Tribute to filmmaker John Carpenter

Though he's best known for his horror films, such as "Halloween" and "The Thing," John Carpenter has tackled nearly every genre in his 30-year career, including the 1976 urban western ("Assault on Precinct 13"), the action thriller ("Escape From New York" with Kurt Russell, pictured) and even a retro action comedy ("Big Trouble in Little China"). The American Cinematheque's "Escape Artist: A Tribute to John Carpenter in Person" will present all these films and more. "He's an amazing artist," says Aero programmer Gwen Deglise. "He is involved in the whole process, from the music to the editing to the writing to the producing to the directing. It's not that often when we have a film director who is versatile in so many aspects." Fri.-Wed., Aero Theatre, Santa Monica. $10. americancinematheque.com