As this modern digital Dark Age of technological advances threatens to drive physical film stock itself — the very stuff from which dreams are made — into extinction, this evening of “Genuine Fake Films by Gerry Fialka” couldn't come at a more propitious moment. One of Los Angeles' great celluloid underworld overlords, relentless cultural provocateur and filmmaker, Fialka has been successfully bedeviling our popular consciousness since the late 20th century. A recognized artistic force since his early 1970s breakout as head shot-caller at the notorious Ann Arbor Film Co-op and renowned as the veteran curator of PXL THIS, Hollywood's second oldest film festival, any presentation of Fialka's work is guaranteed to rate as a mind-bending affair. Framed as an evening of “short films and interactive discussion,” featured titles include 2009's Eye Am Not a Robot; 2008's All Advertising Advertises Advertising; and Double Duty Interrobang, Fialka's 2003 Pixelvision (read: Fischer Price toy video camera) eyebrow raiser. It's a veritable stampede of visual strangeness, theoretical acrobatics and sociocultural redefinition, all delivered through the singular prism of Fialka's self-defined prime directive: “exploration of the hidden psyche effects of human inventions.” Topped off by a climactic Q&A between Fialka and moderator David James, the noted School of Cinematic Arts prof, this one is sure to set your cerebellum a-rattle. USC's Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108, George Lucas Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts, 900 W. 34th St.; Thurs., Jan. 17, 7 p.m.; free. laughtears.com/Genuine_Fake.html.

Thu., Jan. 17, 7 p.m., 2013

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