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For over fifty years, the American Film Institute has flourished as one of America’s great cultural entities. Its graduates, faculty, supporters, and trustees have included such acclaimed individuals as Steven Spielberg, Maya Angelou, Gregory Peck, Meryl Streep, Les Moonves, Patty Jenkins, David Lynch, Jane Fonda, Edward James Olmos, Shonda Rhimes, James L. Brooks, Michael Nesmith, Sir Howard Stringer, and many other respected leaders in the worlds of film, television, digital media, and philanthropy.
Written in a unique memoir style, Becoming AFI: 50 Years Inside the American Film Institute offers a candid look at how this remarkable organization has brought together aspiring filmmakers, outstanding educators, and visionary artists. The book details AFI’s journey to becoming the foremost national champion for moving images as a vibrant art form and a critical component of America’s cultural history.
AFI’s story is chronicled through in-depth essays written by those who have been involved in its adventures, growth, and successes: from its early years under George Stevens Jr.’s direction at the legendary Greystone mansion and the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC; through its period of incredible growth, under Jean Picker Firstenberg’s guidance, as an influential cultural institution at its landmark Hollywood campus; to its continued years of excellence under Bob Gazzale’s dynamic leadership.
Becoming AFI provides an insightful, behind-the-scenes look at how AFI—with passionate determination—overcame the hurdles of advancing technology, political shifts, and new audience dynamics to turn its aspirations into a substantial and highly successful organization. A tireless advocate of moving images as one of America’s most popular art forms, AFI is maturing into one of the world’s most respected educational and cultural institutions.
Written in a unique memoir style, Becoming AFI: 50 Years Inside the American Film Institute offers a candid look at how this remarkable organization has brought together aspiring filmmakers, outstanding educators, and visionary artists. The book details AFI’s journey to becoming the foremost national champion for moving images as a vibrant art form and a critical component of America’s cultural history.
AFI’s story is chronicled through in-depth essays written by those who have been involved in its adventures, growth, and successes: from its early years under George Stevens Jr.’s direction at the legendary Greystone mansion and the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC; through its period of incredible growth, under Jean Picker Firstenberg’s guidance, as an influential cultural institution at its landmark Hollywood campus; to its continued years of excellence under Bob Gazzale’s dynamic leadership.
Becoming AFI provides an insightful, behind-the-scenes look at how AFI—with passionate determination—overcame the hurdles of advancing technology, political shifts, and new audience dynamics to turn its aspirations into a substantial and highly successful organization. A tireless advocate of moving images as one of America’s most popular art forms, AFI is maturing into one of the world’s most respected educational and cultural institutions.
Price: $31.95
Publisher: Santa Monica Press
Imprint: Santa Monica Press
Publication Date:
04 March 2025
ISBN: 9781595801463
Format: Paperback
BISACs:
PERFORMING ARTS / Film / General, ART / Film & Video, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Philanthropy & Charity, PERFORMING ARTS / Film / History & Criticism
“This book puts you directly behind the scenes for a story that began with a dream, overcame constant challenges, and evolved into the institution it is today.” ―Steven Spielberg
“As it celebrates its fiftieth anniversary, AFI stands as our country’s leading cultural and education institution in the history of American cinema. Becoming AFI is an admirable personal account of how that mission to nurture and protect the artistic and ethical standards of the film industry unfolded.” ―Henry Louis Gates Jr., author, scholar, historian, and filmmaker
“It is rare to find the story of a cultural institution’s birth and growth actually written by those who were on the firing line during the process. It’s even more rare to find the story written by authors who are incisive, honest, observant, and committed to telling it like it really was. In particular, Jean Firstenberg’s first-hand account of how and why the AFI was one of the 1960s government-funded arts institutions to survive is an excellent read. It’s also an insight into successful female leadership, something we still don’t have enough of today.” ―Jeanine Basinger, film historian-academic, author, and AFI trustee
“WELL DONE! This book tells a wonderful history and an important story about Hollywood, education in the arts, and the movie business. Brava!” ―Marsha Mason, actor, director, author, and AFI trustee emeritus
“AFI saved our film history. AFI celebrates filmmakers. AFI trains the next generation. Thanks to the NEA for creating the AFI. Thanks to Becoming AFI for telling us the fascinating story of its fifty-year history. And a big thank you to Jean Picker Firstenberg and James Hindman for documenting all of it! Here’s to the next fifty!” ―Edward James Olmos, actor and AFI trustee
“The AFI started out as an experiment verging on a mystery. But somehow it became an incubator for some of the great film talent of the late part of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first. This is a tribute to the dedication and insight of its leaders and its faculty and its Fellows.” ―Caleb Deschanel, filmmaker (AFI class of 1969)
“Documented here by the people who lived it, this is a remarkable tale of how a major institution, created out of whole cloth, wove itself into the American fabric.” ―Cokie Roberts, author and political commentator for ABC and NPR
—L.A. Times
“As it celebrates its fiftieth anniversary, AFI stands as our country’s leading cultural and education institution in the history of American cinema. Becoming AFI is an admirable personal account of how that mission to nurture and protect the artistic and ethical standards of the film industry unfolded.” ―Henry Louis Gates Jr., author, scholar, historian, and filmmaker
“It is rare to find the story of a cultural institution’s birth and growth actually written by those who were on the firing line during the process. It’s even more rare to find the story written by authors who are incisive, honest, observant, and committed to telling it like it really was. In particular, Jean Firstenberg’s first-hand account of how and why the AFI was one of the 1960s government-funded arts institutions to survive is an excellent read. It’s also an insight into successful female leadership, something we still don’t have enough of today.” ―Jeanine Basinger, film historian-academic, author, and AFI trustee
“WELL DONE! This book tells a wonderful history and an important story about Hollywood, education in the arts, and the movie business. Brava!” ―Marsha Mason, actor, director, author, and AFI trustee emeritus
“AFI saved our film history. AFI celebrates filmmakers. AFI trains the next generation. Thanks to the NEA for creating the AFI. Thanks to Becoming AFI for telling us the fascinating story of its fifty-year history. And a big thank you to Jean Picker Firstenberg and James Hindman for documenting all of it! Here’s to the next fifty!” ―Edward James Olmos, actor and AFI trustee
“The AFI started out as an experiment verging on a mystery. But somehow it became an incubator for some of the great film talent of the late part of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first. This is a tribute to the dedication and insight of its leaders and its faculty and its Fellows.” ―Caleb Deschanel, filmmaker (AFI class of 1969)
“Documented here by the people who lived it, this is a remarkable tale of how a major institution, created out of whole cloth, wove itself into the American fabric.” ―Cokie Roberts, author and political commentator for ABC and NPR
—L.A. Times
Featured in the Hollywood Times, the Pittsburgh Better Times, Hotspots magazine, 360Mag.com, InteractiveTV Today, and MysteriousRamblings.com
“Chock full of intriguing personal anecdotes and historical milestones, Becoming AFI is as much an easy to read narrative of the growth and development of a major non-profit as it is a useful compendium to page through.”
—PictureThisPost.com
“A unique look inside this remarkable organization and the impact it’s had on entertainment industry. . . . The fact that Becoming AFI: 50 Years Inside the American Film Institute is written in memoir style prose offers a feel of being a part of the journey.”
—TheNerdyGirlExpress.com
Foreword
Preface
Introduction
50 Years of AFI: A Timeline
Chapter 1: The Launch To Begin at the Beginning by Jean Picker Firstenberg
Chapter 2: Next Steps AFI in 1980: A New Decade, A New Director, A New Home by Jean Picker Firstenberg
Chapter 3: Film Education Training the Next Generation: From Center for Advanced Film Studies to the AFI Conservatory by James Hindman
Chapter 4: Women in Charge AFI Directing Workshop for Women: Give Them a Chance by Jean Picker Firstenberg
Chapter 5: Financial Realities AFI Funding: Growing Up and Standing Tall by Jean Picker Firstenberg
Chapter 6: Film Preservation Finding America’s Film History by Jean Picker Firstenberg
The Final Word: AFI Catalog of Feature Films by Patricia King Hanson
Chapter 7: Technology’s Influence As the World Turns: From Video to the Digital Revolution by James Hindman
Large Screen to Small Screen: AFI Enters the Video Age by Larry Kirkman AFI Introduces Apple to Creatives by Emily Laskin
AFI and the Digital World by Nick DeMartino
Chapter 8: Exhibition AFI’s Commitment to the Silver Screen: As Films Are Meant to Be Seen by Jean Picker Firstenberg
AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center: 21st Century Exhibition Vision by James Hindman
Chapter 9: Developing a Public Vision American Film Magazine by Jean Picker Firstenberg
AFI Productions by James Hindman
Chapter 10: Major Moments Landmarks in AFI’s Identity by Jean Picker Firstenberg
Chapter 11: Leadership Ensuring the Future: The Role of AFI’s Board of Trustees by Jean Picker Firstenberg
Chapter 12: Today’s AFI To 50 and Beyond by Jean Picker Firstenberg
Chapter 13: Themes and Lessons Looking Back to Look Forward by James Hindman
Appendix AFI Trustees
AFI Conservatory Mission, Core Values, Objectives and Commitments
AFI Conservatory Honorary Degree Recipients
Acknowledgments
About the Authors and Contributors
Preface
Introduction
50 Years of AFI: A Timeline
Chapter 1: The Launch To Begin at the Beginning by Jean Picker Firstenberg
Chapter 2: Next Steps AFI in 1980: A New Decade, A New Director, A New Home by Jean Picker Firstenberg
Chapter 3: Film Education Training the Next Generation: From Center for Advanced Film Studies to the AFI Conservatory by James Hindman
Chapter 4: Women in Charge AFI Directing Workshop for Women: Give Them a Chance by Jean Picker Firstenberg
Chapter 5: Financial Realities AFI Funding: Growing Up and Standing Tall by Jean Picker Firstenberg
Chapter 6: Film Preservation Finding America’s Film History by Jean Picker Firstenberg
The Final Word: AFI Catalog of Feature Films by Patricia King Hanson
Chapter 7: Technology’s Influence As the World Turns: From Video to the Digital Revolution by James Hindman
Large Screen to Small Screen: AFI Enters the Video Age by Larry Kirkman AFI Introduces Apple to Creatives by Emily Laskin
AFI and the Digital World by Nick DeMartino
Chapter 8: Exhibition AFI’s Commitment to the Silver Screen: As Films Are Meant to Be Seen by Jean Picker Firstenberg
AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center: 21st Century Exhibition Vision by James Hindman
Chapter 9: Developing a Public Vision American Film Magazine by Jean Picker Firstenberg
AFI Productions by James Hindman
Chapter 10: Major Moments Landmarks in AFI’s Identity by Jean Picker Firstenberg
Chapter 11: Leadership Ensuring the Future: The Role of AFI’s Board of Trustees by Jean Picker Firstenberg
Chapter 12: Today’s AFI To 50 and Beyond by Jean Picker Firstenberg
Chapter 13: Themes and Lessons Looking Back to Look Forward by James Hindman
Appendix AFI Trustees
AFI Conservatory Mission, Core Values, Objectives and Commitments
AFI Conservatory Honorary Degree Recipients
Acknowledgments
About the Authors and Contributors