News-Press – Page 27

New Frontiers: SBIFF opens its 29th year with an opening night first, new slate of events and more

January 31, 2014August 29, 2014 tedmills Leave a comment

Renowned Oceanographer Sylvia Earle and Director Fisher Stevens outside the Arlington Theatre before the nights festivities begin — Renowned Oceanographer Sylvia Earle and Director Fisher Stevens
outside the Arlington Theatre before the nights festivities begin

After a year of planning and some last-minute adjustments, the 29th installment of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival kicked off Thursday night in its usual spectacular fashion: spotlights raking the sky, crowds swarming the Arlington, the red carpet rolled out and awaiting the arriving limousines. Inside, the packed audience waited for the lights to dim and the opening night movie to play, preceded by introductory speeches by Executive Director Roger Durling, board members, and a screening of the introductory intro film that will accompany every screening over the Fest’s next 11 days.

And here’s the tally for this year’s Fest: 156 film from around the world, including 22 world premieres and 31 U.S. premieres; a bevy of Hollywood stars set to receive awards or sit on industry panels; several free screenings for area schoolchildren, and numerous film genre sidebars, including the local favorite “Screen Cuisine,” because Santa Barbarans love to watch documentaries about food and wine.

Woman on the Verge – SBIFF HONORS CATE BLANCHETTE FOR HER LEAD ROLE IN WOODY ALLEN’S LATEST

January 31, 2014August 29, 2014 tedmills Leave a comment

There’s always been something in actress Cate Blanchett’s eyes that has made her a star, perhaps it’s this sense that behind her most glamorous characters, there’s a touch of pain. It’s a vulnerable beauty she’s used to good effect from playing Katherine Hepburn in “The Aviator” to her role in “Babel.” She also plays characters enigmatic —”Elizabeth I,” and ethereal — Galadriel in “Lord of the Rings.” But it’s her stunning, lead role in Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine” that has justifiably earned her a sixth Oscar nomination and this year’s “Outstanding Performer of the Year” award at the SBIFF (Saturday at the Arlington).

And what a role it is, in one of Woody Allen’s best films in a long time. Ms. Blanchett’s Jasmine is a woman not just on the verge of a nervous breakdown, but living through one in real time. In flashback, we learn she lived the life of luxury with her Bernie Madoff-like husband, but when he went to prison, she lost everything. Now she has to move in with her sister, whose savings her ex also lost. Yet, Jasmine refuses to face facts and continues to live in a fantasy world of excess. Ms. Blanchett plays her just this side of sympathy, bringing all that vulnerability to the fore.

DRINK OF THE WEEK: Bourbon Room’s Buckin’ Bronco

January 30, 2014July 26, 2022 tedmills Leave a comment

We have no skin in the Superbowl over here at Drink of the Week. We’re neither secretly rooting for Seattle nor Denver, so we think that makes us qualified to make this totally unscientific prediction for Sunday’s game, based entirely on cocktails.

We took up with Anna Sacks over at the Bourbon Room to help us out, with the request: make one cocktail for each team, we’d taste test, and — just like that octopus that predicted the World Cup — the winning cocktail team will obviously go on to win the Big Game. Yes, that’s right! (All psychic reading online predictions are for entertainment value only, as they say.)

Screen Dreams: Local filmmakers debut work at the SBIFF

January 30, 2014August 29, 2014 tedmills Leave a comment

While stargazers love the “international” part of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, some film lovers maintain focus on the Santa Barbara part. For many local directors, the Fest is their first experience in the thrill of the film circuit, and the first time to see their masterpiece on the big screen. For friends and family, it’s a chance to come and support the director after watching her or him go through long nights, even years, trying to complete a film.

And there are lots of Santa Barbara filmmakers and film subjects this year. The festival offers a program of five short documentaries and eleven short fiction films, as well as seven feature films. On top of that, several films have Santa Barbara connections.

For example, pro surfer and longtime Santa Barbara resident, Shaun Tomson, features in “A Life Outside,” Catherine Brabec’s documentary on the surfing culture that grew up around Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, N.J. These guys used to drop into waves, while above them, people were dropping down on rollercoaster cars.

“I think that Catherine really captured the spirit of the place,” he says. The production crew came to Mr. Tomson and filmed his segments here — he used to hang with a lot of the New Jersey guys and provides commentary in the film.

Mr. Tomson, who came to Santa Barbara in 1977 to surf Rincon and then in 1995 to live here, was last in the festival in 2008 with “Bustin’ Down the Door,” a surf feature about himself, Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew and Mark Richards, and how they revolutionized surfing. (Mr. Tomson also executive produced.)

A director with ties to Santa Barbara and its art scene is Susanna Vapnek. If her last name looks familiar, it’s because she’s the daughter of Dianne Vapnek, who used to head Summer Dance. Susanna’s film is “Mabon ‘Teenie’ Hodges: A Portrait of Memphis Soul,” a chance to bring out of history’s dustbin the story of the man who wrote many of Al Green’s hits, including “Take Me to the River.” She just moved back to Santa Barbara last year, after many years in New York. The movie took her four years to make, and started when she met Teenie Hodges when she was tour manager for Cat Power’s “The Greatest Tour.”

“I got a camera and started filming him,” is how she says it started. (Teenie Hodges is planning to attend the screening.) Ms. Vapnek will promote the film, but with a new daughter, she’s also going to return to her painting and enjoy Santa Barbara.

T.S. Meeks grew up in Solvang. His parents started the Bulldog Cafe, although they’ve since sold it. He moved to L.A. eight years ago, but returns once a month to see family, and now he’s returning to screen his first, self-funded short, the dramatic, wedding-night film, “To Us,” a tale of a couple breaking down after a simple question unravels their security.

“I’m hoping each person who sees the film has their own opinion on the events,” he says. This year marks his first-ever film festival. “I’m excited,” Mr. Meeks says. “It should be a great week.”

‘Action’ time : SBIFF’s 10-10-10 competition starts with 19 finalists

January 29, 2014August 29, 2014 tedmills Leave a comment

Finalists in the Santa Barbara Film Festival's 10-10-10 competition, in which young filmmakers are teamed with young screenwriters to produce a 10-minute film by the end of the festival, gather at Tuesday's press conference. — Finalists in the Santa Barbara Film Festival’s 10-10-10 competition, in which young filmmakers are teamed with young screenwriters to produce a 10-minute film by the end of the festival, gather at Tuesday’s press conference.

“The minute they walk out the door, the camera starts rolling!”

It was a bit of hyperbole (no cameras rolled at all) but in terms of the 10-10-10 Student Filmmaking competition, the movie-making started on Tuesday afternoon after a brief press conference at the Canary Hotel.

Michael Stinson of Santa Barbara City College ended the announcement with the above words, flanked by his partner, Guy Smith of Antioch University, and the 19 high school and college-aged contestants.

They now have until the end of the Film Festival on Feb. 9 to shoot and edit a 10-minute film.

Portrait of Jimmy: From oils to watercolor, artists celebrate a favorite watering hole

January 29, 2014August 29, 2014 tedmills Leave a comment

Jimmy's Oriental Garden as seen in 2006. The iconic location is now hosting an art display, showing various artist images of the famed location. Various artwork of Jimmy's Oriental Garden as seen through the ages and currently on display at the restaurant now known as The Pickle Room. — Jimmy’s Oriental Garden as seen in 2006. The iconic location is now hosting an art display, showing various artist images of the famed location.

Various artwork of Jimmy’s Oriental Garden as seen through the ages and currently on display at the restaurant now known as The Pickle Room.

The Pickle Room aka the Bar Formerly Known as Jimmy’s Oriental Gardens is still one of the most picturesque buildings in downtown Santa Barbara, not just because of its pleasing facade, tile work, and faux-Chinese theme, but because of the decades of memories ensconced within.

This Friday, owner Bob Lovejoy opens the bar for its first ever art show, and the subject is the building itself. (After owner Tommy Chung closed the bar in 2006, Mr. Lovejoy kept the faith and finally reopened the rechristened spot last year, keeping much of the decor and the vibe.) Over the years, local artists have painted Jimmy’s in all sorts of styles, from photo realist to impressionist. Nearly a dozen paintings will be on display alongside the Pickle Room’s usual decorations, like the 1920’s Chinese cheesecake posters and the good luck knot of red rope.

New Filmmakers, New Fest : Pop-Up Film Festival Takes over Arlington for one day

January 28, 2014August 29, 2014 tedmills Leave a comment

The Arlington Theatre rolled out the red carpet last Thursday night, not for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (that’s later this week), but for a day-long screening of social justice films called the “Pop Up Film Festival.” The creation of filmmaker Daniel Bollag, the Festival was a one-day, 12-hour affair, with a series of seven films screening from noon to midnight with stops along the way for audience discussion, promotional tables in the lobby, a bar on the patio for guests, live music outside, and the aforementioned red carpet, which the Arlington extended out to the street.

“I didn’t really worry about turnout so much,” Mr. Bollag said as he took a quick break from the proceedings. “This is all about giving these films a voice. A lot of these films will not be shown in the normal film festivals.”

The Transformed Man – UCSB SHOWS GODFREY REGGIO’S ‘QATSI TRILOGY’ AND HIS LATEST FEATURE

January 24, 2014August 29, 2014 tedmills Leave a comment

For a man who has eschewed dialog for his entire hypnotic filmography, Godfrey Reggio sure loves to talk. In interview, he comes front-loaded with philosophical riffs, turns of phrase, metaphors, and more. Some of it is evidence of years promoting, explaining, and defending his films. Some of it is his joy of living. And, although he hasn’t said so, some may be the flip-side of his youth, where he spent 14 years in silence as he studied to be a monk for the Congregation of Christian Brothers.

Mr. Reggio is best known for his “Qatsi” trilogy, which debuted in 1982. Its first film, “Koyaanisqatsi” (Hopi for “Life out of Balance”) was “the” art-house film of the ’80s, an updated ’60s head-trip that began with gorgeous helicopter shots until descending into beehive-like, time-lapse footage of the modern city, all propelled by Philip Glass’ hypnotic score. The film propelled both Mr. Reggio’s and Mr. Glass’ careers, and while Mr. Glass went on to score many Hollywood films, Mr. Reggio worked on the sequels: “Powaqqatsi” (“Life in Transformation”) from 1988, and “Naqoyqasti” (“Life as War”) from 2002. Not only is UCSB showing the trilogy in full this Saturday at the Arlington, but they’ll be showing Mr. Reggio’s latest, “Visitors.” Shot in 5k digital and in slow-motion black and white, it’s much like his short film from 2002, “Evidence,” which showed at UCSB with live Philip Glass Ensemble backing. The film turns the camera on an audience as it watches a film. Like all of Mr. Reggio’s work, it’s hypnotic, mesmerizing, but without narrative, as much as audiences love to insert a story into his images. (Another thing you learn talking to Mr. Reggio: he dislikes the word “experimental.” “That’s for science,” he says.)

Bad Time in the Death Zone – ‘THE SUMMIT’ DETAILS INFAMOUS K2 CLIMB

January 24, 2014August 29, 2014 tedmills Leave a comment

BBC/Ireland Film Board documentary “The Summit” explains in detail the disastrous 2008 expedition to climb K2, the second highest peak in the world. According to experienced climbers, K2 may be shorter than Everest, but it’s harder. Despite excellent conditions — clear skies, very little wind, and decades of experience and skill among the groups of international climbers — eleven climbers lost their lives, and others lost toes to frostbite in their efforts to rescue their comrades.

“The Summit” plays out like a murder mystery of sorts. Is it K2 in the drawing room with the crampon? Or was there an accomplice? Was it bad luck or negligence? In the end, “The Summit” seems to suggest that it’s the popularity of climbing K2 itself that had a lot to do with it. One wouldn’t think there’d be a bottleneck of climbers trying to climb a vertical wall of ice, but most of us don’t run in those circles.

DRINK OF THE WEEK: Blue Tavern’s Bloodsugarsexmagik

January 23, 2014October 2, 2014 tedmills Leave a comment

So here’s the way the world (sometimes) works. Deysi Alvarez was born in El Salvador, raised in Colombia, and finds her way much later to Los Angeles, but the apartment she lives in downtown is right above Rivera, one of the premiere South American restaurants. She ditches her real estate career to learn everything she can about mixology, by hook or by bloody crook. And several restaurants later, here she is, in charge of Blue Tavern’s cocktail list (as well as several down in L.A.).