January 2015 – Page 2

A cinephiliac’s cornucopia: What to watch at this year’s SBIFF

January 23, 2015August 6, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

The late British star Alan Bates in a scene from "Sins of a Father" SBIFF photo — The late British star Alan Bates in a scene from “Sins of a Father” SBIFF photo

Happy 30th birthday Santa Barbara International Film Festival! Now expanded by one full day and moved up to open on a Tuesday, the fest that draws film and movie star lovers from all over keeps getting bigger and better. With 23 world premieres and 53 U.S. premieres, along with loads more films on offer, from shorts to documentaries and back again, it can get quite overwhelming, especially when time is of the essence and major decisions need to be made.

As of this writing, days and times have not been announced, so this is our cursory look at the upcoming line-up of films, section by section, with our favorites based on trailers, director reputation and spidey-sense. From experience, some films at SBIFF never see the light of day in terms of DVD, VOD or streaming after the fest circuit, so we’ve learned not to wait. So let’s get to it!

Gerald DiPego’s ‘154 and Paradise’ offers a multitude of mystery

January 23, 2015August 6, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

Mistress (Ivy Vahanian) and wife (Leslie Story) worry as James Henny's (Bill Egan) stress level reaches the breaking point. Janelle Odair — Mistress (Ivy Vahanian) and wife (Leslie Story) worry as James Henny’s (Bill Egan) stress level reaches the breaking point.
Janelle Odair

A fatal accident at the top of Camino Cielo. A group of people proclaiming innocence. And an examiner who seems to know a little too much about everybody involved. This is the world that screenwriter and playwright Gerald DiPego has created for the intriguing world-premiere play “154 and Paradise” that opens tonight at Center Stage Theater.

The play, the latest production from Peter Frisch of the Producing Unit, combines Pirandello with the Twilight Zone, and marks the first major collaboration between the writer and director.

Friendly advice: Brooklyn Rider is a quartet not afraid of the new

January 16, 2015August 9, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

The boys ofBrooklyn Rider recently released "The Brooklyn Rider Almanac" and will performworksfrom the album at Hahn Hall Sarah Small — The boys ofBrooklyn Rider recently released “The Brooklyn Rider Almanac” and will performworksfrom the album at Hahn Hall
Sarah Small

There some classical quartets dabble in contemporary composers while making sure to keep some Bach or Beethoven handy, Brooklyn Rider has shown its commitment to the shock of the new by commissioning a whole album of new works and then touring it.

“The Brooklyn Rider Almanac,” released on Mercury Classics this last September, contains an hour’s worth of commissioned works from artists like Bill Frisell, Christina Courtin, Gonzalo Grau and others. Not everybody involved is a classical composer. In fact, at Thursday night’s performance at Hahn Hall, Brooklyn Rider will premiere “Ping Pong Thumble Thaw” by Glenn Kotche, drummer of the rock band Wilco. The work was commissioned by UCSB Arts & Lectures.

Holy waters: Church celebrates Feast of Epiphany at Goleta Beach

January 12, 2015August 9, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

A group from St. Athanasius Antiochian Orthodox Church takes part in a Blessing of the Ocean ceremony on Sunday. NIK BLASKOVICH / NEWS-PRESS — A group from St. Athanasius Antiochian Orthodox Church takes part in a Blessing of the Ocean ceremony on Sunday.
NIK BLASKOVICH / NEWS-PRESS

A group of faithful from St. Athanasius Antiochian Orthodox Church in Goleta celebrated the Feast of Epiphany on Sunday morning with a Blessing of the Ocean. Led by Father Nicholas Speier, the congregation of about 70 performed the ceremony shared by Eastern Orthodox churches worldwide.

This local church, however, was able to use Goleta Beach on a sunny mid-morning, with warming post-storm weather as a backdrop.

Passing with flying colors: Seventh Annual Kids Helping Kids benefit brings Ingrid Michaelson and Jon McLaughlin to the Granada

January 10, 2015August 10, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

There’s that old adage: learn by doing. And there’s a new semester of young economics students that learned, and they took that adage to heart. The result is the 7th annual Kids Helping Kids showcase at the Granada Theatre, this Saturday. The event raises funds for needy kids both here and abroad, and the nonprofit that puts it on is based out of a San Marcos High economics class. Teacher James DeVries puts seniors in charge of a nonprofit, where they must use their skills to book, market and launch an evening of music. This year, two singer-songwriters will take the stage due to the hard work of these economics students. Ingrid Michaelson is a New York-based songwriter best known for the singles “Be OK,” “Girls Chase Boys” and “The Way I Am.” Also appearing is Jon McLaughlin, singer of the single “Beating My Heart” and who recently opened for Billy Joel.

James DeVries, who received honors last year from Goleta’s Chamber of Commerce for his work setting up this program, started the class in 2002 as a penny drive.

All hail the king: Legendary producer of Elvis Presley’s ’68 comeback special will be at local screening at Plaza playhouse theater

January 9, 2015August 10, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

Elvis Presley in 1964 Associated Press Photo — Elvis Presley in 1964
Associated Press Photo

Very few people could stand up to Elvis Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, least of them Elvis himself. But legendary producer Steve Binder did. It’s a story he loves to tell, and it resulted in one of The King’s shining moments, the famous 1968 comeback special. After years of Hollywood movie musical pablum, the Elvis people saw in ’68 was revitalized, dressed in black leather and — in the section of the special that would become its most beloved — sat down with Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana, his original Sun Records band, and jammed. That section influenced every similar acoustic set from MTV Unplugged onward.

Viewers will get a chance to see that special (with 30 minutes cut from original broadcast) in a screening Saturday night at Carpinteria’s Plaza Playhouse Theater, followed by a Q&A with Mr. Binder himself. This follows Mr. Binder’s previous appearance at the theater, where he screened the other famous show he produced, “The T.A.M.I. Show,” which showcased James Brown, The Rolling Stones and The Supremes. That screening, which was also a fundraiser for the theater, was sold out. No wonder they demanded Mr. Binder return.

Cultured & Saucy: Simone and Lauren Temkin bring their love of fermentation to store shelves

January 8, 2015August 12, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

The Cultured & Saucy condiment line will make an appearance in San Francisco at the Fancy Food Show, the West Coast's largest specialty food and beverage trade show that runs Sunday through Tuesday. NIK BLASKOVICH/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS — The Cultured & Saucy condiment line will make an appearance in San Francisco at the Fancy Food Show, the West Coast’s largest specialty food and beverage trade show that runs Sunday through Tuesday.
NIK BLASKOVICH/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Before there was refrigeration, there was fermentation, a way of keeping foods around longer in all sorts of weather. The Germans have sauerkraut, and the Koreans have kimchee. Nearly every culture has something that uses natural processes to alter food and by doing so creates something marvelous. And as nutritionists have discovered, fermented food is good for you, too.

Enter jovial sister team Lauren and Simone Temkin, who produce Cultured & Saucy, a fermented condiment line that will please both vegans and carnivores alike. Their fermented salsas and sauces come in six varieties: Curry Chutney with Lime, Ginger and Turmeric; Dill Dijon Mustard with Lemon and Garlic; Exotic 5 Spice; Ginger Mint Saffron; Lime Chili Salsa; and Herbs de Provence. The sisters prefer to refer to the products as “condiments”; their product is so versatile, they say, that “sauce” doesn’t do it justice. Call it marinade and folks might not spread it on crackers or mix it in with mayo to make a dip.

DIJO Productions mounts Margulies’ ‘Brooklyn Boy’

January 2, 2015August 10, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

Brooklyn Boy Eric Weiss (Ed Giron) is not impressed by casting agent Aden Hailu and aspiring actor Sean Jackson.

It’s that old saying, you can’t go home again.”

That’s how director Bill Waxman sums up the theme to “Brooklyn Boy,” the Donald Margulies play that opens this coming Thursday at Carpinteria’s Plaza Playhouse Theater. In this 2005 play, Eric Weiss (played by DIJO regular Ed Giron) is an author with critical respect but without the money to show for it. That is, until he writes a semi-autobiographical novel and finds himself shooting toward fame, and finds that, after all the time spent waiting for it to happen, he is not prepared.