F77E Fortunato Film School: Casablanca (Zoom; OLLI @ ASU)
Zoom | Available (Membership Required)
Why is Casablanca considered one of the most iconic films of all time—and does it still deserve that title? Join ASU film professor Joe Fortunato for an in-depth exploration of the 1942 classic starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. We will begin with a brief introduction to the film’s historical and production background, followed by a screening of the film accompanied by live commentary from Professor Fortunato. As you watch, you’ll gain behind-the-scenes insights, learn about cinematic techniques, and discover how to interpret film like a critic or scholar. After the screening, the discussion continues: what makes a film “beloved,” and does Casablanca hold up through a modern lens? Like a book club for movie lovers, this class invites you to watch and reflect!
[PRESENTER] A native of Akron, Ohio, Joe Fortunato began his entertainment career as a research assistant on NBC’s TODAY show. After graduating from Yale University, he came to Los Angeles and spent the next five years developing movies for television, starting at NBC and then with Steve Krantz Productions. From there, Joe joined Shukovsky English Entertainment (SEE) to help develop primetime series for the company. At SEE, he was involved with such comedies as The Louie Show, Ink, Murphy Brown and the CBS pilot Lawyers. Joe then pursued writing and spent a season as a Staff Writer for the FOX comedy Living in Captivity under the tutelage of Murphy Brown creator Diane English. From there, he co- wrote several TV pilots and a feature film, Nowhere Man, which was developed at Disney. Joe transitioned away from Hollywood to pursue another passion – higher education. Taking his hard-won knowledge and expertise from the entertainment industry, he received his Masters in Education at Loyola Marymount, and has been a full time faculty member at Arizona State University for the past 14 years, teaching various film, television and screenwriting classes at the Sidney Poitier New American Film School.