Bridging Gaps: Where is the film scholar in Hollywood filmmaking?
Performance Café, University of Southern California
Los Angeles, USA
March 18-19, 2017

There have been significant debates on gaps between filmmakers and film scholars. Film scholars have been critical of dominant representations that tend to overlook classist, sexist, and ethnocentric trends in the production of films and glamorous images in Hollywood. Yet, scholarly views in academic writing are not adequately addressed in film production and in journalism. Scholars can address the issues through journalism and moving image practices in which filmmakers are trained. CMCS sponsored Celebrity Chat is an example of this trend. Can a new form of film ‘critic’ be situated in journalistic and scholarly discussions and screenings? Can the critiques become a new form of ‘activism’ that is different yet supports ideals of celebrity activism in Hollywood and beyond?

The Centre for Media and Celebrity Studies (CMCS) Bridging Gaps conference, in association with sponsors Centre for Ecological, Social, and Informatics Cognitive Research (ESI.CORE) and WaterHill Publishing, invites papers and audiovisual material that explore the relationship among four key themes related to Hollywood – theory, production, criticism, and activism. We invite academics, filmmakers, journalists, publicists, and guests to present and connect cutting-edge research areas from a range of interdisciplinary fields and address social justice issues in moving image practices.

We also invite people to send in videos for the Celebrity Chat Award. The best video/documentary will be selected based on its ability to draw attention to a significant matter, be relevant to the conference theme and inspire change. Extended versions of selected papers will be invited for publication.

Registration includes: Your printed conference package, coffee / tea breaks, access to evening receptions, evening drinks, professional development workshop, and consideration for the CMCS $100 best paper and $100 screen awards.

Submission guidelines:
o 250-word abstract or workshop / roundtable proposal
o Include a title, your name, e-mail address, and affiliation if applicable
o Submit to conference Chair Dr Samita Nandy at email address: celeb.studies2017@gmail.com
o Deadline for abstract submission: October 31, 2016
o Notification of acceptance: December 2, 2016
o Full text due: February, 17, 2017
o Conference presentation and reception: March 18-19, 2017

Celebrity Chat Video Submissions:
• Video length should be 10-20 minutes
• Include a title, your name, e-mail address, and affiliation if applicable
• Submit to Celebrity Chat producer Dr Jackie Raphael at email address: celeb.studies2017@gmail.com
• Deadline for submission: October 31, 2016
• Notification of acceptance: December 2, 2016
• Conference screening: March 18-19, 2017

Topics include but are not limited to:
• Hollywood and non-Hollywood stardom
• Entertainment industry
• Film, video, and television
• Cinematic adaptations of novels
• Photography
• Glamour and beauty
• Mass media and social media
• Journalism
• Interviews
• Public relations
• Persona and branding
• Endorsements
• Social advocacy
• Celebrity activism
• Activists as celebrities
• Human rights and animal rights
• Environment and climate change
• Audiences and fandom
• Laws and Policies
• Theory and Methods
• Research Agenda
• Business Models
• Ethics and Morality
• Cognition and Memory
• Media Literacy
• Social Innovation and Change
• Education and Advocacy
• Community Building
• Business and Community Partnerships

Conference Chairs: Dr Samita Nandy
Conference Committee Members: Dr Jackie Raphael, Dr Nicole Bojko and Kiera Obbard
Conference URL: www.cmc-centre.com/losangeles