Dances with Films: The Ultimate Indie Film Festival

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Festival Screen with TCL

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Dances with Films dances with pure delight. If you have to pick one film festival to attend, pick this one. Indie films you won’t see anywhere else, some as perfectly honed and crafted as anything you’d see in the multi-plex – except more interesting; others showing a more home-made vibe. But every one worthy of watching.

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I’m a veteran of Sundance, the Los Angeles Film Festival, and AFI – and I had no idea what to expect out of Dances with Films. What I got was an eclectic, lovingly curated explosion of cinematic story-telling from shorts to features, screened over eleven days. Founded eighteen years ago by filmmakers Leslee Scallon and Michael Trent, the festival more than lives up to its goals of being a prime source of great talent.

Held late May through early June at the TCL Chinese Theaters in Hollywood, there were a lot of standouts in the 2015 selections.

Cast and Crew of Echo Lake
Cast and Crew of Echo Lake

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Echo Lake, written and directed by Jody McVeigh-Schultz, is a poignant, taut coming-of-age-late and getting in touch with your demons story about a 30-year-old functioning alcoholic, an inherited cabin, and a lost – and found – dog. It’s a vibrant, heart-filling film with a lot of laughs in with the darkness.

Strangers love in Fools
Strangers love in Fools

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Benjamin Meyer’s Fools is a chance meeting love story set in Chicago about two strangers who randomly come together, live together, and fall in love. Witty, sharp, both romantic and decidedly unromantic, this is a relationship story that takes you along for the ride.

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In Stereo is all about relationships - and relationships in New York
In Stereo is all about relationships – and relationships in New York

Mel Rodriguez III is the force behind In Stereo, the tale of David and Brenda, who may or may not be perfect for each other, even after they rekindle a past romance. This very New York tale dissects the human condition and gets under your skin the way the main characters get under each others.

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Superior acting makes the film Superior a mighty coming-of-age treat
Superior acting makes the film Superior a mighty coming-of-age treat

Edd Benda’s 1969-set Superior takes a 1,300 mile bike ride around Lake Superior, two best friends, and the looming shadow of the Vietnam War, and blends them seamlessly into a moving comedy drama about hard choices and true friendship.

Lots of laughs and screams in Bad Exorcist
Lots of laughs and screams in Bad Exorcist

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Bad Exorcists, filmmaker Kyle Steinbach’s horror comedy about awkward teens making a horror movie and igniting their lead actress’ own possession, is fresh, funny, and scary, too.

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Powerful film-making for Wildlike
Powerful film-making for Wildlike

If I had to pick one film as a favorite, it would be the astonishing Wildlike, an unlikely and breathtaking drama about a troubled teen’s escape from an abusive uncle, her survival in the Alaskan wilderness, and her moving friendship with a recent widower. Frank Hall Green has written and directed a simply stunning film – see it in theaters and VOD this October. Star Ella Purnell is poised to be a breakout.

Barn Wedding was a do-it-yourself affair
Barn Wedding was a do-it-yourself affair

Also viewed: infidelity and a home-made, Pinterest-style wedding cross paths in the comedy-drama Barn Wedding; an estranged brother and sister must solve their deceased father’s annual treasure hunt to receive their inheritance in The Last Treasure Hunt; Lola’s Last Letter is a compelling micro-budgeted tale of an ex-con’s confessions on camera; Kathleen Behun’s 21 Days is the length of a nail-biting, scream-inducing paranormal challenge to stay closed in a haunted house.

Micro-budget meets multi-talents in Lola's Last Letter
Micro-budget meets multi-talents in Lola’s Last Letter

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Janet Jackson lends her support to writer/director Kathleen Behun's chilling supernatural 21 Days
La Toya Jackson lends her support to writer/director Kathleen Behun’s chilling supernatural 21 Days
Festival Shorts captivated
Festival Shorts captivated

The shorts program was equally compelling, with standouts including Madam Black, the surprisingly sweet and funny tale of a dead cat and true love; The Girl in the Green Dress, a Stepford-wives-esque tale of repressed feminism and sexual liberation; the buzzy Shevenge, directed by Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘s Amber Bensen, a short but hilarious comedy about women’s revenge on their men; and Selling Rosario, detailing the hard choices made by a family of migrant workers and their faith in a brighter future for their daughter.

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Look for these films and these filmmakers; and get ready to dance with films yourself in 2016.

  • Genie Davis; all photos Jack Burke (copyright Jack Burke)

Street Art Takes Hold of the Beverly Hills Art Scene at Julien’s Auctions

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Banksy's "I remember when all this was trees" at Julien's Auctions - Photo: Jack Burke
Banksy’s “I remember when all this was trees” at Julien’s Auctions – Photo: Jack Burke

British artist Banksy​’s 2010 Detroit street art “I Remember When All This Was Trees,” sold at Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills tonight for $137,500. This sale is just one of many street and contemporary art pieces drawing big crowds at Julien’s as well as participants online and by phone.

Excavated from an abandoned Packard Plant by Detroit’s 555 Gallery, and drawn in Banksy’s stencil technique, the piece that originally graced a cinder-block wall, is now owned by Steven and Laura Dunn. Dunn is the CEO of toy manufacturer Munchkin, Inc. 555 Gallery plans to use the proceeds to rehabilitate a 30,000-square-foot east Detroit warehouse into a multi-use arts space.

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Other Banksy pieces generated interest and substantial sales throughout the evening, but perhaps the bigger story at Julien’s had nothing to do with Banksy’s murals.

Bleep (left) with The Gabba Gallery owner, Jason Ostro (right)
Bleep (left) with The Gabba Gallery owner, Jason Ostro (right)

As the liaison between Julien’s Auctions and consigning curator The Gabba Gallery, located in DTLA’s Westlake neighborhood, gallery owner Jason Ostro brought art in to Julien’s for the third year. “The majority of the artists here this evening I’ve worked with, and I’ve showed them. Gabba Gallery is thrilled that Julien’s Auction House is doing their 4th annual street art auction, and that they auction more and more pieces, year after year,” Ostro says.

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Among the local artists Ostro curated for Julien’s are Wordsmith Jules, Mock Mar, 20, Morley, Christina Angelina, and Louis Carreon. All in all, over 40 LA-based artists contributed to the auction.

“While Banksy is certainly a large draw for the auction, a king of street art with a big world voice, the Los Angeles artists represented here do incredible work, and we’re excited by their participation,” Ostro asserts. He’s “always looking for more consigned and private collection pieces for the gallery, and to shepherd to Julien’s.”

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Ostro has exhibited L.A. area artist Bleep, and was instrumental in bringing his piece “Rabbit Ears” to auction. Consigned as Lot 109,  “Rabbit Ears” is acrylic and oil on canvas, and depicts a large, textured bunny with a television for a head, on whose screen is written ‘More.’ A strong symbol of a conspicuously consumptive culture, “Rabbit Ears” is whimsical, satirical, and pointed. What signal are your rabbit ears pulling in?

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“Having a piece in the show has been insane already,” Bleep says. “Being interviewed, having so much attention paid to the work, the trajectory has just been amazing for me, jaw-dropping, and I’m super grateful to be here.”

Kat Kramer
Kat Kramer

Actress and producer Kat Kramer was at Julien’s to support the artists and the auction. “My father Stanley Kramer and my godmother Katherine Hepburn were huge supporters of the arts. I always come to support Julien’s. If my father and Katherine were alive they would be here,” she said.

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Spicy margaritas, IPAs, hors d’oeuvres, and a buffet of cheese, breads, fruits and vegetables were enjoyed while auction paddles were distributed, and the buzz in the room became palpable.

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Lot 1 began the evening with Shepard Fairey’s “Rise Above First” selling for $21,250.

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Session I concluded September 30th following the preview reception; Sessions II and III will take place on October 1st as more street and contemporary artists go under Julien’s renowned hammer.

Time to Get Scared: Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights

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The Walking Dead Wolves Not Far maze begins at Terminus - Photo: Jack Burke
The Walking Dead Wolves Not Far maze begins at Terminus – Photo: Jack Burke

Remember the magic you used to feel on Halloween? The sense of excitement to go out trick or treating? The spooky but fun dread that maybe there really was something lurking behind the tree in the neighbor’s yard – that wasn’t the neighbor’s cat? Dark rooms, zombie flicks on TV, things that go bump in the night?

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Well you can experience it again, albeit with a fairly substantial price tag, at Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights. Not just any old haunted attraction, this one features movie-quality recreations of set pieces from frighteningly famous franchises like Halloween and The Walking Dead.

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Great sets, fantastic animatronic figures, eerie lighting, and of course, what really makes the event take off, the “scareactors,” some 500 talented performers stalking, scaring, and jumping out at guests, gruesomely attacking each other, and each creating an astonishingly well-choreographed live performance on average once every six seconds.

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So is it worth it to “haunt” Universal Studios after dark? Absolutely. From the kitschy 3D horror humor based on the film This is the End to the longest and arguably scariest maze this year, The Walking Dead Wolves Not Far,  to the supernatural Insidious Return to the Further, these live performance scares are worth every penny.  Also not to be missed: this year’s Terror Tram offering based on The Purge films takes over the back lot, and in a break from all the horror, a live stage show starring the hip hop energy and special effects of Jabbawockeez. Of course there’s scare zones scattered throughout the park – from the evil elves of Dark Christmas to the giant bugs of Exterminatorz you’ll get your screams on. Strolling through the recreation of Homer Simpson’s Springfield or jumping on the Jurassic Park ride are also somehow a lot more fun after dark, when you know just outside the rides’ perimeters lurks – a shadowy menacing monster or two.

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This was our third year experiencing Halloween Horror Nights, and it’s an absolutely horrific delight. Go early – early admission allows guests into the park an hour before HHN officially opens and access to several lower lot mazes before the lines get too deep. And stay late – don’t rush the scares. Savor the midnight magic.

  • Genie Davis; all photos Jack Burke (copyright Jack Burke)

 

EcoLuxe Lounge at the Avalon: a Pre-Emmy’s Treat

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Before the Emmy Awards were even broadcast, there were a lot of prize winners in Hollywood – guests lucky enough to attend product placement producer Debbie Durkin’s annual EcoLuxe Lounge, this year with the theme of Christmas in September, and charitable partner Shriner’s Hospitals for Children. On Saturday, September 19th, from 11- 6, Durkin paid homage to television awards nominees and a wide array of sustainable and eco-friendly products.

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The Ecoluxe Lounge transformed music and dance venue The Avalon into a winter wonderland replete with Santa and Mrs. Claus, glittering Christmas trees, and plenty of sugar plums to taste. Los Angeles has been suffering a heat wave, but it was plenty cool inside the club. DJ Mike Shay spun hip holiday tunes, hand crafted sugar plums were more than just visions dancing in attendees heads, and there were no stocking caps or kerchiefs to be seen. Rather, there was plenty of inventive treats and gifting items.

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Guests including Elliot Gould, Adina Porter, Khandi Alexander, nominated for her appearance in ABC’s Scandal, Orange is the New Black’s Abigail Savage, and best supporting actor nominee (for Masters of Sex) Beau Bridges were among the celebrities who turned up to donate unwrapped toys for Shriners Hospital and pose for portraits with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

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How2Girl Courtney Sixx, a host of the event, helped guests create Do-it-yourself holiday ornaments. The ornaments weren’t all that glittered: beautiful pieces from Amy Marie Radzik’s AR Jewelry and from Ammanii Jewelry added more shine.  Radzik’s eclectic jewelry making grew out of her other profession as production company co-owner. When her San Diego-based company started doing shoots for department stores, Radzik was often called upon to make custom pieces, and do it quickly. “Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve made jewelry, but I began to get serious about it seven years ago on a photo shoot,” Radzik says. “And now I make jewelry professionally.”

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Chariot Travelware gifted beautiful hard-shell suitcases in a variety of sizes and designs – plenty of room to pack that new jewelry. Founded in 2011 by Moon Woo, the luggage is uniquely beautiful, with patterns from roses to geometric designs, vibrantly bright colors to dark grey.  Sleek but sturdy, the luggage is available online and in major department stores across the Southland.

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Resqme Lifesaving Tools was also on hand, providing colorful, small emergency glass cutting tools designed to save lives easily.

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Guests also explored haute couture from Sen Couture, and received dynamic makeup and hair styling from MUA Victoria Rowe & Glam Squad.

Before taking off to enjoy gift bag booty such as Yoot organic herbal tea, Justin’s peanut butter cups, crispy Pop Chips, and Modern Oats breakfast cereal, there were plenty of holiday-themed tastes on hand at the event.

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Sugar and Spyked Holiday desert bar served treats like chocolate rum mini-puddings, while the S’More Bakery offered gourmet s’mores deliciously scorched with a hand held blow torch.

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Delicious mini-cupcakes, chocolate covered pretzels, and cake pops were the order of the day from Infiniti Sweets,  by owner Amanda Vefour, who started her company five years ago.

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To drink? Fete Today served up a delightful petite Sirah crafted at a small family vineyard in Lodi, Calif.  Fête Today is a wine and gift shop that encourages “lives full of celebration and joy.” Along with a delicious wine redolent of dark fruits, smooth, and light, Fete offers some additional treats: a color changing twist top and an app for iOs and Android that’s essentially a fun augmented reality photo booth.

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On the non-alcoholic side was NEON energy drink, a flavorful organic blend of green tea, prickly pear, and other all-natural ingredients that’s low in sodium and high on lift. Smoked Fusion BBQ catering, Rounds Premium Burgers, Hint Water, and the Southmore Group also offered tasting eats and beverages.

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The holiday spirit of giving was in the air and fun was all around, making this year’s Emmy EcoLuxe Lounge another winning afternoon from producer Debbie Durkin. Going to Sundance? You’ll see Durkin there with another eco-awesome event.

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