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THE NEON – Dayton’s Indie Cinema

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Hello DaytonMostMetro.

I’m so glad to be a part of this on-line community, and I’m hoping you’re already familiar with THE NEON. If not, we’re an independent movie theater located in the heart of downtown Dayton – just outside the Oregon District. We have the best first-run movie & concession prices in town and offer a great beer selection (that’s right – beer) at our concessions stand (we also offer a handful of mixed drinks and wine). We show indie films – that means movies that aren’t often found at the multiplexes…titles include smaller-budget films, foreign films, documentaries, and we also work with filmmakers in the region to help gain exposure to their work.

I’ll be updating you on a weekly basis on this site, but you can always find up-to-date showtimes on our homepage at www.neonmovies.com.

Tomorrow we open a new film. This comedy has been getting much better reviews than another comedy with CITY in the title (also set in New York), and it has already been seen by a couple of our regulars. One person saw it in NYC and another saw it in St. Louis…and they both loved it. CITY ISLAND, starring Andy Garcia, Julianna Margulies, Emily Mortimer and Alan Arkin, is the comedic discovery of the season.

Synopsis for CITY ISLAND: “A dysfunctional family living on a picturesque island in the Bronx spares no expense in avoiding the truth about their messed-up lives in writer/director Raymond de Felitta’s dark family comedy. The family patriarch, Vince (Andy Garcia) is a prison guard who is secretly plotting a new career as an actor. Meanwhile, as Vince takes acting lessons on the down low, his daughter moonlights as a stripper and his younger namesake harbors a secret fetish that involves the family’s 300-pound neighbor. Under normal circumstances Vincent’s wife, Joyce (Julianna Margulies), would be the family rock, but lately she’s been preoccupied with uncovering the identity of the hired help, a secret that only her husband knows.” (Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide)

On Saturday & Sunday, we will have a special guest give a short presentation before the 3:00 screening of BABIES. Milly Hubler, resident of Dayton and friend of THE NEON, visited Namibia in March. Namibia is the home of Ponijao – one of the babies in BABIES. Milly will talk to the audience about her adventures in southern Africa and will be available in the lobby after the screening to show off some of the treasures she acquired on her trip.

On June 17, The Dayton Pride Partnership and The Downtown Dayton LGBT Film Fest are joining forces to bring a special film to town – PATRIK, AGE 1.5. Her’s the set-up: “Göran always wanted to become a father. He is married to his partner, Sven, and they have been cleared for adoption by the Swedish authorities. The problem is that no country seems to be willing to give a child to a homosexual couple. Göran refuses to give up his dream of having what so many others take for granted; a real family. Göran and Sven receive a letter with an offer from the social services to take care of “Patrik, Age 1.5″ – a Swedish child who needs a new family. They happily accept the offer and prepare the nursery for the baby’s arrival. On the day that little Patrik is expected to arrive, a lanky teenager rings their doorbell. He says his name is Patrik and that he has come to live with them. They realize, horror-struck, that their little baby Patrik is actually a juvenile delinquent. To add insult to injury, he is also homophobic.” The film will screen Thursday, June 17 at 7:00 and 9:40, and a special panel discussion about gay adoption with adoption professionals and a local gay couple who are adoptive parents will occur after the 7:00 screening. Tickets to this film – just $6.00 each – are currently on sale at THE NEON’s box office.

BABIES didn’t perform nearly as well as we had hoped…even with Oprah’s help. We’re crossing our fingers that things pick up with weekend.

Have a great holiday!
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for May 28 – June 3:

CITY ISLAND (PG-13) 100 Minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:40, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:40
Monday: 12:40, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30
Tuesday- Thursday: 2:50, 5:10, 7:30

BABIES (PG) 87 Minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 3:00, 5:15, 7:20, 9:20
Monday: 1:00, 3:00, 5:15, 7:20
Tuesday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:20

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative.
June 4 MOTHER
June 11 THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES (winner of “Best Foreign Film”)
June 18 PLEASE GIVE
June 25 THE SQUARE
July 16 I AM LOVE (My favorite from Toronto!)
July 16 CYRUS
July 30 WINTER’S BONE
TBD – MOTHER AND CHILD
TBD – JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK

Jonathan Larson’s RENT @ C{Space in Downtown Dayton

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Jonathan Larson's RENT at C{Space June 3-5 www.RENTdayton.org

Jonathan Larson's RENT at C{Space June 3-5 www.RENTdayton.org ~ Win Tickets Below!

On June 3rd Encore Theater Company will open it’s summer season of musicals with a show which has become a cornerstone for the musical theater world of the past decade and a half.  ETC will present Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer Prize winning Broadway musical RENT in C{space on three evenings next week, and if you don’t plan ahead, you just might miss out this highly provocative production in a truly unique downtown venue (Saturday is nearly sold out & tickets are selling fast for the other performances).

The musical, which is based loosely on Puccini’s opera La Boheme, follows a year in the lives of seven friends living the disappearing Bohemian lifestyle in New York’s East Village.  AIDS and both it’s physical and emotional complications pervade these characters as they struggle to find their place in a quickly changing world.

Maureen & Joanne in RENT www.RENTdayton.org

We think of RENT as this iconic “rock opera” legend but what RENT was saying and how it was saying it was revolutionary in 1996 and the theater world has never been the same.  The number of doors RENT opened for new musical theatre writers was unprecedented.  Shows that have followed – like SPRING AWAKENING & 2010’s AMERICAN IDIOT (Yes, the GreenDay one) –  are indebted to Larson & his show for their success.  RENT’s influence is still profound in shows opening today, fourteen years after it quietly opened it’s Off-Broadway run the night after Larson died of an aortic aneurysm.

When talking with cast members of the show, it’s interesting, almost comical actually, to realize that for many of them, their first knowledge of this show was the 2005 film version.  As depressing as that is to this almost-40-year-old, who could’ve been in the original Broadway cast (if he could act & sing that is), it’s also refreshing.  This cast is approaching this material with such an infectious energy!  They are exploring the souls of these characters, but through a new point of view, in a very different world.

Drew Bown as "Roger" in RENT www.RENTdayton.org
“To be able to experience something so beyond myself in sharing with my fellow castmates and it’s viewers, the very real struggle that these characters live through has been life-changing.  This chance to live in love, to spread the message to carry on and be thankful every single day has been a gift.”

Drew Bowen, “Roger”

JJ Parkey as "Mark" in RENT www.RENTdayton.org
“Being a part of RENT is something deeply profound that I’ve strived for in my art and I finally have the chance to play my dream role.  I’ll carry with me the artistic lessons that I’ve learned from this production as I pursue my stage career.”

JJ Parkey, “Mark”

Since ETC carries as its mission the development and preservation of new musical theatre, it seemed only fitting that we honor Jonathon Larson – the pioneer who made our work and our mission possible.  Along with a unique group of collaborators including C}Space, Sinclair Community College Theatre Department, AIDS Resource Center of Ohio, and Project Runway Finalist Althea Harper, ETC invites you to rediscover why you fell in love with RENT all over again and see this generation-defining musical in a fresh innovative production against the backdrop of one of Downtown’s Dayton’s most unique spaces.

Maureen & Joanne in RENT www.RENTdayton.org

Jonathan Larson’s RENT will play June 3, 4 & 5 in downtown Dayton’s C{space at 7:30pm each evening. An additional 11:30pm performance will take place on Friday, June 4th. Tickets for the event are $15 in advance and $18 at the door.  You can order tickets by visiting www.RENTdayton.org

WIN TICKETS to RENT!

It’s easy!  Just COMMENT to this post before midnight Saturday, May 29th to be entered into a drawing to win a set of tickets to the Encore Theater Company production of RENT.  We will be giving away one set of tickets for each 7:30 performance (Thursday, Friday & Saturday, 1 winner per performance)…but you can help DOUBLE the number of tickets we will be giving away!  If 50 readers “SHARE” this post, by clicking the FACEBOOK SHARE BUTTON before midnight Saturday…we’ll give away two sets of tickets for each evening’s performance! Start Sharing!

Dayton Dutch Lions Feature Former UD Standouts

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Former University of Dayton men’s soccer standouts Randy Dennis and Jeff Popella are happy to stay in Dayton a little longer than expected after graduation a few weeks ago. Both are playing for Dayton’s newest professional sports team, the Dayton Dutch Lions. “It’s great to be out here with all the guys playing soccer, but I still miss home,” said Randy Dennis, whose family resides in Texas. Dennis was a key member of the Dayton Flyers defense last season, as he played in all 20 games and helped lead them to 14-5-1 record and a regular season Atlantic 10 title.

The Dutch Lions play in the fourth tier of United States soccer, the Premier Development League, and look to win the league title in their first season of play. The team consists of many Dutch players, most of whom have played professionally for top teams in the Netherlands, and many younger American players from various universities and clubs around the United States.

The team, along with guidance from coach Sonny Silooy, looks to combine the precision play of Dutch soccer, with the physical play of US soccer.  “Team unity is very important to us as we play different styles of soccer, said Popella. “There is the language difference (Dutch and English) and also trying to blend our styles of play together, so we all need to work especially hard on the team mentality.”

Priding themselves on youth development, the Dutch Lions consider their team the “Gateway to professional soccer” and strive to develop talent with players as young as four. Try-outs for the Dutch Lions Academy begin on June 1 for boys, and June 2 for girls at the Miami Valley South Stadium at 6:30 p.m. For more information on the academy, check out their web site.

The team plays their home games at the Miami Valley South stadium at Bellbrook High School. “The Dutch guys are used to soccer-only fields, so some of them don’t like the lines on the grass from football games,” said Popella. Even with this being the first season of soccer for the team, they have already developed a sizable fan base called the Orange Legion that supports them at every home game.

A few players from the Dayton area are on the Dutch Lions roster, including Popella and midfielder Eric Kissinger. Kissinger attended The Miami Valley School for high school and played D – III soccer at Haverford College. Kissinger looks to experience a successful season with the Dutch Lions as he only enjoyed 12 wins in his four years at Haverford. Popella attended Carroll High School before playing soccer for UD, where he scored seven goals in 11 games for the Flyers, as well as converting two penalty kicks.

Dangerous Curves Ahead: Burlesque comes to Gilly’s

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Burlesque shows have been enjoying a revival in recent years, and this Thursday night Dayton will get a taste of the glitter and glamor when Brooklyn’s Dangerous Curves Ahead come to town. Billed as “Burlesque on the Go-Go,” this cabaret-style show at Gilly’s starts at 8pm and is only $10.  Several members of this year’s show performed to rave reviews in last year’s Monsters of Burlesque, and they’ll be joined onstage by local burlesque performer Champagne Shock.

Bonnett’s Book Store in the Oregon District is helping to promote the show.  Kevin Bonnett says, “Burlesque is racy, but it’s about stagecraft and performance; not pole dancing and dollar stuffing.  Regardless of the ‘sexy’ involved, these folks know how to put on a show that will make you smile!”

Lights, Camera, Action!

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Everyone loves a good Tom Hanks movie every now and again. You’ve Got Mail, Castaway, or That Thing You Do will satisfy any Hanks fan’s need.  He’s such an appealing actor and seems to have a movie that everyone loves. But what people don’t know is that Tom Hanks has a scholarship program for students in major arts at Wright State University. In 2005 Hanks and his wife donated nearly $5,000 to the Department of Theatre, Dance and Motion Pictures. This was the beginning of the Tom Hanks Scholarship and Visiting Artist Fund. After collaborating with Erik Bork, an alumnus of Wright State, on the television series Band of Brothers and hearing about his experience at WSU, Hanks was bound to create a scholarship program for the students. In May of 2005 a black-tie affair raised over $20,000 for the scholarship.

The quarter I transferred to Wright State I was walking through the Union looking for something good to eat when swore I saw a high school friend by the name of  Baxter Stapleton. To my surprise, it indeed was him. We met up for coffee one day and he informed me that he had just transferred to Wright State as well that quarter to attend the film school. In a recent chat with my long time friend he told me why exactly he chose Wright State for his studies.  “I decided to transfer since Wright State’s programs  complemented perfectly with what I want to do after I graduate. I was immediately attracted to the  film program because of my interest in documentary filmmaking and the amazing work I had seen come out of the program” said Stapleton.

Wright State students have been acknowledged for their work in producing and writing feature-length and short form films and winning Golden Globe and Emmy awards.  Their work has also been in multiple film festivals winning various awards. Students get the opportunity to work in all different aspects of the film industry through the program, everything from a producer of features to being the director.

Stapleton informed me that the students in the film program work a great deal with FilmDayton and that this year; the students’ work will show up at the FilmDayton Festival this weekend. This is their second annual film festival and is an awesome opportunity for the young film makers of Wright State to get to show their work. “Not only does Wright State have great academic programs, but the University also does a great job of immersing the students into the community” said Stapleton. So if you get some free time this weekend, stop by the film festival and take a look at what the talent of Wright State has to offer!

Burma VJ, A MUST SEE Film Saturday at FilmDayton Fest

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The following commentary was written  by Andy Valeri, when I asked him how by knew about Burma VJ and why he thought it was such an important “get” for the FilmDayton Festival:

“Burma VJ” (VJ standing for “video journalist”) is one of the most important documentary films to be produced in a number of years. Not simply
because of its filmmaking quality in telling a riveting story about the
“Saffron Revolution” which took place in Burma in 2007, but in *how* that
story was told through the use of citizen-based, grassroots media networks.

Ever since I first saw the film upon its initial release a year ago, I knew
it was a potential game-changer in the world of media and its relationship
to movements for political change. I was fortunate to get a chance to see
this film upon its initial release, when my friends filmmakers Steve Bognar
and Julia Reichert were lent a copy by one of their colleagues. Steve
called me up to tell me about this amazing new film which he had just seen,
and invited me over to watch it. Knowing of my ongoing work in media and
human rights, Steve thought I really should see it.

I was deeply moved by the film, again not only for the drama inherent
within the story itself, but what it represented as a harbinger of the
inherent power and potential in the future progress of community-based,
grassroots media networks as as the most important tool available to
confront the cruelty and injustice in our world. It brought to the fore
Gandhi’s principle that the key to confronting injustice was to make it
visible.

It also struck a personal note with me, as I myself was in the same town in
Thailand where the main figure in the movie was based during the time the
events portrayed in the film were exploding forth.  When I was there I
couldn’t help but be immersed in the goings ons just over the border. It
was a major concern amongst a number of the Buddhist monks that I would
talk with at the time, and no one was sure what was going to happen, since
nothing quite like this had ever happened before in Burma during the
decades of oppressive rule by the military junta in charge. The monks had
taken to the streets in mass organized protests against the legitimacy of
the government, and the government had resorted to actually shooting them.

And here it was all documented by courageous videographers risking their
very lives to show the world what was going on.

Thus began our interest in bringing the film to Dayton.  At first Steve and
I thought it was something that could be presented at the University of
Dayton as part of their groundbreaking Human Rights Studies program. It
certainly would serve as a direct example of my interest in seeing
communication studies incorporated directly into human rights work.

Though the timing for a UD screening wasn’t able to pan out, we are all
more than fortunate to be able to present it at the FilmDayton Festival
this year. And not only that, as the lattice of coincidence would have it,
Steve and Julia ended up meeting and befriending the film’s producer from
Denmark, Lise Lense-Møller at this year’s Academy Awards, in which both
were nominees in their respective documentary categories! And not only
that, but Lise’s husband is from Ohio, and used to be a truck driver, who
would do deliveries to the former GM plant in Moraine about  which whose
closing Steve and Julia’s film was nominated for an Oscar as well!

So, along with the Indian film “Kavi” showing at 12:30pm at Gilly’s on
Saturday, followed by Steve and Julia’s “The Last Truck,” and then with
“Burma VJ” running at 5pm at the Neon Movies, Dayton’s humble little film
festival will have THREE Academy Award-nominated films screening on the
same afternoon in the same festival.

For more on Burma VJ, here’s a good article from The New York Times…
“Democracy Now!” did a story this award winning film, which really gives
good insight into what the film is about, and  the extraordinary risks
citizen journalists take to get information out of the country.

The Connection of the Collective

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The Fifth Annual Sideshow To Be Presented At The Armory

By Kidtee Hello

Walking up the three flights of unfinished wooden stairs, one would not expect to find much more than possibly a storage room filled with forgotten industrial supplies and broken machinery, but upon opening the heavy door to the third floor of the Armory’s loft, you will find nothing but wonder. Dispersed under the exposed and age darkened wooden beams of the loft is a olio of objets d’art. Cascading down from one of these beams is a latticework of vibrantly colored worry dolls, connected, as we all are, by the most tenuous of threads. Your eye will fall upon molten sculptures, hyper-realistic photographs, abstract painting that cry out to the viewer in a silent scream. Stages dot the area, awaiting the humming strum of musicians who will take to them during the Fifth Annual Sideshow to be held on May 14th and 15th at the Armory as a part of Dayton’s Urban Nights.

Across the length of the room, crosswise from the main door, a stark black and white photograph hangs, drawing you across the creaking floorboards. The photograph depicts a woman, head thrown back with her eyes closed in a frozen moment of ecstasy. The large picture is adorned with brightly colored flowers which frame and then flow under and in front of it, creating a descriptive display. The photographer is Kidtee Hello and she is the lead organizer of this, the fifth installment of the Sideshow. In speaking with her, I was able to get some of the back history of how the Sideshow was first developed.

By Deloris Bucanan

“When they first started these events, there wasn’t much going on for your average person or artist. Unless you were a graduate of a really good school and had something to show in a really fancy gallery, there wasn’t really anything available except for small art shows like the ones at the Pearl…which actually kind of sparked the Sideshow.” Kidtee went on to describe how the event began. “Laurana Wong wanted to have an event with a little bit of everything and now you see more DYI type art shows…”

Jeff Opt, through an online correspondence, was able to expound on the early days of the Sideshow, having been involved since the beginning and being a part of all the subsequent Sideshows in one form or another since then.

“The original Sideshow idea started with Laurana Wong…it was her idea to throw an art show where the artists worked together to define the show and one that didn’t cost money to throw. It was a community building exercise. There was no theme to the show other than what the participants worked together to create.” Opt went on to say that, “The first show was so successful that it gave birth to the Dayton Circus Creative Collective, a group of like-minded people who wanted to see the spirit of art and community continue year around in Dayton. Since then, the Sideshow has become the premier event for the Dayton Circus.”

This is a perfect depiction of what the Dayton Circus Creative Collective is: a circular energy that feeds and creates itself. The Sideshow begat the Circus and the Circus now gives rise to the Sideshow. It has become a self-sustaining entity of energy and art whose members both feed off of and feed others with a perpetually positive synergy.

With the help of Kate Ervin and Emanuel Cavallaro, I requested Circus members and Sideshow participants to share there thoughts as

By Sean Baumgardener

to what the essence and purpose of the Sideshow was and is. Within an hour, I had at least ten responses, all eloquently espousing the positive contributions that the Sideshow has made not only to the artists and the patrons, but to the community of Dayton as a whole.

“I think what those of us who have been involved with The Sideshow from it’s very first year probably want The Sideshow to become is a cultural institution in Dayton, an event that people can rely on occurring year after year. This is our fifth year, and I’m extremely proud to be involved.” Cavallaro then answered my query directly by saying, “As for what it means to me, personally? Honestly, all my friends are artists or performers of some sort, and from all different backgrounds. Art is what we do and who we are. The Sideshow is a chance for us to share that with the city. And it’s a chance to celebrate and express ourselves. We’re a motley group, and this is a big undertaking that requires weeks and weeks of preparation and hours and hours of hard work, but we somehow find the time to have fun doing it.”

The responses kept coming, all eloquently passionate about what the Sideshow specifically and the Circus in general meant to each individual artist.

“To me, the Sideshow is a multimedia arts event that recognizes local artists of all ages, races, and social classes. It’s an art event for the community. It may be a grass roots production, or seen as an urban underground show, but it’s also a collection of Dayton’s most progressive and Avant-garde artists.” wrote Christine Gaffney, and aspiring film director said. She then added, “The sideshow is more than just an art show, it’s an experience you can’t have anywhere else in Dayton, and it’s only once a year. Dayton is full of Talent. Much of this talent hasn’t made it’s way into the traditional art gallery yet.”

The belief that the Sideshow provided artists a non-traditional venue I which to express and display their non-conforming works was echoed in many of the messages received and conversations I had with the artists, participants and organizers.

Matthew James wrote, “The Sideshow is an opportunity to get outside of the normal space of commercial artwork, a chance for people whose creative works don’t flourish in the ‘normal’ art world to share their contributions with the community. It’s also an opportunity for artists, performers, musicians, and community organizers to get to know one another and come together around a common cause – two nights of outrageous entertainment!”

The very act of trying to draw together all of these divergent artists, secure a location and coordinate the activities of the Sideshow must be a logistics nightmare. While speaking with Kidtee Hello, I asked if this was her first year dealing with all of this as a lead organizer.

“Yeah. Last year I helped Maggie Ottoson with the Sideshow she put together and then this year, I’m organizing it.”

Margaret “Maggie” Ottoson was very direct and emphatic with her description of what the essence of the Sideshow is:

“Empowerment! Freedom to express in any way you like. A collection of the best music art creativity and activism in Dayton.” Ottoson went on to describe what the overall intentions of the Sideshow are, “What is the purpose of the Sideshow? To bring together like minded people who would otherwise have never met and teach that you can do anything if you simply dare to act.”

Tom Watson III wrote that he used his art as a self imposed art therapy regime to help him rehabilitate from a brain stem stroke he

"Worry Dolls"

had suffered. His artwork has turned something that he has feared to reflects a fascinatingly organic view of the brain and the power that it holds.

“It’s one of the artistic highlights of my year!” Tom wrote. “This is my second year as a participating artist and this year is going to be even better than last year’s event. It is a nice way to show my work in an environment that is conducive to free expression and not as restrictive as many venues tend to be. It’s also an opportunity to meet and interact with a lot of other local artists and musicians. It’s also a reunion of sorts for those of us who’ve done it before.

Another factor, almost more important (if not more important) than getting exposure for the artists is the interaction of the artists themselves. The sheer ability to be exposed to each others forms of expression and be influenced to take their own art into areas that they may have never considered possible. Lisa Alexander wrote to express this very aspect of the Sideshow by saying:

“It gives opportunities to local artists to not only showcase their work but to also be involved in a community-building activity.” Alexander succinctly said. “It gives artists a chance to exchange ideas, make contacts, and make friends. It gives the artists a sense of pride in the work they do to help the entire show go off, not just from creating art. It also gives artists a sense of being involved in something bigger than themselves.”

By way of example, Cathy Jeffers described her own experiences as to how the Sideshow influenced her own artwork.

“It really got me to break away too. I usually do art quilts. Last year I did and installation called Fire and Ice.” Jeffers went on to describe the display. “It was a combination of fabric, streamers (representing fire) and white paper mache, (frozen like) figures. I spent hours on it at home and on sight. I really enjoyed the final look…and I could really see the three dimensional impact of the installation in the space.”

Emanuel Cavallaro brought all the elements of the Sideshow and the influence that it has on the artists, the organization and the patrons alike.  “The essence of The Sideshow is its malleability. It changes every year. New organizers each year, new artists, new performers, new venue. It’s chaotic as well, because there is never a specific theme. So the artwork, installations and performances are remarkably varied.” Cavallaro “Something very intense can be followed by something very subdued, something appalling by something beautiful. So it can be aesthetically jarring at times, but in a good way, the way in which a roller coaster ride is jarring. In that way, there is something for everyone.”

What: The Dayton Circus Creative Collective’s Fifth Annual Sideshow

When: May 14th and 15th from 6:00 pm until 1:00 am.

Where: The Armory –  201 E. Sixth Street (Entrance in rear of building – parking is off of Patterson Blvd.)

Why: See story above

For more information or to see other events that the Circus is involved in, check out their website at  www.daytoncircus.org.

FilmDayton Festival goes international, doubles in size, is movie buff’s dream weekend

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Building on the success of the first FilmDayton Festival, the second 2010 edition will present a lively mix of screenings, filmmaking workshiops, parties and special events unlike anything else in town.

It starts Friday, May 14, on Urban Nights, but continues the downtown vibe throughout the weekend at several venues — the Neon, Gilly’s and at a brand new spot: The former Greyhound bus station, now cleaned up and turned into a special lounge area for filmgoers, filmmakers and guests.

The festival will blend Dayton-centric films by local filmmakers, or artists who were trained here in the craft, many from the Wright State Motion Picture program; student films from WSU seniors and talented
high-schoolers who are being trained by FilmDayton and the Muse Machine; international films and documentaries, along with top festival picks from around the nation, that can only be seen at the FilmDayton Festival; and unusual events such as the “Screenless Screening,” an audio-only
presentation by WYSO-FM.  This rare combination of films and events has been stirred together by
combining the talents and connections of the Dayton filmmaking community and pushing it outward.

The festival, of course, is just part of the work of FilmDayton. In the year since the first FilmDayton Festival, the two-year-old organization has worked with Wright State University’s Motion Picture program and the Muse Machine to teach student workshops and film classes; partnered with the Sundog Film Festival to boost young local filmmakers; brought local filmmakers together to network and share ideas at monthly “Film Connections” meetings; revamped filmdayton.com to better promote the area as a filmmaking
location; set up offices at the Dayton Convention Center and brought on a director, Eva Buttacavoli,.

The group’s goal is to establish the Dayton area as fertile ground for making movies, both by helping the filmmaking community that’s already here to flourish and by luring more film activity to town. The FilmDayton Festival showcases and pushes all that forward.


FILM DAYTON FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

As of May 10, 2010. Schedule and screening times are subject to change. Check www.FilmDayton.com for the most up-to-date schedule, as well as for a complete listing of workshops and special events.

FRIDAY, MAY 14

DAYTON ROCKS! (free event)
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. // FilmDayton Power Up Lounge
Shelly “GladGirl” Hulce, longtime Dayton music insider, digs into local attics, basements and cyber archives to showcase some of Dayton’s best past and present rock videos, skater films and more.

WSU BIG LENS FILM FESTIVAL ($5, free with WSU student ID)
7 to 9:30 p.m. // The Neon
Students from Wright State University’s award-winning motion pictures program screen their most recent productions in this event filled with compelling, contemporary work.

AFTER PARTY WITH THE LAB PARTNERS ($5 or free with Big Lens Film Festival stub)
9 p.m. to midnight // Gilly’s
Dayton spacerockers the Lab Partners always put on a unique, engaging listening and viewing experience ― which will be seriously amped when the band is joined by Springfield native Rod Hatfield’s ensemble, The Now Device, and their light and film performance.

THE BIG LEBOWSKI ($5)
10:15 p.m. // The Neon
Catch this comedy classic, starring Jeff Bridges as The Dude, on the big screen.

SATURDAY, MAY 15

ROPEWALK ($5)
10:30 to 11:30 a.m. // The Neon
What ties together prehistoric tools, Ben Franklin, trust busting, railroads, drug laws, plastics, nanotubes and space travel? Rope, of course. Learn about ropemaking’s forgotten effects on agriculture and industry in Xenia, Ohio, from the Civil War to the present ― and beyond. This award-winning historical documentary film was produced by The Engineers Club of Dayton.

CONVENTION ($5)
10:30 to 11:30 a.m. // Gilly’s
The story behind the mounting of one of the biggest events of the decade: the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Photography and sound by Daytonians Steve Bognar and Julia Reichert, who were nominated for a 2010 Academy Award for their documentary The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant.

WORKSHOP // KARRI O’REILLY DESTROYS YOUR RESUME ―
AND THEN HELPS YOU FIX IT SO YOU CAN GET A JOB ON A MOVIE (free event)
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  // FilmDayton Power Up Lounge
Karri O’Reilly has seen literally thousands of production resumes and most of them stink. Find out how to make your resume stand out ― in a good way ― and learn tips that will help you land a job on a feature film. Sign up for 15-minute appointments beginning at 10:30 a.m.

MUSE MACHINE & FILMDAYTON PRESENT STUDENT SHORTS ($5)
noon to 1 p.m. // The Neon
Students who participated in the 2010 48-hour Film Boot Camp and the Muse Machine Film Club at Centerville High School will show off their films.

MADRINA FILMS PRESENTS THE BEST OF INTERNATIONAL SHORTS ($5)
12:30 p.m.  to 2:30 p.m. // Gilly’s
Springfield filmmaker Marisha Mukerjee selects the best short films the world has to offer, including the documentary Last Supper for Malthus, winner of the European Independent Film Festival 2010’s audience award. With a billion of the world’s population going to be hungry at night, Last Supper for Malthus sheds light on our permanent food crisis.

RECORDING OF “FILMICALLY PERFECT” (free event)
1 to 3 p.m. // ThinkTV
J. Todd Anderson ― filmmaker and storyboard artists for such directors at the Coen brothers ― and George Willeman ― film archivist, writer and producer ― will record their WYSO 91.3-FM radio show “Filmically Perfect” in front of a live audience.  “Filmically Perfect,” hosted by Niki Dakota, WYSO music director, airs at 12:30 p.m. Fridays on the station, when Anderson and Willeman dissect classic films.

GIRL POWER SHORTS: SUNDAY SPIN / THE ACT / RITE ($5)
1 to 2:30 p.m. // The Neon
Girls with secrets is the theme in these short films. Sunday Spin, written and directed by former Daytonian Nichol Simmons, features a 100 percent Dayton cast and crew. First love, BFFs, lip gloss, barbecued carrots and that boy from eighth grade take Eloise on an unforgettable Sunday spin in this sassy take on the after-school special. The Act was written and directed by Pi Ware and Susan Kraker and filmed by former Daytonian Marco Fargnoli. Rounding out this trio of shorts is Rite, written and directed by Kettering native Alicia Conway.

THE 1ST ANNUAL WYSO SCREENless SCREENING ($5)
3 to 4:30 p.m. // The Neon
WYSO 91.3-FM Director Neenah Ellis and program director Juliet Fromholt present a celebration of Dayton stories, sounds and the art of listening. Hear radio magazine feature stories, such as those on NPR’s StoryCorps and Ira Glass’ This American Life, as you never have before ― in a dark movie theater.

THE LAST TRUCK: THE CLOSING OF A GM PLANT ($5)
3 to 4:30 p.m. // Gilly’s
Directed and written by Julia Reichert and Steve Bognar of Yellow Springs, The Last Truck was nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary, short subject. It tells the story of the workers of the General Motors Assembly Plant in Moraine, which opened in 1981 and closed on Dec. 23, 2008. While the workers are shocked they’ll be losing their jobs, the film shows they’re also losing much more: the pride they share in their work, the camaraderie built through the years and the shared concerns about what their collective futures will hold. The Last Truck offers a snapshot of a moment in America where we may be seeing the end of the blue-collar middle class.

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH SUNDAY SPIN (free event)
3:30 to 5 p.m. // FilmDayton Power Up Lounge
Nichol Simmons, writer and director of Sunday Spin, talks about how the film came to be.

MASTER CLASS // ACTING ($15)
4 to 5:30 p.m. // ThinkTV
This class will be taught by a trio of experts: Dave Gewertz, founder of MidwestExtrasDB.com, designed to be the go-to site in the Midwest for people who are interested in being extras in films, television and commercials; Marianne Porter, Wright State University graduate and one of the stars of feature film True Nature; and Stuart McDowell, chair and artistic director of Wright State University’s department of theatre, dance and motion pictures.

BURMA VJ ($5)
5 to 7 p.m. // The Neon
This 2010 Academy Award Nominee for best documentary feature is the true story of an anonymous collective of underground video journalists (VJs) who risked their lives to capture the dramatic 2007 Myanmar uprising, when 100,000 people (including thousands of Buddhist monks) took to the streets in protest. The producer, Lise Lense-Møller, will be in Dayton all the way from Denmark for a Q&A after the film.

FILMDAYTON’S SECOND ANNUAL PITCH-IT! ($5)
6 to 8 p.m. // Gilly’s
Think you’ve got a golden idea for a film? This is your opportunity to prove it. Drop $5 in the hat and pitch your movie in two minutes to a panel of industry experts. The winner takes home the cash and the championship belt, although this lively event is fun for audience and aspiring filmmakers alike. Hosted by Niki Dakota, WYSO 91.3-FM music director, with judges including Stuart McDowell, chair and artistic director of Wright State University’s department of theatre, dance and motion pictures; Nichol Simmons, writer and director of Sunday Spin; and Jennifer Sharp, director of I’m Through with White Girls.

TRUE NATURE MEMBERS ONLY SCREENING**
8 to 10 p.m. // The Neon
Part drama and part supernatural thriller, True Nature is the story of a family reunited when their college-age daughter is found after a year-long disappearance. Written, directed, produced and filmed in Dayton by Dayton’s own Pat Steele and Ann Rotolante. **This screening is for FilmDayton members and Reel Deal and All-Access pass holders only.

RED CARPET, REV. COOL, DJs AND DANCE PARTY DOUBLE FEATURE
8 p.m. to midnight // Gilly’s
Dance around the fringe with The Rev. Cool’s Arkestra & Dance Ensemble, joined by popular local spinmasters Ruckus Roboticus and DJ Scorpius Max.
• FilmDayton Fundraiser: From 8-10 p.m., enjoy themed martinis and catered bites while helping support Dayton’s nonprofit organization dedicated to local film and filmmakers. $15
• General admission: $5 after 10 p.m. or free with True Nature stub

INK & FLESH / FUN IN THE OLD TOWN TONIGHT ($5)
midnight // The Neon
Dayton favorite Andy Copp presents a world and local premiere double feature with classic ’70s era grindhouse trailers in between and a Q&A.

SUNDAY, MAY 16
BOOKSIGNING WITH JAMES GREER (free event)
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. // FilmDayton Power Up Lounge
James Greer will discuss and sign his most recent book, The Failure, and host a Q&A session about his current movie project, Cleo, a rock musical of sorts, about Cleopatra. Greer wrote the script for this film starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and directed by Steven Soderbergh, who describes the film asTommy meets Viva Las Vegas, with music by Robert Pollard of Guided by Voices. Greer has been a bassist for Guided By Voices, editor of Spin magazine, and is the author of Guided by Voices: A Brief History: Twenty-One Years of Hunting Accidents in the Forests of Rock and Roll and the novel Artificial Light.

SUNDOG FILM FESTIVAL ($5)
1 to 2:30 p.m. // The Neon
Originated in Yellow Springs in 2003, this juried competition is open to young filmmakers in grades 8-12.

PANEL DISCUSSION // FILMING UNDER DURESS (free event)
1 to 2:30 p.m. // FilmDayton Power Up Lounge
What happens when your cameras aren’t welcome or in danger zones? Lise Lense-Møller will discuss the perils of filming under less than ideal conditions. Lense-Møller is the producer of Burma VJ, a 2010 Academy Award Nominee for best documentary feature. It tells the true story of an anonymous collective of underground video journalists (VJs) who risked their lives to capture the dramatic 2007 Myanmar uprising, when 100,000 people (including thousands of Buddhist monks) took to the streets in protest.

FILM CONNECTIONS PRESENTS WORKS IN PROGRESS ($5)
1 to 2:30 p.m. // Gilly’s
Loose, informal and interactive, FilmDayton’s monthly networking program, Film Connections, moves to Gilly’s one time only for this special edition of local works in progress. Hosted by recent Wright State University grad and local filmmaker Rocky Smith.

WORKSHOP // INDEPENDENT FILMMAKING ($15)
1 to 2:30 p.m. // Dayton Convention Center
True Nature director Pat Steele and Ann Rotolante present “Beginning to End: A How-to of Local Independent Filmmaking.” From the big idea to opening night, learn how to create an independent film.

DIRECTING PANEL ($15)
3:30 to 5 p.m. // Dayton Convention Center
Jennifer Sharp, director of I’m Through with White Girls and Mike Webber, director of The Elephant in the Living Room, discuss the ins-and-outs of directing and give workshop attendees a director’s behind the lens view.

WINTER’S BONE ($5)
3:30 to 5 p.m. // The Neon
Get an exclusive first look at this winner of the 2010 Sundance Grand Jury Prize, which doesn’t open to general audiences until June. The film tells the story of a young woman who must fight her way through the Ozark wilderness and local criminal underworld to find her father and save her family.

WSU BIG LENS FILM FESTIVAL, TAKE TWO ($5, free with WSU student ID)
3:30 to 5 p.m. // Gilly’s
Missed this festival on Friday? No worries. This is your second chance to catch students from Wright State University’s award-winning motion pictures program screening their most recent productions in this event filled with compelling, contemporary work. The festival will be followed by a meet-and-greet from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

EXPLODING GIRL ($5)
5:30 to 7 p.m. // The Neon
This drama is the exquisite portrait of a young girl coming of age and finding a deeper kind of love in New York City. Kettering native Bradley Rust Grey directed this independent feature, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last year. At Tribeca, its lead, rising indie star Zoe Kazan (Revolutionary Road, It’s Complicated, Me and Orson Welles), won the award for best actress.

I’M THROUGH WITH WHITE GIRLS ($5)
7:30 p.m. // The Neon
In this film, winner of the 2007 Block Buster Audience Award at the American Black Film Festival, Jay Brooks is on a quest to find the perfect woman ― but first he must deal with his commitment issues to win his love. Director and Yellow Springs native Jennifer Sharp will be on hand for a Q&A and discussion after the screening.

The FilmDayton Festival thanks its sponsors, without whom this festival would not be possible: DP&L, Cox Ohio Media/Dayton Daily News,activedayton.com, ThinkTV, WYSO 91.3-FM, The Now Device, Dayton City Paper, Wright State University, the Southern Ohio Council for Higher Education and The Ohio Coffee Co.

Former Guided by Voices member unveils new novel at local readings

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James Greer wrote the book on Guided by Voices…literally.  The former editor for Spin Magazine is the author of Guided by Voices: A Brief History: Twenty-One Years of Hunting Accidents in the Forests of Rock and Roll, a book about the band with which he played bass.  More recently Greer has been focusing on novels and screenwriting.  He’ll be in town this week promoting his new novel, The Failure (Akashic).  There are several opportunities to see Greer and learn more about The Failure, which is partially set in Dayton:

-On Wednesday night, I’ll be interviewing Greer on Kaleidoscope on WYSO 91.3FM.  The show is 8-11pm and will also feature information on the FilmDayton festival.

-On Thursday, Greer will reading at the Town & Country Books & Co. in Kettering beginning at 7pm.

-On Friday, Greer will hold a private house-show style reading in Dayton.  There are still a few slots open for this event.  You can find out more and reserve a slot by emailing [email protected].  This reading will also be broadcast live on Ustream beginning at 7:45pm.  Click here to sign in as a guest and watch.

-Greer will also be part of a Q&A session about an upcoming film project, Cleo, at the FilmDayton Festival (May 14-16).

Teenagers, Princesses & Strippers…OH MY!

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Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead by Sinclair Community College Theatre

Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead by Sinclair Community College Theatre

Hey everyone!

We are quickly approaching Tony Award season and while New York is seeing a record-breaking number of NEW openings in the last few weeks before the Tony deadline (including Green Day’s American Idiot, Denzel Washington in Fences, and another front-runner for best musical Memphis), Dayton has it’s share of exciting Spring Openings.

Dayton Playhouse presents Gypsy

Dayton Playhouse presents Gypsy

Opening May 7 – make certain to catch Dayton Playhouse’s GYPSY – directed by Brian Sharp and featuring a stellar cast. This Sondheim/Laurents/Styne show is one you don’t get the opportunity to see very often – especially the hilarious “You Gotta Get A Gimmick” from that show is worth the price of admission. (GLEEK ALERT: Rumor has it, selections from ‘Gypsy’ will show up at McKinley High this spring on an episode of Fox’s hit series ‘Glee’)

Town Hall Theatre’s double bill of Disney’s Cinderella and Disney’s Sleeping Beauty opening May 6

Town Hall Theatre’s double bill of Disney’s Cinderella and Disney’s Sleeping Beauty opening May 6

We are blessed to have a fantastic children’s theatre company in the region – check out Town Hall Theatre’s double bill of Disney’s Cinderella and Disney’s Sleeping Beauty opening May 6.

However, I am most excited about a regional premiere opening May 7 at Sinclair Community College – that’s why Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead is my PICK OF THE WEEK. Leave the kids at home for this recent Off-Broadway hit and “R-rated” parody by Bert V. Roy. Dog Sees God is a modern tale of teenage angst directed by Brian McKnight. Still plagued with his endless identity crisis, CB turns to his friends to find answers to his questions. They offer him irreverent glimpses into sex, drugs, suicide, violence, rebellion and sexual identity. Cast includes: Steven Brotherton as CB, Katie Klein as CB’s sister, Max Monnig as Van, Sara Linker as Van’s sister, James Roselli as Matt, Corey Schall as Beethoven, Michelle Faulkner as Marcy and Lauren Bernstein as Tricia. Opening at New York’s Barrow Street Theatre in 2004, the rarely staged play is a unique (if not altogether shocking) glimpse into the American teenager. Sinclair Theatre continues to do some exciting work, so if you haven’t been to Blair Hall yet, get your tickets while they last for this limited 9-performance run.

(this week’s ridiculously cheesy sign-off:)

“Do something special…anything special…

If you wanna make it, twinkle while you shake it…

If you wanna grind it, wait ’til you’ve refined it…

If you wanna stump it, bump it with a trumpet…

So get yourself a gimmick, and you too can be a star!”

onStageDayton…with Shane & Dave

D.B.

For more Information & Tickets, visit:

Dog Sees God (May 7 – 15) Call (937) 512-2808 or visit http://brushfire.e-vent.info/events/sinclair/start.aspx

Gypsy (May 7 – 23) visit http://www.daytonplayhouse.com/

Disney’s Cinderella & Disney’s Sleeping Beauty (May 6 – 23) Call (937) 433-8957 or visit http://www.townhalltheatre.org/

onStageDayton ...with Shane & Dave

Shane Anderson & David Brush work with locally based Encore Theater Company. ETC recently moved into the new arts collective space in the Oregon District, along with Zoot Theatre Co. & Rhythm in Shoes. Anderson, Brush & ETC are currently preparing for their upcoming Summer season of new musicals in downtown Dayton: Johnathan Larson’s RENT, [title of show] &Next Thing You Know (a developmental production of a new musical by NYC-based writing team of Salzman & Cunningham)


Meet the NEW Dayton Dutch Lions FC

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n115763131772703_358The Dutch Lions Capital Group purchased the license to play professional soccer in the Premier Development League (PDL) of the United Soccer Leagues (USL) in Dayton. The club will also have a Youth Academy in order to develop youth players to professional players. This Academy is based on the Dutch youth development philosophy, ranked worldwide in category 1 according to FIFA.Dutch Lions FC brings an attractive, dominating style of professional soccer – based on the Dutch philosophy – to the community.

There are 18 million soccer players in the USA (the most in the world) and although the Americans dominate almost every sport, there are almost no US players performing at the world’s top level. The Dutch Lion’s feel this is due to a lack of tactical development, something the Dutch school is known for worldwide.

The Dutch Lions FC will start educating kids at the age of seven and develop them eight to ten years to prep them for a professional career in either the USA or Europe. And even if a professional career is out of reach, the quality education will more than likely contribute towards obtaining a soccer scholarship for a college career.
You can help welcome the owner and new players at the Dayton Racquet Club on Friday April 30th  for lunch and a ‘meet and greet’. The cost per person for lunch is $20. RSVP to Lori Luebben at 224-4381 .  Lunch will begin at 11:30am.

Moby Dick by Zoot Theatre Co.

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Zoot Theatre Co. present "Moby Dick" April 23-25

Zoot Theatre Co. presents "Moby Dick" April 23-25

Hey everyone! April and May are really great months to catch great LIVE theater in the city. And there seems be something for everyone right now.
  • If you are the “blockbuster musical” type, the Broadway revival of A CHORUS LINE rolls into the Schuster next week or catch Maury Yeston’s PHANTOM which is still running at La Commedia.

(editor’s note–La Comedia IS NOT presenting the Andrew Lloyd Weber version of “Phantom of the Opera”…yet some believe this to be the better of the two shows–you be the judge & go see them both!  The ALW version will be in town soon!)

  • If “The Bard” is more your style, then check out Springfield Stage Works’ THE TAMING OF THE SHREW which opens this weekend in the historic State Theater.
  • Looking for something a little lighter? Both Playhouse South’s AND NEVER BEEN KISSED and Beavercreek Community Theatre’s THE PATCHWORK GIRL OF OZ (children’s theater production) open this weekend.
  • Hate musicals? Like your drama pretty heavy? Definitely get over and see INDEPENDENCE at the Dayton Theatre Guild. You think your family has issues? Check out this play by Lee Blessing and you’ll feel much better!
  • But if, like me, your tastes tend to run toward the edges, I have my PICK OF THE WEEK:
Zoot Theatre Company have made a name for themselves by using mask and puppetry in innovative and exciting ways. (If you saw their haunting re-telling of HANSEL & GRETL last season, you know what I mean).
Zoot Theatre Co. presents "Moby Dick" April 23-25

Zoot Theatre Co. presents "Moby Dick" April 23-25

Opening Friday, Zoot re-imagines Herman  Melville’s American classic MOBY DICK in The Mathile Theatre (that’s the small blackbox theatre inside the Schuster Center).

A couple of things make this even MORE intriguing. Allegedly, the adaptation is by local theatre legend Bruce Cromer and the piece is being directed by John Lavarnway. If neither of those names ring a bell to you, you’ll just have to trust us here at onStageDayton – those are two VERY good signs.

I highly recommend catching MOBY DICK. Zoot Theatre Company is definitely poised to be a major mover and shaker.
(this week’s ridiculously cheesy sign-off:)

“Towards thee I roll…thou damned whale! Thus I give up the spear…and my Friday night to view thine puppets and masks at the Schuster Center…”

Have a good weekend – and see something LIVE!

onStageDayton…with Shane & Dave

D.B.

Zoot Theatre Co. presents "Moby Dick" April 23-25

Zoot Theatre Co. presents "Moby Dick" April 23-25

More info & tickets:

MOBY DICK (April 23-25 – ONLY THIS WEEKEND)  & A CHORUS LINE (April 27-May 2) visit http://www.ticketcenterstage.com

AND NEVER BEEN KISSED (April 23 – May 1) visit http://www.playhousesouth.org

THE PATCHWORK GIRL OF OZ (April 23-May 1) visit http://www.bctheatre.org

PHANTOM (through May 2) http://www.lacomedia.com

INDEPENDENCE (through April 25 – CLOSING THIS WEEKEND) http://www.daytontheatreguild.org

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW (April 22 – May 1) http://www.springfieldstageworks.org

onStageDayton ...with Shane & Dave

onStageDayton ...with Shane & Dave

Shane Anderson & David Brush work with locally based Encore Theater Company. ETC recently moved into the new arts collective space in the Oregon District, along with Zoot Theatre Co. & Rhythm in Shoes. Anderson, Brush & ETC are currently preparing for their upcoming Summer season of new musicals in downtown Dayton: Johnathan Larson’s RENT, [title of show] & Next Thing You Know (a developmental production of a new musical by NYC-based writing team of Salzman & Cunningham)

2nd annual FilmDayton Festival coming May 14-16

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filmdaytonThe three-day schedule for the FilmDayton Festival is packed with everything from local rock videos to Academy Award-nominated films, parties to a story pitch session, a “screenless screening” to student films.

The festival will be held Friday, May 14, through Sunday, May 16, in downtown Dayton at The Neon movie theater, 130 E. Fifth St., and Gilly’s nightclub, 132 S. Jefferson St. Events also will be held at Think TV, 110 S. Jefferson St., and in the former Greyhound station on Fifth Street in the City of Dayton Transportation Center.

Pricing for individual tickets to films will be $5 and workshops will be $15. Weekend passes are available: The $35 Reel Deal pass includes access to all three days of films. The $75 All-Access pass includes the Reel Deal benefits, plus access to special parties on Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets and passes will be available soon at www.FilmDayton.com. In addition, discounts and special screenings are available to FilmDayton members. Visit the Web site for more information and to become a member.

The FilmDayton Festival will spotlight Dayton-centric feature and short films from around the world and the city’s own backyard, along with workshops, Q&A sessions and much more. A complete schedule follows, and highlights include:

• Winner of the 2010 Sundance Grand Jury Prize, the family drama Winter’s Bone will be shown exclusively at the FilmDayton Festival before it opens to the general public in June.

• WYSO 91.3-FM Director Neenah Ellis hosts the first “Screenless Screening,” a presentation of Dayton stories and sounds akin to Story Corps or This American Life ― and an unconventional listening experience in a dark movie theater.

• The producer of the gripping international documentary Burma VJ will be at the festival all the way from Denmark for a Q&A and discussion following the film.

• Convention features photography and sound by Daytonians and 2010 Academy Award nominees Steve Bognar and Julia Reichert.

• During the second annual Pitch It! session, festival-goers can take a stab at selling their film ideas to industry pros.

• Sunday Spin, written and directed by former Daytonian Nichol Simmons, features a 100 percent Dayton cast and crew.

• Wright State University’s popular Big Lens Film Festival will feature the most recent work by students in the university’s award-winning motion pictures program.

• Rev. Cool, longtime DJ of the popular “Around the Fringe” show on WYSO 91.3-FM, and his Arkestra Ensemble will take over Gilly’s with music and dance during a special Saturday night party.

“The FilmDayton Festival gives audiences a unique opportunity to see award-winning films and the work of young, emerging filmmakers ― all with a Dayton connection,” said Ron Rollins, FilmDayton board president. “This memorable three-day experience spotlights the creativity coming out of and inspired by our city.”

With twice as many films being screened in multiple locations, the FilmDayton Festival has doubled in size from last year. In 2009, the inaugural festival featured such award-winning films as 45365, which has gone on to win three film festival awards, and Blue Car, for which actress Agnes Bruckner was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. In addition, last year’s festival sold more than 1,000 tickets to screenings and workshops, awarded 10 individual student films $1,000 each, and brought a larger audience to Wright State University’s Big Lens Film Festival.

“We expect this year’s festival to have an even further reach,” said Eva Buttacavoli, FilmDayton director. “It’s a chance to learn about the far-reaching scope of film in the Dayton community, which audiences really appreciate and enjoy.”

FilmDayton promotes the art, craft and business of filmmaking in the region; presents year-round events, including the annual FilmDayton Festival; and helps grow the next generation of filmmakers and film lovers. For more information, visit www.FilmDayton.com.

onStageDayton…DMM’s online hub for all things theater!

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onStageDayton...with Shane & Dave

onStageDayton...with Shane & Dave

Introducing the latest addition to the DaytonMostMetro.com line-up of contributers: “onStageDayton…with Shane & Dave”

onStageDayton will serve as your online hub for all things theater in Dayton & the Miami Valley.  Check back often to find out about:

  • productions opening & closing soon
  • how to get tix for great theater in Dayton
  • upcoming auditions for local theater organizations
  • interesting stories about local theater organizations, premieres, outreach projects, workshops/classes & the all of the terrific people involved in local theater-making it happen.

If you work with a local theater organization, please add us to your Press Release list, so we can get all the info into our blog here at DMM!  In addition, please be sure to add your events to the DMM Calendar!

Send all of your updates to us via email:  [email protected]

(this week’s ridiculously cheesy sign-off:)

While we are waiting for the Overture to begin and the cast to take the stage…why not head on over to the DaytonMostMetro Forum and start up a conversation in the Theater thread…

S.A.

Shane Anderson & David Brush work with locally based Encore Theater Company. ETC recently moved into the new arts collective space in the Oregon District, along with Zoot Theatre Co. & Rhythm in Shoes. Anderson, Brush & ETC are currently preparing for their upcoming Summer season of new musicals in downtown Dayton: Johnathan Larson’s RENT, [title of show] & Next Thing You Know (a developmental production of a new musical by NYC-based writing team of Salzman & Cunningham)

420 Comedy Show!

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highway420Dude, this Tuesday, April 20th it’s Wiley’s Comedy Club’s annual “420 Show”. Either you know, or you don’t. Let’s just say, YES, the kitchen will be open!

Just got this update from Wiley’s:

To be blunt, I’m not sure if I approve of this joint venture. Not to be a buzzkill, but ten comedians (plus the inevitable party crashers) will be taking the stage in celebration of cannabis. The whole thing could go up in smoke though and I’ll be left holding the bag. Apparently, Jesse Cashew, Danny Miller, John Rathbone, Spark Mann, Rob Haney, Tony Wendland, Raymond Jackson, Mark Fradl, Joe Shelby and Droopy Drew Donisi will get this thing rolling at 8:00 pm Tuesday, so be ready for them to bowl you over. Ticket’s are only $5, which was a nickle in my day, and, as always, the kitchen will be open in case you get the munchies and the bar will be fully stocked to take care of your cotton mouth. We will have our own Mary Jane there…she’s one of our waitresses…to take care of you until the whole thing is cashed. So for some chronic comedy, be at Wiley’s at 8:00 pm and be ready to choke…from laughter.

So call 937-224- JOKE (5653) to reserve your seats now!

Juliet Fromholt nominated for Associated Press awards

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JulietOne of DaytonMostMetro.com’s own has been recognized for her stellar work in broadcasting.

WYSO radio personality Juliet Fromholt has been nominated by Ohio Associated Press as a finalist in three award categories, to be announced on June 6. She has recieved nominations in the Best Use of Sound, Best Documentary or Series and Best Feature Reporting categories.

“We are proud that WYSO reporters have been recognized for their work,” said WYSO General Manager Neenah Ellis. “We will build on this success and strive to fulfill our mission of service to the Miami Valley.”