San Diego Reader

Opening night as MoPA's inaugural film curator was a black tie, members-only affair. Since the occasion was the christening of a new temple in which to watch movies, why not kick things off with a series of first films by great directors?

As I have said on so many occasions, the projectionist has final cut. It turned out to be an axiom that was hammered home that opening night. Speaking of hammered, I had a projectionist who sweat 100 proof. When it came time to thread up Marty's first gift of celluloid, my man in the booth instead threw up a reel of Clutch Cargo cartoons.

Fortunately Joan and Irwin Jacobs have a sense of humor and the christening of the theatre named in their honor will always be remembered with a chuckle.

I can't recall the handful of films screened that night, but if I had it all to do over again I'd show the following shorts (and hire a teetotaler as my projectionist).

Martin Scorsese's What's a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This? (1963)

Jane Campion's An Exercise in Discipline - Peel (1982)

David Lynch's The Grandmother (1970)

Francois Truffaut's Les Mistons (1957)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_njrLzPsTAg

Maya Deren's Meshes of the Afternoon (1943)

Buster Keaton's The Rough House (1917)

Frank Tashlin's Hook and Ladder Hokum aka A Fireman's Life (1933)

Joseph Losey's Pete-Roleum and His Cousins (1939)