual St. John's International Women's Film Festival   
Love Stories My Grandmother Tells, Part 1
Newfoundland, Canada
October 13-17, 1994
                                      
30th Ann Arbor Film Festival               
ZERO HOUR, RECOLLECTION 
Ann Arbor, Michigan
March 17, 1992                  
               
30th Ann Arbor Film Festival               
 ZERO HOUR         
Sunday Winners' Program
Ann Arbor, Michigan
March 22, 1992                        

Sinking Creek Film /Video Festival Celebration       
Cutting Edge of Experimental Media, 
ZERO HOUR
June 13, 1992 

Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee                                    

12th Annual San Francisco Art Institute Film Festival   
Shards
San Francisco California
April 21, 1989  

Festival of International Progressive Film and Video      
Across the Border
La Pena Cultural Center
Berkeley, California
October 21, 1987                   

New Orleans Film and Video Festival          
In person screening and presentation
Love Stories My Grandmother Tells, Part 1
New Orleans, Louisiana
October 7-13, 1994      

Women of the Americas Film and Video Festival       
UC Theatre
In-person presentation
Across the Border
Berkeley California
October 20, 1987        
                

25th Ann Arbor Film Festival               
Via Rio
Ann Arbor Tour
Ann Arbor, Michigan
April, 1986                    

Women's Film Festival, Humboldt State University       
Via Rio
Arcata, California
April 5, 1986                    


The Humboldt State University Women’s Film Festival    
Across the Border, Don't Means Do
Arcata, California
February 28, 1985                     

Women's Film Festival,
Humboldt State University
Don't Means Do
Arcata, California

5th San Francisco Art Institute Film Festival           
Don't Means Do
San Francisco, California
April 14, 1983                    
   
Fifth San Francisco Art Institute Film Festival       
Across the Border
San Francisco, California
April 16, 1983                   

16th Annual Humboldt Film Festival, Persistence of Vision  
Across the Border
Eureka, California
April, 1983                   

Santa Fe Winter Film Expo              
Across the Border
Santa Fe, New Mexico
March, 1983                    

Universiade International Film Festival          
Across the Border
Edmonton, Canada
July, 1983                   
       
Houston International Film Festival              
Across the Border
Houston Texas
June, 1983                       

EDINBURGH International Film Festival           
Across the Border
Edinburgh, Scotland
August 26, 1983                           

20th Ann Arbor Film Festival               
Across the Border
Ann Arbor, Michiga
March 9-14, 1982                    

Women in the Director's Chair Film Festival           
Across the Border
Chicago Illinois
December, 1982                        

13th Annual Baltimore International Film Festival       
Across the Border
Baltimore, Maryland
May 2, 1982               

19th Annual Ann Arbor Film Festival           
Silverfish, Tour
Ann Arbor, Michigan
March, 1981                   

Sinking Creek Film Festival              
Silverfish
Greenville, Tennessee
1981

articles and reviews

Spokesman Review | The Inlander | Spartan Screening | LA Weekly | Curator's Comments

Holly Willis, The Los Angeles Weekly, “Filmforum,” April 4-10, 2002.

Julianne Crane, The Spokesman-Review, In Life, “Vision Strays far from Mainstream,” F3,  Sunday October 20, 2002.

Marty Demerest, The Pacific Northwest Inlander, Arts and Culture, “Filmmaker Dana Plays,” p. 27, October 17-23, 2002.

Eric Ernest, “Celebrities Give Insight on L.A. River,” Our Times (local supplement of LA Times in Studio City), April 13, 2000.

Carol Schmuckler, Syracuse University Magazine, “Faculty Research: Dana Plays,” Spring 1996.
   
David Baron, "The Best of Cinema 16, Baron's Cinema 16 Picks, New Orleans Film and Video Festival." The Times-Picayune , New Orleans Thursday, October 6, 1994: E-3

Russ Tarby, "Times Table Picks" Syracuse New Times, July 20-27, 1994:26, 30.
Joan Vadaboncouer, "Emerging Filmmaker Series offered at Manlius Cinema," The Post-Standard, July 11, 1994:C5

Barbara Hammer, "Filmmakers" Yesterday and Tomorrow: California Women Artists, Ed. Sylvia Moore, Midmarch Press, 1989.

Calvin Ahlgren, "Eight New Works Make a Splash in 'Local Color'" Pink Pages, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Dec., 1989.

Stuart Cudlitz, "Cinematheque to Show New Works by Bay Area Filmmakers" Film/Tape World, December, 1989.

Deborah Martin, "Alternative, Experimental films offered at Gallery" Accent, El Paso Herald-Post, 5  May, 1989.

"Films Should Change Rather than Entertain," El Tiempo, El Paso TImes, 5 May, 1989.

Lynne Sachs, "What Do You Have To Say: Women Film and Politics", program for Pushing the Margins: Women in Experimental Film, a selection of National and International Films by Women,  University of Utah, May 1988.

Ian Bell, "Films: Fuller hits Raw Nerve," The Scotsman, Edinburgh, Scotland, 26 August , 1983.

Edgar Daniels,  "Ann Arbor Film Festival," Festivals in Review, Filmmakers Monthly, June 1979.

GRANTS

Louis and Hermione Brown Humanities Research Grant
for Documentary Film Work in Progress: The Story of Ottilie Moore
Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA                    
Summer, 1999

Mellon Grant for Innovative Teaching with Technology
Occidental College, Los Angeles, California                   
Spring, 1999

Edison Summer Internet Workshop
Occidental College, Los Angeles, California                   
Summer, 1997

Faculty Instructional Grant,
College of Visual and Performing Arts, Syracuse University            
Fall, 1994

Travel Grant
Leipzig Documentary Festival
Leipzig, Germany                            
Fall, 1995

Travel Grant
Viper International Film and Video Festival
Lucerne, Switzerland                            
Fall, 1995

Faculty Instructional Grant,
Center for Instructional Development, Syracuse University           
1991


DETAIL ON FILMOGRAPHY


PROFESSIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE
1987 to present


Occidental College, Los Angeles California, 1996- present
Associate Professor Film and New Media Production Program              
 

Film, Department of Art Media Studies

Assistant Professor
Tenured in 1996
Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 1990- 1996                 

Film and Digital Production, Post-production
Numerous Clients, 1987-present

San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, California
Humanities Department Manager and Events and Facilities Coordinator


The Putney School, Putney, Vermont
Board of Trustees
Consultant for the development of a Digital Media Lab for the Michael S. Currier Performing Arts Building, 2004 at the Putney School,  2001-present

Filmforum, Los Angeles, California, 1997 to present
Board of Directors

Media Arts High School Orange County Public School District, 2000-2001 
Advisory Board for the Digital Media Development

 
       

EDUCATION

California College of the Arts, Oakland, California
Master of Fine Arts with High Distinction in Film and Video, 1986



TECHNICAL FLUENCY
Avid, Final Cut Pro 4, Cinema Tools, ProTools, Adobe Photoshop 7, DVD Studio Pro 2,   Front Page, Canon GL1, XL1, Sony Digital video cameras; JK Optical Printer, Éclair ACL, Bolex, Beaulieu, CP16, Arri, Mitchell Photosonics 16mm cameras, Nagra and Sony DAT tape recorders, Sennheiser Microphones, Magnasync Moviola, Steenbeck, Kem, Moviola flatbed editors, and Arri; MZ; ColorTran light kits.





contact Dana Plays

  Contact Dana Plays at  <danaplays@sbcglobal.net>