100th Anniversary Of ‘The Ten Commandments’ Celebrated With Multi-Day Event

The Ten Commandments, the 1923 film by Cecil B. DeMille which was one of the first large scale film productions and featured the biggest motion picture set ever built, will have its 100th anniversary celebrated with a multi-day event. DeMille, an icon of Hollywood, was one of the first directors to use theatrical lighting on sets, implemented the microphone boom and was a founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

“Our grandfather regarded his 1923 version of The Ten Commandments as a turning point in his career. It was not only the most ambitious production of his first ten years in Hollywood, but also an immense success and led him to independent production,” said Cecilia deMille Presley. “To celebrate this centenary so near to the production site, and with production relics unearthed by dedicated teams, is a unique tribute to Cecil B. De Mille, his artists, and the historians whose diligence and patience have created this EXPO.”

The event The Lost City Celebration is a collaboration among the Central Coast Film Society and Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center, Guadalupe Visual and Performing Arts Center, San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, and the Clark Center for Performing Arts.

On October 6, there will be a VIP dinner with documentarian Peter Brosnan and archeologist Colleen Hamilton who uncovered the movie set of the Ten Commandments, which had been buried under the sand dunes outside Guadalupe.

On October 7, there will be a full day of workshops with local film industry professionals, demonstrations, panels with filmmakers, networking, and mentor events and the Central Coast Showcase at the Clark Center for Performing Arts. The showcase will feature films by local filmmakers and student film programs, including regional high schools. 

A ticketed event in the evening features the history of silent films and a discussion with Peter Brosnan on his discovery of the Ten Commandments’ buried set. There will also be a screening about the parts of the Ten Commandments that were shot in Guadalupe with a live improvised score.

On October 8, there are going to be dig sites and museum tours at the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center, along with a documentary film screening and panel discussions.

Visit lostcitycelebration.com for more info on the events.