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Spend the evening at a museum then SEE “Night at the Museum” on February 21 for Lowell Kids Week!

January 23, 2012 by lowellfilm

Celebrate the Tsongas Industrial History Center and Lowell Kids Week!

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21
5:30PM – 7PM  |  Museum adventure at the Boott Cotton Mills
7PM – 9PM  |  FREE screening of Night at the Museum
Boott Cotton Mills Museum
115 John Street, Lowell 

View/download the Official Event Flyer

Our first Lowell film screening of the new year will be presented in partnership with Lowell Kids Week and our good friends at the Tsongas Industrial History Center (TIHC). Located within the historic Boott Cotton Mills Museum in downtown Lowell, the TIHC is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with a great lineup of programs throughout 2012, THIS event included. Though we have indie film hearts, we recognize that Night at the Museum is one of those mainstream, family-friendly comedies that also strikes the mature, off-beat nerve. Adults will note that Ben Stiller is that guy you feel sorry for (think Gaylord Focker, NOT Greenberg), Robin Williams is tempered and genuine (a blessing), and cameos by Owen Wilson, Ricky Gervais, and Steve Coogan all hit their mark. Even Dick Van Dyke and Mickey Rooney manage good screen time as the wise-cracking museum night-watchmen Stiller is hired to replace. And sentimentality? It’s there, too, and you’ll learn to groove with it instead of shrugging it off. It should be noted that back in the day, Suzz used to work overnights at the Boston Museum of Science for the Museum’s popular Camp-In Program, so this flick is close to her heart for good reason (that giant T-Rex plays tricks on the mind in the dark of night!)

As for kids, they’ll flat out love the film’s fantastical story line, special effects, and Keystone Kops laughs. Three cheers for down ‘n dirty escapism!

Here are full details on the event, courtesy of the TIHC. This info is also in the official event flyer: Explore the museum when it comes alive at night! Solve the mystery of missing mill worker Lyddie Worthen, using a diary to help guide the way. Costumed “mill workers” interact with children, and they and their parents solve the mystery. After enjoying the Boott Cotton Mills Museum adventure, take in the film Night at the Museum, starring Ben Stiller. 

To register, please email tihc@uml.edu or call 978-970-5080. This presentation is part of the year-long series of events for the 20 anniversary of the Tsongas Industrial History Center, a partnership between UMass Lowell’s Graduate School of Education and Lowell National Historical Park. For more information about all of the events for the 20th anniversary, visit our website uml.edu/tsongas/anniversary or call 978-970-5080.

Just a word of note that the film will be shown in the Boott Cotton Mills Museum Events Center, a grand 75-seat theater with a great screen and good sound system — it’ll be the perfect spot for a fun night with friends and family. The entire evening is FREE admission, so be sure to reserve your seats early! We’re looking forward to seeing a great crowd!

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UK filmmaker Antony Lane is making a zombie film … but not just any old way!

January 18, 2012 by lowellfilm

Antony Lane's Twitter page is bursting with support and indie film passion!

British indie filmmaker Antony Lane uses Twitter. A LOT. According to his Twitter profile, Lane has been on Twitter 24/7 since 2009 doing fan fundraising for his zombie/horror film Invasion of the Not Quite Dead. With over 86,000 followers, Lane’s efforts seem to have proven successful as updates have just been released that the film crew is scouting for locations to begin shooting.

To people like us who relish the indie film scene, Lane’s goal is a precious one: to produce the first COMPLETELY Twitter fan-funded horror film. His pleas for donations ignite the reader with mixed caps to stress importance, are intensely frequent, and always read with passionate urgency –“if theres any SUPPORTERS OF FILMMAKERS chasing their dreams ONLINE right now, please check out my FILM PROJECT” and “PLS KEEP those DONATIONS/UPGRADES coming in to my film ‘INVASION OF THE NOT QUITE DEAD’, we are 100% twitter fan funded.” We adore this zest, and continue to be wowed by the seemingly endless supply of energy and enthusiasm that Lane displays to the public. But when you’re trying to reach a monetary goal for your life’s dream, that’s pretty much what it takes.

With all that being said, we’d love nothing more than for you to go out to Antony Lane’s Twitter page and project website and experience his determination first hand. And please feel free to support his campaign, especially if the horror genre is your bag. But no matter the end product (and we’re certain it’s gonna be mighty entertaining), Lane has brought the importance of independent film and the ongoing power of social media to the forefront. He’s also allowing all of us to play a part in his dream, and that’s a very special thing indeed.

Learn all you need to know about Antony Lane and his fan-funded film project Invasion of the Not Quite Dead via his campaign video below or by visiting Indywood.co.uk. And if you’re on Twitter, be sure to follow Lane or check in on his progress at @IndywoodFILMS.

Posted in From the Lowell Film Collaborative, Movie Rants-N-Raves, Screenings and Events Outside Lowell | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

The final chapter in the West Memphis 3 — “Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory” screens Thursday, January 12 on HBO

January 9, 2012 by lowellfilm

The final chapter of the award-winning trilogy of documentaries on accused killers Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley will air this Thursday at 9PM on HBO. Known as the West Memphis 3, Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were freed last summer after spending 18 years in prison. Their story was passionately told in two films, Paradise Lost: The Child Murders and Robin Hood Hills (1996) and Paradise Lost 2: Revelations (2000) — this week’s airing of Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory — directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, creators of the first two films – marks the cinematic end to the story and the closing of this haunting case.

ABOUT THE FILM
HBO Documentary Films’ Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory, the conclusion of the award-winning trilogy that spawned a world-wide movement to free three convicted men – Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley – known as The West Memphis 3, tells the complete story of one of the most notorious child murder cases in U.S. history. Provocative and timely, the film chronicles stunning new developments, culminating in the startling and unexpected conclusion just a few months ago, when Echols, who was on death row, and Baldwin and Misskelley, who were serving life sentences without the possibility of parole, were finally freed from prison after more than 18 years. “Almost 20 years and three films ago, HBO’s Sheila Nevins sent us on this journey to document the terrible murders of three innocent boys and the subsequent circus that followed the arrests and convictions of Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley,” says filmmaker Joe Berlinger. “To see our work culminate in the righting of this tragic miscarriage of justice is more than a filmmaker could ask for.”  – (Read the complete synopsis on HBO Films’ official website.)

Damien Echols of the West Memphis 3.

Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory premiered to the public at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival in its original form, but was then lengthened by 12 minutes to include the stunning verdict of innocent after the men were freed. According to the film’s official site, the West Memphis 3 were given a round of applause and a standing ovation at the New York  Film Festival where the longer version was screened to an audience of 1200 supportive fans. This was their first public appearance together since their departure from the Arkansas courthouse.

For complete details on Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory and Thursday’s presentation, CLICK HERE to visit the official site on HBO Films.

Posted in From the Lowell Film Collaborative, Movie Rants-N-Raves, Screenings and Events Outside Lowell | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Jay & Silent Bob live-stream their way to Lowell’s Showcase Cinema!

January 5, 2012 by lowellfilm

Indie cult film/off-beat comedy duo Jay & Silent Bob (Jason “Jay” Mewes and actor-director Kevin Smith) are partnering with Fathom Events to present Kevin Smith: Live From Behind Featuring Jay and Silent Bob Get Old — this is a one-night only, 3-hour event on Thursday, February 2 with Smith and Mewes hosting their popular podcast (or SModcast as they call it), followed by a live-stream Q&A session with fans. It’s an interactive audience experience due to hit 300 cinemas simultaneously that allows fans to be part of the show by submitting questions to Smith and Mewes via social media.

Don’t know who Jay & Silent Bob are? This brief routine will help define the act:

Yeah, it’s not for everyone, but trust us, they have a legion of loyal followers. We had a terrific time seeing Kevin Smith in person at the Boston premiere of his newest film, Red State, dare I say one of our favorite flicks of 2011 due mostly to Michael Parks’ riveting performance. Smith did his best to field questions, but seemed to get caught up in his own diatribe — but no matter, he was a fabulous entertainer and all of us were into it. He has a way of sweeping you up into his cluttered, passionate head. Be warned, chances are, Jay and Silent Bob will have no filter!

Full details on Kevin Smith: Live From Behind Featuring Jay and Silent Bob Get Old can be found at Fathomevents.com. Tickets are $16 for the event and can be purchased at Lowell’s Showcase Cinema — order fast, as only 250 seats are available!

Posted in From the Lowell Film Collaborative, Lowell Screenings and Events, Screenings and Events | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Happy Birthday, Elvis! Celebrate The King at Pollard Memorial Library with “Jailhouse Rock,” January 7

January 2, 2012 by lowellfilm

JAILHOUSE ROCK (1957)
Saturday, January 7 @ 1PM
Pollard Memorial Library
401 Merrimack Street, Lowell
Free admission! 

Lowell’s Pollard Memorial Library presents its second annual Elvis Presley Birthday Matinee this Saturday afternoon at 1PM. Fans of The King should definitely make their way to the Pollard’s ground floor meeting room and relive one of the music legend’s most infamous film appearances! As with all of the Pollard Library’s film programs, this is a FREE event, open to all, courtesy of the Friends of the Pollard Library. Keep up-to-date on all the happenings at the Pollard — including their monthly Independent Film Night — via their blog and Facebook page. As always, we express our deepest thanks to our good friends at the Pollard for helping to bring more film to Lowell!

ABOUT THE FILM
Jailhouse Rock is Elvis Presley’s most famous film and also considered by many critics and fans to be his best. Elvis plays troubled young man Vince Everett, who is accused of manslaughter and sent to prison. While in jail, he is introduced to music by fellow inmate Mickey Shaughnessy and together they become the two songsters of the slammer. After his release from prison, Elvis decides to become a rock-n-roll singer with pal Mickey as his manager. But as Elvis’ popularity rises, Mickey becomes jealous of his talent and the tension begin to mount.

The unforgettable title song “Jailhouse Rock” is brilliantly performed by Elvis and the energetic dance sequence which accompanies his most famous song was choreographed by the man himself. It is one of the most classic examples of music and dance in motion picture history and many consider it to be the first music video ever made.

In addition to Elvis’ renowned rendition of the title track, the film also features performances of “Baby I Don’t Care,” “Don’t Leave Me Now,” “I Wanna Be Free,” “One More Day,” “Treat Me Nice,” and “Young & Beautiful.” It’s worth mentioning that Elvis’ love interest in the film, Judy Tyler, was tragically killed in car accident not long after the film’s release. As Peggy Van Alden, she’s an effervescent and dazzling 50′s femme alongside Presley — a final performance not to be missed.

Click above to view the official "Jailhouse Rock" trailer, courtesy of Turner Classic Movies!

Posted in From the Lowell Film Collaborative, Lowell Film News, Lowell Screenings and Events | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Happy Holidays from Brett & Suzz of the Lowell Film Collaborative!

December 25, 2011 by lowellfilm

In this year’s holiday card, Brett & Suzz Cromwell do their best Mulder & Scully alongside their tabby cat Kidster — we wish all of you the VERY best for the Holiday Season!

Posted in From the Lowell Film Collaborative | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

Renowned director and Oscar nominee John Sayles comes to Gloucester!

December 20, 2011 by lowellfilm

Director John Sayles makes a guest appearance at the Cape Ann Community Cinema, December 28 at 7:30PM. Tickets on sale now!

We take great joy in promoting our good friend Rob Newton up in Gloucester at the Cape Ann Community Cinema. Not only is Rob one of the hardest working people to ever own a movie theater, but his passion and love for what film can do for a community is second to none. If you haven’t visited the Cape Ann Cinema, we URGE you to make plans in the coming year, or, if at all possible, next Wednesday, December 28. On that evening, you’ll be treated to a VERY special director event with legendary indie filmmaker John Sayles who’ll be promoting and screening his newest work, Amigo. Also in attendance will be his partner Maggie Renzi and local film producer Sarah Green, who will moderate the post-film Q&A with Sayles and Renzi.

Seriously, friends — you will NOT want to miss this event. You’ll be a stone’s throw from Sayles no matter where you sit in this great little theater! And the price? It’s an unbelievable $12.50 per ticket, and even less if you’re a member of the Cinema.

Below is a trailer for Amigo as well as the official press release about the event. Be sure to snag your tickets ASAP — we hope to see you there in just over a week!

• • • • •

OSCAR NOMINEE VISITING CAPE ANN DEC. 28
John Sayles presents his new film “Amigo” and meets the fans

[December 19, 2011 * Gloucester, MA] – The Cape Ann Community Cinema at 21 Main Street in Gloucester will host two-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker John Sayles and his partner, Maggie Renzi, on Wednesday, December 28th at 7:30pm. Sayles and Renzi will personally present their new film, Amigo, and stay for a Q&A after the film, hosted by local film producer Sarah Green.

This is the 17th feature film from Sayles, and it stars legendary Filipino actor Joel Torre as Rafael, a village mayor caught in the murderous crossfire of the 1899 Philippine-American War. When U.S. troops occupy his village, Rafael comes under pressure from a tough-as-nails officer (Chris Cooper) to help the Americans in their hunt for Filipino guerilla fighters. But Rafael’s brother (Ronnie Lazaro) is the head of the local guerillas, and considers anyone who cooperates with the Americans to be a traitor. Rafael quickly finds himself forced to make the impossible, potentially deadly decisions faced by ordinary civilians in an occupied country. A powerful drama of friendship, betrayal, romance and heartbreaking violence, Amigo is a page torn from the untold history of the Philippines, and a mirror of today’s unresolvable conflicts.

Sayles’s past films include Return Of The Secaucus 7 (1979), The Brother From Another Planet (1984), Matewan (1987), Eight Men Out (1988), Passion Fish (1992), The Secret Of Roan Inish (1994), Lone Star (1996), Limbo (1999), Sunshine State (2002) and Honeydripper (2007).

Tickets for this special event are $12.50, $10.00 for Cinema members, available at the Cinema or online at www.CapeAnnCinema.com.

Thursday the 22nd through Sunday the 25th at 5:00pm (plus a 2:30pm show on Sat. Dec. 24), the Cinema concludes its annual holiday tradition of “The Nutcracker,” this year featuring the Bolshoi Ballet’s presentation. Tickets are $15.00 adults, $12.50 for Cinema Members and $10.00 for children up to age 12. Tickets are available at the Cinema box office and on the Cinema’s website at www.CapeAnnCinema.com.

Posted in From the Lowell Film Collaborative, Screenings and Events, Screenings and Events Outside Lowell | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Occupy Cinema: A guerilla film movement gone to the streets

December 16, 2011 by lowellfilm

Ethereal projection onto an Occupy Cinema banner at an Occupy Wall Street demonstration, taken by Timothy Krause, Nov. 17, 2011

“Occupy Cinema: An open collective harnessing the moving image to aid the worldwide occupation movement.”

Inspired by the Occupy movement, Occupy Cinema is getting in on the game by taking the beauty and power of moving pictures to the streets by projecting on any surface they can find, from buildings, to abandoned property, to statues. Most recently on December 6, they found themselves in the heart of New York City’s Wall Street with a projection and performance program at Wall Street’s historic icon, the Charging Bull. They even released a viral teaser video promoting the event, which got picked up by blogs a’ plenty, including Indiewire and Huffington Post:

Occupy Cinema at Charging Bull // more to come from Occupy Cinema on Vimeo.

But Occupy Cinema’s movement doesn’t stop at public, guerilla-style performance and protest — on January 7 & 8, they’re partnering with NYC’s Anthology Film Archives to screen films related to the International Occupy Movement, including Peter Whitehead’s The Fall. Folks who attend these events will also see the full footage taken from the Charging Bull event and Travis Wilkerson’s An Injury to One. Visit Occupy Cinema’s blog page for full details on past and future events.

We’ll never know how long the Occupy movement will last, or its impact. But the fact that it has inspired filmmakers, performers, and projection artists to get more cinema to the masses is an incredible thing in itself. We’ll definitely be keeping up with Occupy Cinema, most especially their NYC happenings, for as long as the movement will allow. Occupy Cinema, indeed!

Posted in From the Lowell Film Collaborative, Movie Rants-N-Raves, Screenings and Events Outside Lowell | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

“The Bicycle City:” The true story of how bicycles are bringing hope to a poverty-stricken city

December 12, 2011 by lowellfilm

For a war-torn, impoverished city in Nicaragua, the words “pedal power” have taken on a dramatic new meaning. In director Greg Sucharew‘s independent documentary The Bicycle City, we meet a handful of individuals from the city of Rivas — a small coastal town in the second poorest country in Latin America — where an influx of over 20,000 donated bicycles has dramatically impacted the development and future of its people. For the past twenty-one years, Dave Schweidenback, founder and CEO of the New Jersey-based non-profit Pedals for Progress (P4P), has passionately overseen his organization’s acquisition of over 130,000 donated bicycles with the intention of getting them into the hands of some of the poorest communities in the world. As you can imagine, the shapes, colors, sizes, styles, and characteristics of these beloved cycles are as varied as the people who eventually own them. What happens once they arrive to this particular destination is the basis for Sucharew’s film, which highlights how Rivas is lifting itself out of poverty with the help of P4P’s donation program. We proudly lent our financial support to The Bicycle City‘s recent IndieGoGo campaign, and we simply cannot wait to see the final product. The film is currently in post-production and plans to undergo a second round of fundraising — a visit to their site will bring you to a “Donate” page where you can pledge your support with your dollars OR via the Pedals for Progress bicycle donation program. Either way, you’re guaranteed to make an impact on one or both of these stellar projects!

Pedal passion! "The Bicycle City" film crew, left to right: Gissel Rosario, Greg Sucharew, and Frank Trotta.

We hope you’ll take some time to visit The Bicycle City at TheBicycleCityFilm.com as well as Pedals for Progress at P4P.org. We’d like to extend a special thanks to our dear friend, Lowell resident, and fellow bicycle fanatic Marianne Gries, who first introduced us to The Bicycle City via an enthusiastic Tweet many, many months ago. We truly love hearing about any and all film projects, so please pass your discoveries along to us so we can stay informed on the great film that’s out there.

The Bicycle City. Trailer from Greg Sucharew on Vimeo.

Posted in From the Lowell Film Collaborative, Movie Rants-N-Raves | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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