Gary Meyer Meyer

-San Francisco State University degree in Film Production; minor in Journalism 1966-71
Programmed many film societies, the Times Theatre and wrote newspaper column during these years as well as Distribution Manager for SFSU Media Center.
-Married in 1971 to Cathy Allen; Went to Europe and bought an old van to travel and live in for 53 weeks and 21 countries.

-Got a job as a film booker at United Artists Theatres in fall 1972 when there were no production jobs in San Francisco. It was like graduate school and I realized I may not have what it takes to go through years trying to get a movie made and find out opening night that it is more often than not a flop, no matter how good it is. But I was in a position to show the movies made by those who did have the perseverance. I moved up the ladder. In 1975 co-worker Steve Gilula and I wanted to make a dream come true---to start a cinema showing a different double feature every day, On April 1, 1976 the dream became a reality when we (April foolishly?) reopened the 1917 U.C. Theatre in Berkeley. From that came a circuit of art cinemas called Landmark Theatres which we operated for 25 years, growing it into the first national art house chain. We sold it to obtain expansion capital which we successfully did for the new owners who then sold it again and again. We left to pursue other new challenges that have included for me consulting on numerous projects (including the Empress in Vallejo, Uptown in Napa, Sundance Cinemas, Virgin, BAM Rose Cinemas in Brooklyn, etc.).

- In 2001 I saved a 1926 neighborhood theater, the Balboa in San Francisco, from closing and turned it into a successful and popular neighborhood theater. I found a passionate couple who love the theater and I turned it over to them. Jaimi and Adam have been doing a great job since 2012.
www.BalboaMovies.com

-In 1998 I was asked to become part of the programming team for the Telluride Film Festival and in 2007 I became Co-Director. The festival's program is kept a secret until opening day and we had a great time coming up with lots of surprises every year.
www.TellurideFilmFestival.org

In 2015 I decided it was time to get back the six months a year that were often a 20-hour day and left the Festival to start a new venture, EatDrinkFilms with an online magazine (shades of Nort) and food film feastivals. We also have more time to travel and do the things we want to do. I am also a consultant for various film festivals, art cinemas, continue on a variety of Boards and volunteer for various organizations such as the East Bay College Fund and the East Bay Community Foundation. And we did door-to-door canvassing for several aspiring young Congressional candidates.

Things came full circle in 2023 when I became co-producer of Greg Bezat's THE ART OF EATING: THE LIFE OF M.F.K. FISHER. The great food writer lived in St. Helena for 20 years and then Glen Ellen. https://www.mfkfisherfilm.com/mfk/

Though we have been a hit in festivals and won the TASTE Award 2024 for best feature we are raising completion funds to pay for the rights to many photos in the movie.
We are in pre-production on an exploration of the dangers of deep sea mining, DILEMMA IN THE DEEP.

In April 2024 I was honored to receive the Mel Novikoff Award. https://vimeo.com/940494585?share=copy

Nort returns? New Blood? Phruntt?

The first issue of Nort, an open-to-all students magazine sold out 200 copies before school started at 10cents a copy. The next morning Principal Ken Casanega called me into his office. He was furious. Holding up the magazine he ask, "Are you responsible for this filth?"
GM: "I am one of the people who published it. Isn't it great that Napa High finally has a literary magazine?"
KC: "We have been getting phone calls all morning from irate parents upset that their children are bringing home home something with this disgusting four-letter word on the cover. I won;\'t even say it out loud."
GM: "Do you know what NORT means? It is a four letter word for 'frangipate."
Shocked silence.
GM: "We made both words up and thank you for participating in a social experiment to make a non-word into what you think is a 'dirty four-letter word'. "
KC: "You are suspended for three days."

We attended the next School Board meeting to present the state laws that say all sides of issues should be discussed in schools but that many were presented from only one point of view. We argued that the magazine was created at no expense to the school and could help fill this gap but we would agree to not sell in on or near campus. Future issues became more popular as both a place for student authors and artists to present their work and readership grew to the frustration of others.
We offered to Mr. Casanega an alternative. How about an official school literary magazine with faculty oversight and then there would be no need for NORT.
But the story of BACCHUS is for another time.

Yes