Session A - 8 weeks

In person: chef and restaurateur Alice Waters. Director Alfonso Arua’s Like Water for Chocolate was an arthouse sensation when first released and still defines the evocative power of food in film. Based on Laura Esquivel’s novel, its sensuous tale of forbidden love unfolds in early 20th-century Mexico when Tita is bound by family tradition to remain unmarried to care for her mother. Prevented from acting on her love for the handsome Pedro, she pours her passion and heartbreak into her cooking which has a magical, intoxicating effect on those who consume it. The intimacy of the heart and the intimacy of the kitchen transform culinary preparation into a powerful expression of desire, rebellion and yearning.—Senior Public Programmer Paul Malcolm Director: Alfonso Arau. Screenwriter: Laura Esquivel. With: Lumi Cavazos, Marco Leonardi, Regina Torné. 35mm print courtesy of the Sundance Collection at the UCLA Film & Television Archive.

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In person: Q&A with actor David Selby and historian Jim Pierson, editor of Dark Shadows Noir: Classic Black and White Photography From the Dan Curtis Productions Archive. Book signing with Pierson before the screening. Guest speaker Made possible by the John H. Mitchell Television Programming Endowment. Premiering on June 27, 1966, on ABC-TV, Dark Shadows (1966–71) represented an outré experiment in daytime television that became an unexpected breakout hit and evergreen cult classic. Created by horror-maestro Dan Curtis (The Night Stalker, Trilogy of Terror), the innovative soap opera, which initially struggled in the ratings, expanded greatly in popularity in its second year with the addition of a 175-year-old charismatic vampire character named Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid). As the eerily atmospheric series evolved to fuse gothic supernatural elements and romance into complex storylines, it developed a passionate youth following and became a pop culture phenomenon. In the process, the videotaped series earned the distinction of being the first soap to spawn a theatrical motion picture spin-off, House of Dark Shadows (1970), and several additional feature films and reboots. The beloved original series ran for over 1,200 episodes before its abrupt cancellation in 1971. In the ensuing decades, the aura surrounding Dark Shadows has only intensified, with the influential program enjoying nearly constant reruns in syndication, luring an influx of new viewers into the mysterious, shadow-drenched world of the wealthy Collins family of fictional Collinsport, Maine. Join us for a celebration of Dark Shadows, exactly 60 years to the day of its premiere, including the debut episode and rare archival footage. Before the screening, historian Jim Pierson will sign copies of Dark Shadows Noir: Classic Black and White Photography from the Dan Curtis Productions Archive. Following the screening, there will be a Q&A with Dark Shadows star, actor David Selby, and Jim Pierson. Programmed and note written by John H. Mitchell Television Curator Mark Quigley.

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Join us for a coastal hike/walk in Palos Verdes with stunning ocean views! We will meet at Pelican Cove Park in the parking lot at 8:45 a.m. We will walk the coastal path north past Point Vincente and then south past Terranea. For those who are interested, the group can explore the beach at Pelican Cove and Terranea and grab a coffee or snack at Terranea on the way back. Please make sure that you are prepared with appropriate footwear, sunscreen and/or a hat, and plenty of water.

Presented by UCLA Film & Television Archive and the Hammer Museum. The Billy Wilder Theater opens 15 minutes before each Family Flicks program.

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In person: director Karen Arthur; editor Carol Littleton; Paula Chambers, daughter of screenwriter and actor Joan Hotchkis; Eric Morris, acting teacher and director of the theatrical production of Legacy. Guest speaker Legacy is the story of Bissie Hapgood, a woman unraveling under the pressures of a vapid and materialistic society consumed with dinner-plate settings, soap operas and sexual frustration. The material originated as a one-woman show in 1973, written and performed by Joan Hotchkis, a versatile talent celebrated for her roles on television series including The Odd Couple and The Life and Times of Eddie Roberts. Karen Arthur, a first-time filmmaker, saw Hotchkis on stage and convinced the actor to adapt the screenplay and star in the film. Independently produced and financed, Legacy, like its peers Wanda (1970) and A Woman Under the Influence (1974), confounds 1970s Hollywood’s expectations with the introduction of a new kind of cinematic woman. Bissie stuns audiences with her honesty that is confrontational, yet heartfelt and a vulnerability that is never sentimental and always surprising. Legacy features an exceptional crew at the start of what would become a set of accomplished careers. Arthur, who would go on to direct The Mafu Cage (1978) and become a prolific television director, winning an Emmy Award for Cagney & Lacey, collaborated with cinematographer John Bailey (Ordinary People, 1980, In the Line of Fire, 1993) and editor Carol Littleton (E.T., 1982, The Manchurian Candidate, 2004). Note written by Archive Research and Study Center Officer Maya Montañez Smukler.

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Since 2008, a team of University of California alumni, students and friends have participated in an annual 10K charity race through the heart of central London. Run, walk, or skip with UC Alumni UK this year to support student scholarships!

Presented by UCLA Film & Television Archive and the Hammer Museum. The Billy Wilder Theater opens 15 minutes before each Family Flicks program.

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In an era where nearly every job seeker is using AI to help with job applications, many candidates worry that their applications aren’t being seen or that they sound just like everyone else. This workshop teaches UCLA alumni how to use AI strategically to stand out, not blend in. Participants will learn how employers use AI in hiring, how to avoid generic AI-generated language and how to enhance their unique professional voice through smarter prompting. We’ll walk through practical tools for tailoring applications, strengthening LinkedIn visibility and using AI to accelerate—not replace—the human elements that make a candidate memorable. Participants will leave with three actionable steps they can take in the next month to elevate their job search using AI.

As a first-generation immigrant, career coach Ricky Koo was taught to work hard, stay humble and let results speak. Sound familiar? Here’s the thing: You can be great at your job and still be misunderstood, overlooked or underestimated. In this webinar, Ricky Koo—a first-generation immigrant who rose through the ranks to become a corporate executive before building his own professional coaching business— breaks down what actually shapes how you’re perceived at work, and how to take control of your professional narrative without being fake, loud or political in ways that feel misaligned. This isn’t about self-promotion. It’s about self-definition. In this webinar, you’ll learn how to: • Define your professional brand clearly—so others stop guessing your value or mislabeling your intent • Advocate for yourself without feeling awkward or “bragging”, even if you’ve been taught to keep your head down • Navigate workplace dynamics with confidence, instead of pretending they don’t exist (because ignoring them is a strategy—and usually a costly one) • Stay grounded in your worth during high-pressure moments, so stress, feedback or hierarchy don’t shake how you show up Regardless of your career level or what industry you work in, this session can help you develop your skills in self advocacy and intentional branding, refine your voice and create lasting impact.