Hello NEON Fans!
Thanks to everyone who came out for our soft reopening. We learned some important things along the way, and patrons reported that they had great experiences at THE NEON while adhering to our new safety measures. If you still need to see MISS JUNETEENTH (and you want to see it on the big screen), you only have until Thursday…that said, we will continue our virtual engagement until July 9. On Friday, we will open two brand new films – the inspiring doc JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE and the star-studded gem THE TRUTH! In addition, we’ve just added a brand new, powerful film to our virtual offerings – THE LAST TREE.
Be sure to check out the Virtual news further down. We have a couple awesome announcements about special virtual events!
Synopsis for JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE – In-Person Engagement: Rated “100% Fresh” on Rottentomatoes! “Using interviews and rare archival footage, JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE chronicles Lewis’ 60-plus years of social activism and legislative action on civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health-care reform and immigration. Using present-day interviews with Lewis, now 80 years old, Porter explores his childhood experiences, his inspiring family and his fateful meeting with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1957. In addition to her interviews with Lewis and his family, Porter’s primarily cinéma verité film also includes interviews with political leaders, Congressional colleagues, and other people who figure prominently in his life.” (Magnolia Pictures) This feature-length documentary will be followed by a 16 minute pre-recorded discussion between Representative Lewis and Oprah. Leah Greenblatt of ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY wrote, “Excellent. A joyful, galvanizing portrait of a life radically and fully lived.” Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for THE TRUTH – In-Person Engagement: “Legends of French cinema Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche join masterful filmmaker Hirokazu Koreeda (SHOPLIFTERS, STILL WALKING) to paint a moving portrait of family dynamics in THE TRUTH. Fabienne (Catherine Deneuve) is an aging French movie star who, despite her momentary lapses in memory, remains a venerable force to be reckoned with. Upon the publication of her memoirs, her daughter Lumir (Juliette Binoche) returns to Paris from New York with her husband (Ethan Hawke) and their young daughter to commemorate its release. A sharp and funny battle of wits ensues between the mother-daughter duo, as Lumir takes issue with Fabienne’s rose-colored version of the past. Reflected cleverly by Fabienne’s latest role in a sci-fi drama, their strained relationship takes a poignant journey toward possible reconciliation. Charming, bold, and imbued with endless emotional insight, THE TRUTH offers a relatable look at human relationships, featuring exquisite performances from its all-star cast.” (IFC Films) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for THE LAST TREE – Virtual Engagement: “THE LAST TREE is the semi-autobiographical story of Femi (as a child played by newcomer Tai Golding), a British boy of Nigerian heritage who, after being fostered in rural Lincolnshire, moves to inner-city London to live with his birth mother. In his teens, Femi (Sam Adewunmi) is struggling with the culture and values of his new environment. Femi must decide which path to adulthood he wants to take, and what it means to be a young black man in London during the early 00s. Going back home to Nigeria with his mum to find his Nigerian roots will help adolescent Femi find grounding and hope for a better future…THE LAST TREE scooped two wins for Best Supporting Actress and Most Promising Newcomer at the British Independent Film Award. Its Sundance 2019 World Premiere screening was followed by multiple festival screenings in the USA and Canada.” Click the image below to gain 72 hour access for $10.
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We’re delighted to announce that these films will continue in our Virtual Cinema for one more week (until July 9):
SOMETIMES ALWAYS NEVER in our VIRTUAL CINEMA: “Alan (Bill Nighy) is a stylish tailor with moves as sharp as his suits. However, he’s spent years searching for his missing son Michael, who stormed out over a game of Scrabble and hasn’t been seen since…” You can watch this film on your computer or mobile device as well as some smart TVs. For more details about available devices, please visit the Eventive’s HELP
page. Click the image below to watch the trailer and gain 72 hour access for $12.
ELLA FITZGERALD: JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS in our Virtual Cinema: “Ella Fitzgerald was a 15 year-old street kid when she won a talent contest in 1934 at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. Within months she was a star…” You can watch this film on your computer or mobile device as well as some smart TVs. For more details about available devices, please visit the Eventive’s HELP page. This film will be available starting this Friday, June 26 in our Virtual Cinema. Click the image below to watch the trailer and pre-order 72 hour access to the film for $12.
MISS JUNETEENTH in our Virtual Cinema: “Turquoise was once crowned Miss Juneteenth, a title commemorating the day slaves in Texas were freed – two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Life didn’t turn out as beautifully as the title promised, but Turquoise, determined to right her wrongs, is cultivating her daughter, Kai, to become Miss Juneteenth, even if Kai wants something else.”
Click the image below to gain 72 hour access to this film for $6.99.
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Wanna know what’s coming down the road in our virtual cinema? (Click any title to watch that film’s trailer.) On July 8, we will open ONE SMALL STEP – a collection of critically acclaimed and award-winning animated short films that are family-friendly! On July 15, we’ll open the wonderful documentary about a beloved Julliard professor – CREATING A CHARACTER (and here’s the fun news: On Sunday, July 19 at 5:00, we’ll host a special Zoom Artists’ Roundtable with Kevin Moore from The Human Race Theatre Company, Joe Deer from Wright State University, and actors Jasmine Batchelor (the lead actress from THE SURROGATE) and Colby Lane Chambers – both who have performed in Dayton productions and studied with Moni at Julliard – the subject of this film!!) On July 17, we will open THE TOBACCONIST – both virtually and in-person – a film I saw and loved at The Cleveland International Film Festival last year (and here’s the fun news: you can join a post-screening discussion that Judy Schwartzman and I will co-facilitate on Monday, July 20 at 7pm). More details about the zoom discussions will be available next week. On July 22, we will open FLANNERY – a film about Flannery O’Connor that Ken Burns calls “an extraordinary documentary.” At the end of July, we plan to bring NEVER TOO LATE – starring James Cromwell and Jacki Weaver.
In case you didn’t get last week’s newsletter, here’s a reminder about our new policies. Due to new guidelines for keeping staff and customers healthy during the current crisis, we now offer reserved seating. If you want to sit next to someone, you’ll need to purchase tickets in the same transaction. The software we are using will automatically block off three seats between parties – so if you buy a single ticket, there’s no chance for someone to sit next to you. If you’re the first person to reserve a seat in a row (on-line or in-person), we ask that you choose a seat that’s on the aisle or along the wall…this will allow us to maximize our capacity. This is going to be a big learning curve for us – a full house will now be approximately 35% of our actual capacity.
Here is some of what we’re initially doing TO ENSURE THAT STAFF AND GUESTS STAY HEALTHY:
- Masks are required for all staff and guests except when eating in an auditorium.
- Our entrance to the building has moved to THE NEON’s patio doors. This will streamline transactions and separate ticketing from food purchases. Additional time between screenings will also minimize lobby traffic.
- Commonly touched surfaces (door handles, will be sanitized every 30 minutes.
- Floor markers will assist with social distancing, and hand sanitizers are located throughout the lobby.
- Please arrive before the scheduled showtime. Seating will begin approximately 40 minutes before each show.
- In the auditoriums, every other row will be unavailable. Groups may sit together, but 3 seats will be required between parties in each row.
- We have increased the time between screenings to allow us sufficient time to sanitize the auditoriums. For additional assurance, seat wipes will also be available for customer use.
- Please stay home if you have any of the following symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, fever, chills, sore throat or new loss of taste/smell.
We’ve had a couple people express that they’re still not comfortable leaving their homes during this crazy time. Though we have gone above and beyond the required guidelines, I understand that some people are hesitant to make the leap of coming to a movie in person. So I’m asking for your help. Please know that you can still support us by watching our virtual selections (and by spreading the word)…and if you’re so inclined, donations are always appreciated. We finally have a DONATE button on our website. Donations to our cinema are tax-deductible, and they’re easy to do at this LINK.
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While distributors continue moving opening dates of some highly anticipated films, we are thinking of offering some retrospective titles over the next few weeks. Some distributors are offering us great deals to license some of the films from their libraries, and I want to know what you would support in person at THE NEON. Would you come out for a Wes Anderson fest? How about first films from acclaimed directors like Barry Jenkins, Miranda July or Steve McQueen? Do you want some Coen Brothers? Or do you prefer some classic Hitchcock? How about a NEON favorite – AMELIE? Unfortunately, WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? wasn’t much of a draw this week…so I need your honest opinions as to what you’d support. Thanks in advance for your input!
We hope to see you soon!
Be safe & well.
My best,
Jonathan
IN-PERSON SHOWTIMES for Wednesday, July 1 – Thursday, July 9:
MISS JUNETEENTH (NR) 1 Hr 34 Min
Wed & Thu (July 1 & 2): 3:30, 7:30
FINAL DAY – July 2!
WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR (PG-13) 1 Hr 35 Min
Wed & Thu (July 1 & 2): 3:00, 7:00
FINAL DAY – July 2!
JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE (PG) 1 Hr 34 Min + 16 Min Oprah discussion
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (July 3-5): 1:30, 4:30, 7:30
Monday (July 6): 3:30, 7:30
Tuesday (July 7): 3:30
Wednesday & Thursday (July 8): 3:30, 7:30
THE TRUTH (PG) 1 Hr 46 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (July 3-5): 1:00, 4:00, 7:00
Monday – Thursday (July 6-9): 3:00, 7:00
COMING SOON – In-Person Screenings:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear)
July 10 – FIRST COW
July 17 – THE TOBACCONIST
July 31 – SUMMERLAND
Aug 7 – BURNT ORANGE HERESY
TBD – MADE IN ITALY
SAVE YOURSELVES!
GORDON LIGHTFOOT: IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND
THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD
