Wilde's "Lady Windemere's Fan" Comes to Inland Empire

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars,” exclaimed Lord Darlington, the man who persuades Lady Windermere to elope with him in Oscar Wilde’s four-act comedy, "Lady Windermere’s Fan," satirizing the principles of Victorian society, especially marriage. The adaption is brought to screen this week, produced by Joseph Henson and Allen Evenson of Theatrical Arts International and the Art Institute. Rames Pacheco, an apprentice cinematographer from the Art Institute, shot the film last August over a length of six days, with the majority of shots taking place at the Edward’s Mansion in Redlands. The 45-member crew features a cast of 14 actors, six student directors, and seven student fashion designers. The film will debut at the Fox Entertainment Plaza in downtown Riverside on April 8; tickets are priced at $8 a piece. The film centers on Lady Windermere, who discovers that her husband may be having an affair with another woman. She confronts her husband but he instead invites the other woman, Mrs. Erlynne, to his wife's birthday party. Angered by her husband's unfaithfulness, Lady Windermere leaves her husband for another lover. After discovering what has transpired, Mrs. Erlynnethen follows Lady Windermere and attempts to persuade her to return to her husband and, in doing so, Mrs. Erlynne is discovered in a compromising position. It is then revealed Mrs. Erlynne is actually Lady Windermere's mother, who abandoned her family 20 years before. Mrs. Erlynne then sacrifices herself and her reputation to save her daughter's marriage. The film has been welcomed by The Riverside International Film Festival, which is now in its 13th year, and is presented by the Riverside County Film & Television office. Sponsors include County of Riverside Economic Development Agency, County of Riverside, Lucas Oil, Riverside Medical Clinic, UC Riverside, Dwight Tate and Kathy Wright, Fender Music Foundation, The Press-Enterprise, Riverside Arts Council, Riverside Downtown Partnership and deSpain de Signs. Film professionals, actors and crewmembers worked as mentors to the students to help them learn the process of filmmaking from beginning to end. While the partnership between Theatrical Arts International and Arts Institute, one of 50 plus campuses nationwide produced its first feature film, in part due to the producers Henson and Evenson. The duo have taught courses at the Art Institute and this project came about in order to give students a glimpse into filmmaking. While this film isn’t the only visual adaption, it has given an opportunity for students throughout the Inland Empire, including Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario, Perris, and Glendora, an opportunity to utilize their skills and showcase their work. The schedule of films for the upcoming festival is available art www.riversidefilm.org, and will be shown through April 12 at Fox Entertainment Plaza, 3635 Market Street in Riverside.