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David Schmoeller |
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David Schmoeller is a Department of Film Assistant Professor in film production at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and is the director of the UNLV Short Film Archive which holds a weekly screening series of short films called AN EVENING OF FESTIVAL SHORTS, on the campus of UNLV. The UNLV Short Film Archive was recently gifted the entire shorts collection of the Toronto World-Wide Shorts Festival, immediately increasing the number of shorts in the archive by 10,000. Toronto will add an additional 3,000 to 4,000 shorts every year in perpetuity. Schmoeller is currently cataloging the collection which is housed in the Media-Resources section of Lied Library. Schmoeller sits on the advisory board of a number of shorts film festivals; he is regularly invited to serve as a judge at film festivals; and he frequently is asked to curate special shorts programs for assorted cultural events and consults with other shorts programmers for various screenings and film festivals. Before academia, Schmoeller was a Hollywood feature film and television writer-director for 27 years. The Cinémathèque Française in Paris, considered the most prestigious film organization in the world, recently held a TRIBUTE TO DAVID SCHMOELLER, screening of two of his feature films (TOURIST TRAP and CRAWLSPACE, as well as his celebrated short documentary PLEASE KILL MR. KINSKI). Schmoeller was present for a Q&A. http://www.cinematheque.fr/fr/nosactivites/projections/rendez-vous-cinema/cinemabis/manifestation/V3062-cinema-bis-hommage-david-schmoeller.htm In March, 2007, Schmoeller was a Visiting International Artist at Objectifs Centre for Photography & Filmmaking in Singapore where he shot the Singapore segment of a short film he is making called WEDDING DAY (set in Las Vegas, Paris and Singapore) about a bride in each city in a white wedding dress on her wedding day as something calamitous has happened. Schmoeller currently has two feature film projects in development: “Little Monsters,” a crime drama and “Neon Desert,” a romantic-comedy; both are set in Las Vegas. Raised and educated in Texas, Schmoeller began his career as a young playwright and was awarded the Texas Good Neighbor Scholarship for studies in Mexico attending the Universidad De Las Américas, 1967-1968. In Mexico, he studied theater with Alejandro Jodorowsky (“EL TOPO”) and was mentored in film by the legendary director Luis Buñuel. After a stint as an interpreter for ABC Sports during the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Schmoeller returned to Texas and completed a Masters program in Radio-TV-Film at the University of Texas at Austin. His Thesis Film, “THE SPIDER WILL KILL YOU,” funded by a grant from the Directors Guild of America, received an Academy Award Student Film Nomination in 1974, losing in the finals to the Robert Zemeckis student short “FIELD OF HONOR.” Subsequently, under the auspices of the American Film Institute with funding from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, Schmoeller spent six months as an intern with writer-director Peter Hyams on the film “Capricorn One.” Schmoeller's first feature “TOURIST TRAP” (which he wrote and directed) is the favorite film of master storyteller of modern horror, Stephen King. Discussing Schmoeller's work in his book “DANSE MACABRE,” King says "the writer-director (Schmoeller) has the uncanny power to present terror in even more effective ways than many major studio releases." Schmoeller's writing and directing credits include work on the highly-praised television series “JAMES AT 15" as well as the feature films “TOURIST TRAP;” New World's “WARRIORS OF THE WIND;” “THE SEDUCTION” for Embassy; “CRAWLSPACE,” “GHOST TOWN” and “CATACOMBS” for Empire Entertainment and the cult classic “PUPPETMASTER” for Paramount Studios. “PUPPETMASTER” subsequently became one of the most successful franchise horror films ever made, producing seven more sequels, the latest in 2003 (“PUPPERMASTER, THE LEGACY”). Schmoeller's film “THE ARRIVAL,” a science-fiction black comedy, was selected for the Midnight Madness screening at the Toronto Film Festival. After “THE ARRIVAL,” Schmoeller wrote and directed “NETHERWORLD,” a ghost story filmed in New Orleans. Produced by Full Moon Entertainment, “Netherworld” was also released by Paramount. Schmoeller then directed two children’s features: “THE SECRET KINGDOM” and “MYSTERIOUS MUSEUM” in Bucharest and Sinia, Romania and New Orleans. In addition to his feature work, Schmoeller has directed many hours of Network Television including three seasons of the CBS-USA Network television series “SILK STALKINGS” as well as “RENEGADE” and the pilot and multiple episodes of “COP FILES,” a series for the Fox Network. In 1994, Schmoeller founded THE DIRECTORS' WORKSHOP, an organization that sponsored a variety of events and workshops exposing the work of the professional director. In the Saturday Scene Study class, a different guest director spent the day working with actors. Since 1994, the workshop had over 80 different directors including Paul Mazursky, Taylor Hackford, Joel Schumacher, Ron Underwood, Chuck Russell, Jim McBride, Robert Young and Griffin Dunne. Schmoeller has also been a William Randolph Hearst visiting fellow at the University of Texas at Austin. Schmoeller was a Visiting Professor at UNLV from 2000-2001. He has been an Assistant Professor from 2001 to present. SIGNIFICANT INNOVATIONS WITH RESPECT TO LIBRARY COLLECTIONS, SERVICES, OR METHODS: MAJOR SHORT FILM COLLECTION ACQUISITION. In December, 2005, as the director of the UNLV Short Film Archive, I reached an agreement with the Canadian Film Centre’s World Wide Short Film Festival (WWSFF - formerly the TORONTO WORLD WIDE SHORT FILM FESTIVAL) to acquire and archive their complete shorts collection, which as of the 2006 festival, will amount to approximately 10,000 shorts. The WWSFF is the largest shorts festival in North America, and second in the world only to the Clermont-Ferrand Shorts Festival in France. ADDITIONAL SCHOLARLY ACTIVITY: Researched, collected and created the Archive 100 which is the cornerstone of the UNLV Short Film Archive (see http://shortfilmarchive.unlv.edu). It is a detailed and studied listing of the one-hundred most significant short films – culturally, historically or aesthetically -in the history of film (from 1893 to present) complete with collected articles about these shorts – selected by an international panel of film historians, recognized film festival programmers, film producers, directors, distributors and recognized short film scholars. The Archive 100 is the only historical codification of shorts in the world. INVITATIONS, PRESENTATIONS AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES WHILE AT UNLV: 2006 Presenting 2-hour program: Schmoeller’s Favorite Shorts – with discussion, August, 2006, Crested Butte Reel Fest, Colorado. JUDGE FOR SHORTS PROGRAM, Cinevegas 2006 with Teller (Penn & Teller) and Jason Feinberg (Fox Broadcaster) and awarded prize money. Served as a judge for the HOUSTON FILM COMMISSION FILMMAKER’S SHOWCASE, April-May 15, 2006. Curated BEST OF UNLV SHORTS program for 2’s annual DAM SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL, 2006, February 10. Boulder City, Nevada. Judged the documentary section of 2’s annual DAM SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL, February 9, 2006. Boulder City, Nevada. CLERMONT-FERRAND INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL, FRANCE, Jan. 26-Feb 4, 2006 – Schmoeller presented a program on the UNLV SHORT FILM ARCHIVE at the Media Rendez- Vous Forum on Tuesday, January 30, 1pm - at what is considered the Cannes Festival of the Short Film. Also participated in “L’Atiller,” sponsored by the Ecole Nationale Superioure Louis Lumiere during the festival. 2005 Panelist and curated two hour shorts program, EDGEWORKS FILM FESTIVAL, Corpus Christi, Texas, Nov. 3-5, 2005. Premier screening on the USS Lexington carrier. Served as a JUDGE and ADVISORY BOARD (called a Commissioner) on the UNDERGROUND LAS VEGAS FILM FESTIVAL (first screening was October 21, 2005) PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF SHORTS, September 21-25, 2005, attending market filmmaker and Industry representative of the UNLV Short Film Archive. Panelist at the CRESTED BUTTE REEL FEST, August 12, 2005, “What Makes A Good Short.” Served as a judge for the Las Vegas sectional of the NATIONAL 48- HOUR FILM CONTEST – August 9th, 2005 – at the Brendan Theaters. CANADIAN FILM CENTRE’S WORLD-WIDE FESTIVAL OF SHORTS, Toronto, Canada – June 14-19, 2005, speaker-panelist, WHO BUYS WHAT? SPINDLETOP FILM FESTIVAL, April, 2005, panelist with Stuart Gordon & J.D. Feigelson: “Horror, From Art Direction to Final Cut.” Served as a judge for the HOUSTON FILM COMMISSION FILMMAKER’S SHOWCASE, April-May 15, 2005. CLERMONT-FERRAND INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL, Clermont-Ferrand, France. GUEST SPEAKER: presented a program on the mission, activities and long-range goals of the UNLV SHORT FILM ARCHIVE at the Media Rendez-Vous Forum on Tuesday, February 1, 5pm. Also participated in “L’Atiller,” sponsored by the Ecole Nationale Superioure Louis Lumiere during the festival, January 28 through February 4, 2005. 2004 PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF SHORTS, September, 2004, attending market filmmaker and Industry representative of the UNLV Short Film Archive. TORONTO WORLD FESTIVAL OF SHORTS – May 12-16, 2004, attending market filmmaker and Industry representative of the UNLV Short Film Archive. Served as a SHORTS JUDGE for the Texas Houston, Texas Film Commission Filmmaker’s Showcase, May, 2004. GUEST: Front & Center – April 21, 2004 – discussing the UNLV Short Film Archive. Produced by UNLV Communication Dept. GUEST: Academic Café – recorded March 8, 2004 – discussing the UNLV Short Film Archive. Produced by UNLV Communication Dept. GUEST SPEAKER: Spindletop Film Festival; Suspense in Cinema, February 1, 2004. CLERMONT-FERRAND INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL, ,Clermont-Ferrand, France. Feb 2-8, 2004 – Schmoeller represented the UNLV SHORT FILM ARCHIVE at the largest Short Film Festival in the world. 2003 CRESTED BUTTE REEL FEST– Advisory Board, 2003. SAG CONSERVATORY LAS VEGAS, Lecture, How to Audition. SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL – January, 2003. GUEST SPEAKER: Spindletop Film Festival; Suspense in Cinema, February 1, 2003. 2002 Served of Advisory Board, Crested Butte Reel Fest for the year 2002. CINEVEGAS - Programmer, Shorts. Represented Film Dept. at the UNLV Stars Program. ACCOMPANIED 9 film students to EDINBURGH FRINGE & FILM FESTIVAL, during the month of August, 2002. 2001 CRESTED BUTTE REEL FEST, appointed to ADVISORY BOARD in August, 2001. CRESTED BUTTE REEL FEST, guest speaker, SHORT FILM SEMINAR, August 2001. HONORS INTERVIEWED FOR FRENCH MONTHLY MAGAZINE “MAD MOVIES” – 6 full pages; feature interview on the career of filmmaker David Schmoeller. Published, April, 2005, Paris, France. INTERVIEWED FOR DOCUMENTARY FOR FRENCH TELEVISION – “FULL MOON, LE STUDIO HANTE DE CHARLES BAND” February 5, 2005 in Paris, France by filmmaker Antoine Chuzeville. FILM INTRODUCTIONS FOR A RETROSPECITIVE OF FIVE OF MY FEATURE FILMS FOR FRENCH TELEVISION. February 5, 2005. I taped on-camera lead-ins for five feature films I wrote & directed as part of a weekly feature film screening series (“Hello, my name is David Schmoeller and I’m the writer-director of tonight’s movie: Puppetmaster. I hope you enjoy it.” – and variations thereof…), Paris, France. Recipient of a 2005 Centennial Grant for $750 to curate a program of shorts by Las Vegas filmmakers or about Las Vegas. Recipient of a 2005 Jackpot Nevada Arts Council grant ($300), awarded January 1, 2005 to present a program of short films at various assisted livings facilities in Las Vegas. Recipient of a 2004-2005 Nevada Arts Council Project Grant ($3700) to develop shorts programs & workshop for Elementary, Middle & High Schools. Recipient of a 2003-2004 Planning Initiative Award (awarded by university president Carol Harter, UNLV) to create the UNLV Short Film Archive. February, 2002 - AWARDED UNLV S.I.T.E. GRANT for $5,000 to produce and direct a screenplay I wrote called “BAD DOG CHAT ROOM, ” a 23-minute digital short film. Principal photography started June 1 and finished November 11, 2002. BAD DOG CHAT ROOM subsequently screened at film festival locally, nationally and internationally. William Randolph Hearst Visiting Professional, 1994; University of Texas at Austin. Student Academy Award Nomination, short film, 1975. Grant from the Directors Guild of America to film Thesis film: “THE SPIDER WILL KILL YOU,” 1974. Recipient of the Texas Good Neighborhood Commission Scholarship for Studies in Mexico, 1968. PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS Advisory Board Member, Rio-Fest, International Environmental Film Fest, Socorro. New Mexico, July, 2006. Advisory Board Member, Crested Butte Reel Fest, 1999 to present. Advisory Board Member, Cinevegas, 2002. Advisory Board Member (called Commissioners), Vegas Underground Film, 2005 to present. SERVICE AWARDS AND RECOGNITION Recipient of the Crested Butte Reel Fest’s “One Reel Short Award;” for lifetime service recognition; August, 2006; Crested Butte, Colorado. PROFESSIONAL AND LEARNED SOCIETIES Curated 90-minute program: BEST SHORTS FROM LAS VEGAS, June, 2006 for a screening in the KA Theater as a cultural event for the talent & staff of all CIRQUE DU SOLEIL shows. Programmed weekly short film screening series: “AN EVENING OF FESTIVAL SHORTS” in the fall & spring semesters from 2003 to 2006. Initiated the UNLV Short Film Archive WORKS-IN-PROGRESS SCREENING, December 15, 2005 with the screening of “DAMN YANKEE DAY, feature film by UNLV alumnus ROBERT SHUPE. PRODUCED, DIRECTED & PROGRAMMED SPRING FLICKS each Spring from 2004-2006. This is the annual Spring Semester event where UNLV film students show their shorts made during the previous two semester in a competitive festival which takes place over two nights of screenings, ending in an awards ceremony. UNLV SPRING FLICKS WINNERS SHOWCASED AT FIRST FRIDAY: The UNLV Short Film Archive, in conjunction with Cinevegas, screened the winners of the 2004 UNLV 48-Hour Short Film Contest and the winners of Spring Flicks 2005 in an outdoor venue at First Friday, June, 2005 from 6-10pm. The short films screened on the façade of a building near the Cinevegas and Red Bull Booth. Produced the First & Second Annual UNLV SHORT FILM ARCHIVE 48-HOUR FILM CONTEST – (Nov. 4-6, 2005 & 2006) EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS DIRECTOR REEL, FILMS, AND REFERENCES: Available on request. REFERENCES: Sean Clark, Associate Professor Francisco Menendez, Chair Michael Tylo, Affiliate Professor (Acting) Ron Underwood, director (City Slickers, many others)
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