Local filmmaker set for more touring, teaching

Director Jeffrey Goodman is super busy.

His locally funded movie "The Last Lullaby" got into the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (Oct. 12-Nov. 9). That's good news.

The movie's co-writer, Max Allan Collins, will also screen the movie at the Bouchercon mystery and detective fiction convention (Oct. 9-12).

Goodman hopes to attend both events so he can build more buzz. The ultimate goal is to gain the best distribution deal possible, and he can't do that with cultivating an audience. I expect to see "The Last Lullaby" pop up on a few more festival schedules before the year is out.

Goodman also is in the early stages of developing his next project, a coming-of-age crime drama called "Peril." My forthcoming story in The Times will share all the details.

In late August, Goodman will return to LSUS classroom to teach two courses. One is on film form, and the other covers one of his favorite directors, Michael Mann.

Courses are open to students on nonstudents.

Here are the details:

Course: Reading Films (Film 115)
Begins Aug. 25
Meets 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Bronson Hall.
Description: "Utilizing some of the most remarkable scenes in the history of cinema, this course promises to provide basic film theory, history, and a vast understanding of the different ways that directors construct their films. Clips include 'Dead Man,' 'White Heat,' 'Funny Ha Ha,' 'Blow Out,' 'Blue Velvet,' 'Raising Arizona,' 'M' and many others. Discover some of the greatest movies for the first time while learning to be an even better audience."

Course: Michael Mann (Film 490)
Begins Aug. 26
Meets 6 to 8:40 p.m. Wednesdays in Bronson Hall
Description: "Come be a part of one of the only courses in the world, focusing on the films of Director Michael Mann. We will watch all of his major works, including 'The Last of the Mohicans,' 'The Insider,' 'Heat,' 'Ali,' and the original Hannibal Lecter film 'Manhunter.' And we will study, in great depth, one of the most entertaining, yet sophisticated stylists currently at work in Hollywood."

To register: 318.797.5061 or 318.797.5371.