Before we move into the new year, here are a couple excellent reviews of the arts in the Mobile Bay area & throughout Alabama in 2011. Thank you to the Mobile Press-Register and ModMobilian for their support of the local arts community. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to checkout all the writers, artists, musicians, filmmakers, and organizations listed in these articles.

Year in Review: visual and performing arts of 2011 by Thomas B. Harrison

2011 Southern Art & Music Award (Moddys) Winners

Now on to New Business…

Upcoming film events in the Mobile area

Participants get to choose the path their movie will take and see where it leads…

7pm Friday January 6
Serda’s Coffee (map)
Registration per team : $10

RSVP through Facebook or contact editor[at]modmobilian.com for more information.

“Finding Kind,” produced by Lauren Parsekian and Molly Thompson, documents growing-up stories from girls across the U.S., and includes interviews with respected experts and authors in the fields of psychology, education and the interrelationships of women and girls.

Mothers and girls of all ages are invited to attend a 6:00 showing of the film. This showing is open to the community and admission is free.

Tuesday, Jan 10 @ 6:00 PM
Louise R. Moorer Center for Performing Arts
St. Luke’s Episcopal School
1400 University Blvd. S.
ADMISSION IS FREE
For more information call 251-666-2991

Acclaimed filmmaker Cameron Crowe (Jerry Maguire, Almost Famous) directs an amazing and true story about a single dad who decides his family needs a fresh start, so he and his two children move to the most unlikely of places: a zoo. With the help of an eclectic staff, and with many misadventures along the way, the family works to return the dilapidated zoo to its former wonder and glory.

Showtimes are listed at The Crescent Theater

Again, I can not thank you enough for your continued support of SoALFF throughout 2011 and we are all looking forward to an exciting 2012.

WORKSHOP: What your film office can do for you?
Saturday, November 5 · 3:00pm – 4:00pm

Join Eva Golson (Mobile Film Office), Diane Hall (Mobile Film Office), and Tommy Fell (Alabama Film Office) to discuss the Alabama Film Incentive program and the advantages of working with your local film office.

WORKSHOP: Fair use in film production
Saturday, November 5 · 5:00pm – 6:00pm

Join filmmaker Douglas Newman (The Reconstruction of Asa Carter) for a discussion on fair use in film production.

DOWNLOAD your copy of the schedule today!

Feature films include:

General Orders #9, Awarded for its visionary cinematography, GENERAL ORDERS No. 9 breaks from the constraints of the documentary form as it contemplates the signs of loss and change in the American South;

Prairie Love, From the harsh Midwestern frozen plains, comes this wonderfully bizarre but heartwarming look at three people searching for love and self discovery in the oddest ways.

Dear God No!, A brand new biker/horror/sexploitation feature written & directed by exploitation aficionado James Anthony Bickert. Shot entirely on SUPER 16MM Fuji film and using equipment from the era, DEAR GOD NO! is a drive-in & grindhouse lover’s dream;

Wrestling for Jesus, A documentary about Timothy who was born in Mobile, AL and grew up a wrestling fanatic. After moving to South Carolina, Timothy started a Christian wrestling organization. His goal is to use wrestling to evangelize his neighbors. However his passion and vision for his ministry are tested when his personal life begins to disintegrate. Wrestling for Jesus is a raw and honest all-access pass into the two worlds of independent wrestling and religion in the rural South.

The Reconstruction of Asa Carter, Forrest Carter, best-selling author of The Outlaw Josey Wales and The Education of Little Tree, was an exalted Cherokee hero of New Age wisdom. As a leader in the Native American cultural revival of the 1970′s, Forrest touched millions of readers with his gentle and earthy tales of Indian life. Twelve years after his death, however, the public learned that Forrest had a hidden past. Forrest Carter was actually Asa ‘Ace’ Cater, violent Ku Klux Klansman and Alabama Governor George Wallace’s principal speechwriter; author of the infamous 1963 inaugural address, ‘Segregation Now! Segregation Tomorrow! Segregation Forever!’;

Man in the Glass: The Dale Brown Story, is a feature documentary that tells the compelling and inspiring story of Dale Brown, the legendary LSU basketball coach (1972-1997). The film boasts an all-star cast including Matthew McConaughey, Shaquille O’Neal, John Wooden, Dick Vitale and Tim Brando. The film chronicles his battles with the NCAA, his successful campaign to have a prisoner released and ultimately pardoned from Angola State Penitentiary, his efforts on behalf of native Americans and his life-long commitment to his players. This is not the story of a basketball coach; this is the story of an amazing and unique man who happened to coach basketball;

Better Than Something, is a feature documentary about the controversial and prolific garage rock icon Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr, better known to the world as Jay Reatard. This intimate portrait, captured just months before his untimely passing, brings us incredibly close to Jay’s complicated punk-rock world in Memphis, Tennessee. BETTER THAN SOMETHING eloquently interweaves cinéma vérité, interviews, and archival concert performances, and features scenes from an insightful and candid week spent with Jay, who reveals personal childhood stories and the struggles of life in Memphis;

Disabled but Able to Rock, Meet Danger Woman, the Songbird of Justice that fights against the three Tri-Phobes: Homophobia, Race-ophobia, and Disable-phobia. Her Karaoke singing destroys her enemies while delighting fans and a curious public. This character study follows her over a 13-year period and reveals a single woman’s struggle with autism, a tragic family history, and societal stigmas both real and imagined that paint the picture of a person that just wants to be perceived as ‘normal’;

Man of Deeds, Born into the chaos of the French Revolution, Mathias Loras would come to develop a vision for a state of spirituality in the New World that few dare dream. Brought up in an elegant, bourgeois family he would eventually become a missionary assigned to a remote outpost in the frontier territory of Iowa. There he would sow the seeds of the church to rough miners and farmers, while battling the unending hardships of life on edge of civilization.

The festival will also feature special film events:

Kevin, In Austin, TX in the early ’90s, musician Kevin Gant was the Duplass Brothers’ hero. They reveled in Kevin’s exploratory musical style and playful spirituality. But in 1995, Kevin mysteriously disappeared. Jay Duplass’ documentary debut explores who Kevin is, how he lost his inspiration, and what he must do to get it back. Kevin Gant will be here for a very special Q&A;

Missing Pieces, Special preview screening by Birmingham filmmaker. This is a story about a man who’s lost everything and his misguided attempts to put it back together. “Missing Pieces” is an emotional enigma about love and loneliness…and a kidnapping. Through interwoven, poignant vignettes, this multi-plot tale unfolds and untangles into a truly unique and heartfelt love story about finding hope when all is lost;

Barbeque and Bluegrass, Three unique short films about the history and romance of bluegrass, plus a plate of barbeque. What could be better?

Camp Films, world premiere of Monday Mayhem and All 4 One, the two short films made by Space 301 summer campers.

Short Films for the festival include: On a Roll, Jobless, Divination, What Do You Know?, Slick, and many more.

Passes for the festival will be available starting October 14, 2011, at the downtown office and online. Weekend passes will be $30 and individual film tickets will be $5.

The South Alabama Film Festival is a part of the Mobile Arts Council made possible by the generous support of the Mobile Public Library, The Crescent Theater, The Center for the Living Arts, The Bike Shop, The Fort Conde Inn, The Hampton Downtown.

The Madness begins October!

Films include:

Madhouse [1974]
Halloween III Season Of The Witch [1982]
Texas Chainsaw Massacre [1974]
Tales From The Crypt [1972]
Young Frankenstein
Last Man On Earth [1964]
Blood Suckers From Outer Space [1984 - Rare 35MM Screening]
Child’s Play [w Alex Vincent (Andy Barclay) IN PERSON Q&A]
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
American Werewolf In London [1981]

Films are $7 (Note: Child’s Play is a special event and is $10)
Other announcements to come. Films may be subject to change.
For More Info got to www.crescenttheater.com, call (251) 438-2005 or email info@crescenttheater.com

Check out the full schedule on Facebook.

Shocktoberfest Sponsored By:
Nightmare Chambers Haunted House of Fairhope
South Alabama Film Festival
Slow Fade Tattoo Studio of Spanish Fort
Sanders Pumpkin Patch

For Sponsorship info contact Will Sanders 251.600.9053

For tickets to Nightmare Chambers Haunted House or info www.nightmarechambers.com

Bring in Shocktoberfest ticket to Slow Fade Tattoo Studio for 10% off a tattoo of 100.00 or more!

See you at the Scary Movies!

The SoAL Film Fest is pleased to announce that Jay Duplass’ first documentary project KEVIN is coming to the 2011 festival. We’re also very excited that documentary subject Kevin Gant will accompany the film to Mobile for Q&As and live performances throughout the festival weekend.

Jay Duplass and brother Mark are very well known on the film festival circuit. The brothers have teamed up in the past on Cyrus, Baghead, The Puffy Chair, and several other films.

From the Jay Duplass KEVIN KickStarter campaign…

Who Is Kevin Gant?

In Austin, TX in the early ’90s, Kevin was my hero. He was the purest, most inspired artist I had ever seen. His fusion of all-American folk-poetry with a wild flamenco guitar style was completely original, and I went to every show of his I could.

But in 1995, Kevin disappeared completely from the music scene, and I had no idea why.

Two years ago I finally tracked him down, and we began a friendship. I learned about the painful events back in ’95 that shattered his lifelong dream of making and sharing music. I learned he had barely touched his guitar ever since, and forgotten how to play almost all of his songs.

But then, thanks to a magical twist of fate I could never have imagined, Kevin and I found ourselves traveling halfway around the globe and back. And along the way, I watched as Kevin’s dream reignited right before my eyes.

KEVIN, my documentary debut, is that story.

Jay Duplass talks Kevin Gant

Feature-Length Documentary – Nonfiction films more than 60 minutes in length.

Short Narrative – Fiction films, animated or live, that are less than 30 minutes in length.

Short Documentary – Documentary films, animated or live, that are less than 30 minutes in length.

MISSION AND OBJECTIVE
The South Alabama Film Festival’s mission is to showcase and educate the community about filmmakers and their creations. To accomplish this mission it holds an annual film festival with seminars and workshops. During the festival, attendees will have the opportunity to see films that may not have large distribution and have the chance to meet and discuss these films with filmmakers. The group also plans events throughout the year promoting local filmmaking and encouraging the art of filmmaking in our local schools. The South Alabama Film Festival is an annual event anticipated by the entire community. The South Alabama Film Festival wants to bring filmmakers and their products to the Mobile community. The group is not searching for major motion pictures or stars, but for films that might not otherwise be seen in our area. Over a three-day period, the festival hopes to show 8-16 features, plus short films, and host several social events and workshops. This film festival will be open to the general public.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The South Alabama Film Festival (SoAL Film Fest) seeks to showcase and educate the community about filmmakers and their creations, while welcoming all who enjoy the medium. One of the nation’s oldest and most beautiful cities, Mobile will alight with the cinematic arts throughout 2011, culminating in November’s three-day festival. In addition to feature-length and short films, SoAL Film Fest will offer seminars and workshops for adults and school children, to further its goal of educating – as well as enchanting – the growing regional film community. SoAL Film Fest strives to be the yearly event in Southern Alabama for all who love, and create, film. The festival is scheduled for November 4-6, 2011.

ORGANIZERS
Hailee Kuntz (Executive Director)
Lesley Delchamps (Assistant Director)
Gideon Carson Kennedy (Program Director)

FEES

All fees are nonrefundable.

GENERAL RULES
Submissions must have been completed after December 1, 2008 and may not be publicly screened in Mobile County or Baldwin County, Alabama prior to the 2011 festival dates (excluding other South Alabama Film Festival screenings and collaborations). Submissions will be notified of their selection status on or around Sept. 15, 2011. If accepted, two additional DVDs of the final film must be provided to the South Alabama Film Festival for jury screenings, media requests and the festival archive. Selected festival films must also provide updated contact information, a digital and non-digital press kit, and one exhibition copy of the film in the format we will determine at the time of selection. South Alabama Film Festival may deny acceptance of any film at its sole discretion, or waive rules for any submission it deems appropriate for the festival. If accepted, the screening schedule (including venue, time and number of screenings) is at the sole discretion of South Alabama Film Festival. The festival encourages filmmakers to accompany the film to represent it and participate in a Q&A sessions following the screening to share their experience of making of the film. Each accepted film will receive free industry passes to the festival.

The entrant guarantees that they have legal right to submit their film and have obtained all necessary rights and clearances to screen the work at the South Alabama Film Festival. Submission of work confirms that the South Alabama Film Festival has permission to exhibit it (and any moving image excerpts or reproduced stills) during the festival and for any festival publicity or promotion. Every precaution will be exercised in handling entries and exhibition copies of submitted films, but the entrant agrees to hold the festival, its organizers, employees, volunteers, sponsors, and partnering organizations harmless for damage to or loss of materials submitted.

FILMS
The South Alabama Film Festival is looking for 8-16 feature length films, and 12-20 short films. The festival plans to show all films multiple times. We wish to show both fiction and nonfiction films. Special consideration will be given to films made in or around Mobile, Alabama; in the state of Alabama; and in the American “South.”

TO SUBMIT A FILM
Film submissions should be done through WithoutABox.

SoAL Film Fest alums (2009 & 2010) Fighting Owl Films are premiering their feature The Night Shift Saturday morning June 18th at 11AM. Tickets are $8 and will be available at the door. There is only one show on Saturday, so do not miss it.

This weekend also brings Sundance midnight favorite Hobo with a Shotgun starring Rutger Hauer to The Port City.

“Hobo” will be the first full-length feature [Max] Morey’s shown on the Crescent’s new digital projection system (Thanks, Mike).

Daily Showtimes: 6:00 & 8:30 PM
Sat & Sun Matinee: 2PM

Details & trailers below…

What if you could live forever? What if you had to spend that eternity stuck in a cemetery with only a limbless corpse for a friend, and cantankerous “residents” that were anything but resting in peace? That’s the situation for Rue Morgan, night watchman extraordinaire, in this rollicking supernatural adventure-comedy. Rue, along with his buddy Herb, spends his nights watching out for zombies, and his days dreaming of a date with hard-nosed day-shifter, Claire. It’s an okay eternity–until a scourge of paranormal occurrences leaves Rue not only watching the cemetery, but also watching his back! Based on the hit short film that critics have called “delightful”, “charming”, and “unapologetically goofy”, “The Night Shift” is guaranteed to be the most fun you’ve ever had in a cemetery!

A vigilante homeless man pulls into a new city and finds himself trapped in urban chaos, a city where crime rules and where the city’s crime boss reigns. Seeing an urban landscape filled with armed robbers, corrupt cops, abused prostitutes and even a pedophile Santa, the Hobo goes about bringing justice to the city the best way he knows how – with a 20-gauge shotgun. Mayhem ensues when he tries to make things better for the future generation.

Tuesday, June 14 · 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Bernheim Hall in the Ben May Main Public Library Downtown
701 Government St.
Mobile, AL

William Bradford Huie Centennial Screening of:

THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY
1964, 115min starring Julie Andrews, James Garner, James Coburn

Adapted from Alabama author William Bradford Huie’s novel, THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY follows Lt. Cmdr. Charles Edward Madison (James Garner) as his luxurious life within the wartime military is challenged by an English war widow (Julie Andrews) and the impending D-Day invasion. This controversial classic was adapted for the screen by famed screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky (NETWORK) and directed by Arthur Hiller (LOVE STORY).

Preceded by a special introduction written for the South Alabama Film Festival by the author’s widow, Martha Huie.

Join the South Alabama Film Festival in Bernheim Hall of the Ben May Main Library downtown on the second Tuesday of every month for our “One for the Books” Summer Film Series. Programming director and local filmmaker Gideon C. Kennedy introduces some of his favorite cinematic adaptations of literary works, showcasing forgotten film gems that hold up for modern audiences.

Showtime is 6pm, admission is free, and all audience members will receive coupons for sushi at Liquid Lounge, two blocks away at the corner of Washington and Dauphin, to encourage dinner and conversation after the film.

William Bradford Huie Centennial Screening of:

THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY
1964, 115min starring Julie Andrews, James Garner, James Coburn

Adapted from Alabama author William Bradford Huie’s novel, THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY follows Lt. Cmdr. Charles Edward Madison (James Garner) as his luxurious life within the wartime military is challenged by an English war widow (Julie Andrews) and the impending D-Day invasion. This controversial classic was adapted for the screen by famed screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky (NETWORK) and directed by Arthur Hiller (LOVE STORY).

Preceded by a special introduction written for the South Alabama Film Festival by the author’s widow, Martha Huie.

Join the South Alabama Film Festival in Bernheim Hall of the Ben May Main Library downtown on the second Tuesday of every month for our “One for the Books” Summer Film Series. Programming director and local filmmaker Gideon C. Kennedy introduces some of his favorite cinematic adaptations of literary works, showcasing forgotten film gems that hold up for modern audiences.

Showtime is 6pm, admission is free, and all audience members will receive coupons for sushi at Liquid Lounge, two blocks away at the corner of Washington and Dauphin, to encourage dinner and conversation after the film.

Bernheim Hall in the Ben May Main Public Library downtown
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
FREE

6/10 to 6/16 – HEY BOO: Harper Lee and ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’

Fifty years after winning the Pulitzer Prize, To Kill a Mockingbird remains a beloved bestseller and quite possibly the most influential American novel of the 20th Century. The film version, starring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch, won a trio of Academy Awards, and in April the Postal Service will issue a stamp honoring Peck – depicted wearing glasses, as Finch.

Hey, Boo explores the To Kill a Mockingbird phenomenon and unravels some of the mysteries surrounding Harper Lee, including why she never published again. It also brings to light the context and history of the novel’s Deep South setting and the social changes it inspired after publication.

Anna Quindlen, Tom Brokaw, Wally Lamb, Richard Russo, Oprah Winfrey, Andrew Young and others reflect on the novel’s power, influence, and popularity, and the many ways it has shaped their lives.

Director Mary Murphy will do a Q&A and book signing after both shows Friday and all three shows on Saturday.

The Crescent Theater
Daily Showtimes: 6:00 & 8:30 PM
Sat & Sun Matinee: 2PM

Tickets for Friday and Saturday Screening can be pre-purchased here

6/10 – 2nd Mobile Bay Film Scramble Sign Up & Kickoff

For Filmmakers, Actors, Musicians, Technicians, Etc. that would like to participate in the June 2011 Mobile Bay Film Scramble: a 1-week short film challenge.

Rollins Deli 211 Dauphin Street (Across from Crescent Theater)
7:00PM – 8:30PM

Odds & Ends
6/10 – LoDa Artwalk – SoALFF Offices will be open from 6:00 PM to 9:00PM

6/15 – Early Bird Deadline for film submissions for 2011 SoAL Film Fest